2020 Our Year For Sure

You're absolutely right about the need for this team to churn out first downs better than they did last year. It is integral to the run & stop the run, conservative game management style the Bills approach the game with. If you think Whaley is on board with the picks just to give Rex rope to hang himself with, I have to disagree. I found it interesting watching Whaley's interviews how much more relaxed he is with Rex by his side than when he's in front of the cameras by himself. No question about it, these two get along. Rex talks about how they see things the same way and I think the GM is happy to be with Rex rather than Marrone. I say this as a Rex detractor. Whaley has been at his best acquiring defensive players. He comes from Pittsburgh, tough creative blitzing 34 defense and a power running game. He tells the media exactly how the picks are going to be used on the field. there is a shared vision here between the two of them, for better or worse. I don't doubt Whaley when he says they approach the draft looking for a meeting of value and need. I think if you look at the board at the time of each pick its easy to make a case for each selection being strong value, stronger than a run blocker that was available. and all picks were needs to varying degrees. They drafted Miller because he's theoretically a strong run blocker. He fits what we do. They tried to sign Bulaga last offseason. Jordan Mills is the guy they think of as the set-the-floor veteran at RT. They spent 1.7m for him in a year when there's no money. That's our free agent signing, and we got a preview of him last year where he did alright. Whaley was asked if they thought about drafting offensive line and immediately (and with his guard down with Rex next to him) said they thought about it the whole way but the value just wasn't there. What I'm suggesting is they understand the need to finish the line, they're just not willing to pass up studs at need positions for lesser prospects on the OL.

It's a lot calmer at the new stadium than it was at the old one. Like Nanker I think you'll be okay.

The thread title makes it look like a quote from someone in the organization.

I was dying to get your boy Kyle Murphy in the 6th after watching a video you'd posted. Alas he went to a front office that knows what they're doing and a coaching staff that can develop players so good for him.

This

Me too. They didn't go OL and yet I can't argue with it. Really like what we've done here adding value player after value player and all guys that fit the plan on the field.Whaley and Rex seem to be working well in concert.

This is my favorite pick this year. It's a bigger need than some of the thread's early responders realized. It's a little like the Darby pick last year in that it makes more sense once you've had time to chew it over. Both McCoy and karlos are injury risks and Shady is gone in a year or three. This gives them a one cut and up the field runner who will go with the play, with the power to tag on yards on the end of the run. I'm picturing Frank Gore running wild in Roman's offense...this seems a truly perfect fit. Throw in the surprising elusiveness for such a big guy, and his instincts as a runner. Maybe I'm over excited but I think we just hit a home run here that will help this offense for a long time. He probably plays this year one way or another.

I was dying for OT but the board never seemed to go that way. All the top ones went in the first and the cupboard seemed bare in terms of value until maybe the 5th or 6th. The Bills let the board come to them and took care of their needs which were a strength in this year's field. They followed the value. Next year is a whole new buffet.

Couple names our experts have talked about are OT Joe Haeg and OT Kyle Murphy. Watched a little of Murphy at one point, tenacious player who just needs to add muscle.

Man you aint kidding......

John The Body Gruden

I completely agree. Go get him Trader Doug. He brings the D to another level.

Someone posted a link to every snap last night. He was tackled by Stanley for a holding penalty after whipping him for a would be sack with that spin move. He had other good rushes that resulted in rushed incompletions. And collapsed Stanley backward toward the QB on a bull rush a number of times. Also consistent and at times disruptive in the run game. It was a competitive matchup but Shaq represented himself quite well I thought.

Me too. The nice surprise of getting Shaq in the first only adds fuel to the fire. It's like we got a 2 gapper like jarran Reed and an edge rusher like Leonard Floyd all in one pick. I do think a traditional in line TE like Hunter Henry would be a good under the radar pickup that'd help Roman's offense maybe more than we realize. Also don't wanna see offense get ignored when it's built on ball control yet did poorly on 3rd down. But I have some trust in the Dougster to put it together one way or another.

Good stuff GB please keep your analysis coming. Trader Doug buckled down and stayed put this time and his draft board came to him. The first round played out well for us.

Michio Kaku in the 5th.

I'd think about Whitehair or Hunter Henry. Henry and Clay would make Roman's two-TE sets a pain in the butt to defend, and would play slightly different roles from one another. Rex' teams by their nature need to be able to churn out first downs and dominate time of possession, yet we led the league in 3 & out percent. Gotta think about keeping the chains moving at some point. I'd rather wait on more DL help personally, think we could get one of bandit's nose tackles a good deal later and have both 3- and 4-man fronts locked and loaded.

Its not like Stanley owned him in pass pro. Shaq was taken down for a holding penalty on a would-be sack, forced a few early incomplete passes and collapsed him on bull rushes. Lawson's run D was excellent- it was a competitive matchup.

You're in 4-man front most of the time anyway, so we needed a 2nd edge rusher to line up at DE opposite Hughes. The fact that he has a big body and is powerful, can 2 gap and set the edge against the run = cha ching. I think its a perfect fit and love this pick.

I'm gonna go ahead and take this as good news.

I like your 2nd round 2 gapper a lot more than Reed in the first. Our run D wasn't bad last year even with Mario being Mario. It's a passing league and that's where we struggled. Reed had a college career high of 1 sack so I'm not sure how he makes us better. I say use the first round for something else and get your 2 gappers later in a deep DL draft.

It would be just like Rex to pick the most controversial one of the group.

Veeeery interesting...

Fitzpatrick?

Yes yes yes