BillsVet

I don't think Torbor needs any work playing the run as he's probably more adept at that phase than in coverage. Additionally, he's more stout at the POA than Maybin will probably ever be. I don't doubt that they're giving guys looks to see who fares better. But the fact that a former first round pick, despite changing positions, is not an every down starter remains troubling to me.

It's the revenge of Jauron. That guy, along with Ralph and Brandon, had no business being around a draft room. He is looking bust-like.

Michael Roos signed for 43M over 6 years just two years ago. David Diehl signed a 6 year 31M contract just after Roos. Of course Jordan Gross signed a mega deal, so what exactly is market value for a LOT? It's not like there are a lot of top LOT's getting re-signed. The Skins have leverage now because they're playing the guy at ROT anyway. That position doesn't necessitate as big a contract. Apparently teams no longer have budgets in years without a cap. You've repeatedly said the Redskins have a poor track record. Well, not with Mike Shanahan at HC and GM Bruce Allen. Go ahead and malign those two, neither are perfect, but they've got a much better track record than Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey. They have a new regime, much like the Bills, so they should get the benefit of the doubt like you're providing for Buffalo's brain trust, right? All NO did was take an asset they deemed unnecessary and parlayed it into a pick and more importantly some financial savings. Randy Moss was moved for a 4th. I guess it was because no one was interested in him, right? Teams don't trade top LOT's, unless they've got depth there or they're the Buffalo Bills and need so save face and money when a player is "difficult." What if those guys require a 4th round pick? Does that make them not worth it because the asking price is low? All three of those guys will probably need a new contract, and at least a 3rd/4th rounder. And I don't see the Bills in the business of re-signing someone to a big contract, nor giving up draft picks. After all, they're building through the draft and those 3rd of 4th rounders are low-cost roster options.

Needed to draft a WR in the first of 2008. Just had to.

Keep laughing. Who's saying that Brown is demanding 9-10M per? You are. The Saints had multiple FA's that they re-signed and had a serviceable young OT in Bushrod. Their hierarchy chose to spend money on re-signing Brees, MLB Vilma and 1st team All-Pro G Jahri Evans. They, like everyone, had to make a choice with their money. Oh, and BTW they've got Marcus Colston coming up as well. Boy are they crazy for not re-signing a guy at a position they had depth at. And for the record, perhaps teams did express interest and NO chose the Redskins' offer. You're making a ton of assumptions to support a weak point in defense of a moribund NFL franchise that doesn't have ONE proven NFL OT. If that's your argument, why didn't OAK re-sign Cornell Green? The Buffalo Bills will not make a trade for any of the group you mentioned: Gaither, McNeill, or Donald Penn. And you will be back to say they weren't worth it. Well, come September when Bell, Meredith, and Wang are struggling, you'll be back to say it was a rebuilding year anyway.

Jammal Brown may have been injured in 2009, but he represents a player who's performed at a high level. Bell, Meredith, Wang, Ramsey, Watkins, and Green have never done that. People charge that it's wrong to take a flyer on a former All-Pro. Well, I'd rather surrender a 4th and have it go wrong than bank on unproven talent found on the clearance rack that could significantly impact the entire offense all season. And that's precisely what happened in 2009. Funny how history repeats itself with this team. After 10 years of failure, hearing about rebuilding over the a 2-3 year stretch isn't good enough. That is, if they have the time. I am amazed at how merely hiring new people gives people hope. Hope based on what? Their proven track record of hitting on draft picks and winning playoff games?

This is probably not a discussion for a message board, as it'll be long winded, but here goes. Each team has a finite amount of resources and uses them in a given manner. On a football team, certain positions are more valuable than others, and the draft proves this. Premium positions like QB, LT, NT/DT, and pass rushers all typically come from the first or second rounds. And before someone attempts to conflate the argument by saying most starters come from the first round, bear in mind that plenty of guys who play positions like G, C, LB, S, RB, and WR do come from outside the top 2 rounds. There's a pretty good chance if you scout well that you can find average to good starters at these positions in rounds 3-5. My point re: Wood and Levitre is (and it's been made many times, notably by BADOL) that when you take a guard or center that high, they're typically the best one in the draft. The challenge is to find average to good starters at G, C, et al lower, thus allowing your higher picks to be reserved for the premium positions. It's why there aren't punters and kickers taken on the first day. Wood and Levitre were need picks in 09, because Buffalo had practically nothing at G entering the 2009 season and left FA with only Seth McKinney and a bare roster at G. It's been the Bills MO for years: let a player go in FA or trade, and fill a distinct need with rookie top draft pick. There's actually been little to no team building from 2006-2009. Maybe Nix changes this, but it's a huge challenge. I think Wood and Levitre will be solid pros, and they're guys I want on the Bills. There isn't much wrong with the players. Problem is, management forced themselves to find instant starters by not having a solution on the roster at G. It's another fine example of inept management, the result of people like Russ Brandon and Marv Levy moonlighting as GM. And here's the scary thing: RW hired both of them. That's why I need to see something out of Nix before anointing him the savior like people did in 08 when Marv had just left.

It remains true the pass-blocking has been poor, with the exception of 2007. Unfortunately, running for 1000 yards doesn't automatically make the OL good at run blocking. How many times in the DJ years did the team fail to convert in short yardage situations? It didn't seem to matter whether it was home or away either. Football Outsiders is a great site to gauge how a team succeeds in different situations. Here are the stats for Buffalo's OL success/failure for running and passing. It can take some getting used to, but pass pro was dead last. They were 31st in the NFL in power running situations. Buffalo knows they need more than just a faster RB.

It's amazing that in a league predicated on passing the football, the powers that be at OBD believe they can beat teams running the ball without the benefit of good play at OT. I like the guards, but both were high picks for a position that can be found later on. The center evidently had a back injury, so we'll see how he fares. Wang, Bell, Meredith, Green, et al are bargain buys and their play will dictate how the offense functions. Suffice it to say, they are all castoffs or young players not ready to start on most NFL teams.

It's ironic how many picks across multiple regimes have been used on skill guys in the past 6 drafts first 3 rounds: I think it's logical to conclude that the Bills knew there would be problems selling tickets in 2010, especially after Buddy and Chan were the hirings for GM and HC respectively. These are the Buffalo Bills, and selling hype is their best trait. I wouldn't doubt for a moment that there was some influence from on-high. It's complete speculation, but RB's who run a 4.3 40 sell more tickets than does an OT.

Way to throw cold water on the optimists. Fine post.

You're aware that players do not seamlessly transition into defenses? Terrence McGee admitted that it's frustrating to learn a new defense, especially one so different than the T2 where corners have the short zone coverage. And while the safeties have some talent, Whitner isn't particularly adept at anything and Byrd had a good season in pass coverage and not much in run defense. Scott is a nice depth player, and Wilson seems to be emerging for a SS. Then again, strong safeties are somewhat being phased out if they can't cover.

Reason has never been a strong suit around these parts, although it is frequently confused with negativity. Those questions/points are valid concerns entering a season. Let's face it, 32 teams have a question mark at a position and/or coach. The teams with more of them generally sink to the bottom of the standings and Buffalo remains one of those franchises, even if some don't like hearing it.

You have to love Bills fans who take solace in not being the worst NFL team record-wise. Apparently results are optional when moral victories can be counted. And boy do people pull a Magellan when in pursuit for any signs of a positive. Taking an honest and objective look at this team is almost an extinct species around here simply because it may yield a disappointing result. Most of the roster has two years or less experience, the marquee positions of QB, LT, NT, and pass rushers are all huge question marks, and the coach hasn't done the job this decade. But sure, they'll be better than last year.

If that stadium fit 100k fans and was filled every gameday, it wouldn't prevent the team from leaving. There remain a host of external issues not relevant to fan support that move teams. Regardless, supporting a failing franchise which cannot attract proven front office and on-field talent will not keep that team in WNY. It's going to take much more than just fans filling seats where season tickets cost $450.

Darn you Ozzie Newsome! Just give us Gaither for spare parts and we'll all be happy.

Last year, it was about this time when preliminary season ticket totals were announced: 2009 Season Ticket article In 2008, they released some season ticket numbers in May: 2008 Season Ticket article It's reasonable to believe Bills fans have decided to play wait and see about this team. Nix and Gailey inspire little and 2010 will most likely be a rebuilding season. Besides, after 10 years of unfulfilled hope preached from Russ and the marketeers, why wouldn't fans be hesitant to purchase seasons?

Being a Jets fan and coming onto this board must be entertaining for you, huh? Any football fan with half a brain cell would like having the problems NYJ supposedly is having with Revis, Ferguson, Mangold, et al. Then again, they've actually drafted impact players the past few years, and now those guys' contracts are coming due. It happens. In three drafts, NYJ took LOT Ferguson, C Mangold, CB Revis, ILB David Harris and TE Dustin Keller. And while they busted on Vernon Gholston, they traded for Kris Jenkins, found their man at QB, and took Shonn Greene during the 2009 offseason. The Jets will have issues signing everyone, but their recent history on draft day shows they know what they're doing and can replace players.

All of these teams had either A) an outstanding HC and/or GM or B) their QB having a career season. I'm not ready to believe they'll rebuild in one season, and even Nix acknowledges that it can't be done in one year. No one knows how the myriad of rookies will perform, and many of them will be counted on to contribute instantly. Most picks outside the first round need time, especially those playing positions like LT, NT/DT, pass rushers, WR, and QB. That, and their division foes are all better. Is it completely unreasonable to believe they will be mediocre to poor in 2010? EDIT: Bolded inserted comments

Buffalo is getting younger all over the roster. The coaching staff is talking about "teaching" and practicing hard, so having a guy who gets multiple days off each week doesn't exactly fit. Most of us know that the guy has earned his reputation, but young players might not see it that way. The fewer exceptions a team makes for it's players, the better.

Nice thing about the 3-4 is it allows LB's to make plays, but Buffalo's will rely on Stroud to make the transition to DE and a rookie in Troup at NT. Those guys need to keep OLineman from getting into the second level and let Posluszny and Davis make the tackles.

Buffalo's got a few guys up for contracts coming up soon, one of whom is Paul Posluszny. He inked a 4 year deal in 2007. To date, I haven't heard anything about him demanding a new deal either, though Buffalo would be wise to extend his contract sooner rather than later. It'll be interesting to see what the Bills do with Posluszny and others with the current CBA expiring after the season ends. Teams know there will be football again, though they're not re-signing guys at the clip as in previous off-seasons. If one removes the CBA issue, this is one guy I don't think Buffalo can afford to let go via UFA. I'm also confident he'll thrive in a 3-4 ILB role.

Nix indeed mentioned that a QB can't do much (paraphrasing) when he's on his back. In a continued effort to defend everything Bills, some here have said that Nix/Gailey know their roster and must figure the OT's are better than we've seen. We'll see come September, but I don't ever envision D. Bell or Meredith ever being an average to good LOT. On the other side, Cornell Green was among the league leaders in penalties and turns 34 before opening day. Gailey will attempt to build a run first offense with a poor OL in a pass happy league without a anyone beside Evans that's a proven receiver. So it'll be interesting to see what he does when team's stack the LOS with 8 or 9. The NFL is a very different league than when he last had success in 00-01 with MIA.

Banking on street free agents, UDFA's, and guys signed from other team's practice squads to be solid starters is like buying a lottery ticket with your final dollar and hoping you'll make enough to pay the rent. Sure, there's a chance you could get lucky, but the odds are stacked against you. Then again, getting lucky is the new strategy at OBD.

I think Curtis Painter is more like a 7th grade modified level QB compared to Peyton Manning.