SuperKillerRobots

We can start the one-step drop trend!

I hate that SOB so much, but man would I switch places with him in a second (and probably quit football).

I said the same thing in another thread. One things for sure: In three years, the Bills, 9ers, and Panthers are all going to look on this draft and at the players picked with those respective picks (42, 43, next year1st) and one or two teams will be pissed. Hopefully it's not us.

Yeah - so you could look at it like we stole Harris from them, since we picked first I think.

I think you're right about it being basic stuff in the grand scheme of things, but I don't think you can discount the importance. It might not take a group of geniuses to "gel" (though I'm sure smarter players would get it together quicker), but I think it does take time. Depending on how complex the line calls are and how well everyone learns them, I could imagine it might take a year or more (or less for that matter). I think one of the things that everyone likes to discount about these "team/group" type things is the specific personality of each individual in the group. If the personalities are such where everyone gets a long naturally and can respect each other, they will come together as a group quicker. No one likes to admit this line of thinking because we view these guys as "professionals", but the reality of it is that they are just people and in msot cases they are not people who have worked incredibly hard for years and years to get to where they are now. Most of them have worked hard, but not over a 20 or even 10 year period. They are talanted, so it's not like comparing them to someone like Bob Wilmers over at M&T is really valid. These guys are just people and respond to things like most people (you, I, or anyone) would.

This is hilarious and totally not about football (from TG Chat): Dr. Pig, Mexico: Tim, I am tired of your slandering us pigs, we all know that you started the swine flu, stop ruining mexicos beloved economy! Tim Graham: (12:31 PM ET ) Totally off the wall, but true. Muhammad Ali was endorsing a line of ties put out by the CDC to raise money for research. The designs are of what various diseases look like under the microscope. Actually quite beautiful. I attended Ali's press conference in Las Vegas and was given a tie so I could write about it. I ended up with the swine flu. The guy next to me got AIDS. But not from me.

I think by "gel" people mean that the line will be able to work together cohesively. This type of action by a group working closely together is probably pretty common in any group work setting. I can think of a few parallels that might help illustrate my point. Here is one: If anyone has ever worked in a kitchen, as a line cook or even sous-chef, they can probably relate to this idea. When you have multiple people preparing parts of the same thing, everyone has to be on the same page as far as how to get the food prepared, timing so everything comes out hot at the same time, presentation so that each palte looks the same and represents the indented feel set forth by the restuarant, and so each person knows their part in all of it. This allows all the poeplin the kitchen to work together quickly, in a small space, safely, and while decreasing errors. Familiarity breeds anticipation. This is a good anology because of the similarly high-stress and potentially dangerous working environment, as well as the obvious group work. Offensive linemen are trained to protect the QB and open up holes for the RB, but it is not as if they are blocking people standing in the same positions or making the same moves after the snap. It's more of a reactionary position in that you have to stop your guy from getting past you, despite the fact that you may not kno-w where he is going on that play or that you may not even know who it is supposed to be until after the snap. This is why it is so hard to judge individuals and you get so many varying opinions on paticular offensive linemen. As a group you can say one team has the best o-linemen, but it gets tougher to say which one is the best (or maybe a better way to put it would be most indispensible). They are all responsible for the same general duties, and need to make sure that they can function well together as a group. It seems like you are posing the question of why these "professionals" need to know what other people are doing when they could just come in and do their thing (and know it inside and out) and expect that everyone else does as well. The problem with this is that working together and understanding what the people next to you will do is crucial to being able to block effectively. It could be something as simple as where the center is going to take their step so the guard doesn't trip over them or something as complex as how the tackle and guard/center are going to handle a stunt (i.e. will the center tend to puch the DE back or to one side or the other). With adjusting on the fly a necessity, they muct have a certain level of familiarity with each other to succeed.

That's cool - I'll remember to read your blog more. Good article too. If they end up using the no-huddle as part of the game plan, they might be pretty exciting until in gets too cold to throw.

Perfect

Honestly, I usually feel optimistic about the Bills. I did last year at this time and I did the year before that at this time. I was pretty happy in getting Levy and Jauron to run the team four years ago and I'm OK with giving the coach another year to see what he's got. So to answer, I do feel optimistic. Last year they started out 5-1 and looked like they were going to finally break the playoff curse. They imploded down the stretch. It's not like those games were blowouts - they lost close games because of varied stupid things on both sides of the ball. It happens. I think they are a young team and need time to collectively grow up. These losses are really characteristic of that as well. They played consistent til TE got hurt and Reed went out. I gotta think that if they can keep him standing and most of the skill players off the injury list, they have a real shot at being a top 15 offense. They certainly have the talent.

I would have almost rather have had the 1st round pick in 2010 that Carolina gave up for him than Byrd. Of course I'd be fine with the whole thing if Byrd picks off 6 passes this year.

Agreed on that. Pettigrew would have cost too much.

No way - Walker isn't the swiftess of players, but he is much quicker than Butler. Butler is stiff as hell. You need a guy there that can get up out of his stance and move left fast if he has to and Butler doesn't do any lateral movement fast.

Bell is the only real LT prospect the team has. Butler played RT in college across from Ferguson, not LT, and is better suited to play guard at this level. I agree that the best case senario would be to have Bell win the LT spot right out of the gate or halfway through the season. I doubt this'll happen though and would expect to see LW at LT. I don't think they sign another o-linemen as a stop-gap. That would force them to make a decision on who to keep and stunt one of our prospects - most likely Bell - at that position. I think they need to take their lumps in the first half of the season (as far as the o-line is concerned) while trying to play it more conservative and then open up the game plan as the line develops.

I think this will eb a good year for the team. Not sure if that'll equate to wins, but I'm pretty confident that they will look better than last year. I fully expect the team to score about 20 to 25 points per game and the defense to give up 17 to 21 per game. I was initially of the opinion that the team really needed to upgrade the lines on both sides fo the ball to consistently win. I still believe that, but have tempered it a little. There were games last season where the offense was horrible. When you look back at the last year we actually had two WRs, they were pretty good in the passing game for most of the year (even if they trailed off towards the second half). Even though they were a good passing team, they ran pretty poorly and the o-line wasn't exactly all-pro caliber. I think a lot of people discount how much help another viable outside WR will be to the offense this year. Also, to anyone who thinks that Maybin not being a good run defender makes a difference, you have to be kidding. Maybe we can talk about it in a year or two, but right now, all I care about with him is third and long when he's on the field. If he gets beat by a draw on third and long, I'll live with that. Especially if he gets a few sacks in those situations. This guy right now is only going to play 20 snaps a game. Maybe more by the end of the year, but almost certainly less in the beginning. The problem with this kid will be if he can't get to the QB at this level.

Not yet, but they're sure they can convert him.

It's easier if you're a smaller guy with shorter arms. I'm hoping he will develop physically a little more since he is only 21.

No - he's not the next Freeney. He's 3 inches taller and has a lot lankier body. This guy could be the next Bruce Smith depending on how well he adds weight and strength. Hopefully he'll be able to stay at or around 250 and still have that first step. The guy seems like too hard-working and athletic to end up out of the league in 4 years, so his floor is probably as a situational passrusher/dime rusher. Hopefully we don't ever have to face that. Also, who cares about a DE's 40 time? I only care about how quickly he can cover the first 10 yards.

Copeland Bryant will get cut at DE and that'll leave 5 guys there. Gotta think Pat Thomas gets cut, but that position depends a lot on who they decide to keep for ST - Corto, Buggs, and Costanzo are in the mix for 6 through 8 possibly. I think Florence gets cut much in the same way whatever his name was last year that lost the nickle spot to Youboty - James? WR has to be the hardest and will probably play out over training camp, as they probably want to keep 7, but won't be able to, so they'll probably see if Jenkins can be replaced at gunner and if he can, he goes, if not, Roscoe gets traded. I could see even Jenkins getting traded for a little something. Adios Ko - no more millions for you!

They probably didn't count on the Bills taking an interior linemen that early in the draft. Probably figured we'd go for a DB!

No matter how you look at this - for better or worse - the o-line got a lot meaner over the weekend. Eric Woods sounds like a linemen who likes to punish people and Levitre seems to be like that too. Butler was previously the only guy on the line that played with aggression last year. I think they will be able to consistantly run the ball this year with that line. I also agree that there will probably be a few of the "lookout" blocks early on as they gel.

I think Philly did that with Corey Simon a few years ago and he ended up signing with Indy during training camp.

I wish we had traded this pick to Carolina for their first next year instead of taking this guy. We still could have traded up into the second again.

I would agree that if the first three picks all contribute, I think we will be in the hunt at the end of the year and could win 10 games.

I wonder which one could play LB if this were the case? I would think they'd have to try to get both of them plus Schobel on the field at the same time. If Maybin could play LB, that could be a pretty nasty blitz package this year.