Maybin ??

[bobbobbob]

Jauron drafted Maybin to play cornerback. It's the only explanation.

[NoSaint]

Highly unlikely. Ralph likes to play with his toy franchise. Meddling with the first pick is probable. Getting involved with the later picks simply takes too much energy for the tired owner.

 

 

 

 

 

The problem with the franchise has little to do with the team, and everything to do with the organization that the zany owner constructed. With Ralph, the franchise is first and foremost a business venture and profit center. Until he leaves the scene the architecture and caliber of staffing of this organization will not meaningfully change.

 

 

 

With respect to Spiller I have little problem with his selection. He was rated as a top ten talent and he demonstrated in college that he was a playmaker. That is something the team sorely lacked. If you expect me to be critical of this organization for drafting on the basis of taking the best player available (especially considering their drafting history) then you are mistaken. It is still too early to conclusively judge that pick. In my mind, there was sound reasoning for taking him, with his talent level being the most persuasive reason. There are not many players on this roster to be excited about. He is one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

The mistake made with Maybin and other picks such as Flowers, Hardy etc is that the focus was on particular physical attributes instead of asking the most basic question: Is the player a good football player? Issues regarding football intelligence and instincts should have been considered more when making selections.

 

 

 

The organizational structure is a creation of the owner. It works for him. Maybe not on the field but certainly on his ledger books. The owner had people such as Polian and Butler/A.J.Smith working for him who knew how to build a successful franchise. He drove them out. The owner had other priorities. So they were dispatched.

 

 

Sounds like we are much on the same page. I don't think Ralph is quite as stingy as you portray but all in all I don't see how you can put it all on modrak. Seems like even great scouts could face the same challenges, how do we know we don't have them here now. I hope with the last two drafts we are seeing the changes we need. It seems we are getting more value at our picks of late.

[3rdand12]

In a recent article, and i may be off, but it seemed that Ralph was quoted "that Modrak put the players on the board, but he was not the one who had the final say" and something to the effect that they are aware of their lack of success.

probably an inaccurate quote. I feel bad for Maybin. yes i know he got paid. But did he outsmart the pundits?

No need to continue the bashing though. Maybe he really is trying as well as he is able. maybe. and then again.

[T master]

By rule, Cleveland (with Jauron as DC) should be forced to trade their 1st or 2nd round pick for Maybin!!!! Jauron picked him - he should be forced to live with him!!

 

I'll Second that !!! Amen !!!!!

 

That could also be why Nix & Gailey like guys that are seniors & have stayed in school in stead of the one year wonder types !!

Edited January 28, 2011 by T master

[JohnC]

Sounds like we are much on the same page. I don't think Ralph is quite as stingy as you portray but all in all I don't see how you can put it all on modrak. Seems like even great scouts could face the same challenges, how do we know we don't have them here now. I hope with the last two drafts we are seeing the changes we need. It seems we are getting more value at our picks of late.

 

I don't want to belabor the issue, but I apologize for doing it. I'm not putting it all the blame on draft failures on Modrak. That is a simplification that leads to a falsehood. What I do strongly believe in is accountability. There is no one who can fairly say that our scouting department has done a good job over the past decade. The lead scout is Modrak. It is mostly his responsibility to assemble a staff to help him do the most vital job in a franchise. His body of work over the past decade is very poor, especially compared to franchises such as Pitts, Ravens and Green Bay, similar sized cities and regions.

 

The problem with Ralph is that he is very stubborn and doesn't tolerate dissent very well. He is very old school. He had within his organization high caliber staff who were able to develop a quality product for him. He drove them away. A lot of the friction had to do with the constant tug of war between the football and finance staff. There is no surprise that he had a greater affinity for the finance side of the operation.

 

The most successful owners in the NFL are not the hands on owners but the owners who are smart enough to bring in the most talented football staff to run the football operation. One of the major problems with Ralph is that he is too insular. He doesn't have much comfort with outsiders and people he doesn't know. That is more of an old world approach to take, and a disasterous approach to take in a world of complexity.

 

On a positive note, I like what Nix has done in his early tenure. The most encouraging thing he did was as much symbolic as it was substative. He brought in Whaley, a much younger person, from the Steeler organization. That is the franchise the Bills should be emulating. That was a good hire. In addition, Gailey was not an inspiring hire, but he was a solid hire. Adding Dave Wannstadt to the coaching staff is another good sign. That sure is better than handing your OC job to a very inexperienced Alex van Pelt.

Edited January 28, 2011 by JohnC

[Sisyphean Bills]

I don't want to belabor the issue, but I apologize for doing it. I'm not putting it all the blame on draft failures on Modrak. That is a simplification that leads to a falsehood. What I do strongly believe in is accountability. There is no one who can fairly say that our scouting department has done a good job over the past decade. The lead scout is Modrak. It is mostly his responsibility to assemble a staff to help him do the most vital job in a franchise. His body of work over the past decade is very poor, especially compared to franchises such as Pitts, Ravens and Green Bay, similar sized cities and regions.

Agreed.

 

The problem is that the draft is the most important means for building a team and sustaining success. The Bills have butchered their drafts and it has led them to being the 3rd worst team in football this past season. If the solution is as simplistic as having Nix pull down names, then our resurgence to relevance is imminent and much rejoicing will ensue.

[JohnC]

Agreed.

 

The problem is that the draft is the most important means for building a team and sustaining success. The Bills have butchered their drafts and it has led them to being the 3rd worst team in football this past season. If the solution is as simplistic as having Nix pull down names, then our resurgence to relevance is imminent and much rejoicing will ensue.

 

Interesting article on purposeful drafting and Tom Modrak by Bob DiCeasare of the Buff News. The basic point is that there has to be a team identity and a coherent drafting policy to match that identity.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/columns/bob-dicesare/article325996.ece

[bigc14120]

He doesn't seem to be cut out to be an NFL player.

His strength, mass and smarts are not up to par.

He was drafted as an impact DE.

He's not one. He's not a decent OLB.

 

Whomever is responsible for picking him in the first round should be exiled.

I don't care if he miraculously improves and becomes a starter and a decent player in the next 2-3 years.

He was a wasted draft pick. He hasn't produced at all.

Any player picked #11 in the Draft should have a positive impact on their team.

The only impact Maybin's had is on the ledger at this bank.

Trade him to Cleveland...Dick Jauron picked him...and is now the defensive coord. at the Browns.

[3rdand12]

Interesting article on purposeful drafting and Tom Modrak by Bob DiCeasare of the Buff News. The basic point is that there has to be a team identity and a coherent drafting policy to match that identity.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/columns/bob-dicesare/article325996.ece

Thanks for the link. Its a good point.

The Buffalo bills draft has defined itself, unfortunately its not a good one for the past so many years. Lets see how troup and carrington turn out though and see if we continue with our irrational early pick this year.

[fansince88]

He has long arms, an explosive first step and excellent change-of-direction ability. Reminds me of Trent Cole of the Eagles. However, very little functional strength, poor techinque, and lack of passrushing moves have hindered him, and they suggest he is uncoachable. In any event he does not fit what Chan and Edwards are trying to do on defense, so if he ever succeeds it probably won't be here.

Then did school teach him the wrong side of the ball?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Maybin ran a slow 40 and short shuttle at the combine. He's basically a speed rusher with no speed. Should never have gotten drafted that high. No speed, and gets overpowered. Basically worthless. Immature, somebody who hit the jackpot and stopped working. Doesn't study film and parties instead. Evenings are about whores and cocaine. Will never play in another NFL game once the Bills cut him.

 

Ozymandius, any reference or linky's here? How do you know this?

[papazoid]

i have watched (isolated) Maybin on almost every single play at home games.

 

#1- Strength.....he is WEAK.....he gets physically dominated one on one by every tackle on every play.

 

#2- Cut Back Ability....he has none....he is unable to quickly stop, cut and change direction which linebackers need.

 

#3- Speed...straight ahead is decent.....but towards the end of the season, can't remember which game, he was covering kickoffs on special teams.....again i watched/isolated everything he did on those plays. he was running funny, like he had a hitch in his giddy up....or he was nursing an injury.

 

CONCLUSION ....Maybin is a BUST !!.....and in my opinion, is gonna stay a BUST......he will NEVER be a linebacker in a 3-4 and it is highly unlikely he will get strong enough to be a D-lineman in a 4-3. you need +300 lb POWER guys on the D-line. draft Fairley or Dareus with our #3 pick.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Reminds me of Trent Cole of the Eagles.

Totally different body types. They wear the same number though.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

Nothing, and I mean nothing of what you just said is true! I have never heard a coach say he did not study film, I have never heard a word about excessive partying, Whores, cocaine, dude you are slandering the man. He sucks at football, because he sucks at football, saying those other things are just wrong.

 

 

Beside Lawrence Taylor has generated a lot of evidence he may have been enguaging in all those activities but he still kicked tail on the field with his speed rush...

[RuntheDamnBall]

you need +300 lb POWER guys on the D-line. draft Fairley or Dareus with our #3 pick.

No you don't. You need guys with good technique and moves, depending on your system, that can be anywhere from 280lbs+. NTs should almost without exception be 300+, but other than that, there are variables.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Beside Lawrence Taylor has generated a lot of evidence he may have been enguaging in all those activities but he still kicked tail on the field with his speed rush...

The speed rush was the first building block of LTs game. But he was not one-dimensional. Power was a huge component of LTs game, as was his array of moves.

 

There were only a few one-dimensional NFL pass rushers who were really good…guys that relied upon one single thing to be successful.

 

Derrick Thomas was one of those players. In all the years I saw him play, I don't ever remember him using an inside counter move. He could bend the edge so well that there was simply no reason to do anything else.

 

LT's game on the other hand was multi-faceted and if a blocker was overplaying the outside rush, LT would put him on his ass, push him into the quarterback, or beat him inside.

 

Back to Maybin, I hated the Maybin pick.

 

After accepting the fact that we drafted him and that it was not some bad dream, I was hoping that Maybin could be a good one-trick pony and give the Bills 10 sacks every year as a situational pass rusher. Those hopes have diminished greatly.

 

 

[Tcali]

Does anyone know what is the real issue with Aaron Maybin is? Why he doesn't play in games, and may possibly even be cut? Like many of you I did not want to draft him, and I have watched every game he has played in as a Bill. But what is the underlying reason why? Why he has sometimes not even dressed for games? Does anyone have any insider information?

 

Is it because he is too light? Too weak? Not intelligent? Has no heart, desire, drive? Has no mean streak? Doesn't care? Unable to grasp new position? Doesn't understand scheme? Or he just can't play football or isn't a football player?

 

I am just curious to know if there is any chance for the problem to ever be corrected. Possibly with added weight, weight training, coaching, or even possibly a mentor like Merriman. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

He is just a lousy football player.Nothing to do with lack of weight,waist size,braincircumference.If the problems were his lack in these areas we still would have seen flashes of potential.We saw nothing but a player who got so dominated every play it was embarrassing.You'd think he would get lucky on a play or two--like the QB accidentally running into him or the Olineman in front of him gets a massive leg cramp or pulls to block on the wrong play-something to make it look like he did something.We didn't even get that.Like someone said earlier-anyone with anything to do with that draft pick should be exiled-along with whoever extended Kelsays contract.-We can all still hope that these decision makers aren't the same ones making the decisions in this next draft.

[Bob in STL]

Let's compare Modrak's record in Buffalo to the Steelers from 2002-2008 (we fall back 3 years to get a more accurate assessment of long-term impact of picks). Let's break the draft into 3 brackets: rounds 1-3, rounds 4-5, rounds 6-7 for convenience. Now let's list the "productive" players in those brackets, I'll cross out names that the Bills have given up on (i.e., stop gap fillers). (I did this very quickly, so I may have missed some players.)

 

Modrak Bills:

1-3: Josh Reed, Kelsay, Evans, Whitner, Lynch, Pos, Edwards, McKelvin

4-5: McGee

6-7: Ellison, Bell, Johnson

 

Steelers:

1-3: Simmons, Polamalu, Roethlisberger, Starks, Miller, McFadden, Holmes, Timmons, Woodley, Mendenhall

4-5: Foote, Taylor, Colon, Sepulveda

6-7: Kemoeatu

 

So, we see that the Steelers also get some players in the late rounds, but they hit on so many players early that most of their late rounders cannot crack the lineup.

 

 

Nice example. Painful, but a well done simple illustration that I believe it is the core reason why we lose.

 

Not only do the Steelers draft 2X more starters in rounds 1-3 but they also find Pro Bowl impact players.

 

Explains why Nix and Whaley have to scour other teams Practice Squads to improve the talent base on our team.

 

I cannot recall another period in Bills history were we drafted so poorly than the past decade.

Edited January 29, 2011 by Bob in STL

[....lybob]

1. Maybin as a DE was about 20lbs light and that's after he bulked up 20lbs

2. Maybin was supposed to be in the 4.6s before he bulked up but at 249lbs he was in the high 4.8s at the combine

3. Maybin is thin in the legs and hips- Bruce Smith who got his weight down eventually to 255-260 still had a massive power plant at that weight- forget about bench pressing show me the guy who can push a pickup truck 15 yards the fastest.

4. Maybin built might be ok for a LB but he shows none of the the other qualities for that position- his short shuttle and three cone were average at best.

5. Maybins football (smarts, awareness,instincts) seem to be lacking

 

now in defense of Maybin, he does have good burst, he does have long arms, and he won't be 23 until April so he's the same age as most of the guys coming out in this years draft.

[yungmack]

Excellent point. Although Modrak didn't pick him he still evaluated him. He had a first round grade when more discerning scouts for other organizations had him at a lower ranking. Having Modrak continue on as the head scout doesn't make sense. A decade of drafting futility and the same person is directing the scouting department. How much sense does that make?

Not just Modrak. Pretty much every rating service had him as a first round pick.