Gailey says while OT is not a crying need......

[showmeSP]

We do need OT help, but the defense is ABYSMAL and I really hope not to watch yet another year

of them being completely gouged on the ground by every single opponent. Man, to me, that is

A LOT harder to watch than an offense handicapped by a poor OL.

 

Agreed. Yes this team has a lot of holes, but none larger than our 32nd ranked run defense. When you are that bad, it's going to take more than one draft pick to fix the front 7. I don't see anything wrong with going DL and LB in the first 3 rounds. I love Williams and Moats as much as anyone else, but clearly something isn't working.

[Hanoverbills]

I would like us to trade down and get Castonzo from Boston College in the first and draft Wisniewski from Penn State in the second round. Than after that draft all defense except one, a QB in the 4th. I like Devlin from Deleware.

[atlbillsfan1975]

Don't worry, there's no way of that happening. Fitzpatrick is a hundred times better than McNabb right now.

 

McNabb is done as a starting QB and will either have to accept a backup roll or retire.

Isnt that what everyone said about Warner after his time with the Giants? Different styles of play. And maybe it was Reid that made McNabb look good. But he is better then Fitz. Sorry.

[1billsfan]

Isnt that what everyone said about Warner after his time with the Giants? Different styles of play. And maybe it was Reid that made McNabb look good. But he is better then Fitz. Sorry.

 

 

Kurt Warner was a great quarterback, McNabb was never a great quarterback. Big difference. You really should be giving Fitzpatrick much more credit than that.

[Geno Smith's Arm]

I think the GM and coach feel that they can build up the O-line without spending any high picks on it (1st or 2nd pick). I think they expect the guys they have to get better and to maybe pick up a FA..

 

I think they can do it that way too. Not a great line, but a good line.

 

I trust Gailey to know what improvements need to be made to the offense to accomplish what he wants. They will find a better Right Tackle somehow.

 

One thing the Bills should consider is trading back for a next years 1st round pick which could then be used in a trade up scenario for a franchise QB in 2012 (assuming that they wouldn't be in the same high pick situation as they are this year, I know, big assumption). Call it an insurance plan.

 

Bad plan.

 

This is a very deep draft because so many Juniors have left early (more than ever before) due to the CBA situation.

Aside from Andrew Luck (are you really wishing upon that star?), I don't know that next years QB class is any better than this years crop.

If they want to trade back, it should be for THIS years draft picks.

[BillsVet]

I think the GM and coach feel that they can build up the O-line without spending any high picks on it (1st or 2nd pick). I think they expect the guys they have to get better and to maybe pick up a FA..

 

I think they can do it that way too. Not a great line, but a good line.

 

I trust Gailey to know what improvements need to be made to the offense to accomplish what he wants. They will find a better Right Tackle somehow.

 

Most teams use higher picks on OT's and find their interior OL via the later rounds or even UDFA's. Buffalo's done just the opposite and finds itself with only late round picks, UDFA's, and street free agents for OT's. Erik Pears, Colin Brown, Cordaro Howard, Ed Wang, Jason Watkins and Demetrius Bell all arrived via these routes. They really don't have a starting caliber OT on the roster right now, and that includes Bell.

 

The Bills wanted to be a running team last year and could not do so, in large part due to very little talent at OT. If it weren't for (once again) having so many other positional needs, this team should go OT within the first two rounds. As much as I'd like to see them pick up Tyson Clabo, I agree that Nix isn't high on spending a lot of resources on OT's, draft or free agency.

[Mr_Blizzard]

We do need OT help, but the defense is ABYSMAL and I really hope not to watch yet another year

of them being completely gouged on the ground by every single opponent. Man, to me, that is

A LOT harder to watch than an offense handicapped by a poor OL.

 

Yup we have to do something about the defense. I am all for getting a quality free-agent Right tackle this off-season. I think there is enough other O-Line talent on the team that we can put a decent line together as long as we solidify RT.

[koozyburger]

Trading down for more picks would allow filling more holes than standing pat @ 3.

I think it depends on who goes @ 1.

If the QB that BuddyChan wants is gone, they might try hard to move down.

I just hope it's not to Warshingtun for McNabb.

the bills would be stupid if they went after mcnabb. he is done and fitz will give us a better chance at winning. that would make no sense son

[Pilsner]

Actually Pilsner, right now Moats is horrendous against the run. Everone has him pensiled in as a starting OLB but the guy has a loooong ways to go before he can play all 3 downs effectively. As of right now he's a 3rd down specialist at best, and it ain't even that special. I'm hoping for a Merriman Quinn QB sandwich myself............

 

He has a way to go to get better at run D. He was a rookie so I'm not super surprised about that. If he's intelligent and hard working I think he'll get better at it in his 2nd year. I'm pretty sure Moats will raise his game. If the FO continues to upgrade the LB Corps I won't complain. As of right now Moats is what he's shown in his rookie year but he'll improve. A Moats, Merriman (Batten + draft pick, FA pick up) sandwich would be a delight to all our hungry tummies.

[Geno Smith's Arm]

Most teams use higher picks on OT's and find their interior OL via the later rounds or even UDFA's. Buffalo's done just the opposite and finds itself with only late round picks, UDFA's, and street free agents for OT's. Erik Pears, Colin Brown, Cordaro Howard, Ed Wang, Jason Watkins and Demetrius Bell all arrived via these routes. They really don't have a starting caliber OT on the roster right now, and that includes Bell.

 

The Bills wanted to be a running team last year and could not do so, in large part due to very little talent at OT. If it weren't for (once again) having so many other positional needs, this team should go OT within the first two rounds. As much as I'd like to see them pick up Tyson Clabo, I agree that Nix isn't high on spending a lot of resources on OT's, draft or free agency.

 

Yes, the Bills suck.

 

But I still believe that Gailey knows how all the parts need to interact in his offense, where their matchups are weakest, and what improvements will provide the most benefits. I hope they do SOMETHING to improve the running game, because other than getting a new QB (I like FitzPat), I can't imagine a better way to improve the overall offense (it would open up the passing game too).

 

I think the receivers, especially with Parrish back (I can't believe I wrote that, but Gailey was actually getting some use out him. Of course he gets injured every year....) are alright, they aren't gonna get a new RB, so the positions I would guess they would pinpoint are Tight End and RT or RG.

 

Or a QB.....

Edited February 27, 2011 by Matthews' Bag

[Geno Smith's Arm]

The quality of the OT draft class reeks this year as the majority of them were getting humiliated by the defensive players of this draft (I am basing this off the senior bowl and one on one matches this year)

 

This is where our free agency dollars should be spent....RT and TE....this is a defensive draft and we should use as many picks as possible to pluck defensive talent and hold onto them.

 

 

I think they will bring in a mid-level free agent to start at RT. I don't think they feel there is much of a difference between the impact of an very good lineman Vs. an average lineman.

[Astrobot]

San Diego's draft history includs all of 1 pick (Marcus McNeill) used on an OT within the top 3 rounds from 01-07 while Buddy was there. It makes no sense to draft a RB 9th overall and then put former practice squad types, UDFA's, and late round picks at OT blocking for him.

 

A lot of people here said Jackson and Spiller had to fight for their yards, as evidenced by their paltry YPC average. Well, if they're serious about improving the run game, they'd better find a way to upgrade the OT situation. But this is a common theme in Buffalo: add a player at a skill position and then not support them with the linemen to help them. It's happened on both sides of the ball for better than a decade.

 

There may not be a top flight LT available, but this year's crop seems deep from the mid to late first into the second. It's a good time to find a RT and then they can replace Bell next season.

 

I think this is a candidate for Post of the Year. So True!

 

I'd be happy with a 2nd Round O-Line pick because of the quality into that round, and because of the depth at 3-4 defensive end into the 5th Round. Teams will be reaching for 3-4 OLB's by Round 2, however. This all means that 3-4 teams will be picking their 3-4 LB's before their 3-4 DE's IMHO.

 

Nix has said he's happy with our DT position and our Guards, but hasn't said Word One about our DE's. I think OLB34 and RT will be early picks, and Nix won't reach especially if FA occurs after the Draft.

[Bob in STL]

San Diego's draft history includs all of 1 pick (Marcus McNeill) used on an OT within the top 3 rounds from 01-07 while Buddy was there. It makes no sense to draft a RB 9th overall and then put former practice squad types, UDFA's, and late round picks at OT blocking for him.

 

A lot of people here said Jackson and Spiller had to fight for their yards, as evidenced by their paltry YPC average. Well, if they're serious about improving the run game, they'd better find a way to upgrade the OT situation. But this is a common theme in Buffalo: add a player at a skill position and then not support them with the linemen to help them. It's happened on both sides of the ball for better than a decade.

 

There may not be a top flight LT available, but this year's crop seems deep from the mid to late first into the second. It's a good time to find a RT and then they can replace Bell next season.

 

 

True. I really don't understand all the talk about our OL being "not that bad". The OTs are weaker now than anytime in franchise history. This showed in our running game YPC, our inability to pick up first downs in short yardage situations, and in our pass blocking against quality defenses. Bell is average at best and we have nothing at RT. That is not hard to see. I suppose Bell can get better with the injury now cleared up. The RT play by Green/Howard/Wrotto/Pears is not NFL caliber and Wang could not get on the field. Should they draft an OT and even in rounds 3 through 5 they are likely to upgrade on the cast of characters we have today.

 

Nix and Gaily are correct in that the defensive front 7 should be the priority. Chan may not be "in tears" over our tackles but that is because our front 7 is so much worse by comparision.

 

There is a lot of work to do to improve this team and to become competitive in the AFCE. It will take three excellent drafts and then some.

 

Actually Pilsner, right now Moats is horrendous against the run. Everone has him pensiled in as a starting OLB but the guy has a loooong ways to go before he can play all 3 downs effectively. As of right now he's a 3rd down specialist at best, and it ain't even that special. I'm hoping for a Merriman Quinn QB sandwich myself............

 

 

I tend to agree. Lots of Moats love on this board and he seems like a great youung man with potential.

 

Moats shows some promise getting to the QB but is has to improve against the run and in coverage.

 

So far he is a good special teamer and a good backup/ ocassional pass rusher. He can improve and seems like a hard worker. Today he is not a solid 3 down LB but it will not surprise me if he gets better.

Edited February 27, 2011 by Bob in STL

[bobobonators]

Tyron Smith from USC, is shooting up the draft boards. He has been rumored to go as high as 3 to Buffalo.. Oh no!!! Not another surprise pick.

 

Tyron Smit will NOT go in the top 5, guaranteed. I'll bet you my buffalo bills piggy-bank helmet on that one. Some of these draft boards at this time are so insane that you can have anyone "shootin up." Draft boards this time of year are of a "look at me mentality" where the creator simply tries to stand out from the kiper's and mcshay's of the world by creating some insanely different draft order than anyone else.

 

That being said, I haven't seen Tyron Smith listed at 3 on any draft board whatsoever.

[BillsVet]

Nix and Gaily are correct in that the defensive front 7 should be the priority. Chan may not be "in tears" over our tackles but that is because our front 7 is so much worse by comparision.

 

There is a lot of work to do to improve this team and to become competitive in the AFCE. It will take three excellent drafts and then some.

 

I don't think Nix values the OT position like most NFL teams do, but even if he does, it seems like every year Buffalo has more important needs somewhere else on the field. And let's be honest the reason for this is moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 last off-season. When you look at a guy like Mike Tomlin, he was a 4-3 guy who went to Pittsburgh and kept the 3-4, which is what the Steelers were built for. The Bills created additional needs by deciding they absolutely need a new defensive scheme, which precludes them from improving the 2 most important OL positions: LT and RT.

 

It's one thing to have a huge rebuild ahead of you as an incoming GM and HC. It's another to add to the task, which is my major criticism of the new regime because rebuilding doesn't have to take 3 off-seasons.

[sllib olaffub]

Here goes optimism: I think we have some quality starters on the O-line in Bell, Levitre, Wood, Ubrik, and then I think we have reliable to good backups in Rhinehard, Pears, Hangartner - now, Pears might be good enough to be a good starter, or Rhinehart - but, we could stand to get better until our line is dominant - I don't think anyone argues that. But, Our line, I think has shown, is growing and getting better and is good enough (we just want dominant).

 

Our D-line has (I'm projecting to what I think these guys will do) three quality starters in K. Williams, Carrington, D. Edwards, and a potential talent in Troupe. However, we need - just like with the O-line - to be dominant, not just average. So, we add DE/NT. People will say, if our line was good, why did we get tore up last year in Rushing Yards Allowed? My response to that is that our talent wasn't bad - it just wasn't ideally suited to the 3-4. Troupe and Williams would be a fine 4-3 DT combo. It's just that we (in my opinion just about any team should have) a behemoth who can stop the run by himself - I'm hoping we can get Phil Taylor in the second (he'd be worth trading up 4-5 picks to get, too, because a NT who can just stop the run up the middle totally changes a team's defense).

 

Our WR's are good enough to start - again, they're going to get better with experience, and that means we'll have a group a lot like Green Bay, I think. Sure, we could add talent to make the group exceptional... a trend is appearing here.

 

LB's. Moats, Merriman, Poz - they could be above average. Davis, Batten, Coleman, Maybin could be good, could be at best 3rd string - we have young guys that could develop into a strong group (Pittsburgh has LB's that didn't become good for a few years, they just are usually sure to give their guys the time to develope). I think if we added a Quinn, or Miller, on the outside and a Wilson, say, on the inside, we'd go from lacking to strong on the LB position.

 

Our secondary is good, but is in turnover, and we'll need to add some talent. I think with the right additions it could be a strength, and with neglect it could turn into a weakness. Here, like other places, the style of play on the defense makes a difference - with a nasty pass rush our secondary would be fine as is, but left to cover too long and they don't hold up.

 

QB is serviceable. TE is non-existant; although, I'm not giving up on Nelson turning into a really dangerous second TE in a two TE set.

 

I happen to think RB is going to be a real strength for us this year. Spiller is going to be a terror this year.

 

What is my point here? We have a lot of areas that aren't crying needs - TE and LB are really our worst areas, crying needs. But just about every position needs upgraded with just one more key player to make the unit strong. That is encouraging to me because: I think this year's draft is set up, depth wise, to make us much stronger. We can - if we so choose - put together a front seven on defense, in the first three to four rounds, that will be good for us for the forseeable future. We might even be able to finagle a QB in the first 4 rounds. If we went, in order of picks, DE, QB, ILB, NT, TE - we could end up with, maybe, only needing to add a OLB, Safety, and RT to be really competitive and ready for the playoffs.

Also, when F.A. does finally get here, we'll be able to fix some things - at least a few positions like RT, LB, and S can be added that route.

 

With the right picks we can look forward to having a team that we can finally see having the potential to win (although, I think even with the perfect picks and a good F.A., we're too young to do anything but learn to be good, learn to win, and that we will be a breakout team in 2012).

[Cash]

I don't think Nix values the OT position like most NFL teams do, but even if he does, it seems like every year Buffalo has more important needs somewhere else on the field. And let's be honest the reason for this is moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 last off-season. When you look at a guy like Mike Tomlin, he was a 4-3 guy who went to Pittsburgh and kept the 3-4, which is what the Steelers were built for. The Bills created additional needs by deciding they absolutely need a new defensive scheme, which precludes them from improving the 2 most important OL positions: LT and RT.

 

It's one thing to have a huge rebuild ahead of you as an incoming GM and HC. It's another to add to the task, which is my major criticism of the new regime because rebuilding doesn't have to take 3 off-seasons.

 

Bingo. I'm very frustrated by the Bills' Steamboat Rebuild they're running. Scrapping the defense set us back at least an additional year. And on top of that, we have a GM who publicly says:

 

1.) We have tons of needs and not much talent.

2.) He doesn't like free agency or trades as ways to acquire talent.

3.) He doesn't like trading down to pick up additional draft picks.

 

So the plan is to go 8-for-8 this year and next, and have 16 good new starters? How many impact players does Nix really think he's going to find in the draft?

 

As a fan, I appreciate the front office finally acknowledging the lack of talent on the team, instead of the "we're so amazingly close to the Super Bowl" BS we heard in the Jauron Era, but I get the feeling that it's just the team telling us fans what we want to hear. Because if we're really that bad, we should have traded down in nearly every round last year, and picked up an additional 5-6 picks between last year's draft and this year's. And we should be *aggressive* in free agency, not passive. Targeting lower-priced players is fine, but don't just sign 3 of them and call it a day. You have needs all over the field. And I don't buy the "they needed last year to see what they had" argument. If they really couldn't tell what they had from watching game tape, they're not qualified to be running an NFL team. Go to college or high school if the only way you can evaluate a player is by seeing him in practice.

 

Anyway, getting a little more directly on topic, it seems to me that Nix and Gailey both fell for the same common trap when evaluating O-lines: letting the quality of the QB influence your assessment of the line. Peyton Manning is awesome, therefore he must have an elite O-line. Trent Edwards sucks, therefore the O-line is horrible. Fitzpatrick is a lot more effective than Edwards; looks like the line is improving! I disagree. A QB (like Fitz) with pocket presence, who is willing and able to get rid of the ball quickly and/or elude pass-rushers, will always make his O-line look a lot better than a QB with no pocket presence (like Edwards). But Fitz was under pressure as much as Edwards was, he was just competent at dealing with it. Our run game regressed from 2009 to 2010, despite investing the #9 overall pick in a RB who was supposed to make our offensive linemen better somehow. (Excluding QB and P runs, 4.0 yards/carry in 2010, 4.3 in 2009.) Injuries maybe caused some of that regression, but how good were the guys who got hurt? And what are the odds they (Bell) stay healthy going forward? I would rate our line about the same now as I did last year: Bad, but not the worst in the league. Luckily, it's pretty young, so most of those guys should probably get better. But I don't think the path to the playoffs is paved with Demetrius Bell, Erik Pears, and Ed Wang as our top 3 tackles.

[spartacus]

I like it. Althought I think we could achieve the same goal by sitting tight, and take Ijelana or Sherrod to play LT/RT in the 2nd, and taking James Carpenter in the 3rd to play RT/OG and/or Moffit in the 4th.

 

We need bodies. Bad. Trading back is obviously the best thing we could do.

 

obviously -

 

but it won't sell tickets

 

so Ralph's plan is to move up to #1 to guarantee they get Cam

 

 

 

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Honestly, there's been TONS of criticism of the Bills attempted switch to a 3-4 scheme.

 

But the overwhelming sentiment on this board before last season was that the Bills should switch to a 3-4 defense.

 

So to those criticizing the switch to the 3-4, were you also advising against the switch before it happened?

 

For the record, I liked the idea of going to the 3-4 but was aware of the very few who pointed out that we were late in getting up on that wave and would have a hard time competing for the unabundant 3-4 talent.

 

A very few people here pointed out the great success of defenses like Minnesota's 4-3 in arguing that it's not the scheme, it's the players.

 

But again, I heard almost zero concerns about switching to a 3-4…and now I'm hearing lots of criticism of the move.

 

Back on topic, this would be a great year to take an offensive tackle in the 2nd round.

 

One or more of the top-rated tackles WILL slide to our pick at #34.

 

Last year, the Rams drafted Rodger Saffold at #33. He started every game for them at LEFT tackle…even though there were concerns pre-draft that he was not athletic enough to play left tackle. There was the usual conventional thinking that he would be a right tackle or a guard due to what was perceived as not having good enough footwork for the blind side.

 

Saffold was so good that he forced Jason Smith (drafted #2 overall in 2009) over to the right side.

 

Just because AJ Smith and Nix didn't draft OTs early doesn't mean that Nix won't do so this year. While there are few if any OTs ranked as elite this year, there are a bunch that have good grades.

 

Our pick at #34 is virtually a late first round pick. A good O-tackle will slide to us. Will the Bills recognize him and take him?

 

Who might be this year's Rodger Saffold?

Edited February 27, 2011 by San Jose Bills Fan

[spartacus]

Honestly, there's been TONS of criticism of the Bills attempted switch to a 3-4 scheme.

 

But the overwhelming sentiment on this board before last season was that the Bills should switch to a 3-4 defense.

 

So to those criticizing the switch to the 3-4, were you also advising against the switch before it happened?

 

For the record, I liked the idea of going to the 3-4 but was aware of the very few who pointed out that we were late in getting up on that wave and would have a hard time competing for the unabundant 3-4 talent.

 

A very few people here pointed out the great success of defenses like Minnesota's 4-3 in arguing that it's not the scheme, it's the players.

 

But again, I heard almost zero concerns about switching to a 3-4…and now I'm hearing lots of criticism of the move.

 

Back on topic, this would be a great year to take an offensive tackle in the 2nd round.

 

One or more of the top-rated tackles WILL slide to our pick at #34.

 

Last year, the Rams drafted Rodger Saffold at #33. He started every game for them at LEFT tackle…even though there were concerns pre-draft that he was not athletic enough to play left tackle. There was the usual conventional thinking that he would be a right tackle or a guard due to what was perceived as not having good enough footwork for the blind side.

 

Saffold was so good that he forced Jason Smith (drafted #2 overall in 2009) over to the right side.

 

Just because AJ Smith and Nix didn't draft OTs early doesn't mean that Nix won't do so this year. While there are few if any OTs ranked as elite this year, there are a bunch that have good grades.

 

Our pick at #34 is virtually a late first round pick. A good O-tackle will slide to us. Will the Bills recognize him and take him?

 

Who might be this year's Rodger Saffold?

 

The switch to the 3-4 has been a clusterfu** for 2 reasons, lack of talent and even bigger lack of coaching

 

 

If Buddy and Chan were so set on switching, why hamstring the entire transition by hiring a DC with zero experience in running a 3-4 or in converting from a 4-3.

 

Since last year's plan worked so well, they kept the DC and went out and got the high paid defenisve guy- but who has no experience with implementing or running the 3-4. The 3-4 is good when it is run with multiple looks, blitzes so the offense does not know where the front 7 is coming from. Lining up 3 down linemen without the rest of the package results in the worst run defense in the NFL