DrDawkinstein Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I would've been more or less fine with AJ Green because I viewed him as a blue-chip stud, and on a team that (I thought) was devoid of talent, you can always use a stud at any position. Plus, even with Lee Evans in the fold, I thought we could've used another outside receiver. So Green would've been a fine pick. BUT! Dareus was such a much better pick. A WR can be a crucial piece of success, but he's not a conditional piece - meaning he can't help the team without the O-line & QB. (Look at Steve Smith last year vs. this year.) DE/DTs like Dareus are foundational pieces. I believe that you start with the foundation, then add the skill pieces on top of it (which is why I didn't like the Spiller pick or Brad Smith signing). And on top of that, Dareus perfectly fit our biggest need - run defense - and somewhat fit another strong need in interior pass rushing. Dareus all the way, no hesitation. Only player I would have to maybe move ahead of him on my retroactive board would be Cam Newton. I dont really disagree. My board going into the draft went: Dareus, Newton, Fairly, Green. In that order. So I wouldve been "fine" with the Green pick, but concerned about our D. Of course, the rest of our draft changes then, and Im sure Buddy wouldve addressed it later. But getting that top level DL is crucial to building a team. Agreed, gotta start up front and in the middle, and work your way out! IMO, if it was ME drafting, when in doubt with who to take in the first, I would almost always default to DL or OL early. You can find speedy skills guys later/anywhere.
Cynical Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 We're 31% (or 26% percent depending on how ambitious you're feeling) of the way into the season. It's a good time to reflect on first round draft pick performance. Not to be too revisionist here, but does anyone wish (even a teeny weeny bit) that we would have drafted AJ Green? I mean, at a minimum, wouldn't it be a wash - in that he would have had an equal offensive impact as Mr. Dareus has had defensively? No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Hell no. And so there is no confusion: NO Given the state of the Bills D at the end of the 2010 season (especially the D-line), picking MD was god damn no brainer. I would have come unglued if they chose AJ. I don't hate AJ, but the continued decision to ignore the lines would have been too much.
DrDawkinstein Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Hell no. And so there is no confusion: NO Weird coming from the Bama guy...
KD in CA Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 To assess last year's draft picks 5 weeks into their first season is beyond ridiculous. +1 And almost as ridiculous as suggesting the Bills should have picked a WR over a DL.
Gugny Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Really...you feel this way even though both look to be studs. It's not like I'm declaring either a bust after 5 games. Both have been proficient enough and flashed enough situational brillance that we can begin to understand their skill set and it's application to their respective teams. Around draft time, there was a hardy contingent of folks here advocating for Green. Many felt that he was the best player in the draft. I think its interesting to ponder, given how the team has filled out and what Chan's game-day philosophy is, the question: what if we had had went for Green? We're winning by out-scoring opponents and relying on opportunistic take-aways. We're not winning by grinding out games and hoping that the opponent has less yards then us and that that lack of yards translates favorably into lack of scoring opportunities and lack of opponent points. Who best integrates into that style of play? Really. I do feel this way. We're winning because we're scoring more points than our opponents. And drafting a WR when you had the worst run-stopping defense in the league would have been insane. The WRs on our roster have done a stellar job. And Dareus is a beast.
SouthGeorgiaBillsFan Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 WR is the least important position in the NFL. DT is the most important defensive position. Under no circumstances would I ever prefer A.J. Green to Marcell Dareus.
Hazed and Amuzed Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 WR is the least important position in the NFL. DT is the most important defensive position. Under no circumstances would I ever prefer A.J. Green to Marcell Dareus.
Juror#8 Posted October 11, 2011 Author Posted October 11, 2011 +1 And almost as ridiculous as suggesting the Bills should have picked a WR over a DL. See: my post back to Gugny in reply to your "+1" gem. Secondly, since by my count NO ONE yet has suggested that Buddy should have taken AJ Green over Dareus, I guess the only "ridiculous," thing is someone who would assert otherwise.
D521646 Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Speaking of analysts. I haven't heard anything negative about Darius, in fact, everything I've heard from ANYONE worht their salt is nothing but A+ on the Marcel pick for the Bills. He hasn't disappointed at all, and he looks this good as a rookie. What can we expect from this guy as he matures and begins to figure out specific tackles he faces game in and game out?? This guy could be better than Smith, and that's saying something! Tim-
OCinBuffalo Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 NO. I just finished watching every game this season...again. Dareus has had a significant impact: drawing double teams consistently, forcing teams to run away from him, forcing teams to bring in the TE/keep the RB in the pocket for extra protection, basically doing everything a DT/DE is supposed to be doing. And, he's still making plays in spite of teams having to account for him...none bigger than jumping up while, again, double teamed, on Brady and causing the deflection/INT/TD. Here's my prediction: the Bills have had to respect the running game of every team they have played so far, because all were good if not elite. This week we play the Giants. Their running game sucks. Time for the Bills to tee off on Manning. They don't have to worry about containing the run/mobile QB/pass to the RB/screen game. This time it's all about rushing the passer for 80% of the plays. We will see what we have in our OLBs and DEs. But, most importantly, this is the opportunity for the middle of the line to showcase themselves.
Juror#8 Posted October 11, 2011 Author Posted October 11, 2011 Some people have highlight-vision. They only see what ESPN shows as a highlight. Otherwise it didn't happen. PTR Not sure where you're going with this. Am I the "they," in your statement, and the only thing that they see is AJ Green making catches whereas Dareus has only one sack. If that is what you're saying (and please note the conditional "if"), then you're wrong. Firstly, I think Marcell is better. Secondly, I realize that his impact can never be truly or fully appreciated by looking at the statistical sheet. Dareus' near-sack of Michael Vick, myriad other QB pressures, and run-disrupting capability highlights that proposition quite well. Sorry, I just grow weary of every other post here being "we should have drafted..." Understood and I appreciated your response. I was just interested in knowing if anyone felt that there was a better fit now that we're into the season and the rooks have had a chance to play on Sundays a bit. I guess that I should have entitled this "Knowing what you know now, would Dareus still have been your first choice."
bizell Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I'm guessing you meant prodigious, but I really like the idea of a guy with prodigal talents. "If you want to blow through some money, Megatron's your guy!" Come to think of it, Antoine Walker and MC Hammer had some prodigal talents. I would've been more or less fine with AJ Green because I viewed him as a blue-chip stud, and on a team that (I thought) was devoid of talent, you can always use a stud at any position. Plus, even with Lee Evans in the fold, I thought we could've used another outside receiver. So Green would've been a fine pick. BUT! Dareus was such a much better pick. A WR can be a crucial piece of success, but he's not a conditional piece - meaning he can't help the team without the O-line & QB. (Look at Steve Smith last year vs. this year.) DE/DTs like Dareus are foundational pieces. I believe that you start with the foundation, then add the skill pieces on top of it (which is why I didn't like the Spiller pick or Brad Smith signing). And on top of that, Dareus perfectly fit our biggest need - run defense - and somewhat fit another strong need in interior pass rushing. Dareus all the way, no hesitation. Only player I would have to maybe move ahead of him on my retroactive board would be Cam Newton. DOH! Yeah, prodigous is what I meant. My point still stands, incorrect grammar and all.
Mr. WEO Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Its an interesting thing to consider, especially now that our deepest position is Dline and our weakest is WR. In training camp, our top 6 receivers were Evans, Stevie, Easley, Parrish, Jones, and Nelson. We are down to two and we run a spread offense. We have a backup QB as one of our receivers and two guys that we cut back on the team. (I wonder if Fitz likes throwing to Ruvell Martin or Lee Evans better?) But I still would rather have Dareus. He was the right pick. good points.
billsfreak Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 At this point, after only 5 games, Green has been the better rookie, and may in the long run too. That said, our run defense was so disgustingly bad last year (it isn't a whole lot better this year so far), that Dareus was the right pick for this team. Not saying Dareus doesn't have a chance to develop into a really good if not great player, but if he stays healthy, Green will be a top 2-3 wide receiver in this league in a year or two. Green is performing at a level for that position that usually takes a couple years for recievers, as it is one of the hardest positions for college players to adjust to, but Dareus has by no means been a bust, just has a way to go. Besides if the Bills would have drafted Green, then Nix probably would have traded Stevie Johnson away during training camp, since you don't want to have too many good receivers.
DrDawkinstein Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 At this point, after only 5 games, Green has been the better rookie, and may in the long run too. That said, our run defense was so disgustingly bad last year (it isn't a whole lot better this year so far), That is where I stopped reading. Really? Not a whole lot better this year?
Ozymandius Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I'll take the big guy. I'll almost always take the dominant big guy in the trenches. Another consideration is that the Bills are a small market team with a cheap owner. With a limited amount of money, it's better to spend it on the lines and allow Gailey to work his magic with underappreciated receivers. Some teams need to spend big at WR. We are probably an exception.
BuffaloBill Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Personally I don't think WR is as important of position that you take it with in the first 10 picks. You start with the lines and QB and build outwards. Just my opinion. We seem to be doing fine with a bunch of 7th round and udfa WRs. This .... The Bills have amade a gold mine out of straw when it comes to WR's. Dareus was absolutely the right pick.
Just in Atlanta Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 The Bills only pick receivers in the 7th or on waivers. That's our new MO. And I like it.
billsfreak Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 That is where I stopped reading. Really? Not a whole lot better this year? You can stop reading all you want but in 2010 the Bills opponents averaged 4.8 yards per carry. So far in 2011 the Bills opponents are averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Does that sound like a major improvement to you? I know stats don't tell everything and I think the run defense has improved some (which has exposed our weak pass defense) but be real, our defense hasn't been great with the only exception being turnovers that have kept us in games that otherwise our defense would have lost for us. Anyone who says that our defense has been playing at a playoff level isn't being very honest with themselves and is letting their heart overthink their head.
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