Park Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Right now, of the 27 draft picks Nix has made as Bills GM, 24 are still with the organization. Of that group, there are 13 players that, barring injury, are almost certain bets to make the opening day roster. Those players include: Marcell Dareus, C.J. Spiller, Stephon Gilmore, Aaron Williams, Cordy Glenn, Kelvin Sheppard, T.J. Graham, Da'Norris Searcy, Nigel Bradham, Chris Hairston, Ron Brooks, Zebrie Sanders and Justin Rogers. That, of course, leaves 11 Nix draft picks that are fighting for jobs this summer. 2010-2-41: Torell Troup, DT, Central Florida. Back injuries first slowed, and then stopped, Troup's on-field development. He's aided by the fact that the depth at defensive tackle is currently in a state of flux, but Troup must prove that his back is fully repaired to earn a roster spot. I think he makes the team if he stays healthy through the preseason games. 2010-3-72: Alex Carrington, DT, Arkansas State. Drafted to be a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4, Carrington will now slide to defensive tackle, where he has some upside as a situational pass rusher. How quickly he transitions to his new role will go a long way toward determining whether or not he makes the team. I think he makes the team. 2010-4-107: Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut. Easley's story is well-known at this point: he's an excellent physical talent that has yet to appear in a regular season game due to a rookie knee injury and a heart condition. Purportedly healthy again, if Easley can stay that way through early September, he's a strong bet to stick. I think he makes the team if he stays healthy. 2011-5-133: Johnny White, RB, North Carolina. Considered an excellent special teams player with upside as a backup-type runner, White was unremarkable as a rookie, and will compete with veteran Tashard Choice for the third running back job this summer. I don't think he will make the team because T. Choice is a much more reliable RB and the Bills will need a third RB that they can count on behind Jackson and Spiller. 2012-5-147: Tank Carder, LB, TCU. Linebacker depth is something of a free-for-all this year, so it's hard to call any depth player a lock at this point. I like Carder's chances, considering he was the only linebacker on this list drafted specifically to play in a 4-3. His chances are 50/50 to make the team. I think he will be one of the last players to make the team as long as the Bills don't pick up a veteran LB along the way like they did with Barnett. 2011-6-169: Chris White, LB, Mississippi State. To my eye, Carder and White are fairly interchangeable athletically, with Carder perhaps a hair more agile. I like White coming into the league, and think he's got just as good a chance at earning a depth/special teams spot as any other linebacker this year. It's going to be Carder or White. I'm picking Carder at this point. 2010-6-178: Arthur Moats, LB, James Madison. Earlier in the off-season, it was fair to question where the former college defensive end fit as a 4-3 linebacker, but Moats has had a great off-season to date. He's now hovering near lock territory, and his pass rushing ability gives the Bills a potential sub-package wrinkle if he makes the cut. I think he'll make the team. 2012-6-178: Mark Asper, C, Oregon. A massive 6'7", 325-pound former college tackle and guard, Asper is learning the center position, where he'll compete with veteran Colin Brown - among others - for the fifth interior lineman spot on the final roster. I think the Bills will only keep 8 OLs on the 53 man roster, which means he won't make it. 2010-6-192: Danny Batten, LB, South Dakota State. Another former college defensive end drafted to play 3-4 outside linebacker, Batten now looks very out of place in a 4-3. He's worked as a long snapper in spring practices to try to increase his roster value, but Batten has the steepest climb to the final roster of any linebacker listed here. If he doesn't make it as the LS then he won't make the team. I'd love to see him make it in that role because he can play LB/DE as well. Thus, I say that he will beat out Sanborn. 2011-7-245: Michael Jasper, OG, Bethel (TN). A fan favorite from the very day he was drafted, Jasper spent his rookie season on the practice squad working as a guard. The fact that he's purely a guard at this point hurts his cause, but he's still a marvelous athlete for such a massive man, and he'll be fighting for the final guard/center spot alongside Asper. he won't make it. 2012-7-251: John Potter, K, Western Michigan. There's no question that Potter will capably perform the role of kickoff specialist that he was drafted to fill. The question will be whether or not the coaching staff can find a spot for such a limited role player on the final roster. I don't think he will make it. In summary, of the 24 drafted players that are still with the Bills, I anticipate that 19 will make the 53 man roster in 2012. That's 19 of the 27 players that Nix has drafted or 70%, which is pretty darn good. What are your thoughts regarding these players and the job that Nix has done thus far?? Wow, great job man, thanks for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Best Player Available Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Wow, great job man, thanks for that! Actually, thanks goes to the author. Brian Galliford, not coc who simply cut and pasted his work with no mention or props to the real author. Shameful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Brian is one of my favorite reads. Not that he needs the recognition, but he certainly deserves it for all his good work keeping us awake till camp. little joke. But the detail he provides for us is just excellent. he has taught me just by reading his articles more than i can recall. To the Op and all, i did not even notice it was not quoted proper as i had already read the article and knew it was Mr Gallifords. So thanks Brian again for the article and thanks for the post up. just be sure to clarify your quote, because i am sure it was an accident Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malazan Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 It was his fault bc they reached for a player to fill a need...Troup was a bad pick even without the bad back Having a good draft in 2011 doesn't make up for having a bad one the year before, that's not how it works He'd been on the job for three months? Calling it 'his' draft while technically accurate ignores a lot of other factors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganesh Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 You had a chance of making sense until you managed to turn the Dareus pick into a disappointment - sliding yourself all the way to silly. I think you lost my point ...I said Dareus has been good to great though not very dominant. I think it aptly reflects his season. Dareus did not make it to the Pro bowl or be voted as an All-Pro. I love the Dareus pick and hope he is our next Bruce Smith on the DL. But, that is what was his contribution to the team last year. The DL couldn't stop the run...they were 27th or 28th in the league. Dareus was part of that DL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malazan Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 (edited) I think you lost my point ...I said Dareus has been good to great though not very dominant. I think it aptly reflects his season. Dareus did not make it to the Pro bowl or be voted as an All-Pro. I love the Dareus pick and hope he is our next Bruce Smith on the DL. But, that is what was his contribution to the team last year. The DL couldn't stop the run...they were 27th or 28th in the league. Dareus was part of that DL. Changing nothing else except that he gets voted to the pro-bowl, does that change the impact he had on defense? Edited July 17, 2012 by jeremy2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 no one gets voted to the pro bowl on a terrible defense regardless of play. wait for this year. the whole defense will be on the field representing the AFC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milehiLou Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 pickups such as Merriman, Urbik, Rhinehart, Pears, (Sam) Young, Chandler, Hagan, Barnett, and Morrison (as well as a handful of other still unproven pickups like Dickerson, McKillop, Onubun, Lee) have offset a weak first draft class. Nix and Whaley have a good eye on the waiver wire which IMO shows a great grasp of team needs as well as league wide personnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 I'll preface this by saying Buddy is a great personnel guy. Has been for decades. While I like the fact that his drafts have produced a high roster turnover rate, I think that turnover rate is more indicative of previous regimes' incompetence more than anything else. Just a look at the career arcs of players taken in those drafts is all you need to see. We were stocked with some very poor players. How's that for a firm grasp of the readily apparent? GO BILLS!!! Not bad. You forgot to mention that every team turns over its roster to a degree every season and every team keeps a good percentage of their draft picks if for no other reason than to give "their guys" a chance and to show ownership that they are doing a great job. Teams that are struggling accelerate that turnover, and let's not mention that an NFL regime change is often followed by a house cleaning. Marv Levy led a massive roster upheaval as well, but like you said that regime was incompetent. So turnover does not equate to competence. Buddy is a good scout and has been doing it forever. On the other side of the coin, there have been clear missteps, such as investing picks in transitioning to a 3-4 defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 He'd been on the job for three months? Calling it 'his' draft while technically accurate ignores a lot of other factors. Mostly Modrak scouting that draft. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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