Please draft Reggie Ragland…

[boyst]

Do you have any opinions that aren't just terrible?

you're an amazing poster?

[3rdand12]

 

I wholeheartedly agree that Reggie shouldn't be at the top of the Bills board. He's not the biggest need pick because Preston can do a job at MLB. As much as I love Ragland as a player, I realise that he's probably not the guy we should be after at 19.

 

Part of me is thinking that LB drops off faster than DL does and that's leading me to thinking of taking LB in the 1st and leaving DL for later rounds (where some real talent should be left at 49). Part of me is thinking the same about an edge rusher. Take Spence or Shaq Lawson if they're available at 19 because the dropoff is pretty severe at EDGE too. Same applies to Taylor Decker if he's available.

 

What really inspired my mini-rant about Ragland wasn't people like yourself. I'm not blind to circumstance, I know that the team has bigger weaknesses than MLB. It's simply that I hate the fact that certain fallacies (or things I believe to be fallacies) are being spread about him by people that probably haven't ever watched him play. I also dug my heels in after all those idiots decided to get after Teddy Bridgewater because of his Pro Day. Chances are, that was about all most of them saw of Teddy.

 

In short, I think I hate the draft process.

For a noob like me, who is pretty decent at some other disciplines in life, looking at the draft without watching college ball is a lot like panning for gold. Not mining mind you,but panning.

and like sifting piles of poo for a swallowed diamond.

So much misinformation and slanted perspective.

Hype and slander.

NFL offseason entertainment is what it is.

 

You folks who dig deep and research these players is more informative to me than anything i have picked up via media

Thanks Blokes and Everyone who is keeping it real here

 

[Augie]

For a noob like me, who is pretty decent at some other disciplines in life, looking at the draft without watching college ball is a lot like panning for gold. Not mining mind you,but panning.

and like sifting piles of poo for a swallowed diamond.

So much misinformation and slanted perspective.

Hype and slander.

NFL offseason entertainment is what it is.

 

You folks who dig deep and research these players is more informative to me than anything i have picked up via media

 

Thanks Blokes and Everyone who is keeping it real here

 

So........what have we learned?

 

I'm so confused.

[3rdand12]

So........what have we learned?

 

I'm so confused.

let the cards fall where they may. Do not be alarmed. Keep it simple.

 

find happiness in the little things in life

[Augie]

let the cards fall where they may. Do not be alarmed. Keep it simple.

 

find happiness in the little things in life

That's actually a very good synopsis!

 

But I have a few additional Rex comments. I'll skip them for now under the "find happiness" heading.

[3rdand12]

That's actually a very good synopsis!

 

But I have a few additional Rex comments. I'll skip them for now under the "find happiness" heading.

Ha thanks for the good etiquette.

there is always some good to be found if you wish to look.

just like me . Found a buddy or two on the forum. I joined here for the beer and prizes.

Edited April 22, 2016 by 3rdand12

[Augie]

Ha thanks for the good etiquette.

there is always some good to be found if you wish to look.

just like me . Found a buddy or two on the forum. I joined here for the beer and prizes.

BEER AND PRIZES? Sign me up!

[3rdand12]

BEER AND PRIZES? Sign me up!

Right ! Great forum TBD

[Buffaloed in Pa]

 

@PFF_College

Alabama's Reggie Ragland was the only LB to finish with a +7.0 or better grade in all facets (coverage, run, pass rush) #NFLDraft

 

He also had a real good line and and line backers to help him look better.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

 

Ragland is a good player...Unquestionably...But the jump is steep...And the Bills already have a player that is similar to Ragland in Preston Brown...And before anyone gets crazy I know Ragland is the better prospect...He'll probably be a better pro...But in Rex's Defense...heck in the NFL period...the vast majority of downs there is only going to be one "inside" LB on the field at a time...

 

And raw numbers matter when you are comparing him against the 3 to 4 players that the Bills will likely be looking at when their pick comes around at #19...I just don't think he's going to stack up against a D-lineman who will be in there on most downs with Dareus and KW...And the top of this Draft is loaded with those kind of D-linemen...LB is a need...But the last thing you want to do is pass on a better player...in another area of need btw (unless of course you ignore all those downs Mario Williams played last year)...

 

I certainly don't want to sound negative about Ragland...Or Lee...Floyd for that matter...But what I see from all of them are more 1-2 down players in this Defense...In a normal Draft year I honestly would be fine with that...Because the Bills do desperately need LB depth...But in this Draft you have D-linemen that have legit Pro Bowl potential...You have guys who are potential monsters that...next to Dareus...would drastically change this Defense on all 3 downs...And IF it comes down to BPA at #19 I just can't see a scenario where any of these LB's...Ragland included...will be better than one of the many D-linemen available...

Thank you to you and others for a pleasant and informative thread here. If I may play the cantankerous voice of dissension...

 

There's a stat making the rounds that modern defenses are in the nickel or dime on 65 percent of snaps. I wonder if you or others would be willing to elaborate on how a 3 tech 5 tech type of lineman can help on these two thirds of our plays when Marcell and Kyle are already in place as outstanding DTs for a 4 man front. This not to mention we've burned 1.7m of our precious little cap space to retain Corbin Bryant presumably to be their primary backup.

 

Are we talking about life after Kyle Williams, and accepting that Bryant is a waste of money and the 19th pick is on the bench as a rookie more often than not? Or is Kyle Williams an 8m backup more often than not? Or are we counting on one of these behemoths to be an edge rusher and play nickel DE? Seems like if this is the pick we'd have been better off cutting at least one of Kyle and Bryant loose. Hindsight being 20 20 of course. But still with money so tight this offseason I wish we would have planned this thing out better than seeing healthy major resources riding the pine so often.

 

I have similar questions about the base scheme. If the pick is Rankins or Jones my understanding is that for the rook to play alongside dareus and Kyle, big 99 would have to play the nose, meaning we're largely wasting our best player. Alternatively we could address this in like the 5th round rather than the 1st, drafting a nose tackle and having half a chance of getting pass rush production from the 100m dollar man.

 

I guess if I'm boiling it down I'm asking why we need 4 different 3‐down‐capable 300 pound linemen, and whether that is the optimal use of our paltry resources.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Aaron

[YattaOkasan]

Thank you to you and others for a pleasant and informative thread here. If I may play the cantankerous voice of dissension...

 

There's a stat making the rounds that modern defenses are in the nickel or dime on 65 percent of snaps. I wonder if you or others would be willing to elaborate on how a 3 tech 5 tech type of lineman can help on these two thirds of our plays when Marcell and Kyle are already in place as outstanding DTs for a 4 man front. This not to mention we've burned 1.7m of our precious little cap space to retain Corbin Bryant presumably to be their primary backup.

 

Are we talking about life after Kyle Williams, and accepting that Bryant is a waste of money and the 19th pick is on the bench as a rookie more often than not? Or is Kyle Williams an 8m backup more often than not? Or are we counting on one of these behemoths to be an edge rusher and play nickel DE? Seems like if this is the pick we'd have been better off cutting at least one of Kyle and Bryant loose. Hindsight being 20 20 of course. But still with money so tight this offseason I wish we would have planned this thing out better than seeing healthy major resources riding the pine so often.

 

I have similar questions about the base scheme. If the pick is Rankins or Jones my understanding is that for the rook to play alongside dareus and Kyle, big 99 would have to play the nose, meaning we're largely wasting our best player. Alternatively we could address this in like the 5th round rather than the 1st, drafting a nose tackle and having half a chance of getting pass rush production from the 100m dollar man.

 

I guess if I'm boiling it down I'm asking why we need 4 different 3‐down‐capable 300 pound linemen, and whether that is the optimal use of our paltry resources.

I would like us to go with EDGE or LB at 19 with us picking up an interior DL 2nd or later in the draft. I do think Kyle Williams is going to be a nickel specialist (3 tech), our 2nd round rookie will be in the base, and Bryant will back everyone up. Hopefully, they do pick up the edge rusher at 19 so he can play DE. Its weird it feels like a we are missing a lot more pieces that I think we actually are. Getting pretty excited for the draft.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

I would like us to go with EDGE or LB at 19 with us picking up an interior DL 2nd or later in the draft. I do think Kyle Williams is going to be a nickel specialist (3 tech), our 2nd round rookie will be in the base, and Bryant will back everyone up. Hopefully, they do pick up the edge rusher at 19 so he can play DE. Its weird it feels like a we are missing a lot more pieces that I think we actually are. Getting pretty excited for the draft.

Haha I hear you, can't wait for this thing. To me edge does make more sense in the first because there's an open spot in the nickel as you say. I'm not so enthused to draft a lineman at 19 if they're a backup most of the time.

[BADOLBILZ]

Thank you to you and others for a pleasant and informative thread here. If I may play the cantankerous voice of dissension...

 

There's a stat making the rounds that modern defenses are in the nickel or dime on 65 percent of snaps. I wonder if you or others would be willing to elaborate on how a 3 tech 5 tech type of lineman can help on these two thirds of our plays when Marcell and Kyle are already in place as outstanding DTs for a 4 man front. This not to mention we've burned 1.7m of our precious little cap space to retain Corbin Bryant presumably to be their primary backup.

 

Are we talking about life after Kyle Williams, and accepting that Bryant is a waste of money and the 19th pick is on the bench as a rookie more often than not? Or is Kyle Williams an 8m backup more often than not? Or are we counting on one of these behemoths to be an edge rusher and play nickel DE? Seems like if this is the pick we'd have been better off cutting at least one of Kyle and Bryant loose. Hindsight being 20 20 of course. But still with money so tight this offseason I wish we would have planned this thing out better than seeing healthy major resources riding the pine so often.

 

I have similar questions about the base scheme. If the pick is Rankins or Jones my understanding is that for the rook to play alongside dareus and Kyle, big 99 would have to play the nose, meaning we're largely wasting our best player. Alternatively we could address this in like the 5th round rather than the 1st, drafting a nose tackle and having half a chance of getting pass rush production from the 100m dollar man.

 

I guess if I'm boiling it down I'm asking why we need 4 different 3‐down‐capable 300 pound linemen, and whether that is the optimal use of our paltry resources.

 

 

The draft is about building a better, more talented roster, not patching perceived holes.

 

The Bills have proven time and again that drafting for need gets you nowhere.

 

Ralph Wilson created a culture where the draft was used to patch holes and create instant gratification and that went from a weakness to a huge disadvantage when owners of other like-minded, mediocrely managed organizations passed on and were succeeded by sharper young minds.

 

Only recently have the Bills gotten better in this regard......to soon to say it's a permanent organizational change and there is no proof that they have decided on an organization identity yet.

 

So the point with many of these DL is that they are very likely to be the best available players at high impact, expensive and difficult to fill positions.

 

The problem there is that I think sometimes people get carried away and forget that for a DL to warrant high round value he really needs to be able to rush the passer VERY well.

 

That may not be a big requirement in RR D, but you don't need to reach for run defenders and there are actually plenty of talented DL in this class who should be both excellent as 2 gap stack and shed DE's or 1 gap pass rushing DT's in the event that RR fails and is replaced by coaches who want an aggressive 1- gap attack.

 

I've made my feelings known about Ragland.......that is just one of those picks that probably fails your organization long term even if he pans out.

 

First round is for foundation players and short of being a Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher,,,,,,which he is far from......... ILB's aren't those kind of guys.

[1billsfan]

Got to say, I'm surprised this thread has latest as long as it has.

 

While I still want them to draft Ragland, I am not obsessed with them picking him. If there's a sack artist like Lawson there, an OT with a much higher draft grade, if they think a Josh Doctson is the piece that will break the offense's low point scoring logjam, a run stuffing DT....I'm actually good with it.

 

If they do take Ragland, then fans take some comfort that the Bills coaches feel strongly he can and will be used as a three down player. Having a guy that smart and tough leading your team on defense game in, game out is a safe and solid bet at #19.

 

I don't remember the last time I was so excited about a draft because I think it will be real hard for the Bills to screw this pick up with so many quality players that will be available where they are picking.

Edited April 23, 2016 by 1billsfan