bills_red Posted April 2, 2008 Posted April 2, 2008 http://walterfootball.com/mattpredraftbuf.php Buffalo Bills (Last Year: 7-9) I personally feel like the smartest and most productive use of free agency this year was the Buffalo Bills. They traded some mid-round picks for Marcus Stroud, who is one of the elite defensive tackles in the NFL, as long as he stays healthy. I like the signing of Kawika Mitchell as a weakside linebacker. Spencer Johnson brings depth at defensive tackle. I felt like Dick Jauron should have gotten mention for Coach of the Year last season. Call me crazy - to go through what he did with all the injuries, a rookie quarterback, and still end up with seven wins is very impressive in my book. I'm not blowing smoke when I say the Buffalo Bills have the talent to absolutely win the AFC East, and yes, beat the New England Patriots. Likely to happen? No. Is the potential there? I think so. Right to the Bills range with the 11th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft: Limas Sweed: A popular pick has been Malcolm Kelly to the Bills, which I never once bought into, considering the depth in this draft class at receiver. If they were to go with a receiver Sweed is the only one who I could see happening here. I don't think this is very likely to happen, considering Sweed doesn't give much value at No. 11, then again neither did Donte Whitner at No. 8 (in terms of consensus opinion) or trading up for John McCargo at No. 26 both in the 2006 Draft. Sweed is a sleeper to the Bills here. Mike Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aqib Talib, Antoine Cason: The Bills' second-biggest need is cornerback, though it's not a glaring need. They have semi-adequate starters in Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer. Ashton Youboty has the upside to break out in his third season, but they don't have a lock-down guy, and it's possible they look at this position. The Bills employ a Tampa-2 hybrid defense (meaning some Cover-2 zone, some press man coverage) so the kind of player they are looking for here in terms of a corner is entirely wide open. Talib is the best fit for the Tampa-2 in this draft, but Antoine Cason is not far behind. If they want to look at more of a man-cover corner, Cromartie would be the pick here. Jenkins has some range here, but his character concerns might not appeal to this front office. If all four of these players were on the board and I had to predict which one, I'd say Aqib Talib with his elite ball skills and instincts, which is what teams that employ the Tampa-2 scheme look for (and it's hard to judge the Bills because they do run a hybrid Tampa-2). Phillip Merling: I think the Bills are 80 percent likely to go defensive end at No. 11. One of the two players that should be on the board whom they will consider is Clemson prospect Phillip Merling. I got criticized for being high on him after Mike Mayock put him in his top 10 of his initial big board, yet Merling made my All-Underrated Preseason Team back in August 2007. Merling's calling card is his aggression toward the run, and I think his player comparison is Patrick Kerney if you are looking for one. He has quicker hips and is a better pass rusher than given credit for. If Derrick Harvey is off the board, I think they will definitely consider Merling at No. 11. Derrick Harvey: This team is in dire need of a pass rush. Chris Kelsay (28 years old, 2.5 sacks), and Ryan Denney (willl be 31 years old and 1 sack last season) are mediocre talents at defensive end, and must be replaced. If you want to beat the New England Patriots, you need a pass rush. Exhibit A: The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Harvey will bring a pass rush. He really bulked up for the Combine at 271 pounds, and this immediately raised his stock to No. 11 overall in my next mock draft. I was worried about his slim frame, but it looks like he has started to mature physically. I think he will get faster and stronger, so that's certainly a positive here. He has the quickest first step in his pass rush of any player in this draft, including Vernon Gholston. I have called this pick ever since the Combine, and I will not stop with it as long as Harvey is available to the Bills in my mock draft. Now trust me, Bills fans on the message boards I post on have criticized me time and time again for not giving them a wide receiver in the first round - but I missed the part when it was impossible to draft a productive receiver in Rounds 2 or 3. Jordy Nelson, Earl Bennett, Early Doucet, and Malcolm Kelly are possibilities in the second round (and yes I think Kelly can fall that far if he is a huge medical/speed concern). In the third-round range I think they should look at Keenan Burton, Mario Manningham, and Harry Douglas if they don't go receiver in the second. The Bills do have a bit of a need for a center, so Mike Pollack, Jamey Richard, Kory Lichtensteiger, and Fernando Velasco are all whom they could target at center from the third round to the seventh round. They have a need at tight end as well. Fred Davis and Dustin Keller are in their range at their No. 41 pick. John Sullivan, Martellus Bennett, Brad Cottam, and Jacob Tamme are in their mid-round draft range. Also, they could look at guard; Jeremy Zuttah and Oniel Cousins have the versatility to play both guard and center, and could be considered in the third or fourth rounds. Eric Young, Roy Schuening, Mike McGlynn, and Donald Thomas are in their mid-round range (3rd-5th) as well. If they don't take a corner in the first or second round, they might want to try to find a sleeper in the third or fourth round as well with players like Chevis Jackson, Patrick Lee and Zack Bowman. The Bills are going to come out of this draft as an extremely dangerous football team if they choose some solid prospects. I am telling you right now to not doubt this team; they are looking like the next Cleveland Browns.
Rubes Posted April 2, 2008 Posted April 2, 2008 The Bills are going to come out of this draft as an extremely dangerous football team if they choose some solid prospects. I am telling you right now to not doubt this team; they are looking like the next Cleveland Browns. We're looking like the next team to win a few games but still miss the playoffs? Color me titillated.
bills_red Posted April 2, 2008 Author Posted April 2, 2008 He ment the Bills will suprise everyone and be a 10-6 kind of team
Astrobot Posted April 2, 2008 Posted April 2, 2008 Love the analysis, the hope, the 80% chance of going DE with pick #1...
The Tomcat Posted April 2, 2008 Posted April 2, 2008 Love the analysis, the hope, the 80% chance of going DE with pick #1... I'd love to see Harvey here. Don't know if he'll last.
Steely Dan Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 We're looking like the next team to win a few games but still miss the playoffs? Color me titillated. There is a chance that some of the teams drafting ahead of Buffalo may be stupid enough to let one of the big four DL's fall. Unlikely but I'd give it a 30% chance. Merling would be ok with me in the first round too! Jordy Nelson seems to me to be the best investment/reward receiver. I also would like Albert in the first round.
Alaska Darin Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 We're looking like the next team to win a few games but still miss the playoffs? Color me titillated.
Búfalo Blanco Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 We're looking like the next team to win a few games but still miss the playoffs? Color me titillated. Too funny.... If the Bills decide to add more meat anywhere in the defensive front 7, I'll be quite titillated myself.... Good analysis by McGuire... Marshall Faulk should take notes...
Sisyphean Bills Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 We're looking like the next team to win a few games but still miss the playoffs? Color me titillated. Until the unheard of, one in a trillion chance, snow storm in Cleveland in December game, the Bills were the next Cleveland Browns last year. Way to go out on a limb there, original article author.
stewy23 Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 I like the analysis here. He's got valid points behind his pick of Harvey instead of Sweed. And he is obviously not in love with Malcolm Kelly. Not many people are picking the Bills as "possible" upsets to top the Patriots in AFC East. If we draft Harvey, we can kiss Ryan Denney good bye after this season.
Beerball Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 I'd love to see Harvey here. Don't know if he'll last. He'll last. The magic 8 ball told me so. Harvey is our pick.
ieatcrayonz Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 Until the unheard of, one in a trillion chance, snow storm in Cleveland in December game, the Bills were the next Cleveland Browns last year. Way to go out on a limb there, original article author. You're fired as both a weatherman and oddsmaker.
tombstone56 Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 SORRY BUT SWEED AINT NO SLEEPER SWEED ALL THE WAY ,,TOO MUCH CASH ALREADY SPENT ON DE, ,I EXSPECT THEY LL WAIT TILL CUTS IN JUNE ,see who shakes lose for this year for depth ,,,,,stroud and spencer with mccargo and poz and edwards is going to make so much difference already and if the DEs dont produce this year then i ll agree last years injuries made the defense so unstable its just to tough to say whose the weak links 1 st round picks need to play first year sweed will get the most playing time of anyone mentioned as our pick , i believe
obie_wan Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 SORRY BUT SWEED AINT NO SLEEPER SWEED ALL THE WAY ,,TOO MUCH CASH ALREADY SPENT ON DE, ,I EXSPECT THEY LL WAIT TILL CUTS IN JUNE ,see who shakes lose for this year for depth ,,,,,stroud and spencer with mccargo and poz and edwards is going to make so much difference already and if the DEs dont produce this year then i ll agree last years injuries made the defense so unstable its just to tough to say whose the weak links 1 st round picks need to play first year sweed will get the most playing time of anyone mentioned as our pick , i believe If playing time in the 1st year is your criteria, then WR is the wrong choice. Almost all rookie WRs take a while to acclimate to teh Pro game and very few make an impact before year 3 - especailly ones drafted as WR#2. The real need for a pick at #11 is for an impact playmaker. A DE that rushes the passer is such a player. Even while adjusting to the Pro game, he can make an impact on passing downs in a rotation. Bills can get their WR#2 in 2nd round with Earl Bennett or Jordy Nelson - both of whom will probably out produce the Wrs taken in the first round.
Spiderweb Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 Too funny.... If the Bills decide to add more meat anywhere in the defensive front 7, I'll be quite titillated myself.... Good analysis by McGuire... Marshall Faulk should take notes... That would mean that Faulk would have to know how to write, but beyond the "x" he signs for his paycheck, he's a bit challenged.
Sisyphean Bills Posted April 4, 2008 Posted April 4, 2008 You're fired as both a weatherman and oddsmaker. What? You don't believe everything you read here?
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