Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

[Don't Panic]

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/04/bills_interest_in_willis_may_b.html

Willis can certainly attack, but that still doesn't mean he's No. 1 on the Bills' list. The team stunned the football world by selecting Whitner so early last April, and lightning could strike twice this month. For there's a good chance Levy will take another linebacker at 12th overall, such as ex-Miami Hurricane Jon Beason, former Penn State Nittany Lion Paul Posluszny or Florida product Brandon Siler.
Beason's name has been mentioned several times lately in connection with the Bills, but past incidents involving him lead some to wonder if he has the character to fit Levy's plans. Posluszny, on the other hand, isn't the most talented LB, but he won the Butkus Award in 2005 and has earned a reputation as a very hard worker. Finally, there's Siler, who many believe will be a late first-round pick. However, the same was said of Whitner last April, and everyone knows how that turned out.
The point is that Bills fans shouldn't necessarily expect an obvious choice in the draft's first round. If it's Willis, Buffalo will be in good shape. At the same time, though, it might not even be a linebacker. Bottom line: Prepare for a curveball. In over a year as the Bills' G.M., Levy has thrown plenty.

Interesting... the more names being floated, the better it is for us, but I'm still sold on Willis being the guy. Granted, its almost as much as I was sold on Ngata being the guy last year, but it still makes the most sense to me. The possibility of the Levy curveball is laways there, but I can't see him passing on a guy like Willis if he's there at #12. If we do go Beason or Poz, it better not be at #12.

[evol4276]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

unfortunately im expecting to see it curve again

[Night Train]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

You can't control what happens in front of you, unless you trade up. In this Draft, only WR Calvin Johnson is worth a trade up and that's not happening.

Also, everyone assumes we'll get multiple phone calls once we're on the clock at #12, for a trade down option. That's NOT a given. Be ready for any situation.

The Bills have to be true to their draft board and get a good talent.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

The reason why Marv threw a "curveball" last year was because the Raiders hit his fastball when they took Huff.

If the Raiders would've taken Leinart or Cutler like they obviously should've; We'd have Huff and nobody woulda been talking about "reaches". For the record, I'm not saying Huff had a better rookie season then Whitner either; I'm just saying nobody woulda been calling the pick a "reach"

This year, I think if Willis is on the board its a no brainer. If he's gone.. Yikes, I dont know.. I really hope they trade down this time for another LB. There's no reason to take the 2nd LB at 12.

[Saratoga Slim]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

"Beason's name has been mentioned several times lately in connection with the Bills, but past incidents involving him lead some to wonder if he has the character to fit Levy's plans."

what's that all about? I hadn't heard anything along those lines. anyone have any details?

[HHURRICANE]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

The reason why Marv threw a "curveball" last year was because the Raiders hit his fastball when they took Huff.

This year, I think if Willis is on the board its a no brainer. If he's gone.. Yikes, I dont know.. I really hope they trade down this time for another LB. There's no reason to take the 2nd LB at 12.

Great post Pat!!!!

1) If was Huff had been there at #8 the Bills would have taken him, no doubt. Whitner was and is a good player so it worked out.

2) I'm sick of overachieving players. We just got rid of Fletcher for basically the same reason. So would you draft Poluszny when he is missing some of the physical gifts?

I am of the mind set that if you have a gifted athlete, who has the drive to be the best, that's the guy you want. Look at Jason Peters. He was drafted because of his physical gifts and look at how he's turned out.

[Tatonka]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

The reason why Marv threw a "curveball" last year was because the Raiders hit his fastball when they took Huff.

If the Raiders would've taken Leinart or Cutler like they obviously should've; We'd have Huff and nobody woulda been talking about "reaches". For the record, I'm not saying Huff had a better rookie season then Whitner either; I'm just saying nobody woulda been calling the pick a "reach"

This year, I think if Willis is on the board its a no brainer. If he's gone.. Yikes, I dont know.. I really hope they trade down this time for another LB. There's no reason to take the 2nd LB at 12.

actually.. i dont know that the bills wanted huff.. i distincly remember a few days before the draft seeing marv on the bills view and his quote was something along the lines of "we really like a guy who people may not expect".

i think whitner was their guy all along.

[Don't Panic]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

actually.. i dont know that the bills wanted huff.. i distincly remember a few days before the draft seeing marv on the bills view and his quote was something along the lines of "we really like a guy who people may not expect".

i think whitner was their guy all along.

I agree... we were taking Whitner even if Huff was there. Now, will the same thing happen this year? Tough to say... one thing I know is that Marv and Co.'s draft board probably looks a lot different from the ones being floated around here. As it should... after all, these guys do do this stuff for a living (as oppsoed to many of us, who just wish we did this for a living).

I guess we'll have to listen to what Marv has to say leading up to the draft, and then try to decifer smoke from truth. The question remains, who fits the profile of this year's Donte Whitner?

[gr8slayer]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

[justasportsfan]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

actually.. i dont know that the bills wanted huff.. i distincly remember a few days before the draft seeing marv on the bills view and his quote was something along the lines of "we really like a guy who people may not expect".

i think whitner was their guy all along.

this looks more credible than the other speculative post.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

LMAO.

Huff was not only ridiculously regarded as a more physical player.. But he's so good in coverage teams considered drafting him as a CORNERBACK instead of a safety..

But you guys keep telling yourself the Bills were taking WHitner even if Huff was there.. LMAO

[patmoran2006]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

this looks more credible than the other speculative post.

Coming from someone who admits they never even heard of Whitner; the 8th pick of the draft. You did hear of Huff because he was EASILY the top rated defensive back in the draft which "concidentally" he DID go first.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

Coming from someone who admits they never even heard of Whitner; the 8th pick of the draft. You did hear of Huff because he was EASILY the top rated defensive back in the draft which "concidentally" he DID go first.

that's not the point MR. Knowitall. You talk like you really knew what was going down and yet have NOTHING other than your SPECULATION. Let's not forget that he was highly regarded by Fletcher too. While it's neither here nor there what Tatonka acutally posted has more weight than anything you posted.

Would you be surprised if the bills went for Beason instead of Willis? I wouldn't.

For your future information , it's common knowledge that teams have some players ranked higher than other teams.

[Ed]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

Look at Jason Peters. He was drafted because of his physical gifts and look at how he's turned out.

Actually, Peters wasn't drafted at all. We signed him as a FA after the draft. Pretty amazing that an undrafted TE became one of the better LT's in all of football in just a couple years.

As for the article, I can see us taking Beason at 12 and wouldn't be upset, but Siler?

[patmoran2006]

Re: Willis to Bills in first round is far from a sure thing

I never said the Bills wouldnt take Beason..

But they aint taking him over Willis if he's on the board.... (Of course, at BZ if Willis is gone and we take Beason at least 30% of the people on here will think we had him ranked higher than Willis anyway)

and it doesnt take a "knowitall" to know that.

Taking Beason over Willis is like taking Ginn over Calvin Johnson