Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

[YardRat]

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/story/2008/2/23/83816/5568

With so little available via free agency, the Bills will almost certainly be exploring the trade and draft routes to fill the need at the position.

There is still one free agent name, however, that's mentioned frequently in Bills fan circles that needs to be discussed. That man is Oakland's Tommy Kelly. Coming off of a torn ACL that ended his 2007 season, Kelly is scheduled to hit free agency when it begins late next week. Though there has been some indication that he'll re-up in Oakland, Kelly remains the best free agent tackle currently on the open market.

[Slim]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Anybody know much about him? I've heard of him and thats about it.

[kernowboy]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Anybody know much about him? I've heard of him and thats about it.

An alternative option I prefer

Randy Starks - Starks is a 6'3", 312-pound DT for the Tennessee Titans. He has played 4 seasons in the NFL and is only 24 years old! In '05 Starks had 48 tackles and 3 sacks and followed that up in '06 with 40 tackles and 3 sacks. He was pushed to the bench this season when former undrafted free agent Tony Brown signed a 3 year, $5 million contract extension with the Titans. He only had 16 tackles in '07. The upside is his age and potential. The downside is effort and stamina; both, I think, could be corrected playing in a rotation under Jauron in Buffalo. At the right price I would take him. I just worry that he will get more then he's worth since he's one of the top DT's on the depleted market now. Scout's Inc. gave him a rating of 69 (that's one point below good starter).

[Slim]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

An alternative option I prefer

Randy Starks - Starks is a 6'3", 312-pound DT for the Tennessee Titans. He has played 4 seasons in the NFL and is only 24 years old! In '05 Starks had 48 tackles and 3 sacks and followed that up in '06 with 40 tackles and 3 sacks. He was pushed to the bench this season when former undrafted free agent Tony Brown signed a 3 year, $5 million contract extension with the Titans. He only had 16 tackles in '07. The upside is his age and potential. The downside is effort and stamina; both, I think, could be corrected playing in a rotation under Jauron in Buffalo. At the right price I would take him. I just worry that he will get more then he's worth since he's one of the top DT's on the depleted market now. Scout's Inc. gave him a rating of 69 (that's one point below good starter).

Couldn't Starks be the product of a great line? With Vb and Haynesworth?

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

You gotta be kidding me. You are all over Shaun Rogers because you think he is lazy, and you want Randy Starks, who is the poster boy for lazy DT?

That makes no sense. Starks backed up Albert Haynesworth and Tony Brown in Tennessee last year. He wasn't even good enough to start.

Did you see what happened to the interior of Tennessee's defense when Haynesworth was injured and Starks was forced to start in his place? They went from one of the NFL's stingiest run defenses to getting run on regularly. Starks couldn't anchor like Haynesworth and got pushed around.

Seriously, why sign a guy like that when you can have someone who can actually play?

As for Tommy Kelly, I really like him. He is a tall, rangy kind of player who moves around a lot. He plays hard and will hold his own up front, and has the versatility to move around up front. His versatility is his biggest asset, as he can do a lot of things pretty well.

Kelly had a reputation for an inconsistent motor coming into the league, but he seemed to mature and find his place with the Raiders. He turned down a long-term deal last year because he thought he would get a bigger deal this offseason. That gamble backfired on him when he tore his ACL during the season. That said, he can help a team up front, and he still should draw some interest.

[OpIv37]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Both of these guys sound like second rate players who don't do much on the field but won't break the bank for the owner.

So, one or both will probably end up in Buffalo.

[The Jokeman]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

From Kelly's CNNSI predraft profile

BIO: Two-year starter who finished his senior campaign with 60/12/4 after an injury-riddled junior season when he posted 32/7/1. Used at both defensive tackle and end in the Bulldog system.

POSITIVES: Big, athletic lineman that can be used at several positions or in a variety of schemes. Generally gets off the ball with good first step quickness, breaks down well and rarely off his feet. Tough to knock off balance and makes plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Fast off the edge rushing the quarterback and can change direction, then effectively pursue plays from the backside.

NEGATIVES: Gets tall making himself an easy target for blockers and neutralized at the point. Seems to lack a sense of urgency and not always willing to lay it on the line.

ANALYSIS: An enigma of sorts, Kelly is a prospect that flashes dominance but shows little consistency . Was never greatly productive at Mississippi State yet did turn in a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Must prove he's willing to take the extra steps and do the little things to improve his game.

I personally think the best option out there is going to be Chuck Darby, his age is a concern at 33 but think is a good one or year two option at NT while we use Kevin Williams to provide deoth and can draft someone along the lines of Marcus Harrison to develop behind him.

[Michael82]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

I'd rather trade for Pat Williams.

[kernowboy]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Starks is 24, so has lots of room and time to improve. He was a regular starter the previous two years, when the Titans also had a decent run defence. Are you suggesting that Haynesworth does this all by himself? When Starks came in, he had to replace Haynesworth, clearly suggesting he was playing in a different tackle position than one he was previously used to, hence the difficulty in adapting.

Rogers plays for the Lions, who regularly get run all over, and is 28 where players either start to decline, or find their performance re-energised. And you are forgetting something ... Rogers only plays when he wants to.

Rogers would cost a pick which might be Pat Sims or more likely Dre Moore.

Kelly has had an ACL, a notoriously difficult injury to overcome.

Starks will be a hell of a lot cheaper than Rogers and we will retain a Day1 pick for a player who can also be a top player.

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Starks is 24, so has lots of room and time to improve. He was a regular starter the previous two years, when the Titans also had a decent run defence. Are you suggesting that Haynesworth does this all by himself? When Starks came in, he had to replace Haynesworth, clearly suggesting he was playing in a different tackle position than one he was previously used to, hence the difficulty in adapting.

Rogers plays for the Lions, who regularly get run all over, and is 28 where players either start to decline, or find their performance re-energised. And you are forgetting something ... Rogers only plays when he wants to.

Rogers would cost a pick which might be Pat Sims or more likely Dre Moore.

Kelly has had an ACL, a notoriously difficult injury to overcome.

Starks will be a hell of a lot cheaper than Rogers and we will retain a Day1 pick for a player who can also be a top player.

Just because a guy is 24, doesn't mean he will get better. The Titans thought so much of him that Tony Brown started over him and are making no attempt to bring him back. The facts are when he was forced to play, the Titans defense went downhill fast.

The bottom line with Starks is he isn't a space-eater and isn't a penetrator. He may look the part and can defeat 1-on-1 blocking, but that is about the only good to say about him. He doesn't hold up against double-team blocking, so he isn't the kind of guy who can dominate the interior of the line like a Haynesworth or Rogers. He isn't quick enough to be a real disruptive force in the mold of a Tommy Harris. He is a JAG.

Also, it is interesting you are ready to dump Roscoe Parrish after a DUI arrest and think Shaun Rogers has character issues (he did grope a stripper of all things), yet you want to sign Starks. Starks was accused of domestic assault on his fiance' the season before last and only got the charge dismissed after agreeing to undergo anger counseling. So you want to dump your slot receiver who is a dynamic return guy because he had a few too many before getting behind the wheel, but you want to sign a guy who smacks around his girlfriend. Seems a little hypocritical.

[kernowboy]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

If you actually look at the stats

Rogers defence got run over a hell of a lot more when he was starting than when Starks was starting for the Titans. As Starks previously started with Haynesworth he clearly was also playing out of position when having to replace him. Brown came in and got a whole 1 sack more. Against Jacksonville, Starks put in the best performance of any Titans DT for the whole season, and actually led the entire defence that day. The worst single rushing performance against the Titans came when Haynesworth was starting. Rogers line gave up over 200yds on a few occasions, when the average when Starks was starting was 144yds. Take away a blown assignment by another guy in the Broncos game of 62yds and it gets better. The most any runner got against Starks was 101yds, Haynesworth 149yds, and Rogers have 2x 100yds runners in the same game and neither Haynesworth nor Rogers got close to the 10 tackle game Starks had against the Jaguars.

Personally I'd rather draft the DT and pick up a LB in a decent FA class, but why don't you go continue your love in with Rogers on a Patriots site.

Parrish v Starks, yes maybe hypocritical but not half as hyprocritical as offering advice to an opposition team on how they (allegedly) could get better.

[alohabillsfan]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Just because a guy is 24, doesn't mean he will get better. The Titans thought so much of him that Tony Brown started over him and are making no attempt to bring him back. The facts are when he was forced to play, the Titans defense went downhill fast.

The bottom line with Starks is he isn't a space-eater and isn't a penetrator. He may look the part and can defeat 1-on-1 blocking, but that is about the only good to say about him. He doesn't hold up against double-team blocking, so he isn't the kind of guy who can dominate the interior of the line like a Haynesworth or Rogers. He isn't quick enough to be a real disruptive force in the mold of a Tommy Harris. He is a JAG.

Also, it is interesting you are ready to dump Roscoe Parrish after a DUI arrest and think Shaun Rogers has character issues (he did grope a stripper of all things), yet you want to sign Starks. Starks was accused of domestic assault on his fiance' the season before last and only got the charge dismissed after agreeing to undergo anger counseling. So you want to dump your slot receiver who is a dynamic return guy because he had a few too many before getting behind the wheel, but you want to sign a guy who smacks around his girlfriend. Seems a little hypocritical.

Some people just have no clue...Spot on NE39

[kernowboy]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Some people just have no clue...Spot on NE39

Maybe you might want to consider the facts ... doing an analysis of the teams performances when each player was starting, Rogers performance was not superior, he gave up for more games with 100yds runners and quit from mid season onwards as his performances shown. Starks had starting games where he was statistically the best Titans DT of the season.

As the Lions even now want to focus on character, they can't wait to offload Rogers irrespective of his performance.

This doesn't concern anyone?

Yet we seem to cling to the hope that a change of surroundings is all he needs. His character does not seem to have changed since he fell to the 61st pick in 2001. He dropped in the draft class because of 'issues', the Lions want to ship because of 'issues' - there is a pattern here.

Exactly what evidence does anyone have, that he will not quit on the Bills like he has on the Lions?

Personally I'd rather draft a DT or even 2, but to risk a pick on a possibly demotivated vet, who has shown inconsistent commitment, over a young guy eager and hungry to prove himself in a deep draft class, is more likely to increase the time it takes to get us to the Championship game, not shorten it.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

I like Kelly and wrote about him last week as a possibility, before GB tagged Corey Williams.

He's coming off an ACL injury, but he has a lot of talent and would help this DLine. He is versatile to line up all over the line.

He's like Hargrove, but much better at stopping the run.. He'd start above either Williams or Tripplett.

IMO, he's like-- but not as good, as Justin Tuck from the Giants.

[Al the Bills Fan]

Re: Potential Bills Free Agent: DT Tommy Kelly

Starks is 24, so has lots of room and time to improve. He was a regular starter the previous two years, when the Titans also had a decent run defence. Are you suggesting that Haynesworth does this all by himself? When Starks came in, he had to replace Haynesworth, clearly suggesting he was playing in a different tackle position than one he was previously used to, hence the difficulty in adapting.

Rogers plays for the Lions, who regularly get run all over, and is 28 where players either start to decline, or find their performance re-energised. And you are forgetting something ... Rogers only plays when he wants to.

Rogers would cost a pick which might be Pat Sims or more likely Dre Moore.

Kelly has had an ACL, a notoriously difficult injury to overcome.

Starks will be a hell of a lot cheaper than Rogers and we will retain a Day1 pick for a player who can also be a top player.

Blasting a guy like Shaun Rogers for his lack of motivation and work ethic and then suggesting we go after Starks is baffling to me. Starks is one of the laziest DT in football, who was replaced by an undrafted free agent! Starks is not the answer.

I think Rogers would be a good addition to our DL but wouldn't be upset if we went after Tommy Kelly either.