Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

[patmoran2006]

Three days before the draft; some random thoughts of mine—in totally random order.

· I am anything but sold that the Bills are automatically going to take an offensive tackle with either first round pick, and maybe even a second rounder. What little faith I have left in the Bills front office goes towards the Peters trade being at least a ‘little’ about football and not just 100% financial. The hope here is the team feels confident enough in Chambers to man right tackle and see how Bell develops, while moving Walker to left tackle. I absolutely despise the thought of drafting a tackle early, because it doesn’t improve this football team. Love Peters or hate him, he’s regarded as a top five offensive tackle in the NFL, and simply replacing him via a draft choice not only is a likely downgrade at tackle, it’s a double whammy in that it eliminates an opportunity to improve at another position.


· The team doesn’t necessarily have to draft an outside linebacker with either first round pick. There is an Ohio State linebacker in this draft I think would be perfect for the Bills, and it isn’t the guy you’re probably thinking of either. I would be thrilled if the Bills landed outside linebacker Marcus Freeman, who could be the best cover two linebacker in this draft. Freeman is probably a late second/early third round pick. Perhaps the team can move up at some point for him.

· If the Bills fail to land a linebacker they desire in the draft, expect FA Freddy Keiaho’s phone to ring soon after the draft.

· I still expect the Bills to land a veteran at left guard soon. I’m not sold on Chambers being the starter there at all. I stand by my initial piece that the Bills are interested in Brian Waters. If they can’t trade for him, Kendall Simmons is still in the mix and Pete Kendall could eventually be brought in as well.

· As a #28 pick shocker, If they feel the value is there, I wouldn’t’ be surprised to see the Bills take a safety alongside Donte Whitner. Both Louis Delmas and William Moore are ferocious hitters and excellent in run support. If the Bills don’t take a safety this early, I’d bet they do before the fourth round. I think the Bills value a quality safety over a tight end right now.

· I expect the Jets and Patriots to be active on trade day. I am calling the Jets getting up to the 8^th spot in the draft to take Mark Sanchez if he gets past Seattle at #4. The Patriots got the draft pick ammo to move all over the place on the board. They’re going to come out of this weekend with a couple of quality players. They have three second round picks, which I predict to be packaged in some sort of way to end up with a second first rounder (they currently pick 23^rd)

· I can’t remember a time where the Bills had a clear cut top need (pass rush), the 11^th pick in the draft and so much debate about who the best player is. Is it Orakpo? Maybin? Brown? Do they go more traditional DE like Ayers? Jackson? Do they trade down and take a shot at Michael Johnson? So hard to project. One thing is for certain, if this team doesn’t improve heavily this year, I hope Fewell gets the can, as well as this cover two defense.

[OpIv37]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

Here's a quick addition:

I can't remember a draft ever being so important for this team. We had plenty of needs going into this off-season, and the FO added to that list by trading Peters and cutting Dock (although I guess G would have been a need even if we had kept him, but perhaps less of one).

The team needs both immediate help and players who can help build for the future. The FO REALLY needs to get this one right, and at a minimum BOTH first rounders need to contribute this year. If that doesn't happen, we better see a friggin house-cleaning come January. Coaches, FO- EVERYONE.

[psubills62]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

Some good thoughts, pat. I'll give my thoughts on your thoughts:

-I think you make a good point. However, I would like to see them get another tackle around the 5th-6th round at the least. Chambers isn't a proven starter at all, Bell obviously is unproven. And we don't know if Walker can handle the left side permanently. At the least, we can move Walker back to the right side and just fill in at LT.

-I was actually thinking Freeman when you said OSU LB...I really don't like Laurinaitis and I hope they don't draft him. That being said, I'd like Freeman in the 3rd.

-I said in another thread that Keiaho is still available, and could still be brought in. Agree here for sure

-That's interesting. I really hope they can trade for Waters, especially if they manage to trade Parrish, Simpson, and/or Kelsay. Neither of the other two would be bad, but I also expect them to address OG depth at least once or twice this draft.

-I agree about the safety idea. Sean Smith also wouldn't be a bad idea. He has size, speed and can play CB (we know how much the Bills love versatility). I wouldn't be surprised either, because I believe safety is a greater need than most people think. We have Bryan Scott, Donte Whitner and...? Scott and Whitner aren't exactly superstars either. We could certainly upgrade.

-I agree here. However, I could see the Pats sitting tight and using all three second-round picks. After all, there is a LOT of value in that round and they could look to the future in replacing some of their veterans. They also have an ungodly number of players in contract years this year (something like 20-22?). They won't re-sign all of them and should replace most of them.

-It certainly is a mystery. There's so many different directions that the Bills (and other teams) could go this weekend.

[ddaryl]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

I absolutely despise the thought of drafting a tackle early, because it doesn’t improve this football team. Love Peters or hate him, he’s regarded as a top five offensive tackle in the NFL, and simply replacing him via a draft choice not only is a likely downgrade at tackle, it’s a double whammy in that it eliminates an opportunity to improve at another position.


.

I'm sorry but how do you figure.

If we draft a T and that T starts then that means that T was better then anyone else on our roster and that means our OL is better.

I think the way the Bill sapproached the OL the last 15 years proves you need to invest into the OL often and early. Our OL has sucked big fat balls for our entire playoff drought... and it was just starting to look half way decent the last 2 years but still came up short.

The fact is we need a new OL strategy, and not drafting OL in this draft wil be just another year for us trying to find diamonds in the rough that rarely pan out.


Has anyone paid attention to our OL drafting habits .... it is the biggest reason why we have had the most uninspired O's since the Glory days...

This team has serious weapons on the O side this year with the addition of TO, and seasoned RB's and young WR's liek Johnson and Hardy. This O can put up points but it requires investing inot our OL otherwise will look just as crappy as we always have on O...

We spent moeny bringing in TO we've purged Peters, Dockery, Fowler and Preston... we mayhave signed a few FA OL, but they are nothing more then another teams depth.... We need an influx of bonafide talent on the OL... and if we don't get it eveyr Bills fan will be crying all season long again, and will be playing this same damn game next offseason...


the definiton of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results If the Bill sfail to take an OL early it's just insane...

[jimbohastle51]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

if orakpo is there weather they were planning on a tackle or not they will be forced to take him. if you get orakpo at 11 that might just be the steal of the draft. that guy far and away exeeds every pass rusher in the draft as a 4-3 linemen.

[ddaryl]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

if orakpo is there weather they were planning on a tackle or not they will be forced to take him. if you get orakpo at 11 that might just be the steal of the draft. that guy far and away exeeds every pass rusher in the draft as a 4-3 linemen.

I think Curry and Orakpo are 2 players who jump on at #11 and not think twice.

neither should be there though

[Captain gameboy]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

Here's a quick addition:

I can't remember a draft ever being so important for this team. We had plenty of needs going into this off-season, and the FO added to that list by trading Peters and cutting Dock (although I guess G would have been a need even if we had kept him, but perhaps less of one).

The team needs both immediate help and players who can help build for the future. The FO REALLY needs to get this one right, and at a minimum BOTH first rounders need to contribute this year. If that doesn't happen, we better see a friggin house-cleaning come January. Coaches, FO- EVERYONE.

I fully agree, and without undo dramatics, I think the success of this draft will relate to the Bills being the Buffalo Bills.

I think there is a real chance that if this front office screws this up and we end up with a four win 2009-10, and the attendant coaching staff replacement/ three year rebuild, there will be ample financial evidence to relocate.

[jimbohastle51]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

I think Curry and Orakpo are 2 players who jump on at #11 and not think twice.

neither should be there though

exactly, and that is the point. if one of them is there are first round choice should take less that 15 seconds to make. if orakpo or curry (only 1 if any of them will be there) are not taken and were available at 11 and we take a tackle like smith with such high character concerns (we seriously will have to pay a guy to kick his lazy ass around so he doesnt just sleep through training camp) or oher who really in any other draft is probably a late 20's early 2nd round pick i wont even watch the rest of the draft. i am not trying to be pesimistic but seriously you pass on one of those guys out of the top 10 you are nothing but an idiot and after taking peanuts for peters we really dont need that. orakpo may have concerns as all the DE's in the draft do but any pick after 10 and the value outweights the concerns

[Yasgur's Farm]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

I think Curry and Orakpo are 2 players who jump on at #11 and not think twice.

neither should be there though

I'm gonna go ahead and add BJ Raji and Tyson Jackson to your short list.

[Luisito23]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

NO Tyson Jackson please!!!

[Dying_-2-_Live]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

I have faith, believe it or not, in this team. They will make the right choice. Which is Orakpo if he's there.... AND ESPECIALLY CURRY, But he wouldnt EVER get past 5.... if he does someone will trade up and snag him

[Oaf]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

Many people are sayng Orakpo doesn't have the brilliant step that Brown has.

[Luisito23]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

Personally I see Brown as a much better prospect than Orakpo.

[Tatonka]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

every single rookie tackle that started last year did significantly better than jason "when i gave up a sack, i thought about my contract" peters.

[kernowboy]

Re: Three Days before the draft.. THoughts

I'd go Brown.

I've heard Orakpo has the reputation for taking some plays off. Brown doesn't know what that means.