Is DE really such a top position to fill?

[jpdex12]

If we draft a first round DE he could very well only be a situational player this year. Can we really afford that or should we be looking to draft a starter from day one like Pettigrew at TE, Cushing at OLB or a RT?

This is a tough decision especially when you may have the best DE available in the draft. When we pick at #11 we are going to be looking at the option of picking...

-the 3rd or 4th best OT
-the 3rd best QB
-the best RB
-the 3rd best WR
-the best OG
-the best OC
-the best TE
-the 1st or 2nd best DE
-the 2nd best DT
-the 2nd best OLB
-the best ILB
-the best CB
-the best S

[kernowboy]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

Why would he just be situational? We have Kelsay and Denney starting there at the moment and they are rubbish whilst Schobel is coming back from a very serious injury and at his age (31) it is always more difficult to come back. The only other player we have is Chris Ellis who did nothing as a rookie.

It is not so much a need as a desperate requirement. Any QB who faces our DE's at the moment probably is given a harder time in practice than on game day.

[OpIv37]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

The OL is our #1 priority.

But all other things being equal, I'd take DE over TE or OLB. Schouman and Fine showed some sign of progress and the Bills don't really use TE all that much. A better pass rush will make Ellison's job easier- I'd much rather see a replacement for him, but I think DE would have a better and more immediate impact.

[seanbillsfan]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

If we draft a first round DE he could very well only be a situational player this year. Can we really afford that or should we be looking to draft a starter from day one like Pettigrew at TE, Cushing at OLB or a RT?

This is a tough decision especially when you may have the best DE available in the draft. When we pick at #11 we are going to be looking at the option of picking...

-the 3rd or 4th best OT
-the 3rd best QB
-the best RB
-the 3rd best WR
-the best OG
-the best OC
-the best TE
-the 1st or 2nd best DE
-the 2nd best DT
-the 2nd best OLB
-the best ILB
-the best CB
-the best S

Yes

[kernowboy]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

When your reserve safety George Wilson has only 0.5sacks less than your starting end Chris Kelsay (1.5sacks to 2sacks) and your reserve CB Ashton Youboty has as many sacks as your star end Aaron Schobel in the same number of games played (1sack in 5games) do not underestimate for one second how much of a need this is.

[Tatonka]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

i think that with schobel back that helps a ton.

it depends on what the front office thinks about for ellis.. or if they can move kelsay.

i agree that kelsay is just not that good, but ellis is an unknown. it is clear that he struggled as a rookie.. but that is common.. guys that get drafted in the 3rd round typically have some kind of issues to work on.. so he needed to get stronger.. and hopefully he has.. he has a lot of speed and can still be a very big factor in this up coming year..

also, the new line coach might be able to help get more out of all 4 of our DEs..

i really dont want a DE with the first pick.. i dont think there is any value there.. i think that you can get a DE that is just as good, with a lot more value, through probably the 3rd round.

[Mahdi]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

If we draft a first round DE he could very well only be a situational player this year. Can we really afford that or should we be looking to draft a starter from day one like Pettigrew at TE, Cushing at OLB or a RT?

This is a tough decision especially when you may have the best DE available in the draft. When we pick at #11 we are going to be looking at the option of picking...

-the 3rd or 4th best OT
-the 3rd best QB
-the best RB
-the 3rd best WR
-the best OG
-the best OC
-the best TE
-the 1st or 2nd best DE
-the 2nd best DT
-the 2nd best OLB
-the best ILB
-the best CB
-the best S

Kelsay and Denney are situational without the talent. IE the only situation Kelsay and Denney should be playing in involves the Bills having a 30 point lead.

A rookie DE with speed and talent can do no worse than Kelsay.

[kernowboy]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

I think both Everette Brown or Aaron Maybin are both worthy No11 picks.

Forget this nonsense about needing to be huge to go up against a RT. This is only a factor if the RT latches onto you.

Jevon Kearse spent his entire career at LE and with a great first step had plenty of RT chasing thin air. I don't want a LE who can embark on a wrestling competition with a RT, I want to RT scratching his head wondering how our guy has got past him.

These small college LEs have often faced big mauling RT. Don't give them extra work by forcing them to learn how to compete against more nimble LT's but let them loose in their own environment.

[ddaryl]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

well the problem with many of the DE's i nthis draft ..

• they are either lack experience, or had one good year.
• they have great upside but need time
• they would be great rushing the passer but need time to develope runn stopping skills
• they are undersized for a 4-3 DE and / or projects as 3-4 OLB's

some of these player might only see the field 1 or 2 downs out of 3

then the ones that could be all 3 down DE's for us lack that dominating 1st step, or are great run stuffers and able ot hold th epoint of attack but have never sacked the QB much in their college careers

there is really no DE that does both very well in this draft. I think Orakpo is the closest to all around DE. he has on field production and he pretty much tore up the combine drills and his pro day.

Jackson and Ayers woul dbe upgrades over kelsay and Denny but they don't give us that pass rusher we covet.

Maybin, Brown and Johnson all have that first step but lack skills at run defense and other techniques needed to play all 3 downs at the NFL, and may be more suited for a 3-4 OLB


and for the record I am not against taking any DE prospect but we all want a player who can start, play all 3 downs and upgrade us immediately, and preferably not until week 10...

[X-Era]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

If we draft a first round DE he could very well only be a situational player this year. Can we really afford that or should we be looking to draft a starter from day one like Pettigrew at TE, Cushing at OLB or a RT?

This is a tough decision especially when you may have the best DE available in the draft. When we pick at #11 we are going to be looking at the option of picking...

-the 3rd or 4th best OT
-the 3rd best QB
-the best RB
-the 3rd best WR
-the best OG
-the best OC
-the best TE
-the 1st or 2nd best DE
-the 2nd best DT
-the 2nd best OLB
-the best ILB
-the best CB
-the best S

I really like the way your thinking about this. It seems to head down the BPA road.

To me, the question is more around what makes the most sense for the Bills which isnt always just biggest need.

For example, we could get the best ILB in Rey but only the second best OLB in Cushing (i assume thats who you mean and not a DE convert). I could see us moving Poz outside. So, in that case, you may get a much better football player in Rey, move Poz outside where he may do well, instead of a not as good OLB straight up.

DE is another spot as youve said. Why draft a rotational DE when our #1 DE is probably still Schobel anyways. Well, I could see that improving the pass rush is so important that you need to get a great you talent to get better right away. Even if that player wont be in on every down.

I agree its a tough decision.

At RT, I really feel like even there, at RT vs. LT, you still are talking about a prospect only being able to start mid season at the earliest due to the time to develop. I think the development time needed is even longer for LT.

I think it needs to strictly be what helps us the most based on ALL factors.

[X-Era]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

I think both Everette Brown or Aaron Maybin are both worthy No11 picks.

Forget this nonsense about needing to be huge to go up against a RT. This is only a factor if the RT latches onto you.

Jevon Kearse spent his entire career at LE and with a great first step had plenty of RT chasing thin air. I don't want a LE who can embark on a wrestling competition with a RT, I want to RT scratching his head wondering how our guy has got past him.

These small college LEs have often faced big mauling RT. Don't give them extra work by forcing them to learn how to compete against more nimble LT's but let them loose in their own environment.

I agree with Brown, but Maybins rawness has me questioning him at 11.

I think the size issue is overplayed. Freeney, Mathis, Taylor, all make this argument. Elvis Dumervil is another. If you can play, you can play

[SABURZFAN]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

the Bills could do theirselves a huge favor focusing on the OL going into this draft.

[DrGraves]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

Yes. Denney and Kelsay are the worst DE ends in the league.

Schobel is good but hes getting older/ was hurt all last year...

we generated 7 sacks total from both DE positions last year. that is pathetic. you should have that many is 2-3 games tops.

[SquishDaFish]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

Its time to do what a REAL team does and work from the LINES out! OL and DL. We need a big time Pass RUSHER. We dont have one at all. We need to get to the QB and protect our QB

[jpdex12]

Re: Is DE really such a top position to fill?

I really like the way your thinking about this. It seems to head down the BPA road.

To me, the question is more around what makes the most sense for the Bills which isnt always just biggest need.

For example, we could get the best ILB in Rey but only the second best OLB in Cushing (i assume thats who you mean and not a DE convert). I could see us moving Poz outside. So, in that case, you may get a much better football player in Rey, move Poz outside where he may do well, instead of a not as good OLB straight up.

DE is another spot as youve said. Why draft a rotational DE when our #1 DE is probably still Schobel anyways. Well, I could see that improving the pass rush is so important that you need to get a great you talent to get better right away. Even if that player wont be in on every down.

I agree its a tough decision.

At RT, I really feel like even there, at RT vs. LT, you still are talking about a prospect only being able to start mid season at the earliest due to the time to develop. I think the development time needed is even longer for LT.

I think it needs to strictly be what helps us the most based on ALL factors.

I'm glad someone understood this question. Obviously our pash rush is very important as it was non-existant last season. What I'm saying is we can draft a DE at #11 like Orakpo and it will immediately improve our pass rush. But when we are paying the non-existant Kelsay so much money and over the hill Schobel so much money what will a third high paid rookie DE do for us? If we draft Orakpo with hopes that he replaces Schobel in a year's time that's one thing but Orakpo would also make Kelsay worth peanuts in a trade. He wasn't worth much to begin with.

I really think Orakpo will be very good. I also think Pettigrew will be good as well. Likewise with Cushing. I know we could draft DE and TE in round one and still fill OT and G/C in rounds two and three with top notch lineman like Beatty, Britton, Loadholt, Meridith, Robinson, Mack, Caldwell, Wood, etc.

Either Orakpo and Pettigrew or Cushing and Pettigrew in round one would make my day.