Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

[T-Long]

Here is an article written by a friend of mine that also writes for the Blog Blitz. Let me know your comments on it. I've already shared mine with him...

read here

[TigerJ]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

page wouldn't load

[NoVabillsfan89]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Some fantastic reporting and research in that column.

I had no idea the Bills were lacking in offensive line depth.

[The Spaz]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Some fantastic reporting and research in that column.

I had no idea the Bills were lacking in offensive line depth.

lol

[Night Train]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Fred Jackson is " More Than capable ".

There were LT's a plenty when our pick came up ? Bulaga may be a RT or G for GB. Do we overdraft Saffold ?

Once again, it's actually knowing what's out there and not waving the broad brush. His argument fails.

[Luisito23]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

His argument fails.

Actually the whole article fails...

[EricStratton]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Haven't we read this article by 12 other writers in the past week?

[Thief]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Well OK, allow me to agree 100% with that writer. I even used the word "confused" myself when I discribed my reaction.

[TedMock]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

The writing is decent, but I hate the premise. Taking the best player available is a great strategy - well, except if you're the Bills. Nonsense. You do not build a long-term winner by reaching for need regardless of how gaping the hole is. Anthony Davis? Brian Bulaga? Good picks later in the round, no doubt. Two problems. Davis, who may be the top 1 or 2 OT's in terms of athleticism has had repeated problems with conditioning, motor, discipline and respect. He may mature, but that's quite the risk, no? Bulaga is a classic overacheiver. I like this kid a lot, but I like him exactly where he went in the draft. Low first, early second. He's a tough kid who works hard and will always give 100%. He's also a limited athlete with short arms who is never going to be a great left tackle. He will be decent if he continues to work hard and he will always struggle against a wide edge rusher because he lacks the quickness and reach to get to him. You don't take that guy at number 9. I wouldn't be shocked if Bulaga has a nice career as a right tackle. Every year, the Colts get a bad draft grade, overall. Every year the Colts are good. Polian knows how to draft and build a long-term team. Ron Wolfe did it the same way. Bellichick has a different philosophy, but has also had success. His philosophy, however, is not to reach for need. A pro scout once told me that New England literally has 30-50 guys on their draft board. That's it. Literally. They take exact heights, weights, playing speeds, attitudes, etc for their system. If a guy doesn't fit almost exactly, they don't put him on the board. If they pick a guy and he fails, it wasn't because he didn't match the system. They just mis-judged his talent. They do the same thing in free agency. The only caveat is if a guy is a true special talent. Randy Moss, for example, does not fit the WR they typically like, but he is a special talent. Buffalo went best player available FOR THEIR SYSTEM on every pick this year. It was obvious because every pick took about 20 seconds. What I mean is that Linval Joseph was the higher rated DT, overall, I'm sure, but Joseph isn't a true 0-technique NT. He's big enough, but that's just not his strength. Troup and Cam Thomas fit that position better. Buffalo just happened to have Troup a bit higher. I had Thomas a bit higher, but I like Troup and it's not my decision. I also trust Nix's resume as a talent evaluator. Troup reminds me of Smerlas, so we can see what they were looking for. There was also no screwing around with "we need this" or "we haven't drafted an....yet." I commend the new strategy. If we drafted Davis or Bulaga at 9, Russ Brandon and Dick Jauron would have been in the room and everybody would have complained, rightfully so, about us reaching. The results may or may not work out, but at least the approach was different. I needed this change and I just absolutely hate the premise of "we needed a LT and blew it" that some fans are basing the draft on. It's mind boggling to me. The fans should be smarter than that. I guess 10 years of losing will screw up the brain a bit. Hopefully, the team and fans get their heads back on straight and we move forward. I still see only 5 wins this year, but it's early.

[Ron Burgundy]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

The best thing about amateur writers is that they just can't keep their personal lives out of their writing.

I think Brandon married a slut and got burned.

Spiller was the sexy pick and the Bills were desperate for sex appeal as the TO signing last year proved. Bringing in Spiller was like replacing Raquel Welch with Brooklyn Decker.
But sometimes scooping the sexiest chick isn’t the best way to build a family. She probably can’t cook and is too pretty to clean. Your house falls to ruin and she leaves you for someone with more money who’s willing to cater to her high maintenance needs. After sitting at home devastated, mesmerized by her splendor, you realize that maybe the cute girl who used to wear the baseball cap and smiled at you in math class may have been the better option. But you couldn’t resist the voluptuous curves.

Just replace "Spiller" with "my ex-wife" and "Bills" with "Brandon."

It's alright, B. You'll find the right one someday. Maybe even that cute girl with the cap who smiled at you in math class.

[jamze132]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

I don't really like his reasons for us not taking O-line or Clausen. When you are in the top 10 and there is a bonafide homerun hitter sitting there, you ****ing take him! Why would you let this guy slip past you and take the 3rd or 4th best OL available, or much worse take Jimmy Clausen? The guy fell all the way to the middle of the 2nd RD!

Yes we have hole to fill, yes we need a LT, and yes we need a QB. But our O-line wasn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I noticed he did not do his homework at all on our O-line. If he did, he would know that we could and we did run the **** out of the ball. He made the comment about who will be blocking for Spiller... eh... the guys last year did a hell of a job for Jackson and considering Spiller is a little smaller and much faster, I think he will be able to slip some holes that Jackson wasn't able to.

The Spiller pick was absolutely 100% the right pick at the time, regardless of what our "needs" were.

[BoyILuvLoznStupidly]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Sorry T, this article sucks.

[Ron Burgundy]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

Here is an article written by a friend of mine that also writes for the Blog Blitz. Let me know your comments on it. I've already shared mine with him...

read here

Any way you can get your boy to register here? I'm fascinated by his story.

[Bill Cody]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

The best thing about amateur writers is that they just can't keep their personal lives out of their writing.

I think Brandon married a slut and got burned.

Just replace "Spiller" with "my ex-wife" and "Bills" with "Brandon."

It's alright, B. You'll find the right one someday. Maybe even that cute girl with the cap who smiled at you in math class.

So Spiller is a slut?

[Bill Cody]

Re: Bills miss out on tackle; take luxury pick in Spiller

The writing is decent, but I hate the premise. Taking the best player available is a great strategy - well, except if you're the Bills. Nonsense. You do not build a long-term winner by reaching for need regardless of how gaping the hole is. Anthony Davis? Brian Bulaga? Good picks later in the round, no doubt. Two problems. Davis, who may be the top 1 or 2 OT's in terms of athleticism has had repeated problems with conditioning, motor, discipline and respect. He may mature, but that's quite the risk, no? Bulaga is a classic overacheiver. I like this kid a lot, but I like him exactly where he went in the draft. Low first, early second. He's a tough kid who works hard and will always give 100%. He's also a limited athlete with short arms who is never going to be a great left tackle. He will be decent if he continues to work hard and he will always struggle against a wide edge rusher because he lacks the quickness and reach to get to him. You don't take that guy at number 9. I wouldn't be shocked if Bulaga has a nice career as a right tackle. Every year, the Colts get a bad draft grade, overall. Every year the Colts are good. Polian knows how to draft and build a long-term team. Ron Wolfe did it the same way. Bellichick has a different philosophy, but has also had success. His philosophy, however, is not to reach for need. A pro scout once told me that New England literally has 30-50 guys on their draft board. That's it. Literally. They take exact heights, weights, playing speeds, attitudes, etc for their system. If a guy doesn't fit almost exactly, they don't put him on the board. If they pick a guy and he fails, it wasn't because he didn't match the system. They just mis-judged his talent. They do the same thing in free agency. The only caveat is if a guy is a true special talent. Randy Moss, for example, does not fit the WR they typically like, but he is a special talent. Buffalo went best player available FOR THEIR SYSTEM on every pick this year. It was obvious because every pick took about 20 seconds. What I mean is that Linval Joseph was the higher rated DT, overall, I'm sure, but Joseph isn't a true 0-technique NT. He's big enough, but that's just not his strength. Troup and Cam Thomas fit that position better. Buffalo just happened to have Troup a bit higher. I had Thomas a bit higher, but I like Troup and it's not my decision. I also trust Nix's resume as a talent evaluator. Troup reminds me of Smerlas, so we can see what they were looking for. There was also no screwing around with "we need this" or "we haven't drafted an....yet." I commend the new strategy. If we drafted Davis or Bulaga at 9, Russ Brandon and Dick Jauron would have been in the room and everybody would have complained, rightfully so, about us reaching. The results may or may not work out, but at least the approach was different. I needed this change and I just absolutely hate the premise of "we needed a LT and blew it" that some fans are basing the draft on. It's mind boggling to me. The fans should be smarter than that. I guess 10 years of losing will screw up the brain a bit. Hopefully, the team and fans get their heads back on straight and we move forward. I still see only 5 wins this year, but it's early.

paragraphs are your friend