patmoran2006
06-03-2010, 10:21 AM
We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is No. 15 our list, Aaron Schobel)
Aaron Schobel, DE (Second round pick, 46<SUP>th</SUP> overall in 2001 NFL draft)
If you’re a Buffalo Bills fanatic and haven’t resided under a rock over the past decade, you’ll know that Tom Donahoe didn’t exactly revitalize this franchise when he took over as general manager for John Butler in 2001. During his five-year tenure as the Bills primary and often lone decision maker, Donahoe’s blunders, predominantly during the NFL draft are too many to mention.
But we will anyway—at least a few of them.
Mike Williams was the fourth pick of the 2002 draft. Willis McGahee was a first rounder in ’03 when the team already had Travis Henry, who ran for 1,428 yards and 14 touchdowns the year before. Roscoe Parrish was the first player taken in 2005 and of course, let’s not forget when Donahoe traded up and gave up plenty for the right to select J.P. Losman the previous year.
To his credit, Donahoe did a few things right on draft day; perhaps none more impressive than his first at the helm in 2001 when the Bills selected in the second round, 46<SUP>th</SUP> overall a player from TCU named Aaron Schobel.
Hardly a blue chip prospect coming into the draft, Schobel was the fifth defensive end selected. Despite being a two-time All-WAC defensive end and the Conference Player of the Year as a senior, Schobel wasn’t regarded as first round talent. (Interestingly enough, the Bills were mocked to have taken Marcus Stroud with their first pick by both CNNSI (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/draft/news/2001/04/19/mockdraft_final/) and NFL Draft Countdown (http://www.draftcountdown.com/archive/2001/2001-Mock.php). Stroud went to Jacksonville and later joined the Bills via trade in 2008.)
Justin Smith, Andre Carter and Jamal Reynolds were among the top ten picks. Kyle Vanden Bosch went early in the second. All were taken before Schobel and none of them hold a candle to his statistics.
In fact, of the group that went ahead of him, Carter leads the pack with 63.5 sacks though the end of last season—nearly 15 behind the second leading sacker in Bills history.
From the time he was a rookie, Schobel has made a positive impact on the Bills. He was starting before the half way point of his first year and finished his rookie campaign with 6.5 sacks. He upped his total to 8.5 sacks in his second season and in his third he had 11.5; the first of four times he’d have double-digit sacks.
Schobel is one of those classic “solid if not spectacular” players. He doesn’t wow you with power nor will he end up on the ESPN highlight reel often. But his motor is relentless and as a result he’s accumulated statistics few defensive players in the history of the franchise have matched.
His 78 sacks are second in club history to only Bruce Smith. He’s also the lone player other than Smith to post consecutive seasons of at least ten sacks (2005-06). He’s been a Pro Bowl selection twice (2006-07) and was twice the AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2003, 2006).
He’s also been a model of durability. He appeared in 117 consecutive games for the Bills until a foot injury finally forced him out of the lineup in 2008 against San Diego. The injury would end his season but in typical Schobel fashion, he bounced back last year with 10 sacks to hit double digits a fourth time. He also intercepted a pass and returned it for the only touchdown of his career.
It’s not as if his work has gone unrewarded by the organization. In 2007 he signed a seven-year, $50-million dollar deal to lock him in Buffalo through 2013.
While last season showed at least statistically that Schobel is still near the top of his game; he’s strongly considering retirement. His frustration over a near-decade of losing has simmered and his desire to see his kids grow up in their home state of Texas is influencing his decision. Then there’s the having to learn a new 3-4 defense at outside linebacker after spending nine seasons as an end.
Whether he comes back to play or never sees another snap in a Bills uniform, Schobel has been arguably the best player on a franchise stuck in a decade-filled with bringing up the rear. Had he been part of a team that’s won more frequently, he’d be a household name around the league and not just among Bills Nation.
When you consider he was only a middle of the second round pick, Schobel easily gets the nod on this list. In fact, only a lack of team accomplishment prevents him from being ranked higher.
He’s a sure-fire future Bills Wall of Famer.
Previously: #20 Joe Cribbs (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-all-time-bills-draft-picks-joe-cribbs-20/), #19 Jeff Nixon, (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-jeff-nixon-19/) #18 Bob Chandler (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-bob-chandler-18/), #17 Nate Odomes (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-nate-odomes-17/) , #16 Fred Smerlas (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-fred-smerlas-16/)
Aaron Schobel, DE (Second round pick, 46<SUP>th</SUP> overall in 2001 NFL draft)
If you’re a Buffalo Bills fanatic and haven’t resided under a rock over the past decade, you’ll know that Tom Donahoe didn’t exactly revitalize this franchise when he took over as general manager for John Butler in 2001. During his five-year tenure as the Bills primary and often lone decision maker, Donahoe’s blunders, predominantly during the NFL draft are too many to mention.
But we will anyway—at least a few of them.
Mike Williams was the fourth pick of the 2002 draft. Willis McGahee was a first rounder in ’03 when the team already had Travis Henry, who ran for 1,428 yards and 14 touchdowns the year before. Roscoe Parrish was the first player taken in 2005 and of course, let’s not forget when Donahoe traded up and gave up plenty for the right to select J.P. Losman the previous year.
To his credit, Donahoe did a few things right on draft day; perhaps none more impressive than his first at the helm in 2001 when the Bills selected in the second round, 46<SUP>th</SUP> overall a player from TCU named Aaron Schobel.
Hardly a blue chip prospect coming into the draft, Schobel was the fifth defensive end selected. Despite being a two-time All-WAC defensive end and the Conference Player of the Year as a senior, Schobel wasn’t regarded as first round talent. (Interestingly enough, the Bills were mocked to have taken Marcus Stroud with their first pick by both CNNSI (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2001/draft/news/2001/04/19/mockdraft_final/) and NFL Draft Countdown (http://www.draftcountdown.com/archive/2001/2001-Mock.php). Stroud went to Jacksonville and later joined the Bills via trade in 2008.)
Justin Smith, Andre Carter and Jamal Reynolds were among the top ten picks. Kyle Vanden Bosch went early in the second. All were taken before Schobel and none of them hold a candle to his statistics.
In fact, of the group that went ahead of him, Carter leads the pack with 63.5 sacks though the end of last season—nearly 15 behind the second leading sacker in Bills history.
From the time he was a rookie, Schobel has made a positive impact on the Bills. He was starting before the half way point of his first year and finished his rookie campaign with 6.5 sacks. He upped his total to 8.5 sacks in his second season and in his third he had 11.5; the first of four times he’d have double-digit sacks.
Schobel is one of those classic “solid if not spectacular” players. He doesn’t wow you with power nor will he end up on the ESPN highlight reel often. But his motor is relentless and as a result he’s accumulated statistics few defensive players in the history of the franchise have matched.
His 78 sacks are second in club history to only Bruce Smith. He’s also the lone player other than Smith to post consecutive seasons of at least ten sacks (2005-06). He’s been a Pro Bowl selection twice (2006-07) and was twice the AFC Defensive Player of the Week (2003, 2006).
He’s also been a model of durability. He appeared in 117 consecutive games for the Bills until a foot injury finally forced him out of the lineup in 2008 against San Diego. The injury would end his season but in typical Schobel fashion, he bounced back last year with 10 sacks to hit double digits a fourth time. He also intercepted a pass and returned it for the only touchdown of his career.
It’s not as if his work has gone unrewarded by the organization. In 2007 he signed a seven-year, $50-million dollar deal to lock him in Buffalo through 2013.
While last season showed at least statistically that Schobel is still near the top of his game; he’s strongly considering retirement. His frustration over a near-decade of losing has simmered and his desire to see his kids grow up in their home state of Texas is influencing his decision. Then there’s the having to learn a new 3-4 defense at outside linebacker after spending nine seasons as an end.
Whether he comes back to play or never sees another snap in a Bills uniform, Schobel has been arguably the best player on a franchise stuck in a decade-filled with bringing up the rear. Had he been part of a team that’s won more frequently, he’d be a household name around the league and not just among Bills Nation.
When you consider he was only a middle of the second round pick, Schobel easily gets the nod on this list. In fact, only a lack of team accomplishment prevents him from being ranked higher.
He’s a sure-fire future Bills Wall of Famer.
Previously: #20 Joe Cribbs (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-all-time-bills-draft-picks-joe-cribbs-20/), #19 Jeff Nixon, (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-jeff-nixon-19/) #18 Bob Chandler (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/2010/05/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-bob-chandler-18/), #17 Nate Odomes (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/2010/06/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-nate-odomes-17/) , #16 Fred Smerlas (http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2010/06/top-20-bills-all-time-draft-picks-fred-smerlas-16/)