wolfpack
02-10-2015, 07:08 AM
BILLS’ PROBLEMS
By Andy Benoit
New coach Rex Ryan runs a very different defense than the one installed by last year’s coordinator, Jim Schwartz, whose contract was terminated in January. Ryan’s D is 3-4 based with an emphasis on blitzing and disguise. Schwartz’s was zone-based and tilted toward simplicity. The Bills ranked fourth in points and yards allowed under Schwartz, but that doesn’t mean they won’t prosper under Ryan. Recall that this D performed well two years ago under Mike Pettine, a Ryan protégé who used a lot of the same blitz concepts.
The Bills have the man-coverage corners to make those blitzes work; they actually have the talent to make any scheme work. In an effort to preserve that talent, GM Doug Whaley must strive to re-sign FS Da’Norris Searcy and especially DE Jerry Hughes, the former Colts first-rounder who originally shook the “bust” label playing outside linebacker under Pettine.
Buffalo’s remaining needs are on offense, starting at quarterback. Contrary to the rampant speculation, it’s highly unlikely that Doug Marrone was the reason that EJ Manuel failed to develop. The third-year QB is methodical in too many facets. You couldn’t blame the Bills if they jumped at an opportunity to get someone new. The recent signing of guard Richie Incognito could bring the additional stability that the interior offensive line needs. But then again, Incognito has been out of football for a year and a half. The last area to address: tight end. Scott Chandler is in a contract year, and though he’s good at catching balls in traffic, he’s not a weapon defenses must plan to stop. A dynamic tight end would really boost new coordinator Greg Roman’s system—and aid whomever is at quarterback.
BILLS’ SOLUTIONS
If the Bills want to find a quarterback who might take EJ Manuel’s job, they may have to spend their first pick on that player. The free-agent quarterback market isn’t great, and the quarterback group in this draft class is fairly thin behind Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota—both will be long gone by the time the Bills select at No. 50. (Remember, they gave away their 2015 first-rounder in last year’s trade so they could move up and select Sammy Watkins.) That means if they want UCLA’s Brett Hundley or Baylor’s Bryce Petty, they probably have to use that second-rounder.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Hundley seems to have all the physical tools, and he’s a smart guy who should represent a team very well off the field. But he never developed into a polished passer in three years as the starter at UCLA. If this sounds an awful lot like E.J. Manuel coming out of Florida State, it should (although Manuel only started for two years in Tallahassee). Petty represents a different kind of risk. He’s a freakish athlete with a strong arm, but Baylor’s offense isn’t like any in the NFL. This is like taking a motivational speaker who to this point has always spoken French and asking him to deliver the same message in Russian and expecting similar results. He may have the aptitude to make the transition easily, or he might not. Petty has been studying NFL protections and route trees since last year, so he knows how much work he must do to adjust to NFL schemes.
If the Bills decide against drafting a quarterback early, they might be able to grab a tight end at No. 50. Clive Walford, a versatile 6-foot-4, 258-pounder who led Miami in catches (44) and finished second on the team in receiving yards (676) could still be available. Buffalo might then be able to pick up a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the third round. There are no perfect prospects at this point. Washington’s Hauoli Kikaha led the nation in sacks with 19, but how many of those came because defensive tackle Danny Shelton—who probably will be drafted in the first round—occupied two or three blockers? Like Kikaha, Louisville’s Lorenzo Mauldin was a defensive end in college but could be athletic enough to be a quality outside linebacker in the NFL.
Buffalo has two fifth-round picks. If he’s still available, the Bills may want to consider picking up Yale back Tyler Varga. He can play tailback or fullback, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield could allow him to play an H-back role. Varga is the type of guy Stanford loved to use when offensive coordinator Greg Roman worked there.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/10/nfl-draft-2015-afc-east-projections/
By Andy Benoit
New coach Rex Ryan runs a very different defense than the one installed by last year’s coordinator, Jim Schwartz, whose contract was terminated in January. Ryan’s D is 3-4 based with an emphasis on blitzing and disguise. Schwartz’s was zone-based and tilted toward simplicity. The Bills ranked fourth in points and yards allowed under Schwartz, but that doesn’t mean they won’t prosper under Ryan. Recall that this D performed well two years ago under Mike Pettine, a Ryan protégé who used a lot of the same blitz concepts.
The Bills have the man-coverage corners to make those blitzes work; they actually have the talent to make any scheme work. In an effort to preserve that talent, GM Doug Whaley must strive to re-sign FS Da’Norris Searcy and especially DE Jerry Hughes, the former Colts first-rounder who originally shook the “bust” label playing outside linebacker under Pettine.
Buffalo’s remaining needs are on offense, starting at quarterback. Contrary to the rampant speculation, it’s highly unlikely that Doug Marrone was the reason that EJ Manuel failed to develop. The third-year QB is methodical in too many facets. You couldn’t blame the Bills if they jumped at an opportunity to get someone new. The recent signing of guard Richie Incognito could bring the additional stability that the interior offensive line needs. But then again, Incognito has been out of football for a year and a half. The last area to address: tight end. Scott Chandler is in a contract year, and though he’s good at catching balls in traffic, he’s not a weapon defenses must plan to stop. A dynamic tight end would really boost new coordinator Greg Roman’s system—and aid whomever is at quarterback.
BILLS’ SOLUTIONS
If the Bills want to find a quarterback who might take EJ Manuel’s job, they may have to spend their first pick on that player. The free-agent quarterback market isn’t great, and the quarterback group in this draft class is fairly thin behind Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota—both will be long gone by the time the Bills select at No. 50. (Remember, they gave away their 2015 first-rounder in last year’s trade so they could move up and select Sammy Watkins.) That means if they want UCLA’s Brett Hundley or Baylor’s Bryce Petty, they probably have to use that second-rounder.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Hundley seems to have all the physical tools, and he’s a smart guy who should represent a team very well off the field. But he never developed into a polished passer in three years as the starter at UCLA. If this sounds an awful lot like E.J. Manuel coming out of Florida State, it should (although Manuel only started for two years in Tallahassee). Petty represents a different kind of risk. He’s a freakish athlete with a strong arm, but Baylor’s offense isn’t like any in the NFL. This is like taking a motivational speaker who to this point has always spoken French and asking him to deliver the same message in Russian and expecting similar results. He may have the aptitude to make the transition easily, or he might not. Petty has been studying NFL protections and route trees since last year, so he knows how much work he must do to adjust to NFL schemes.
If the Bills decide against drafting a quarterback early, they might be able to grab a tight end at No. 50. Clive Walford, a versatile 6-foot-4, 258-pounder who led Miami in catches (44) and finished second on the team in receiving yards (676) could still be available. Buffalo might then be able to pick up a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the third round. There are no perfect prospects at this point. Washington’s Hauoli Kikaha led the nation in sacks with 19, but how many of those came because defensive tackle Danny Shelton—who probably will be drafted in the first round—occupied two or three blockers? Like Kikaha, Louisville’s Lorenzo Mauldin was a defensive end in college but could be athletic enough to be a quality outside linebacker in the NFL.
Buffalo has two fifth-round picks. If he’s still available, the Bills may want to consider picking up Yale back Tyler Varga. He can play tailback or fullback, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield could allow him to play an H-back role. Varga is the type of guy Stanford loved to use when offensive coordinator Greg Roman worked there.
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/02/10/nfl-draft-2015-afc-east-projections/