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I wasn't entirely happy when the Bills picked McGahee in the 2003 NFL draft, but it wasn't until after this weekends game that it dawned on me why.
Clearly the Bills should have chosen a strong pass blocking lineman rather than drafting a questionable, future RB. McGahee may pan out fruitful next season, however this season his athletisism won't be enjoyed by anyone.......that is unless he is healthy enough to help out the Bills porous pass block. *scoff*
Donahoe's decisions have not faltered in the past, but his first round draft choice this season may prove to be his biggest blunder. In the past, Donahoe has always chosen to trade down and obtain more middle talent when the first round appeared busted, not lucrative for his team. For some odd reason TD went against that rule and signed a broken, talented RB, but won't be able to show anything to anyone until late into the season, or more likely not until next year.
Meanwhile, Drew Bledsoe is going to take a beating again this season. While the run blocking seems next to perfection, the pass blocking is far below average. Two things will amount for such insignificant protection: 1) INTs - Drew will repeatedly be forced to throw the ball before he truly wants to and; 2) QB injuries - How Drew sustained 40+ sacks last season without coming up lame is a miracle in every definition of the word. Another year older, slightly more brittle, slightly slower, Drew's heavenly luck may have just run out.
What baffles me is if Donahoe was going to break his own drafting rules, why would he do it so radically? He could have easily drafted down, and had several chances to draft his "intuition", his McGahee in a lower round, while still filling holes in the Bills pass blocking corp.
A Center, or a Guard, or even a smaller quicker OT would have made more sense. If Tom truly needed to go against his own drafting rules, he should have traded up and picked Jeff Faine, the big plugging Center out of Notre Dame. The trade would not have been a far leap, just 4 or 5 moves ahead of where the Bills shocked the pro football world. Even if McGahee didn't find the Red, White, and Blue jersey of the Buffalo Bills this season, so what. Are Henry, Gary, Morris, and Burns not sufficient?
In Donahoe's defense, Faine was probably just a dream, and no other GM was looking to make another poker face deal with Tom Donahoe. That excuse could prove acceptable, but again why McGahee? Ogreich Steinbeck OG, John Stinchcomb OT, and Al Johnson C, all went in the top of the second round. Any could have easily been had by the Bills mastermind. All could only have helped Drew fight his battle to keep the grass stains off of his shoulder pads this season. Instead, the Bills #1 draft pick this year can only watch as Bledsoe finds the turf game after game for the entire season. So much for immediate impact rookies.
Clearly the Bills should have chosen a strong pass blocking lineman rather than drafting a questionable, future RB. McGahee may pan out fruitful next season, however this season his athletisism won't be enjoyed by anyone.......that is unless he is healthy enough to help out the Bills porous pass block. *scoff*
Donahoe's decisions have not faltered in the past, but his first round draft choice this season may prove to be his biggest blunder. In the past, Donahoe has always chosen to trade down and obtain more middle talent when the first round appeared busted, not lucrative for his team. For some odd reason TD went against that rule and signed a broken, talented RB, but won't be able to show anything to anyone until late into the season, or more likely not until next year.
Meanwhile, Drew Bledsoe is going to take a beating again this season. While the run blocking seems next to perfection, the pass blocking is far below average. Two things will amount for such insignificant protection: 1) INTs - Drew will repeatedly be forced to throw the ball before he truly wants to and; 2) QB injuries - How Drew sustained 40+ sacks last season without coming up lame is a miracle in every definition of the word. Another year older, slightly more brittle, slightly slower, Drew's heavenly luck may have just run out.
What baffles me is if Donahoe was going to break his own drafting rules, why would he do it so radically? He could have easily drafted down, and had several chances to draft his "intuition", his McGahee in a lower round, while still filling holes in the Bills pass blocking corp.
A Center, or a Guard, or even a smaller quicker OT would have made more sense. If Tom truly needed to go against his own drafting rules, he should have traded up and picked Jeff Faine, the big plugging Center out of Notre Dame. The trade would not have been a far leap, just 4 or 5 moves ahead of where the Bills shocked the pro football world. Even if McGahee didn't find the Red, White, and Blue jersey of the Buffalo Bills this season, so what. Are Henry, Gary, Morris, and Burns not sufficient?
In Donahoe's defense, Faine was probably just a dream, and no other GM was looking to make another poker face deal with Tom Donahoe. That excuse could prove acceptable, but again why McGahee? Ogreich Steinbeck OG, John Stinchcomb OT, and Al Johnson C, all went in the top of the second round. Any could have easily been had by the Bills mastermind. All could only have helped Drew fight his battle to keep the grass stains off of his shoulder pads this season. Instead, the Bills #1 draft pick this year can only watch as Bledsoe finds the turf game after game for the entire season. So much for immediate impact rookies.
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