my offseason view

[Tatonka]

since the season is truely over for us fans.. what else is there to do. as far as free agency, the coach, and the draft.. this is what i see.. some of these thoughts may not be the ideal situation, but i am trying to taint this with realism, not blind homerism..

Coach -
i have alot of hopes here, but what i see is an internal promotion. I truely think that Lebeau is the new head coach and Steckle should get a shot at OC. Steckle at OC doesnt bother me at all. he was the titans the OC during the days of pound eddie george into the ground. i am all for that mentality. Lebeau for HC is ok i guess... it is not flashy. i dont think that he has proved anything as a head coach. you see what a new head coach has done for Cincy, so i dont think he is a difference maker. that is what i would like, but i just dont see it happening.

ideally, i am ready to give new blood a chance. i dont think that TD made a horrible decision with greg williams. there is no way that TD could have known that he was going to make some of the silly decisions that he did. obviously, if we landed fox or lewis, we would be bettr off now, but i dont think because greg williams didnt work out that we need to bring in a retread that has been fired in the past. give me new blood.

I want Kirk Ferentz!

http://hawkeyesports.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ferentz_kirk00.html

- pro ball experience, great record as a head coach in college, and Oline specialist. constently has the best oline in college, without the best recruits.


Free agency
1. damien woody. this solves a huge problem at C, and also sticks the pats. this is a guy i definately see TD going after. he is the best center on the market. we dont have time to wait for a rookie to develope. we need an experienced starter at such a crucial position.

2. resign winfield - we do not need to mess with our corners. our pass defense is strong, and most of that is due to clements and winfield. if he is let go, then there are plenty of replacements out there for the same high price, like woodson, bailey, and bobby taylor. any will do, but i prefer to keep winfield.

3. grant winstrom - the thought of kearse would be nice, but i am assuming that he will be tagged. and i dont know that i want to spend the money on him. winstrom is a strong DE. he makes plays and is very tough against the run. he IS what we want denny and kelsay to be. he would come at a much cheaper price than kearse for almost the same production after you subtract the injury time that will come with kearse. another alternative is eric hicks, which lots here seem to like, but i dont know enough about him to say if he would be another good option.

4. Darrell Jackson - the guy has outperformed Koren Robinson all season. anyone who plays fantasy football knows his value. he is a damn damn good receiver who can go deep or across the middle. had battled the dropsies this year, but that is not his MO, and he is still the man there. i would love to see him in a bills uni, and see reed back at slot. i still have high hopes that reed can be a hines ward type guy before all is said and done.
The Draft

first off, let me say that i do not want to trade henry. the guy has proved that he wants to win and is a team player. he has sacrificed his body this year, when many would be watching from the sidelines. the combination of henry and mcgahee could be lethal, much like davis and foster in carolina, and assuming that we dont get rid of drew (not that it would not make me happy, but just being realistic.. td wont admit he was wrong about the coaches and the qb, like askbry said) the only chance that we have to be successful with drew at qb is to have a devastating run game and a sick Defense.. we are not that far from that.

1st round -
Sean Taylor - Miami - total stud at FS. about as close to Roy Williams as you get. maybe better, imho. absolute playmaker at a position that is SO HARD to find a true playmaker at. he would complete our secondary for years.

http://www.nflfuture.com/seantaylor.html

2nd round -
Chad Lavalais - LSU- see my other thread on him. i love the guy. another playmaker that gets the job done against top competition. Keep sam adams, and let this guy rotate in early and often.

http://www.nflfuture.com/chadlavalais.html

3rd round -
Vernon Carrey - miami - huge OG. has played both positions, but projects as a guard, which he has played very well at miami. best prospect out there imho at OG. he may go in the second, but if we pick high in the third, we may sneak him in. he would be an immediate starter. massive 350lbs. perfect fit for a smash mouth offense.

http://www.nflfuture.com/vernoncarey.html

3rd round (from detriot) -
Phillip Rivers - NC State. I do not want to see us spend a high pick on a qb, like manning.. there is just too much question at qb to spend a high pick on them. give me a guy that just makes plays and has heart. rivers is that guy. i dont care what anyone says.. i have watched him play now for a couple years, and HE CAN THROW THE BALL.. those questioning his arm strength are being knit picky. he has a very quick release. chad penningtons arm was questioned too... and he sucks now huh? . great size for a qb and moble.

http://www.nflfuture.com/philliprivers.html

if we dont go rivers here.. please please please give me bradley van pelt later on day two (around round 5 to be safe). he is also a guy that scouts say doesnt have a shot in the nfl. i would be willing to risk a training camp or two to make sure.



if we make some tweaks, our team is playoff/superbowl caliber. lets hope we get it done.

[Tatonka]

i bought a sticky thread option in the zonebucks store so that i could use it on this thread.. it says i am enabled to use it, but i dont know how. i just didnt want to see a thread that took me so long to type just get buried...

any help mods on how to do it?

[baalworship]

Tatonka: I am in complete agreement about your coaching pick. Kirk Ferentz has the ideal new blood resume. Head coaching experience at a big college program, assistant head coach in NFL, offensive line coach in NFL. He is a player's coach that was last year's coach of the year in college. The fact that this guy knows about offensive line, that his teams play smart & efficient, and that he emphasizes special teams make him a very hot prospect. I believe he will be on Donahoe's short list if he hasn't already picked somebody.


I like Sean Taylor. I have been hoping for a playmaking safety for a while now. The fact that this guy could make some INT's in the backfield is exciting.

But I am hoping the Bills get some playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball most. Hopefully Winslow or Reggie Williams.


2nd Round: Don't know much about your DT. We could use some youth there. Also like

QB
WR (If none in the first)
DE (Small pass-rusher with blazing speed that drops here)
Guard/Center here

Third:

I like Vernon Carry as a guard. I want to know how he fell so far from his high projection from last year. Is it is play or is that scouts see him more as a guard rather than a tackle that dropped him to 2nd round-3rd round? Ideal pick for a team with an offensive coordinator that wants to run the ball. Put this guy next to Mike Williams and that would be a LOAD to stop.

[The Spaz]

Very nice indeed Tatonka I like your thinking. I totally forgot that we had 2 3rd round choices, excellent.:)

[Dozerdog]

Great piece!


Vernon Carey is a goner in Rd 1

Van Pelt can be had as an undrafted FA. Otherwise, I love it!

Are you for keeping the coaches on the defensive side of the ball, or do they go as well?

[juice]

Rivers might be a good call in a later round, We'll probably get a first rounder for whichever back we trade Henry or Willis.

[TigerJ]

I agree with Dozerdog. Carey never makes it to round three. An alternative might be Morenko Crittenden out of Auburn.

I've been touting Drew Carter WR Ohio State as a mid round sleeper. Anyone have any thoughts about him?

[The Spaz]

Originally posted by TigerJ
I agree with Dozerdog. Carey never makes it to round three. An alternative might be Morenko Crittenden out of Auburn.

I've been touting Drew Carter WR Ohio State as a mid round sleeper. Anyone have any thoughts about him?

Hmm I maybe wrong but I thought he hurt his knee an dis out for the year?! Maybe I'm wrong though thought I heard something like that.

[Tatonka]

Originally posted by Dozerdog
Great piece!


Vernon Carey is a goner in Rd 1

Van Pelt can be had as an undrafted FA. Otherwise, I love it!

Are you for keeping the coaches on the defensive side of the ball, or do they go as well?

it is my understanding that carry does not project well as a tackle. it is VERY rare that you see a guard go in the first.. and carry is not a total stud. he also has weight issues.. i know it is a stretch, but what the hell.. like i said, he may go in the second, but i dont see a first round tag on him.

i keep the coaches on the defensive side of the ball. i think jerry gray has earned more time. how can you complain about the job the defense has done.

if van pelt is a ufa, then all the better! bring in him and rivers.

Originally posted by baalworship
Tatonka: I am in complete agreement about your coaching pick. Kirk Ferentz has the ideal new blood resume. Head coaching experience at a big college program, assistant head coach in NFL, offensive line coach in NFL. He is a player's coach that was last year's coach of the year in college. The fact that this guy knows about offensive line, that his teams play smart & efficient, and that he emphasizes special teams make him a very hot prospect. I believe he will be on Donahoe's short list if he hasn't already picked somebody.


I like Sean Taylor. I have been hoping for a playmaking safety for a while now. The fact that this guy could make some INT's in the backfield is exciting.

But I am hoping the Bills get some playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball most. Hopefully Winslow or Reggie Williams.


2nd Round: Don't know much about your DT. We could use some youth there. Also like

QB
WR (If none in the first)
DE (Small pass-rusher with blazing speed that drops here)
Guard/Center here

Third:

I like Vernon Carry as a guard. I want to know how he fell so far from his high projection from last year. Is it is play or is that scouts see him more as a guard rather than a tackle that dropped him to 2nd round-3rd round? Ideal pick for a team with an offensive coordinator that wants to run the ball. Put this guy next to Mike Williams and that would be a LOAD to stop.

i dont think we need a guy from the draft for offense in the high rounds. one guy i REALLY forgot to add to my article was darrell jackson. i thought i put him on there, but i didnt. i will edit that and put him in. he wont cost the money that a guy like TO will, but next to moulds, he would be as good if not better than peerless.

trust me when i say lavalais is a stud. he is number 93. check out LSU in their bowl game. you will see what i mean.

as far as a DE in the draft.. i think we got our friggin fill of them right now... i dont want another young guy.. that just buries kelsay and denny. i know denny is barely servicable, but i believe that with some more time, he can at least be a strong role player. i think grant winstrom is enough of a difference maker at DE, along with a strong pass rushing DT like lavalias, that the pass rush will improve.

[Dozerdog]

Heck- If Lavaias is so quick- why not try him as a situational DE?

Whatever route the Bills take will be dictated by the coach. If Ferentz is the guy, I'd think a top Center or Guard would be priority #1, and if Center is the guy you can slide Teague to the Guard spot. He's versatile enough.

I'd also look for a top WR also. I do like the idea of Sean Taylor, I hope we finish ahead of the Pats' 2 #1s - they could have interest in him as well.

[IHateTheDullphins]

Excellent Thread, Tatonka. I would be content if all of what you posted happened.

[Tatonka]

doz, the top receive idea should come from free agency... we have 3 young receivers that dont deserve to be pushed out of the mix, reed, aiken, coleman. i think jackson would be the perfect match for us.

as far as teague, i really dont see him as a starter. he is the perfect back up.. but i cant see him being much better at guard then pucillo.

chad lavalais could be used much like seymore, but his true position is dt.. pretty sure he would stick there..

[justasportsfan]

Great stuff Tatonka. My question is, what do we do w/ Coy Wire? I think Coy could be a great FS when given the chance.

[E-Klips]

Not bad, tatonka. I like some of those choices a lot, like Sean Taylor and Ferentz as coach. I remember someone else posting a scenario that had the Bills drafting a DT first and a OG second, then getting the DE and C in free agency. I like that one too. If we end up with better players at DE, DT, OG, C, TE, FS, and WR, then I'm all for it. With some good research, we can find the good prospects and not just look for big name (and big $) free agents. In the other post I saw, there were a few free agent centers mentioned. Only a couple were starters, but all were young and have started before. This is an option of Damien Woody wants too much. Same with Winfield. Sign him if you can, but don't let him break the bank. We have way too many needs to blow our cash on one player.

[Jeff1220]

The more I read about Ferentz, the more I like him. His resume is solid, to say the least.
Did you guys notice that his background is in English Literature (just like a certain great Bills coach)?