Bills Needs List, Part IV: Defensive Back Seven

I say CB because I'm not sold on Greer.  Granted, he was a great story, but I'd like him more as a backup.  Yobouty is getting this close (hold thumb and index finger a half inch apart) to being a bust.  This is a make or break year for him.  Webster is so-so, and Thomas is only slightly better.

As far as LBs go, I think the first priority is to lock up Crowell.  Poz coming back immediately helps this group.  I like Ellison, Digi, and Wire as depth guys.  Could we use another starter here?  Sure.  I just don't think of it as a pressing need.  

I wouldn't touch the Safety position, unless I could add a huge improvement, a low-round pick probably isn't any better than what we have.  I can't see the Bills drafting a safety in the 6th round, and having him be better than Scott, or Leonhard. So unless I'm adding one with the first or second round picks (in which case we would riot) I would just leave it alone.

I know you (sireric) will probably go round and round on the DT vs DE thing, and after watching the Giants pass rush, I'm sure it gives more weight to your argument.  Still, I'm convinced better DT play will improve the current DEs play.  And a guy brought in to play DE probably wouldn't play much in that rotation, unless he was a true stud.

Glad we agree on the safeties.  I can see them going with six next year.

Greer was very opportunistic; a nice surprise indeed (by the Donahoe regime, correct?).  I love stories like his.  

How happy would you and I both be if they somehow finangled C. Williams in FA, and then Gholston and a second tier DT (Simms, Balmer, Bryant, Pressley, or Moore) in the draft?  Some might say that's overkill on the DL, but all seven positions behind these guys would reap the benefits immediately.

I believe, without any argument, that a starting OLB is a bigtime need for us. I don't care who he is as long as his first name isn't Keith and his last name isn't Ellison. I'd be willing to sign a mid-to-low tier FA while drafting an OLB in the first 3 rounds.  I'm intrigued by this Brandon Chillar dude from the Rams, who's only 25 coming off a pretty good season. I don't see how Briggs or Dansby have any chance of being signed here. I've seen guys like Landon Johnson and Boss Bailey mentioned, but they aren't anything special and would probably command a decent contract. I'm more willing to sign a younger, somewhat unknown player to possibly man the position for a shorter period, while we groom a rookie.  I have no problem going OLB in round 1 or 2. If we took a Keith Rivers in round 1, then obviously I wouldn't expect a FA signing. However, going into round 2 or 3, I like guys such as Phillip Wheeler (Ga Tech), Erin Henderson (Maryland) and Tavares Gooden (Miami) who could come in and start right away, but are not guarenteed to be ready.  Those guys are true talents and would give us a much need talent/speed infusion at the position.

I think we need an upgrade at CB too, but I'm not sure the best way to go about that. I wouldn't mind adding a veteran like Drayton Florence or Brian Kelly, but also a rookie to groom as guys like Greer, Thomas, Youboty and McGee will all be seeing their contracts end in the next 2 years.  I actually think the best way to go is adding one of the two FA's I mentioned, cut Thomas (who does nothing for me) and taking a talented rookie within the first 4 rounds, especially one with return ability. That'd give us more flexibility in the future and upgrade the talent in a somewhat cheap fashion.

My needs would look like this:

1. DE
1a. DT
1b. OLB

4. CB
   
5. Another LB

1. - New Starting WLB
   
2. - Young Cornerback
   
3. - Depth linebacker (inside, outside or both)
   

Ellison only had 38 tackles last year.  I'm not even sure how that is possible.  Either there is a big statkeeping conspiracy or he is terrible.

Adding the D-Line needs back into the equation my list looks like:

1. - Starter at WLB
   
2. - big time DT talent
   
3. - playmaking DE
   
4. - Young Cornerback
   
5. - Depth Linebacker

I also might consider extending Mckees as well, even though he's in the middle of it.  

In my opinion, it's better to be aggressive early in a players contract, rather than the Sabres way of thinking..

But again, what do I know?  I was happy with the pick of Mike Williams, and was pretty wrong on that one..

I would say the Bills are best served by this priority list:

1- DT: Make a SERIOUS run at Albert Haynesworth, he might be a head case, but he would be our disruptive, pass and run stuffing head case. If we bag him, this drops to number 4 and we find a widebody in FA on the cheap and draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th round whose job is to hunker down and occupy people or knife between them, either works because we need them. Finding a guy to do both is rare. If we don't get Albert, or a fat guy in FA, this is number 1 on the list.

2- CB: Greer while a gamer makes to many mistakes for a supposed "veteran" player. Also Youboty is getting close to being either good, or bad, with him I don't think he'll end up "decent" as a middle ground, he is to hit or miss. Webster and Thomas are OK, as long as they're the dime and nickel backs, in a pinch honestly. We need somebody from one of the pass whacky spread offense conferences who is good at play recognition and being in position, I wish we still had Antoine Winfield since I always felt he was better than Clements. No matter what the Bills do in FA, CB stays in the top two spots either #2 if no big move made in FA for a DT, or #1 if we bag say Albert H.

3 and 3a- OLB and DE: I say kill two birds with one stone, the Giants just spent a small fortune on Justin Tuck, a good move by them. But it does do one thing, leave the cupboard bare for Kawika Mitchell (I may have killed his name, oh well). Now, he isn't an outstanding LB, BUT, he sure as hell can get to the QB when turned loose, and he is a converted DE. He would be perfect to put out on the field in a passing situation to screw with the other team. Who wants him, Schobel, and Denney tearing ass after their QB? Plus he can play with his hand down or in a 2 point stance. This way we get two spots for the price of one since he can play either spot in a pinch.

4 or 5 depending on 3- ILB: The FA market is bare here, like it is every season, but Lance Briggs is the best available. I just don't see the Bills getting into that bidding war as the Pat's will make a run at him after Seau et. all got ABUSED by the Giant's o-line and RBs all game. So we gotta fill this with a lesser person, and actually, the draft has alot of solid guys here who would fill this spot with a little work, especially as I could see Costanza from PSU falling into the 2nd like Posluzny did last year.

5 or 6- I say resign Scott, he showed some flashes of being able to play at the NFL level, and then pick up another kid in the later rounds of the draft. Hopefully some sledge hammer speed missle from a lesser known school would do well here. Those types are actually more available now that the vast majority of teams want ball hawkers first, second, and third on their teams. We have two good starting safety's so we can take a flier on a kid who might need some coaching up (which we do well though our play calling negates alot of that it seems) on how to play the ball in the air. But we DESPERATELY need to get someone who likes to seperate receivers from the ball by planting a shoulder pad in someones kidneys. I am definetly thinking about Wes Welker and Randy Mss here. Welker would need ALOT of convincing to not go over the middle, but if we get a kid who makes someone piss blood after a couple of hits, only he would dare.