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Center in the draft?

Blog_face_pic_tiny by Lance in Germany on

Do we need an upgrade at center, and are there draft propects out there this year?

Star-divide

Hey Bills fans, with all the talk about WR and the defense the last month or so, I hadn't thought much about the OL until I read Conner Byrne's RF365 article today (link below).

Conner and some of the folks who post on RF365 (although it's board has been down a few weeks now!) lamented about our center, Melven Fowler quite a bit last year.

The question is: Do we need an upgrade at center, and is there any decent prospects out there in the draft?

I'm curious about the general consensis out there if in fact we need an upgrade at center or not.  Also I do not research draft prospects out there like many others, so I figured I would see what others have found in terms of what is available at center.... and importantly, do we have to spend a high draft pick if we want to upgrade at center.

here is the RF365 link:
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/21537.html
GO BILLS!

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Center
I feel like Buffalo definitely needs an upgrade at center, but probably in the form of a draft pick that ends up sitting this year and taking over next year (sort of like what Carolina did with Kalil last year before releasing their starter Hartwig this week).  Fowler's a heady player who comes up with fumbles and doesn't really screw up often, but he's not powerful enough in run blocking for my taste.  Frankly, I believe he's an NFL player, but more of a career backup who could start a few games a year if your true starter was banged up.  To me, WR, CB, and TE need to be addressed immediatelty in the early rounds of the draft with C, DE, and S being addressed in the middle rounds before we'll even have a chance to go for value in the late rounds.  So many holes!
Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Mar 13, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions  

Center
You took the word right out of my brain. As soon as I read this I immediately thought of Kalil. I think there are some good value guy who could be had late that will develop into solid centers in a year or two.
Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Mar 13, 2008 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Center
I don't think there's a C in the draft that would take Fowler's job this year. However, there are some with decent upside that would allow us to let him walk next year. Also, I'd much rather draft a C with some size. If we're going to have a power running attack, we can't have a C who gets overpowered more often than not.

And yeah, Center is a position in need of an upgrade. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll see that happen this year. We will get to see Fowler pushed around like a high school nerd all next season though!

~K

by Kurupt on Mar 13, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions  

Nobody projected to succeed
that doesn't mean nobody will, but this years crop of centers are all projected as mid to late rounders.  That's good for us because it takes that position out of the equation in the early rounds, and we'll have the pick of the litter (almost) in round 5

by jj24 on Mar 13, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions  

yeah no size this year
if we draft a center this year maybe we could upgrade from steve urkel to anthony michael hall's character in the breakfast club (brian johnson?)

by jj24 on Mar 13, 2008 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions  

I think
that we could use a new center.  I wouldn't call it a need because Fowler is decent enough.  Centers call all the audibles on the line and are often used to pull outside on run plays.  It is a tough position to start at right away.  I think the exception this year is Mike Pollack from Arizona st.  He will go in the third round and would be an immediate upgrade.  I don't like the idea of drafting a center that early though.  Steve Justice from Wake Forest is a guy worth looking at in the fourth round and there is a long list of potential future starters in rounds 5 and 6.  I suspect Buffalo will want a center capable of playing guard like Chris McDuffie of Clemson or Fernando Velasco from Georgia.

by kaisertown on Mar 13, 2008 12:42 PM EDT reply actions  

LOL!!
Kurupt you are awesome! I love it when people tell it how it is! We are in dire need of a center because Fowler does suck at run blocking and especially pass blocking. He has short arms and really not much strength. HE SUCKS! The only reason he stayed around so long was that Losman liked him. Did everyone see how that worked out??

James Hall in for a visit at OBD??

Can I say it AGAIN????

NO DE AT #11!!!!!

I am a huge Bills fan! Have been since I was 5! I miss the good old days with Marv, Bruce, Talley, Ballard, Hull, Reed, Lofton and Thurman!

by cutter3232 on Mar 13, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Center...
I agree with much of what everyone said above, especially about drafting one this year to be Fowler's replacement next year.  I really like Mike Pollock in round 3, but only if CB, WR, and TE are addressed before that.  Obviously if they don't trade down in the first they can't do that.  Steve Justice is not bad too, however he could be a 3rd rounder as well, and at that price, I would much rather have Pollock.  A guy a really like somewhere in the mid-rounds is Kory Lichtensteiger from Bowling Green.  Here's some more about him:

Height:  6-2 1/4
Weight:  298
40-time:  5.22

He is smart and has good awareness.  Strong and intense with a great motor.  He's also known to be a hard worker and a leader.  He has good balance and is versatile.  The biggest knock against him is his size.

John I.

by jri111 on Mar 13, 2008 1:56 PM EDT reply actions  

Kory Lichtensteiger
no way he is a waste bender and was KILLED at the SB.

by bills @ Buffalo Rumblings on Mar 13, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

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