some thoughts

I agree that this is the year to try to get the franchise QB. The one you chose is the worst of the group. I am a huge ND fan, and I also follow draft prospects very closely. Clausen has 2 huge problems that are very difficult to teach: pocket awareness and the ability to anticipate a reciever coming open. Locker and Bradford both have a much better pocket awareness than Clausen. The anticipation is the big one to me. Look back at all the prospects that have failed at the NFL level at QB over the last 20 years. The biggest reason is they do not have the avility to anticipate a reciever coming open. I college a QB can wait till the reciever makes his break and gains separation. In the NFL, if you see a wr open, then he is already covered. You have to anticipate the break and throw it to the open window. JP Losman was a perfect example. All the physical talent in the world, but he did not have the ability to anticipate a receiver coming open. Same thing for David Carr, Trent Edwards, Tim Couch, Akili Smith and so on….
Now look at Drew Brees. Barely 6’00. Arm strength equal average. Watch him throw the ball. He sees his recievers coming open beforre they even make there break. Tom Brady does the same thing. Same does Payton Manning. None of them have the arm strength of Jay Cutler, yet you would take any of them in a second over him. I would even say JP probably had a stronger arm than those three. The point is arm strength does has some importance, I would take a QB that has “qb instincts” any day of the week. Now that I realized that I got completely off topic, both Bradford and Locker show these qualities. Even Ryan Mallett, as inexperienced as he is, has shown the ability to feel pressure and anticipate routes. I would look at those three.

I completely agree with you on the mock drafts – you really have to look more into it then what they put there. One I saw said we need a pass catching TE… we got one, and he is starting due to two TE on IR in front of him…
I would really like to see a DT in the first round only because the top 3 DT are all solid, but there is a huge drop off after that. I am not convinced on the QB’s and don’t want the Bills to pick one, just to pick one.
Williams and Stroud are high on tackles, but that’s because they will get two stops and then give up a 10 yarders. I don’t have anything against them, but they someone really good to improve that rotation, Stroud isn’t getting any younger and there’s a reason they get torched in the 4th quarter…
IMO the LB selection is pretty solid all around and you could easily get one in the 2nd round with out much drop off from the first and possibly even the third (more likely late 2nd).

Cowher or Dungy. I think both could consider us if they saw that the path to contention was quick. I think Dungy more than Cowher could look at the Bills and like Fewell as a DC and like our core. I feel like we could attract someone if there was a decent QB free agent or trade out there.

I’m not in the Buffalo area and I can tell you that the Bills as a team have a very good reputation in terms of players. People think they play very hard and have had horrible luck. The grass is always greener elsewhere. We have a good core and we play hard and that could be attracted to a coach Dungy or Cowher.

The Redskins will be going for an OT. They’ve been roundly criticized because there was a report that showed that they haven’t drafted a 1st or 2nd round O-lineman in about 10 years. I also think they are through with developing young QBs after Ramsey and Campbell.

I feel like Wade Phillips is on his last leg in Dallas. Jones is going to claim that they have the talent to win a Super Bowl and unless he wins it, he is done. Believe it or not, I will take Wade Phillips back. I liked him and thought that that team that lost to the Titans on the forward pass was a superbowl caliber team.

I know this is heresy. But I still have not given up on Trent Edwards. I think Trent needs protection and Derek Schouman.

 Root for teams that suck and pray their QBs go on a Losemanesque run

If the OL isn’t good enough to draft a QB, then sign a free agent or two.

We have tried that. Do teams like the Steelers bring in high priced FAs olinemen or draft them?

We need a NT because we are switching to a 3-4……yes I can see into the future

The Oakland Raiders – They’d probably make a stupid pick.

Ha – probably couldn’t agree more. I actually almost feel kind of bad for Oakland fans. How bad are they going to have to eat that Russell contract?

The Jets …. to lose – I hate those guys and I think it’s funny that they could wind up with another high pick……..And I like that they might find themselves in cap trouble soon. I’d love to watch them collapse their way into another big rookie salary.

I hate the Jets, and Jets fans even more (apologies to those Jet fans who post intelligently here on SB Nation – it’s your brethren who attend Bills games that annoy me the most). I rec’d this whole post, but even if it only contained the above paragraph, I would have rec’d it anyway…

A new collective bargaining agreement – It’s not so much that a capless league is one that Ralph Wilson and Buffalo can’t compete in. I’m more worried about the potential free agent pool and the lack of roster turnover that could follow. No cap = fewer changes to this roster.

Ok – forget about rec’ing your post for the Jets comments. The one above gets a double rec if possible. The FA pool for next year (sans cap) is ridiculously void of talent. There are so many poison pills tied in with the no cap thing. If that happens, teams hoping to overhaul their roster are going to be in for a surprise. That’s another reason I think the big names are going to want to wait until the last minute before grabbing a coaching seat – to see how the CBA plays out. Imagine taking a job where you are supposed to change the whole roster, and all you can change are 8 draft picks and maybe 2-3 low to middle FAs? I also would love to know what Buffalo’s expected cap room is, if they do extend the CBA somehow. That’s an important piece of information for anyone considering the job.

On Brohm – I’ll admit – I’m one of those people hoping to see what he can do. I think you made a good argument on why he shouldn’t play this year. In any event, you are at least making me rethink my stance on this.

While a HC with all the authority, but a GM to work with isn’t my favorite option, it isn’t a bad one either.

I don’t like the HC/GM thing either, like many of us. But I could live with a situation like you described here.

How impressive is it that this defense, with all the injuries, TOP issues and terrible offense is 19th in points allowed per game?

Very. Very much so.

Bill Cowher isn’t leaving the booth for Buffalo

I’m ok with that. I actually think Cowher is overrated. He got lucky to be in the right place at the right time, then did enough not to screw it up for a long time. Chuck Noll and the Rooney’s made that organization into what it is.

My favorite is the mock drafts that have the Bills taking a WR or HB in the first round as though that’s our biggest problem and the line will magically fix itself for the new WR.

If the new coaching staff wants a 3-4, I don’t think Stroud or Williams will have a major role with the team next year other than possibly in subpackages and a NT will be needed at some point in the offseason. It would be tough to gut one of our few productive positions, but on the other hand Maybin and Posluszny are much better suited for the 3-4 so there are pros and cons for the existing personnel in either case. No matter what happens, I hope the defense gets bigger in some way- and in my opinion, I hope that includes DT too.

i like your list of who to roote for, sounds about right.

isnt the Patriots LT going to be a free agent? He could be a great stop gap while we wait to draft a better one while going for a QB. I have a bad feeling Wood wont be ready for hte start of 2010.