FanShot

Picking projects a risky venture for Bills

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Best article I've read on the draft so far, without rose colored glasses on: "The versatility in these drafted players is nice for depth, like having four more players on the roster. But it's a big risk. The Bills haven't had this many projects since they renovated Ralph Wilson Stadium. So I'm left wondering, how smart was this? Hasn't Buffalo's personnel department had enough trouble picking players at positions they played in college, let alone where they think they should play in the NFL? Hasn't Buffalo's coaching staff had enough trouble coaching players at their normal positions, let alone teaching them new ones? Why make a crapshoot a crapshoot with blindfolds?" "But how hopeful should we be that Buffalo got it right in taking Maybin and Wood? Only twice in Modrak's previous seven drafts with Buffalo did he recommend taking a lineman with the team's first pick. Mike Williams and John McCargo became this generation's Walt Patulski and Perry Tuttle. Linemen, so dependent on others for their success, have been Modrak's Achilles' heel. Ryan Denney, Justin Bannan, Chris Kelsay, Tim Anderson, Duke Preston, Kyle Williams and Brad Butler turned into solid players if not stars. Williams (fourth overall in 2002), Mike Pucillo, Ben Sobieski, Lauvale Sape, Dylan McFarland, Justin Geisinger, Terrence Pennington, Aaron Merz, and C.J. Ah You went from buzz to bust. Given, as a former coach once said, "A cheese sandwich and a bus ticket.'' Will Maybin be Bruce Smith or Erik Flowers? Will Wood be Ritcher or Williams? History will be the judge. Someone else can drink the Kool-Aid."