Are Bills headed for a line-oriented April?

Since Butler, AJ and Nix left for SD, as we all know the Bills have struggled with their top picks——2000 was their last draft in Buffalo.

The Bills recent drafts have been reaches and projects:

Number ones

2000—DE-Eric Flowers—so so college production but a work-out warrior at the combine moved up the charts! Bills version of DE Mike Mamula…

2001—CB—Nate Clements—good pick but it was out of necessity—-Bills had let starting CB Thomas Smith (2000) walk who replaced starting CB Jeff Burris who the Bills let walk (1998).

2002—OT Mike (#^*#!)Williams—Ot John Fina was at the end of the line, Bills gambled with “Lard Ass” instead of taking the highest rated OT in the draft McKinnie who by the way dominate Freeny in college!!

2003—RB Willis McGahee—WTF!! Bills had Travis Henry and Willis was coming off an devastating knee injury. The pick after Willis was Dallas Clark and 2 picks latter the Chiefs took RB Larry Johnson—Ouch!

2004- Wr-Evans & QB-Losman—-It would be nice to see how Evans would play with a consistent good QB. Losman was trust into the starting line-up way too soon, Bills cut Bledsoe 1 year after trading up for JP—nice way to develop a QB from Tulane…

2005—top pick was no#2 Roscoe Parrish—so so, he had his moments as a return specialist had a horrible 2009. Only player left on team from the 2005 draft.

2006—DB Whitner & DT McCargo—Whitner average at best—what hurts is that the Bills desperately needed DT’s after letting Pat Williams walk in “04” and releasing Sam Adams after “05”. Their signing of FA DT Larry Tripplett never panned out, then they traded up in the draft to draft bust DT John McGottoago.

2007—RB Lynch—Bills needed a running back after former no#1 Willis forced a trade! Lynch has shown potential with 2 consecutive 1000+ seasons then lost his job to Fred Jackson after his continual off field problems..

2008—DB Leodis McKelvin—shows potential, no#1 rated DB in the draft. Bills weren’t going to pay Jabari Greer so another DB was needed.

2009—LB/DE Maybin—-will he be a Eric Flowers or turn into a Eric Dumervil?

2010——Nix will get the Bills drafting problems turned around. Can Gailey bring the Bills back?

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Nix quote from an article on the Bills site. Sort of tells you where he stands on the drafting for need vs. drafting best player available argument.

"I think the first thing you’ve got to do is know enough about football to know where you need to plug people in," Nix told Buffalobills.com. "All these people that say they take the best guy on the board are normally not telling the truth. They’re thinking the best guy they need on the board, and I think that’s basically what you do. You’ve got to be on the same page with the coach and you’ve got to bring guys in that fit that role."

this team drafts based on need over best player available as long as there isnt a huge reach.

I’m totally okay with this strategy

The Chargers were fairly need-based at the top of the draft, but spent the mid-to-late portions of draft days doing pretty much the same thing – stockpiling talent on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary.

- While the Bills couldn’t even get a good player in the first round. I have confidence in Nix rather than the Keystone Cops who have been running thing’s for the past 10 years.

1998 – 2nd round -Jamal Williams – 6’3 – 348lbs – Left him out, and he has played some at the Nose Tackle position, but not sure if Nix was their then.

Again, I want to mention that the word “tendency,” as it applies to Nix, is something of a misnomer. We don’t know what Nix tends to do on draft day, because he’s never actively made the decisions on draft weekend. But philosophically, these tendencies might come into play.

Unfortunately, we can only speculate on what decisions were made by Nix. I think it is fair to give him some credit for the quality of the Chargers draft history, but I don’t think we can attribute the “tendency” of drafting positions to Nix. I would think that would come down to the final decision makers (which Nix never was).

Maybe I am being a little presumptive, but I THINK Nix graded the players and provided input/insight. The final decisions were made by the GMs.

I am excited about Nix and really hope that someone gives Wilson sleeping pills (3 days this year) prior to the draft. Obviously Nix knows his stuff, he has been around the block and been applauded for his scouting ability. I think he had a large hand in the quality of our draft last year.

My only issue was Maybin. I will say it again this year. The Bills do not have the luxury of taking a project player in the first two rounds. We need impact players now.

Offensive Line (15 players):

They understood the importance of the offensive line which to me is a huge priority. If we can run consistently and protect the QB then we can keep our defense off of the field and hopefully dictate the game.

Quarterbacks: Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers

has any team ever got 3 guys like this? If Nix can get ONE guy like these 3 then we’ll be sitting pretty darn pretty.

Defensive Backs (11 players

this is a solid group of guys too – defensive backs are a must in this passing league. The drafting of quality DB’s won’t stop because DJ left – and it shouldn’t. In saying that – lines are still the priority

I hope we bulk up the Oline. We need protection and a solid run game. Imagine what Lynch and Jackson can do behind a REAL line…

Very odd they never drafted a NT while he was there. Thats a long time going without drafting one. I wouldnt mind taking a NT in the first 3 rounds and then this kid we signed in Jan that has everyone “excited” about, Lonnie Harvey. Im doubting hes going to be anything more than rotational NT, but might not even make the team. But there is hope he could be a much larger, run stopping Freddy Jackson. Hey maybe hes our break weve been looking for for years?

The O-line and front 7 on D should be the main focus of this draft. Obviously QB needs to be addressed also but I feel those positions have greater value in the years draft. And later (3rd or 4th) possibly Zac Robinson? I like him as a 3rd or 4th rounder. And if we can bulk up the D and line then QB doesnt have to be as good as the “top” QB’s in this draft, as none of them are “OMG WE HAVE TO GET HIM, HES GOING TO BE A STUD” with me.

So to recap… – 1st = Lines/LB
                         - 2nd = Lines/LB
                         - 3rd = Lines/LB/Robinson
                         - 4th Line/LB/Robinson unless Dexter McCluster is still available. If hes around in the 4th I would be pretty upset with OBD if they passed on him.

I think the tendency to draft lineman is a good sign. I was going to wait until after the combine, but it might be time to unveil “My Big Fat Mock Draft”……it might include a few lineman :-)

Interesting how many DBs that San Diego in either the first or second rounds between 01 and 08. By my count, 7 of the 11 players DBs drafted were either first or second rounders, with Tay Cody as a 3rd and a supplemental 4th rounder on Paul Oliver (who I suppose should technically be on this list). In fact they drafted 4 CBs with their first pick (Jammer, Davis, Cromartie and Cason). I think that speaks more to the general idea that the Chargers drafted for need early and best available depth later though. CB was a glaring weakness for many years.

What I am definitely encouraged about is, despite the fact that they are picking players based on need, there is very little reaching. I was thinking about their trade back in the ‘01 draft. They desperately needed both a QB and RB, but didn’t try to force Vick in there, instead opting for the best RB (Tomlinson) and a QB they obviously had rated very highly in Brees. Time will tell if we can play the board that well, we have not done it in recent years.

that San Diego was one of the least desirable landing spots in the NFL prior to 2006. From 1996 through 2005 they only had 2 seasons with a winning record coming in 2004 and 2005 under Brees. We all remember Eli not wanting to go to San Diego, mainly because of the reputation of the franchise. As the story turns out Brees becomes a star and Rivers has been fantastic with 3 winning record seasons and 1 at 8-8.

I would submit that while it appears Nix was involved in building a very nice team in San Diego it wasn’t until their QB got resolved. I think the same thing rings true here in Buffalo. Until we find our franchise QB, we won’t see the potential of this team. The QB is the catalyst to upturn of MOST (not all, there are exceptions) to a franchise.

We have good players on our roster now, and a good drafting class will make us better. But hitting a home run on a franchise QB is what will turn a dormant franchise into a viable contender and an attractive landing spot for free agents. And lastly will enhance the perception of how a GM drafts.

I’m really hoping that in the draft this year we go with need in Round 1. Then after that BPA because we can’t say what position we need over others so might as well get some good players and find a way to get them to play. That or draft good players for depth, either way I’m hoping for some solid players

Having depth on offensive line, what a novel idea. Just that philosophy makes me happy!

When I look at the drafting I see a solid overall plan. You bring in a bunch of O-linemen to protect your passer – get a solid QB, and good playmakers (that right there is the most frequent picks). You have now set up your offense to be explosive and you are putting the opposing team in a situation where they will need to pass A LOT to keep up with you; and the next most common pick is DB.
Makes perfect sense to me.
I don’t think Nix’s picks will follow that exact same rule, but at least it looks like there is a plan, and not some let’s throw these guys togethor and hope it works out!

Take Rolando Mclain if he is available, which he should be. He is the second coming of Ray Lewis in my opinion.

I know it’s a grain of salt and everything, but the Bills’ roster in a fairly different condition than Chargers’ was. I’m not sure if Nix can get away without acquiring a NT… unless they really believe in Kyle Williams.

Ugh, the Bills have so many needs, it really wouldn’t even kill me if they just took BPA all the way thru the draft. One thing I do like about the Chargers’ tendencies was not to draft OL in the 1st round. If there is a position that can be addressed after the 1st round it’s the OL. You may not find an immediate starter, but there are seemingly more successful OL than at any other position that came from later rounds.

And it just crossed my mind that a Philly fan the other day told me they needed DE for their pass rush in the draft. Does that set up a trade between Buffalo and Philly — Schobel for McNabb… or is Schobel more valuable than that (to the team)? I figured they’re both worth somewhere around a 2nd rounder.

should have been doing it the last few years………atleast 2009 was a decent start with Wood and Levitre.

Look at how Brian broke these down. Yes there are lots of players taken for the o-line but that also counts 5 different positions. Only 5 for the D-line…well that is only 3 positions in the 3-4 that the Chargers employ. Yes it looks like the Chargers went o-line heavy through the years, but given how this was broken down that category covers the largest amount of positions. 15 is still a lot, but it isn’t as high as it may seem.

When Gailey was in Dallas he did take Flozell Adams. So if anything their may be a general consensus to take OT at # 9. or drop back and acquire more picks and get a OT.

Since 2000 the Bills have drafted…

Offense:

QB—2 using a no# 1 on JP and a no#3 on Edwards.

RB—9—-two no# 1’s—-McGahee and Lynch

WR’s-10—Evans as the only no#1 with Reed, Parrish and Hardy as no# 2’s.

TE-5—Everette was the highest as a no#3

T—7—Williams as a no#1

C—2—Wood was considered a center coming out of college.

G—5—Levitre the highest as a no#2

Defense

DB’s—19—Three no#1’s—-Clements, Whitner and McKelvin

LB’s—9—With Poz the highest at no#2

DT—7—McCargo as the only no#1

DE—8—Flowers and Maybin no#1’s and 3 no#2’s-Schoble, Denny and Kelsay

The Bills haven’t drafted a kicker since 1990..

The Bills tendency is to stock up on DB’s whether it is by need or BPA…

This is the most surprising detail, considering 15 offensive lineman were drafted.

Makes you wonder whether this was a philosophy of San Diego’s GM and whether Nix believes in this philosophy.

to get Bushrod from New Orleans in a trade. I don’t think he’d be that expensive and he could really solidify the line. Another lineman I’m interested in this offseason is Tony Ugoh. Your thoughts.

The Colts weren’t happy with his injury concerns (do we really want to trade much for that?) and when he was hurt in ’08 he was replaced by C. Johnson, who kept the starting job in ’09. They used Ugoh as a swing T this year, so he might be available, but he has an acceptable contract, although a little expensive as a backup. He was 2nd rd pick, he signed a 4 yr deal in ’07 for $4MM, in ’10 he is set to earn a modest $690M. From what I read about C. Johnson, he is nothing to be excited about, not nearly as athletic as Ugoh, but much more durable.