Regime change brings opportunity for young Bills

Nice work. Would love to see Hardy step up!

Are we sure that Bell’s injury was a torn ACL? I remember that being the original diagnosis, but all the recent reports i’ve seen have said “knee scope procedure.” While technically an ACL surgery uses a scope, its not usually referred to as a scoping procedure.

Go to bell’s wiki page for some other interesting info about him.

With regards to Aaron Maybin out all the players you mentioned, I want him to succeed the most, as I’m a big fan. I think he has all the qualities and attributes to be a big success in the NFL, particularly now we have reverted to a 3-4 system which should suit him more. I just hope the Bills manage to maximize his potential, whilst he also takes on the responsibility and the challenge to step up and prove himself.

It would be “lovely” if Hardy emerged as the lead candidate for that spot as he enters his third NFL season.

Yes, yes it would be lovely to see something out of Hardy this year.

If Aaron Maybin can catch so much flack for having a non-impactful rookie season, then I’m about to start the “James Hardy better show me something in his 3rd year” bandwagon….all aboard!!

Yes, it was unfortunate that he was injured. Yes, he didn’t get much playing time because of TO and Josh Reed being ahead of him. But this upcoming training camp he will have 2 full years with the Bills, and should be in top shape physically from the rehab and workouts. Throw in that the 3rd year is often referred to as “the year when WR’s make big leaps” in their careers, and I would hope that James Hardy is a pleasant surprise.

Right now I have no expectations for our 2008 2nd round pick….how sad is that?

Fair or not (because of the injury), he are some other names picked in the 2nd round in 2008 that are contributing:

Donnie Avery- Pick 33
Devin Thomas- Pick 34
Brandon Flowers- Pick 35
Jordy Nelson- Pick 36
Curtis Lofton- Pick 37
John Carlson- Pick 38
Tracy Porter- Pick 40
Hardy- Pick 41
Eddie Royal- Pick 42
Matt Forte- Pick 44
Fred Davis- Pick 48
DeSean Jackson- Pick 49
Calais Campbell- Pick 50
Jason Jones- Pick 54
Ray Rice- Pick 55
Chad Henne- Pick 57
Martellus Bennett- Pick 61
Terrell Thomas- Pick 63

I believe all of the guys listed have already played decent roles for their teams. I look at Hardy, and just pray he has half the impact of some of these other guys next year.

Lonnie Harvery – Steelers just re-signed Casey Hampton… Packers, Niners, and Patriots all franchised their NTs. Man, finding NTs must be so easy to do…

I’m hopeful on Hardy and Maybin contributing due to new roles, new coaches, and less veteran personnel in front of them. Edwards? Please. He lacks physical talent, leadership, confidence in himself or the confidence of his teammates, the ability to stay healthy, and football smarts, and has all the experience in the world to obliterate excuses due to inexperience…I wouldn’t hold my breath on Bell based on his poor play so far, low draft status, and injury knack…Lonnie Harvey is a total shot in the dark…

Im excited to see Shawn Nelsons potential start to get tapped this year. I see good things coming from him. Im also excited to see the battle between, Hardy, Johnson and FA/Rookie for the 2, 3, etc WR spot.

If Harvey can break thru in this 3-4 that would be awesome.

Maybin better flourish in this outside pass rush specialist roll, and I think he’ll do well there.

One more thing, Im really interested in seeing how well Byrd develops into a real top safety. He had a great rookie campaign, but needs to work on his overall game and keep his ball hawking skills at the top. I think we have a real special player here in Jairus Byrd… he just needs to keep and going and not be a “one hit wonder.”

  A lot of talk about defensive lineman playing the one gap—-two gap etc::
Will someone explain what the hell that all means

I’m sure there might be a few Bills fans who get sick at the thought of Edwards as the starting QB in 2010. I’m all for it if there’s not a consensus “elite QB prospect” in the draft at OBD and they want to wait a year. I would rather see the lines addressed heavily anyway. In fact, I don’t want to see them trade up or trade down… Just keep drafting offensive and defensive lineman. And if they think about drafting a RB or WR, stop thinking and draft another Lineman.

I would like to add the perenial beat down player Whitner to the list. If he has any chance to excel with the Bills now is his chance with the new regime and that is a big IF…

Lonnie Harvey is an interesting prospect, if he shows anything in camp he will make the team. He will be a project that could pan out.

Does McCargo have a chance to make the Bills?

Bell—-I just see back-up and a spot starter when nessesary.

Here’s to hoping Maybin comes on like a gang buster and not the 1 year wonder Nix made a comment about staying away from in the draft.

Is former no#3 pick Chris Ellis going to get a chance to play?

Youboty——Bumps—Bruises and Injuries Oh My!!

Edwards=Todd Collins, both in the league forever as back-ups— will retire with great benefits!

Commming out of college, many reported he would be better suited for a 3-4 OLB. I think with his athelticism and speed(don’t quote me but I think he ran a 4.6), he could end up being the starter on the other side of Maybin. He has had 2 years to get stronger, hopefully this is the year we can see him suceed.

On Maybin – I think the transition to 3-4 OLB plays to his strengths. He will get a chance to showcase his burst and quickness at the snap and he will get a chance to attack the outside of tackles which is what hes good at – we all watched him get dominated trying to get inside of the linemen. His size and athleticism is ideal for a 3-4 OLB and hes got a defensive coordinator who is a linebacker specialist and who also happened to coach and witness who Joey Porter and Jason Taylor successfully ran the position. Maybin’s mentor Lavaar Arrington will likely be involved to help Maybin with the mental side of the transition and the X’s and O’s

On Hardy – I expect big things from Hardy. The same way everyone is down on Ramses Barden and Limas Sweed – big receivers take time to develop. Just look at Vincent Jackson’s career arch. Hardy has the size and hands to be a devastating weapon for Buffalo and more than just a red zone threat. He’ll likely be playing with a new QB which is a new lease on life for a receiver – another big receiver Roddy White can tell you how his career took off after Matt Ryan joined the team. I think if Buffalo starts a rookie QB, they are going to love Hardy who will be a big target they will go to often when under pressure if Hardy starts. He’s also being coached by a real offensive mind for the first time in his career. If it sounds like I’m taking a dig at Turk Schonert, Alex Van Pelt, and Dick Jauron its because I am. Chan Gailey won’t let a talent like Hardy go to waste until he finds out for sure on the field that he can’t do anything. Hardy will get his chances and I think he will be a pleasant surprise. I hope Buffalo doesn’t address wide reciever except for depth. Its time to give the unit of Evans, Hardy, and Stevie J the chance to see what they can do.

On Lonnie Harvey – I dont have much to say other than I hope he can be a rotational guy with whoever we bring in because we are going to be thin at depth at NT. I think Terrence Cody is becoming our go to pick in the second , he should fall with all these 3-4 teams resigning all their NTs.

On Trent Edwards – We’ll see with him but I’d like him to compete with Sam Bradford in an ideal world. Reports are saying the Rams, Lions, Bucs, Redskins, and Chiefs are all interested in trading down. If we can swap with the Skins to get Bradford I think reaching up to pick 4 is worth it. Anything higher might cost too much for a rebuilding team. In a more realistic scenario, I’ll take a Tebow – Edwards competition if we can nab Tebow in the third. Wont get too into it, but Tebow’s work ethic and his willingness to try and correct his technique is enough for me. Tebow is incredibly coachable and Gailey is the master teacher of quarterbacks and getting them to win. If he can make Kordell Stewart a winner and Tyler Thigpen a stat machine, I’d love to see what he can make of Tim Tebow. Point is, Edwards has to win the job in camp.

On Demetrius Bell – I’d be nice to believe that Jamon Meredith and D Bell are our young tackles of the future. But I’ll err on the side of caution and say one of them is the RT of the future. If the Bills take an OT in the first round Bell and Meredith can battle for RT duties. If the Bills go any later with a tackle I’d like to have Bell – Meredith battle in camp for LT and have the loser battle the rookie for RT duties. The point is, we should have 3 youngsters battling for two starting spots this camp. Not bad, though my preference is to bring in tough vets and ignore the position in the draft while letting Meredith and Bell develop on the sidelines or at RT.

I think Lee Evans is going to get a big chance to show the fans and the league what he can do with an offensive minded coach and a creative attack scheme. This regime – if its all its cracked up to be on the offensive side of the ball – should definitively answer the question regarding whether Evans is a big time receiver stuck on bad offenses or just a deep threat.

I just had a ‘talking’ add for the first time here!!!! NOooooo! Everything good comes to an end!!!

I like the idea of seeing Evans and Hardy 1 and 2 with johnson in the slot. Throw in Nelson and Jackson and somebody is going to get open. Granted that is as long as we can get a line that holds together long enough to to allow for that to happen. I wouldnt mind Edwards for another year so long as he gets better protection he can still do the job. Bell I’d like to see have a better year maybe even moved to RT if we pick up someone capable to stepping up to start at LT in the draft. A bit worried about switching to a 3-4 though I have wanted it for a long time, it is asking alot out of this off season. But if the offence can step it up and stay on the field the defence will have it that much easier. Hopefully we get that tuff physical mentality that Nix said he wanted to build as that can go along way in winning those close games. I look forward to every year but I am really excited to see the changes and how the young guys adapt.

This guy (if he’s talented enought) is already within the organization and could be a diamond if the rough for a backup/rotational NT.
Time for him to step up if he wants to be an NFL player.

I swear, I’ve been called crazy elsewhere — on this blog as well, once, too — for expecting 9-7 out of ‘draft Dan Williams and some tackles with potential’, but … seriously, we have Fred Jackson, we have three fifths of a solid line, we have Shawn Nelson, and we only lose out on ‘best defensive backfield in the entire AFC’ because Revis makes the Jets that by his own damn self.
I honestly think that with a solid line, and depth at the line, Jackson, Nelson, Evans, Hardy and Johnson could get Fitz his first 300-yard game ever. And I’m fully aware that as far as we know, that’s four strictly-meat-and-potato guys and a deep threat with one strictly meat-and-potatoes QB (albeit one that managed a longer play than Jim and Andre ever put together).
Do I know much about football at all? Not really, considering that Madden doesn’t really count (hell, it told me that Crowell and Ellison are IDEAL OLBs in a 3-4… and it probably overrated Al Wilson, at that). But from what I’ve been reading here, filtered through my rose-colored glasses? I really don’t think next season will be as painful as everyone thinks. I’m thinking the Bills will miss the playoffs in favor of the Jets, but who knows? Weirder things have happened. (Just ask… the Jets this past year.)