Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills News, 5/4

by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2011 6:38 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Inside The Bills | Jasper was highly recruited
"He was recruited by Ole Miss, but then coach David Cutcliffe was let go so Ole Miss fell off on him," said Hand. "Then he was going to go to Florida and Ron Zook got released so they fell off on him. Mike then decided to stay close to home and go to Tennessee-Martin. He looked at Vanderbilt, but didn’t have the grades to get into Vanderbilt. So he went to Tennessee-Martin."

Power Rankings: Top 10 NFL safeties - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Donte Whitner is the seventh-best safety in the NFL according to the ESPN NFL writers. Kevin Seifert and Bill Williamson had him in their top four.

Soon to be stars: Arthur Moats - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Moats plays hard, has good bulk and athletic ability for the position. He isn’t the tall, leaner outside backer type, but more in the mold of what Pittsburgh looks for at the position in stressing leverage and power. He ... might never truly be a No. 1 edge pass-rusher, but he is on the rise and could be in store for a breakout season. If you are not familiar with Moats yet, it is time you learn about this player."

Inside The Bills | Dareus brings swagger
"He’s just a guy that can play all up and down the line and gave us immediate help," said Nix. "He also brings a little swagger with him and we need that. We need a personality and a guy that doesn’t believe that anybody that we play can whip him and I think that’s his mentality."

What they're saying... 2011 NFL Draft (Part II) - BuffaloBills.com
More reviews of the Buffalo Bills draft.

Bills Focus: Sheppard Adds Size, Depth Inside - BuffaloBills.com
Seriously with the headline?

Inside The Bills | Kiper: Williams a 1st rounder
"Aaron Williams I really like at that point where they got him," said Kiper in a national conference call this week. "He can play corner, he can play safety, he’s the toughest run support corner that I’ve graded in the last five years."

Inside The Bills | Gruden on Dareus
"Dareus is a three‑position player in a 3‑4 front. He can play nose, either defensive end. He is legitimate, sheer power. This is a power player. He is rare. You’ve seen the physical nature this guy’s put together with a rare combination of explosive physical play, and a guy that’s well‑versed under Nick Saban."

NFL Draft – Draft Grade: Bills - Fox Sports on MSN
Despite not taking a QB the Bills get an A-.

Inside The Bills | Nix on trade talk
"We probably got 15 calls every round people wanting to move up or move back and offering picks," Nix said. "I don’t say this is always the case because I don’t want to ever say never. Normally you won’t see us move back or swap picks just to be churning stuff. We kind of sit there and let what falls to us and take them and normally it’s worked out best. I’m not saying we wouldn’t ever do it. We might, but we’re not going to be big in that."

Jasper's a heavy-duty investment - Bills & NFL - The Buffalo News
"Jasper, 24, may not be the best of the Bills' draft picks, but he's certainly the most intriguing. He weighed between 430 and 440 pounds as a starting guard at Bethel University, an NAIA school in McKenzie, Tenn. He tipped the scales at 448 in January before "slimming" down to his current weight."

Bills passed on a quarterback and still aced the draft - CBSSports.com
"Buffalo needs any good news it can get. How's this? The Bills aced the draft, Clark Judge says, even though they passed on a quarterback. Bills GM Buddy Nix offers the insight that went into every selection in a strong class."

Jasper can move for a big man - BillBoard - The Buffalo News
As Allen Wilson points out in this feature of Mike Jasper, the big man from Bethel (Tenn.) University has an impressive combination of size and speed. Here's a couple training videos of Jasper that show off those traits.

2011 NFL Draft Grades: Five Second Round Winners - SB Nation Kansas City
The Bills are the first team on the list.

Did Titans find the franchise QB they need in Jake Locker? - USATODAY.com
"I know the Buffalo Bills were definitely going to trade up into the first round to get Ponder," Jim Miller said.

Why The Bills Didn’t Draft A Quarterback : Buffalo Sports Daily
Patrick Moran gives his informed opinion on why the Bills passed on several quarterbacks.

That's What WE Said! - 13WHAM.com
Mike Catalana and Chuck Wade recap the Bills draft among other topics.

One More Link
This Day in Buffalo Sports History: Welcome, Harvey - Sports, Ink - The Buffalo News
"The Buffalo Bills needed football coaches when they were forming their team in 1960, and they got one on this date in 1960. Buffalo hired Harvey Johnson to serve as an assistant coach. Johnson moved to director of player personnel in 1962." He was also interim head coach in 1968 and 1971.

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Power Rankings: Top 10 NFL safeties – AFC East Blog – ESPN
Donte Whitner is the seventh-best safety in the NFL according to the ESPN NFL writers. Kevin Seifert and Bill Williamson had him in their top four.

Thats a joke.

Hey MRW didnt I see on twitter, maybe it wasnt you, but some other website, a real “break-em-down” website had Whitner ranked as the 53rd ranked S, and thats the highest hes ever been?

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on May 4, 2011 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

That was Pro Football Focus.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on May 4, 2011 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

If you go through the list it’s really not overly impressive. Not to mention the scoring system.

I’m guessing that neither Seifert or Williamson (the AFC West and NFC North bloggers) watch a lot of Bills games. I suspect high tackle totals swayed their rankings.

by Pistol on May 4, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Easily, people keep forgetting that tackles are single biggest joke in the stats kept for football games

If a guy is anywhere near a tackle, most stat keepers for their home team give them a share of the tackle.

abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"

by WABillsfan on May 4, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

that espn rankings a joke. anyone whose watched whitner play over his career knows damn well hes not a top four safety. the espn guys are probably just looking at tackles and publishing the list

by boomsauce on May 4, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

uh oh

Once Newton went to Carolina, Buffalo had Gabbert ranked with an identical grade as cornerback Patrick Peterson. Neither, however, were graded higher than Marcell Dareus. Had Denver taken Dareus with the second overall pick, Nix would’ve had a big decision to make; either Gabbert or Peterson. It wouldn’t have been an easy decision.

Really? Gabbert and Peterson the same grade? Thats interesting….just how big was the grade gap between those two and Dareus then?

by bruuuuuuuce on May 4, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

I’m going to guess that need was part of the equation.

I had a drink the other day
Opinions were like kittens
I was giving them away
-Modest Mouse

by oompaloompa on May 4, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Seriously with the headline?

Hahahahahaha. sigh

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
Citi Field loves the mets so much it smothers them. -the caveman

by WhyBillsWhy on May 4, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

I found this pretty funny on the Panthers blog.

They are debating the whole Newton – Clausen jersey # thing.

These players just need to deal with not getting the # they had in college if another player already has it. Why should another player cause his fans to go out & buy a new jersey when they dont have to? Someone that bought a Baker #7 jersey doesnt want Clausen or anyone else coming in taking that #.
by MrBernz on May 4, 2011 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

(replyed) I see the point you’re making here… But honestly, how many people actually bought a Baker #7 jersey? I mean, he is just a punter.
by bwsmith25 on May 4, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

All I could think of is all of the Moorman jerseys Ive seen over the past few years at the Ralph.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on May 4, 2011 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

The Clark Judge article, was I think one the most fascinating things I have read since the draft occurred

Tons and tons of interesting tidbits about how the Bills approached the draft and their thought processes about the players at each round, awesome read.

by WABillsfan on May 4, 2011 1:11 PM EDT reply actions