Buffalo Bills
Owner: Ralph Wilson
Founded: 1960
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium
2010 record: 4-12
Last playoff appearance: 1999 season, (11-5), lost to Titans 22-16
General Manager: Buddy Nix (2010-present)
Head Coach: Chan Gailey (2010-present, 4-12 as Bills coach, 22-26 career record as head coach)
Offensive Coordinator: Curtis Modkins
Defensive Coordinator: George Edwards
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 17.7 PTS (28th) 304.9 YDS (25th) 197.4 PASS (24th) 107.5 RUSH (18th)
DEF: 26.6 PTS (28th) 361.6 YDS (24th) 192.0 PASS (3rd) 169.6 RUSH (32nd)
Pro Bowlers: DT Kyle Williams
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Chiefs 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Raiders 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Patriots 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 vs. Eagles 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 at Giants 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Bye
8 Oct 30 vs. Redskins 4:05 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 vs. Jets 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 at Cowboys 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 at Dolphins 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 at Jets 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Chargers 4:15 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 vs. Dolphins 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 vs. Broncos 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Patriots 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: TE, OT, OLB
Potential Free Agents:
Brian Brohm QB
John McCargo DE
Keith Ellison MLB
Drayton Florence CB – re-signed – 3 yrs, 15 million
Ashton Youboty CB
George Wilson S
Free agent acquisitions:
Tyler Thigpen QB (Dolphins)
Brad Smith WR (Jets) – 4 yrs, 15 million
Buster Davis WR (Chargers)
Nick Barnett LB (Packers) – 3 yrs
Free agent losses:
Marcus Stroud DL – Signed by Patriots
Paul Posluszny MLB - signed by Jaguars – 6 yrs
Donte Whitner S – Signed by 49ers
Picks in 2011 Draft: (overall grade: B): The Bills needed to improve their defense and they accomplished that with this draft. Dareus is an instant impact player, not as much as the top defensive tackle from last year (Ndamukong Suh) had, but he’ll be a huge improvement along their line. They got some linebacker help and their defensive backs, who dropped off significantly from a great 2009, are getting some new talent with Drayton Florence, Donte Whitner, and a few other DB’s potentially leaving for free agency. They didn’t address quarterback, but Fitzpatrick showed the team how well he could play last year. The question is can he repeat that level of play?
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 3 (3) Marcell Dareus DT, Alabama! – Great overall player, will help Bills stop the run better next season.
Grade: A Rated: 4
Rd 2, Pick 2 (34) Aaron Williams DB, Texas – Williams could be moved to safety. The Bills looking like they’re taking best available player, which is the right way to draft. Very good value here.
Grade: A Rated: 33
Rd 3, Pick 4 (68) Kelvin Sheppard LB, LSU! – The Bills needed another inside presence next to Paul Posluszny.
Grade: B Rated: 95
Rd 4, Pick 3 (100) Da’Norris Searcy DB, North Carolina – Donte Whitner is likely to leave for free agency.
Grade: B- Rated: 148
Rd 4, Pick 25 (122) Chris Hairston OL, Clemson – The Bills offensive line needed upgrade at tackle, so this is a welcome sight for Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, he does have work to do on technique.
Grade: C+ Rated: 170
Rd 5, Pick 2 (133) Johnny White RB, North Carolina – I missed this guy while other people have him in their top 200. Woops. He was getting big numbers before he got injured.
Grade: C+ Rated: NR
Rd 6, Pick 4 (169) Chris White LB, Mississippi State – has experience at inside and outside linebacker, but will be used inside for Buffalo.
Grade: C+ Rated: 218
Rd 7, Pick 3 (206) Justin Rogers DB, Richmond – small school sleeper.
Grade: A Rated: 200
Rd 7, Pick 42 (245) Michael Jasper DT, Bethel (TN) – transferred from Middle Tennessee State for “paying more attention to his girlfriend than his studies.” He is a massive man at 378 pounds (he was above 400 earlier in the year) and has very good athleticism for a man his size.
Grade: C Rated: NR
2010 Bills’ Draft review:
GM Buddy Nix’s voice sounds like a cartoon character of a cowboy. When one of the many questions from the media about the quarterbacks on the roster was asked, Nix said that they wanted somebody to emerge from the pack. That’s just being stubborn in my opinion. Lucky for them, Fitzpatrick played well last season. Otherwise, the position would’ve been a complete disaster. Nix has said from day one that he wants to build through the draft and will fill in spots in free agency, not making big moves. He admitted to committing the mortal sin of drafting for need rather than taking the best available player in the past. Nix also said that they had higher grades on all of the picks, except for CJ Spiller, compared to where they were picked. Hearing that means that, if he’s telling the truth, they did go best available player. Why didn’t they wouldn’t go BAP with the Spiller pick? I think they were desperate for a play-maker on offense.
Rd 1, Pick 9 (9) CJ Spiller RB, Clemson – Spiller didn’t have a good year, but I still believe this was the right pick. He averaged 3.8 YPC, had over 1,000 KO return yards, and had two total TDs.
Rd 2, Pick 9 (41) Torell Troup DT, UCF – Two starts, 23 tackles.
Rd 3, Pick 8 (72) Alex Carrington DE, Arkansas State – 9 games played, 8 tackles.
Rd 4, Pick 9 (107) Marcus Easley WR, Connecticut – no stats, no games.
Rd 5, Pick 9 (140) Ed Wang OT, Virginia Tech – 6 games played.
Rd 6, Pick 9 (178) Arthur Moats DE, James Madison – knocked out Brett Favre, 4 starts, 33 tackles, 2.5 sacks. FF.
Rd 6, Pick 23 (192) Danny Batten DE, South Dakota State – No games, no stats.
Rd 7, Pick 2 (209) Levi Brown QB, Troy – 1 game, 2-3, 24 yards, no TDs, 1 INT, 51.4 RTG.
Rd 7, Pick 9 (216) Kyle Calloway OT, Iowa – did not make regular season roster.
Looking back at my grades for Buffalo after the draft: Spiller was a top 10 pick, but didn’t play like it. He did well on kickoff returns though, returning one for a score. I said Troup was a reach, Terrance Cody and Linval Joseph were on the board still, and he didn’t make an impact. I gave Buffalo an overall B+, but looking back the picks aren’t panning out so far. I gave Arthur Moats and A grade and he’s the best looking pick so far. Another year could help improve these guys, but with another year also brings in more and better talent. I would give them a C+ or B- in hindsight.
Last 5 First Round Picks: CJ Spiller RB, Aaron Maybin OLB, Leodis McKelvin CB, Marshawn Lynch RB, Donte Whitner CB & John McCargo DT
2010 Stat Leaders
Ryan Fitzpatrick 255-441 57.8% 3000 YDS 6.8 YPA 23 TD 15 INT 81.8 RTG
Fred Jackson 222 ATT 927 YDS 4.2 YPA 5 TD
Steve Johnson 82 REC 1073 YDS 13.1 YPC 10 TD
Rian Lindell 16-21 76%
Paul Posloszny 151 TCK
Kyle Williams 5.5 SCK
Drayton Florence 3 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Peter King reported on Football Night in America during Wild-Card weekend that Buffalo didn’t do it’s due diligence when they were shopping Marshawn Lynch around. New Orleans apparently was willing to give up a 3rd for him, but Seattle only gave up a 4th for him.
Dave Wannstedt added as Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach