Bleed Buffalo

Heading into day two of the NFL Draft the Buffalo Bills had their franchise QB of the future but they were seriously lacking weapons for him to utilize. With the exception of a loaded backfield in CJ Spiller and Freddy Jackson, EJ Manuel’s weapons on offense only really included Stevie Johnson and maybe T.J. Graham to an extent.  It’s crazy how much a team can change in the matter of a week.

With their first pick in the second round the Bills hit a home run, selecting one of the most NFL ready wide receivers in the draft. In the third they added a home run threat in his own right, and by far the fastest player in the 2013 draft.

Why it Makes Sense: Their second rounder Robert Woods will be a day one starter opposite of Johnson and he’s already begun to draw comparisons to the Bills’ number one receiving threat. Like Johnson, he’s not the biggest or fastest receiver in the world. He is however a terrific route runner, is great at extending his arms and catching balls in traffic away from his body and is great at finding holes in coverage. Though he lacks ideal size, he’s not afraid to go over the middle and take a hit and keep on going forward. He has serious potential to develop into a number one receiver and immediately upgrades the Bills’ lack-luster receiving corps.

Marquise Goodwin, the Bills third round selection, is a name many people hadn’t heard before the NFL combine. Goodwin is an undersized (5’8”, 183 lbs) slot receiver and a four year starter at Texas. His performance in the Alamo Bowl (4 catches for 68 yards and a TD) began to catch the attention of NFL scouts but his Senior Bowl and NFL Combine performances started to draw him comparisons to Mike Wallace. Goodwin finished just shy of Chris Johnson’s record 40 time when he blew away the competition running a 4.27. At Texas he was utilized in the spread formation as a running and receiving threat. He definitely needs some polishing but Goodwin could become the type of dynamic threat the Bills haven’t seen at the receiver position in recent memory. Oh and he finished 10^th at the 2012 Olympic Games for Team USA in the long jump.

Who could They Have Picked Instead: The case could’ve been made for a linebacker in the second if the Bills didn’t take Kiko Alonso a few picks after Woods. Several promising tight ends including Vance McDonald and Gavin Escobar were still on the board when the Bills picked in the second but receiver was clearly a bigger need. In the third round a case could’ve been made for Stedman Bailey who has the best hands of any receiver in the draft but clearly the Bills were looking for a more explosive athlete.

Verdict: Honestly, Buddy Nix got both of these picks right. I had a little more of a bias for Bailey in the third because I had an opportunity to watch pretty much every game he played in last year but Goodwin makes a ton of a sense in a fast-paced speed demon offense that already features a couple burners in Spiller and Graham. Both receivers immediately upgrade what has become a much more intriguing receiving corps. Woods will likely start from week one but may have a fight on his hands if UDFA Da’Rick Rogers can control his life outside of football. Either way both receivers are likely to see a good chunk of time in their rookie seasons.

I’m ashamed that it’s taken me this long to post anything about NFL Sports Journalist and former Buffalo Bills beat writer Larry Felser’s passing. Most people who read this blog are likely not old enough to remember Felser very well. After all he did retire from writing in February of 2001. The words I jot down in this post aren’t going to do Mr. Felser’s legacy any justice so for a truly great article on his incredible life and contributions to the sports world please take a minute to read Mark Gaughan’s obituary at http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130424/SPORTS/130429553/1032.

Instead of blurting out facts that I found on the Buffalo News website or Wikipedia, I figured I’d take a second to honor a man who has paved the way for sports journalists for decades in my own way. One of my earliest memories as a child is my father reading me Felser’s articles in The Sporting News on Sunday mornings before the Bills played. With little to no knowledge of the sport of football at the time I took it for what it was worth, quality time with my dad. As I grew older and became more interested in sports, particularly football I began to take an active interest in sports journalism. I can remember reading articles written by legends of the written word like Vic Carruci and Felser. When the Bills were blacked out locally, my dad, his friend and I would drive up to Victor just to watch regular season games of a mediocre Bills team led by Todd Collins. I remember sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car reading Felser’s articles before that day’s game. In my teen years I think back about going to the gas station or 711 to pick up a copy of the Buffalo News just so I could read Felser’s column. He awoke something in me that I wouldn’t truly understand for years.

In my adolescence I was never really sure what career path I would follow. After watching movies like John Grisham’s “The Rainmaker” and Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” I thought I would become a public defender or litigator. My love for animals as a child gave me ideas of one day becoming a veterinarian. My 4^th grade teacher and lifelong mentor Sonya Werner told me I should be a gerontologist because of my close-knit relationship with my favorite person in the world, my grandmother. Neither came to fruition.

As the years past and the urgency of picking a profession became greater and greater I decided a few days before I left for my freshman year at St. John Fisher College that I wanted to be a sports journalist. Memories of Mr. Felser’s columns and listening to the Howard Simon show with my father in car rides, to a sporting destination no doubt, on WNSA spurred a passion that I still have to this day. I wanted to talk about, report on and write about sports. Though I haven’t fully realized my goal of turning my passion in to my profession, remembering those Sunday mornings reading and listening to my father speak the passionate words of a true giant in the industry still gives me hope that one day I’ll realize my dreams. In many ways Larry Felser shaped my life in to what it is today. Although I don’t work for a major sporting outlet or a professional sports organization I still get to do what I’m truly passionate about, writing about sports. The world lost a great man on Thursday, April 25^th and I lost one of my true mentors. Rest in peace Larry, you’ll be in my thoughts forever.

The Buffalo Bills have reportedly traded inside linebacker and 2011 3^rd round pick Kelvin Sheppard to the Indianapolis Colts for former first round DE/OLB Jerry Hughes. The move comes three days after the Bills drafted Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Alonso is expected to start from day one and his selection along with the presence of former Florida State linebacker Nigel Bradham evidently made Sheppard expendable.

Sheppard had a dreadful 2012 season under former defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. He rarely saw the field on passing downs and was essentially a ghost when he was on the field. At 25 he’s still extremely young to be considered a bust but obviously new d coordinator Mike Pettine wanted to go in a different direction. Alonso will likely take over for Sheppard from week one and Bradham will have a good shot to see plenty of playing time as well.

In return for Sheppard the Bills acquired another pass rusher to go along with Mario Williams, Mark Anderson and Manny Lawson on the outside. Hughes has been considered by many to be a bust since being taken with the 31^st overall pick by Indy in the 1^st round in 2010. The Colts used him as a defensive end in their 4-3 scheme under Mike Caldwell in 2010 and 2011 and he struggled mightily, only registering 21 tackles and one sack in his first two years. Hughes doesn’t have ideal size as a defensive end in a 4-3 (6’2”, 254 lbs.) but the Colts always liked undersized faster ends. When Chuck Pagano took over last season and brought in the 3-4, Hughes was a different player. He amassed 41 tackles and four sacks while playing behind Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis as an outside linebacker. Hughes is likely to challenge for playing time as a situational pass rusher behind Williams and Lawson. He’s fast off the end and was a dominant pass rusher in college. The glimpses he showed last year were obviously enough to warrant the Bills trading a very young player.

This post-draft move could lead to another in the next few days. The Bills hosted free agent middle linebacker Karlos Dansby for a two day visit last week and Buddy Nix made it clear that the lines of communication were still open between the two sides over the weekend. Dansby is an instant upgrade in the middle, has played primarily in the middle of the 3-4 his whole career and is a big voice in the locker room as well. If this move translates into the Bills signing Dansby and Pettine is able to squeeze anything out of Hughes (think Aaron Maybin) this would be a massive win for the Bills.

Buddy Nix addressed the most important internal issue before free agency even began by placing the franchise tag on Jairus Byrd. It’s imperative for the Bills to get a long term deal done with Byrd this offseason still but not allowing him to hit the free agent market was essential. Nix also made the bold move of releasing veteran safety George Wilson to save just north of $2 million in cap space (although they haven’t seemed to need that extra cash yet). The Bills still need to address the starting strong safety position however and although Da’Norris Searcy took some steps in the right direction in 2012, he’s not ready to be the full time guy.

Again, some of the big names are off the board already with Dashon Goldson heading to Tampa and LaRon Landry inking a deal with the Colts. This group still remains pretty loaded however, with multiple players still available that would be incredible additions.

Kenny Phillips: It’s no surprise that Phillips hasn’t signed anywhere yet because of his nightmarish past of injuries. Don’t discount his talent though, when he’s healthy Phillips is one of the better safeties in the league. He’s a ball hawk in the secondary and he’s a hammer in run support. He’s still very young (26) and if he can stay healthy he could be a huge addition to a Bills secondary that is one of the worst in the league at covering tight ends. The injuries are no small concern however. Out of a possible 80 games in 5 seasons Phillips has only played in 56. He would be a high risk high reward type of signing but he would absolutely be worth taking a shot on.

Bernard Pollard: Pollard’s nickname on the Ravens was “bonecrusher” but it probably should’ve been “Patriot’s Assassin”. While he’s not the surest coverage safety he’s an absolute stud in run support and there probably isn’t a player in the league that hits as hard as him. The Bills should sign Pollard simply for his ability to knock Patriots players out of games. In all seriousness though, Pollard is only 28 years old so he would be an ideal candidate for a 3-4 year contract. He’s got plenty of good years left and he would bring the hard-nosed attitude this defense desperately needs.

Quintin Mikell, Adrian Wilson, and Michael Huff: By no means am I categorizing all of these guys as the same types of players, they’re just in the same age range. Of the three, Mikell would probably be the best of the bunch but signing any of the three comes with its perks. Mikell is solid in coverage and would still has a few solid years of production left. Wilson is a force in the run game and an unbelievable leader. Huff is probably the most flawed but he is the youngest of the group (30 vs. 33) and he’s above average in coverage. Signing any of these three would be a solid stopgap option as Searcy develops into the starter of the future. Kerry Rhoades would fit this criteria as well.

Manny Lawson gives the Bills a solid presence in the struggle to stop the run but he doesn’t offer much in terms of a pass rush. When they line up in a 4-3 he will likely be the starter at outside linebacker with the assumption that they don’t add at least one more. The 3-4 is another story however. While Mark Anderson and Mario Williams are the most likely candidates to rush from the edge in 3-4 situations the team needs to add depth and situational pass rushers who can make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable in the pocket. Even with the addition of Lawson they could still use an upgrade in their base 4-3 as well. Lawson could be a solid rotational guy but there are still better options available in the market.

Names like Cliff Avril, Paul Kruger and Phillip Wheeler have already been scooped off the board but the talent pool is pretty deep at outside linebacker.

Connor Barwin: Barwin has only been linked to one team (Philadelphia) thus far in free agency. While his market has certainly taken a hit because of a poor 2012 campaign which saw a massive decrease in sacks (3) and production from his 2011 season (11.5 sacks), Barwin is still a quality starter. There’s speculation that some teams may only offer him a one year deal because of his poor 2012 showing. At only 26 years old it would be more than worth it for the Bills to throw there hat in the ring. If they offer him a multiple year deal it may separate them from the competition.

Victor Butler: Like Barwin, Butler has drawn interest from the Eagles but with the likes of Mychal Kendricks and Demeco Ryans still around it’s likely that only one would be signed. Butler has lived in the shadow of pass rushing juggernaut DeMarcus Ware and franchise player Anthony Spencer. When given an opportunity he’s shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t had more than the occasional chance to shine. Butler will only be 26 when the season starts and he could be a star in the making. He’s not likely to get a huge contract and his name likely wouldn’t arouse season ticket sales but Butler has some serious potential. He would be a major addition to the pass rush.

Kevin Burnett: Burnett was linked to the Bills before signing with the Dolphins a couple years ago and he would make so much sense in this system. Burnett has very few holes in his game. He’s a three down linebacker who has the versatility to play outside linebacker in a 4-3 and inside in a 3-4. His age (30) might be a bit of a concern but he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, amassing over 100 tackles both of the last two seasons and 2.5 sacks each year to boot. Don’t be surprised if you hear his name thrown around in Buffalo over the next few days.

Daryl Smith: Smith has quietly been one of the most effective 4-3 outside linebackers in the game since joining the league in 2004. He’s an absolute force against the run and can hold his own in coverage as well. He’s spent time at middle linebacker but flourished on the outside. A groin injury cost him the majority of the 2012 season and he actually turned 31 years old today so there may be some concern in both areas but he’s not likely to command a huge contract. Smith would be worth the risk.

A little less than two days into NFL free agency and the Buffalo Bills don’t have much to show thus far. They’ve added linebacker Manny Lawson to the fold but released Ryan Fitzpatrick. They currently sit about $23 million under the league’s salary cap so they have plenty of room to make multiple additions to a roster that’s desperate for a serious injection of talent in multiple areas.

Lawson was a nice addition but he’s hardly the answer at linebacker. In fact on most rosters he’d be seen as nothing more than a strong depth piece and special teams contributor. His strong point is his run stopping ability and can’t be counted on as more than a two down linebacker which still leaves a serious whole in the linebacking corps. The only backer on the current roster that saw significant playing time on passing downs was Bryan Scott and his play was anything but inspiring. If the Bills’ intend to play a fair amount of 3-4 fronts, which new d-coordinator will likely implement, not only will they need a player who can stay on the field all three downs, they’ll also need an upgrade at middle linebacker. The books still out on Kelvin Sheppard and while two years is hardly enough time to judge a player, he needs to show serious improvement in his third season. With all of that being said, there are a trio of middle linebackers who could fit this mold.

Middle Linebacker:

Karlos Dansby: When the Dolphins signed Dannell Ellerbe, they cut loose Dansby. Dansby is a ferocious competitor, a stalwart in the run game and an unquestioned leader. While he’s getting up there in age (31) he’s still a more than sufficient three down linebacker. While his age will play a factor in contract length, he will still likely have plenty of suitors. If Dansby could be had at the right price for the right amount of time he would be a massive upgrade to the middle of the Bills defense

Brad Jones: It’s a shock to me that Jones hasn’t signed a deal yet because I thought he was the best free agent middle linebacker in the market. Not only did he outperform Desmond Bishop whom he replaced because of an injury, he also showed up former top 5 pick A.J. Hawk. Jones is a prototypical three down linebacker who is likely to cost a lot more than Dansby but he’s just hitting the prime of his career (27 years old). With the amount of cash the Bills still have under the cap, they should really take a shot on Jones.

Rey Maualuga: Maualuga had the best year of his career in 2012, eclipsing the 100 tackle mark for the first time. He lost his starting linebacker job to undrafted rookie Vontez Burfect but showed great versatility spending time at both outside linebacker spots. He’s not great in coverage but he’s solid against the run and he too just looks to be coming into his prime. Maualuga has drawn interest from other teams but left Arizona without a contract so he’s still in play. Maualuga would be a recognizable name for Bills fans to get excited about but he’d also be a welcome addition in the linebacking corps.