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Graduation Day
2008-05-17 12:59:00
Good morning, fellow Rumblers: Apologies for the rather light discussion load this week - I've been busy wrapping up my final week as a collegian.  Finals are over and today that process officially ends with my 10AM commencement ceremony.  So while it's been a slow week, I'm a free man after today, so expect discussions to resume a more normal pace next week. I'd like to thank all of you who have kept this place alive and ticking while I've been off doing other (reluctantly, I'll admit, more important) things this week.  You guys rock.  For your entertainment this Saturday, I'd like to point you in the direction of three interesting discussions that y'all have started within the past 24 hours; again, we'll be back to the normal posting routine tomorrow morning. - James Hardy's trouble with the law - Did/do the Bills cheat? - Should Ruben Brown end his career a Bill? - Feel free to create your own new discussion in a FanPost!
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State of the Roster II: Bills Tight Ends/Fullbacks
2008-05-15 13:00:00
Can Fine, other vet additions make a difference? (Photo Source) Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft - in fact, prior to the free agent signing period of this past March - we took a look at the Buffalo Bills ' roster position by position, breaking down then-current personnel, finding holes, and building our community needs list. Now that free agency and the Draft have been completed, and the Bills have infused their roster with new talent, it's time to repeat our process.  Where has Buffalo gotten better?  Where have they gotten worse?  How will additions impact which Bills veterans remain on the roster?  These are questions that we'll attempt to answer over the next week or so. We continue those discussions today with an examination of Buffalo's stable of tight ends and fullbacks.  To view our previous discussions on Buffalo's TE situation (pre-off-season), bang it here. Robert Royal: Once considered the most mediocre starter on Buffalo's offense, Royal... well...
More About: State , Ends , Roster

State of the Roster II: Bills Running Backs
2008-05-14 17:00:00
Lynch remains focal point of Buffalo's offense (Photo Source) Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft - in fact, prior to the free agent signing period of this past March - we took a look at the Buffalo Bills ' roster position by position, breaking down then-current personnel, finding holes, and building our community needs list. Now that free agency and the Draft have been completed, and the Bills have infused their roster with new talent, it's time to repeat our process.  Where has Buffalo gotten better?  Where have they gotten worse?  How will additions impact which Bills veterans remain on the roster?  These are questions that we'll attempt to answer over the next week or so. We continue those discussions today with an examination of Buffalo's stable of running backs.  To view our previous discussions on Buffalo's RB situation (pre-off-season), bang it here. Marshawn Lynch: Here's hoping that Buffalo's prize 2007 rookie spent his off-season accomplishing the ...
More About: Running , State , Roster

State of the Roster II: Bills Quarterbacks
2008-05-13 21:07:00
Edwards enters Year 2 with starting experience (Photo Source) Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft - in fact, prior to the free agent signing period of this past March - we took a look at the Buffalo Bills ' roster position by position, breaking down then-current personnel, finding holes, and building our community needs list. Now that free agency and the Draft have been completed, and the Bills have infused their roster with new talent, it's time to repeat our process.  Where has Buffalo gotten better?  Where have they gotten worse?  How will additions impact which Bills veterans remain on the roster?  These are questions that we'll attempt to answer over the next week or so. We'll start the positional discussions off today by looking, of course, at Buffalo's quarterback situation.  To see our previous discussion on Buffalo's quarterbacks, bang it here. Trent Edwards: Buffalo's second-year starting quarterback has a lot of pressure on his shoulders.  We a...
More About: State , Roster

Tuesday Morning Trivia
2008-05-13 12:45:00
The trivia idea seems to have been well received, so it is going to become a Tuesday morning staple. The only problem I think I had last week was that I made the questions way too easy. Well I think that has changed. This time not only will there be 4 players that you have to identify, but there will be at least  1 extra credit bonus question for you to ponder. So without further ado... Player 1- I was drafted by the Bills, and played for the Dolphins as well during my short career. - While playing at Virginia Tech, I won the Lombardi and Bronco Nagurski awards.- I was the first player ever to win the Big East defensive player of the year award two years in a row, and the first to do so unanimously, which I did in ’98 and ’99.- I recorded a record 17 sacks in’99 and finish with a total of 31 over the two year span, from ’98 to ’99.Player 2- I set the combine record of 52 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press, a record that still stands.- I spent 2 ...
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A (Very Early) Look at Buffalo's 2008 Roster
2008-05-12 15:58:00
What's more fun on a Monday morning in May - from a football perspective, at least - than attempting to predict which 53 players from your favorite team will be lining up in front of your eyes this coming fall?  That's exactly what we'll do this morning.  With position-by-position breakdowns of the Buffalo Bills' 2008 roster just around the corner, I thought it would be prudent to take a look at the overall picture first, then break it down in the coming days. So this is how I see the 2008 roster shaking out.  Keep in mind that in the grand scheme of things, this exercise means very little; it is a topic that should, at the very least, bring about some interesting philosophical discussions, however. Here's the positional breakdown.  We'll avoid doing this depth chart style for now since, ultimately, I was playing a numbers game here.  (It's not hard to figure out the depth chart, however.)  Feel free to offer your own alternatives, pick apart my ...
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Rumblings 2.0 Features Explained
2008-05-11 15:53:00
Hey, Rumblers!  With the off-season upon us in full force, Buffalo Bills news scarce, and a slow Sunday ahead of us, I figured now would be as good a time as any to talk about some of the new features of Buffalo Rumblings 2.0.  We've been blogging on our shiny new platform for nearly three weeks now, and y'all seem to have settled into our new surroundings rather comfortably.  I'd like to discuss this platform in a little more detail this morning to help y'all get even more into the awesome features that 2.0 provides us: Community GuidelinesFirst thing's first - a few days before we officially made the switch to 2.0, I implemented a more formal set of community guidelines to govern over posting behaviors at Rumblings.  Those of you who have been with the site for a few months know what I do and don't allow as far as posting anything goes; I'd appreciate it if everyone gave these a quick skim, however, but especially if you're relatively new to the site. O...
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A look into the run defenses of Buffalo's 2008 opponents
2008-05-09 22:24:00
[Note by Brian Galliford, 05/10/08 9:48 AM EDT ] Curious to know more about the Buffalo Bills' 2008 opponents?  Our very own kaisertown has done a wonderful job of breaking down the run defense aspects of every one of Buffalo's 2008 opponents.  Take it away, kaiser.  [End Note] The media typically uses yards allowed per game to rank defenses. But those numbers are obviously flawed because they take into account a team’s ability to keep its defense off the field. Using yards per game will also mean a team’s run defense numbers will be altered by a team’s pass defense. I like yards per attempt. I don’t think it gives you an exact number for how well a defense defended the run or pass, but it is the most accurate statistic out there. Week 1: Seattle – 3.9 yards per attempt, 2007 seasonWeek 2: Jacksonville – 4.1Week 3: Oakland – 4.8Week 4: St. Louis – 4.1Week 5: Arizona – 3.9Week 7: San Diego – 4.1Week 8: Miami...
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Some informed observations from Rookie Camp
2008-05-09 00:20:00
I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some feedback on Rookie Camp from those in a better position to observe than I.  As always, consider this informed opinion, so take it for what it is worth--I was certainly not there. Also, please remember that the rookies were in shorts and tees, not exactly how they're going to line-up against Seattle in September. I think there is a tendency among very close observers of the game to be disappointed when they first see the rookies up close. They have scouted them ad nauseum, been enthusiastic about drafting them and see a lot of potential. Then, as people with decades in the NFL, they see chinks and problems under close-up first-hand scrutiny. Last year I recall that when the staff first saw Marshawn Lynch and Paul Posluszny, they were struck by how much better they actually were than on tape. They are equally enthusiastic about this year's class--although sadly my report will only deal with a few of them. Leodis McKelvin de...
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Bills News and Notes: All About the Cash
2008-05-08 20:37:00
Apologies for the late posting today, folks - finals started today, and your humble narrator has been quite busy. I appreciate those of you who have taken the time to post thoughtful FanPosts and FanShots on this slow day; keep that up - they're fun to read. In lieu of a more thoughtful post (which I'll have up bright and early tomorrow morning), here are a few newsworthy talking points for y'all to ponder while I prevent myself from flunking out of college: The NFL has announced dollar amounts that each team has to spend on its rookies - drafted or undrafted - and with 10 picks plus several free agents in the fold, the Bills were allocated the eighth highest amount to spend on newbies. The team will have $5.3 million in 2008 cap space to spend on those players. Speaking of cash, if you're buying tickets to see the Bills play in Toronto this season, don't plan on purchasing that plasma TV you've always wanted as well. Tickets for the Bills' games in Toronto will average...
More About: News , Notes , Cash

Bills Trivia: Who am I?
2008-05-07 20:15:00
OK, Rumblers - time for a fun exercise to find out how many of you really know your Bills . Here is how this works: I'll give you 4 clues about a player, who at some point played football for the Buffalo Bills. They could be retired, they could have played for less than a single season, they may still be active, but all of them at some point or another donned the red white and blue of the Buffalo Bills. There are no prizes, just plain and simple bragging rights to the first to give all 4 correct answers. Since this is the first one I'm doing I'm going to include a bonus player. And go... Player 1: -I was drafted in the 6th round of the 1990 NFL draft out of Northern Iowa. -I was the 1995 defensive player of the year and a 4 time pro-bowler. -I have 75 career sacks and 6 career interceptions. -I retired as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.   Player 2: -I was the first round pick of the Bills in 1986 NOT named Ronnie Harmon. -I am the majority owner of the Arena Football 2 Lo...
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Bills Play WR Market Well in Off Season
2008-05-07 15:39:00
Evans should benefit from new rookie running mate (Photo Source) During the 2007 NFL season, when the Buffalo Bills had plenty of trouble scoring through the air, we knew it.  We knew it early in the off-season when the Bills released veteran wideout Peerless Price.  We even probably knew it before the '07 season started: the Bills really needed an upgrade at wide receiver. Heading into the free agent signing period, pundits everywhere knew that the Bills could and would be targeting a wide receiver.  Instead, the team focused on beefing up its defensive front seven, acquiring three big men - tackles Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson, as well as linebacker Kawika Mitchell - in the first two days of free agency.  Good, logical strategy - still bad receivers. By that point in free agency, the wide receiver pool had thinned.  Probably the best fit for the team in terms of their size wishes, Ernest Wilford, had already been gobbled up by the talent-starved Dolp...
More About: Market , Play , Season , Off Season

Breaking Down Buffalo's Roster Leadership
2008-05-06 16:41:00
Stroud will be counted on as leader in '08 (Photo Source) Leadership may be a bit of a cliche when it comes to discussing NFL rosters, but the fact of the matter is that good NFL teams have good leaders.  Whether that leadership comes in the form of coaching, star quarterbacks or even punters, NFL rosters these days are so full of young players that it takes a certain type of leadership structure to get the most out of that inexperienced talent.  Just look at how the leadership of the 2007 New York Giants milked outstanding play out of several rookies en route to their Super Bowl championship. With one of the youngest rosters in the league, where does Buffalo's leadership come from?  That's the question we'll attempt to answer this morning.  Due to the youth of the roster, especially at key positions, Buffalo's roster leadership structure is slightly different than those of teams like the Patriots and Colts, who have natural leaders at the quarterback positi...
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Bills WR Hardy Faces Lofty Year One Expectations
2008-05-05 14:44:00
Hardy's rookie task a tall order: score often (Photo Source) Score.  The Buffalo Bills could not do enough it of last year, but as a junior wide receiver at Indiana University, James Hardy did plenty of it.  In 2007, Bills quarterbacks (helped out once by running back Marshawn Lynch) threw 12 touchdown passes.  In 2007, Hardy notched 16 receiving touchdowns by himself. So, naturally, Hardy's rookie season in Buffalo comes with lofty expectations.  He is very likely to start immediately next to veteran receiver Lee Evans, who also saw a significant statistical drop-off last season.  Hardy's 6'5", 217-pound frame makes him a full head taller than any other Bills receiver; and, because of that height, Hardy's expectations are even larger than normal. What, then, can be considered a "successful" rookie season for Hardy?  We've heard all of the cautions about rookie receivers and how they generally don't produce in their inaugural NFL campaigns. ...
More About: Faces , Hardy , Year , Expectations

Sunday Bills Notes: All About the Rookies
2008-05-04 17:27:00
The Buffalo Bills are in the midst of their first mini-camp of the 2008-09 season - rookie mini-camp - and Buffalo's top draft picks are reportedly performing well in their first professional workouts.  Be sure to catch the official site's coverage of the three-day camp - the fine folks over there do an outstanding job giving us practice reports, player interviews, and other information.  It's all great stuff. Not surprisingly, rookies are still the talk of the town this weekend in Buffalo.  While I prepare for my final week of college classes and final exams today, here's some reading material for y'all: - Sal Maiorana of the Democrat and Chronicle takes a look at Bills fourth-round cornerback Reggie Corner. - Jeff Matthews of The Town Talk examines the non-existent relationship between Bills seventh-round pick OT Demetrius Bell and his biological father, former NBA star Karl Malone.  Malone has been shockingly absent in Bell's life, but the new Bill may b...
More About: Rookies , Notes , Sunday

Buffalo and the Tampa 2: Divorcing?
2008-05-03 15:47:00
Editor's Note (by Brian Galliford): This excellent FanPost by Zumone is the perfect Saturday topic of conversation in these parts.  With the large defensive additions we've brought in (linked below), is Buffalo beginning to move away from the Tampa 2 scheme brought in by Dick Jauron?  Z, by way of hoosierteacher of Mile High Report, begins the investigation.  End Note Given the recent discussions of the Buffalo Bills' defensive upgrades this off-season, I began wondering about our defense and how our current personnel fits the Tampa 2.  However, I'll be the first to admit ignorance on defensive schemes; I kind of know what the Tampa 2 is but if you pinned me down and really asked me to define it, well, I'd be hard-press in all honesty.  Looking for some more information on the Tampa 2 yesterday I found an excellent summary of this defensive scheme at the Mile High Report - and some Bills talk as well. I'd recommend reading the entire post by hoosiertea...

Bills Spend Off Season Getting Bigger
2008-05-02 15:06:00
Mitchell adds size, versatility to LB corps (Photo Source) Last season, despite a rash of injuries, rookies at quarterback and running back, and incredibly long odds, the Buffalo Bills were playing for their playoff lives in Week 15.  In that game, which took place in Cleveland, the Bills were shut out in a winter storm.  That day, the rather large Browns pushed the Bills around the field of play like blocking sleds. The following week, history repeated itself.  After taking a 14-0 lead on the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the aptly named champions used their size and toughness to overpower the Bills after heavy rains and wind infiltrated Ralph Wilson Stadium.  Take away those 14 points - which were scored before the harsh weather hit Buffalo that day - and in two successive weeks, the tiny Bills had been outscored 46-7 in weather that was supposed to be to their advantage, not their undoing. Simply put, the Bills weren't big enough.  Playin...
More About: Season , Off Season

Losman is Backup Plan A for Buffalo
2008-05-01 20:19:00
Losman likely to leave after 2008 season (Photo Source) I don't like opening up the volatile can of worms that is (and has been for quite some time) the quarterback situation in Buffalo very often.  For some reason, even when we're certain who the team's starting quarterback is, there's still controversy.  But today, I have to bring it up.  Why?  Well, Jerry Sullivan started it. This past January, Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman made it known that he'd like to be traded at the team's earliest convenience.  Approximately four months later, that still has not happened.  When Losman made his trade "demand" (can a player really "demand" to be traded if they have no say in the decision?), his agent also made it clear that Losman would honor the final year of his contract - the 2008-09 season - if the Bills were unable or unwilling to deal their 2004 first-round pick. So as it stands right now (and things could definitely change before training ca...
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The Ellis Perspective: Gary Cope's Take
2008-05-01 13:32:00
Ellis figures in as #4 DE as rookie (Photo Source) For the entirety of the four months between the end of the NFL's regular season and this past weekend's NFL Draft, the fine folks who visit this blog daily have been expressing their worry over the Buffalo Bills' pass rush. The Bills boasted one of the NFL's worst pass defenses last season, and that wasn't because the team's starting cornerbacks were awful (note: they weren't great). In the style of defense that the Bills run - whether or not it's run in the most traditional of manners - a disruptive pass rush is essential to defensive success, especially against the pass. Enter Chris Ellis. Buffalo's third-round draft pick will be expected to contribute right out of the gate as a pass rush specialist. But like second-round pick James Hardy, Ellis enters the league with some questions about his character. No one really knows what to expect from him as a player, either. We're very happy to be joined this morning by Ga...
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Why McKelvin to Buffalo Makes Sense
2008-04-30 21:43:00
Was McKelvin a "surprise" pick on draft day? (Photo Source) Anybody who reads this blog on a regular basis knows that I was a receiver guy.  When it came to the Buffalo Bills and our pre-draft preparations, I was dead set in my opinion: the Bills had to draft a wide receiver.  Clearly, this past weekend, that did not come to fruition, as the team's top draft pick was not a receiver, but cornerback Leodis McKelvin.  As disappointed as I was that the pick was not a wideout (note: that disappointment was quelled after our second-round pick), I saw the logic in the McKelvin selection.  Good player, elite potential, and a position of need.  Nothing wrong with that. Yet there is still a contingent of Bills fans out there that believes the McKelvin selection was a poor one - and today, Anthony Bialy became their ringleader.  This contingent is a small one, but some of their concerns deserve to be addressed this afternoon.  Since Bialy is the ringleader -...
More About: Sense

The Hardy Perspective: Hoosier Report's Take
2008-04-30 13:00:00
Hardy should start immediately at WR (Photo Source) Buffalo Bills wide receiver James Hardy has only been a Bill for a little over three days, and already there is an uncommon amount of pressure on his shoulders.  As a second-round pick, the ultra-productive Hardy and his 6'5" frame are being counted on to boost Buffalo's scoring potential offensively.  That's a tall task for any rookie - even if that rookie happens to be pretty tall himself. So to get a better perspective on the rookie who is supposed to open up Buffalo's offense, I spoke to John, author of the Indiana blog Hoosier Report, who watched Hardy put up double-digit touchdown totals in each of his three years as a Hoosier.  John's first-hand perspective on Hardy serves as an invaluable resource in regards to what we can expect from Hardy in his rookie season.  Here is the interview in its entirety; my questions are in bold: What do you make of Hardy's legal issues in 2006?  Do you believe h...
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Bills Bolster Special Teams Through Draft
2008-04-29 21:31:00
UDFA Viti a special teams candidate, too (Photo Source) Feel free to question the strategy. Go ahead, do it. The Buffalo Bills don't care. Why would a team that has not made the NFL's playoffs since 1999 spend half of its most important draft in the Dick Jauron era bolstering special teams, when there are serious questions to be answered offensively and defensively? Well, special teams are the identity of the Buffalo Bills. They have been since the days when Marv Levy roamed the sidelines as Buffalo's head coach. Those sentiments returned to the team psyche when Levy returned as the Bills' General Manager. The Bills have had one of the most consistent and dominant special teams units this decade, and it's because the team focuses on building the unheralded unit far more closely than most other NFL franchises. Bills Lose Core of ST Foundation Imagine Buffalo's defense in the "glory years" without Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett, Nate Odomes and Henry Jones. ...
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The McKelvin Perspective: Matt Miller's Take
2008-04-29 13:00:00
McKelvin has elite potential at CB, PR (Photo Source) With their first round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills chose the top player rated on their board in Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Widely regarded as the top cornerback available in this year's draft class, the highly athletic McKelvin was known as a shut-down corner at the college level, as well as one of the nation's elite return specialists. The Bills made a splash at the top of their 2007 draft by taking RB Marshawn Lynch, whose superb rookie year may have landed him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors had it not been for a certain Peterson character in Minnesota. The Bills' pick of McKelvin, however, may have provided the team with an even more explosive player, especially when the ball is in his hands. Just how good is McKelvin, and just how good can McKelvin be? No one is more equipped than a draft scout to answer those questions. Matt Miller, head of the popular scouting service New Era Scoutin...
More About: Perspective

In Trade Happy Draft, Bills Stand Pat
2008-04-28 13:38:00
Hardy stands alone as impact offensive rookie (Photo Source) For two years, the Buffalo Bills had made a name for themselves on NFL Draft weekend by trading picks early and often to land players they wanted. In 2006, they traded back into the first round to select DT John McCargo. In 2007, they traded up into the early second round in order to pick LB Paul Posluszny. And entering 2008, the Bills had ten draft picks and a disgruntled quarterback (J.P. Losman) to help them make a move once again. Over this year's draft weekend, an NFL record 33 trades were made - slowing down an otherwise streamlined draft. Yet despite their history, despite their ammo and despite a growing sense that moving around the board was the best option, in a record-setting draft, the Bills didn't budge an inch. Bills Still Found Impact The Bills chose to let the draft come to them, and in the early stages of the draft, it worked beautifully. Adding CB Leodis McKelvin and WR James Hardy gives the Bills ...
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2008 NFL Draft: Bills Pick Recap
2008-04-28 03:45:00
The 2008 NFL Draft is now officially in the books, and the Buffalo Bills were a busy team on draft weekend.  Holding ten selections on the weekend, the Bills chose to stay pat and draft players at each of those ten spots.  Here is a recap of those picks, with links to Buffalo Rumblings' coverage of each player: Round - Overall: Name, Pos., College 1-11: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy 2-41: James Hardy, WR, Indiana 3-72: Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech 4-114: Reggie Corner, CB, Akron 4-132: Derek Fine, TE, Kansas 5-147: Alvin Bowen, LB, Iowa State 6-179: Xavier Omon, RB, Northwest Missouri State 7-219: Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State 7-224: Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky 7-251: Kennard Cox, DB, Pittsburgh As I mentioned earlier, I will post my initial thoughts on this weekend's Bills proceedings tomorrow morning - I need a night off for a little perspective.  Expect that early tomorrow morning.  For now, enjoy your evening.  We'll see you back here tomorrow....
More About: Recap , Pick

Bills' Seventh Round Picks in NFL Draft
2008-04-27 23:12:00
The Buffalo Bills will close out their participation in the 2008 NFL Draft with three selections in the seventh round.  Those selections are... 7-219: Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern State- We knew coming into the day that the Bills would try to target an offensive lineman who can play guard and tackle; a "swing" lineman, if you will.  At 6'5" and 303 pounds, Bell is that type of lineman.  He's only got three years of experience in football, but he's a big kid with a load of potential.  In the seventh round, a developmental project with as much upside as Bell has is about all you can hope for.  This is a strong pick for the Bills. 7-224: Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky- I really, really like this pick.  Johnson is a productive receiver coming out of the SEC, and at 6'2", 210 pounds and with 4.55 speed, he has the ability to be an underrated slot receiver at the NFL level.  He's not quick or explosive, but he's a smooth player who scored 13 touch...
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RB Omon is Bills' Sixth Round Pick
2008-04-27 21:41:00
Omon a little-known Division II prospect (Photo Source) With the 179th overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected NW Missouri State running back Xavier Omon. Despite having solid depth at running back thanks to last year's top selection, Marshawn Lynch, and the emergence of a solid backup in Fred Jackson, the Buffalo Bills have added Xavier Omon to the positional mix.  A Division II prospect out of Northwest Missouri State, Omon has been regarded for some time as one of the best small-school prospects available in this year's draft. Omon is a big (5'11", 228 pounds), versatile back that does everything well but no one thing great.  With such bulk, Omon is a tough inside runner who absolutely dominated the Division II level, scoring 92 career rushing touchdowns, including a whopping 37 as a senior.  He added six more career scores as a receiver, and though he was not used much in this capacity as a collegian, he reportedly has soft hand...
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Bills Select LB Bowen in Round 5 of NFL Draft
2008-04-27 20:15:00
Bowen brings depth to a LB corps that needs it (Photo Source) With the 147th overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft , the Buffalo Bills have selected Iowa State linebacker Alvin "Ace" Bowen. The Bills entered this draft with a need for more depth at linebacker after losing special teams aces Mario Haggan and Josh Stamer in free agency (Haggan was suspended as well).  Enter Bowen, an undersized but aggressive linebacker that plays the game hard and can deliver a big hit.  He immediately becomes a favorite to be a "starter" on the team's kick coverage units based on his hard-hitting nature alone. Measuring in at 6'1", 223 pounds and timed at 4.75 seconds in the 40 yard dash, Bowen is an explosive athlete that is known for his sideline-to-sideline range and plays faster than he times.  He is, once again, a typical Dick Jauron player - high character, blue-collar worker with a non-stop motor and the ability to help the team out in more than one way.  Again, he's a...
More About: Round , Select

Bills Add TE Fine in Round 4, Too
2008-04-27 19:16:00
Fine could see field as TE or HB option (Photo Source) With the 132nd overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Kansas tight end Derek Fine. After addressing the defensive side of the football with three of their first four picks, the Buffalo Bills have added a second receiving threat to their arsenal with the addition of Fine.  A reliable receiving target for an upstart Kansas team this past season, Fine will add to the competition at a rather weak tight end position in Buffalo. What you see is what you get with Fine, and he's a typical Dick Jauron guy.  Fine measures in at 6'3" (short for a tight end), 251 pounds and has average speed, running a 4.83 in the 40 yard dash.  He has reliable hands, is smart and reads coverages very well, and knows how to get open.  Because of his recognition skills, he was lined up all over the field in Kansas, including on the line as a natural tight end, in the slot as a receiver, and in the backf...
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CB Corner is Bills' Fourth Round Selection
2008-04-27 18:34:00
Corner a special teams, depth addition (Photo Source) With the one hundred-fourteenth overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Akron cornerback Reggie Corner. Regarded by NFL Draft Countdown as a "poor man's Nathan Vashar", the 5'9", 180-pound Corner recorded 15 career interceptions as a four-year starter for the Zips, including seven in his senior season.  A player who is constantly around the ball, Corner is an aggressive, solidly built player that can make plays. Corner's best chance at succeeding at the NFL level is as a slot cornerback in a zone defense.  Corner is tough enough to reroute receivers in the middle of a zone defense, and his solid recognition skills could eventually make him a playmaker from that position.  His lack of height, however, will make it difficult for him to match up with taller receivers on the outside.  Corner is a solid tackler, but he's not regarded as tough in run support. Clearly, with the Bi...
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