During the 2012 Buffalo Bills season, the Scizz will be writing weekly game previews that will hit your eye holes every Thursday night/Friday morning. If you've been a follower of the Deeg for a while, you may remember that last season featured previews inspired by "The Big Lebowski." This year, as voted by our loyal/psychotic/confused readers, "Super Troopers" has been chosen as the ongoing cinematic theme. After a quick rundown of the game, the rest of the post has been inspired by his idol, Drew Magary, and his weekly previews on Deadspin, and will provide you with some solid predictions (false) and other incredible insight you can only get here (so false). So sit back and enjoy the (shit)show.
Actual autographed photo being shopped on e-bay.
The Scizz
Well shit. Where to begin? As I correctly predicted last week, I was a total idiot for once again getting my hopes up for a Buffalo Bills football season. But then again, at least I kind of/sort of saw it coming and drank enough alcohol on Sunday to numb the pain.
Of course, Monday was a different story. Still exhausted from the copious amounts of beer/vodka/whiskey (and a random Jager Bomb) that was consumed, I was forced to recount the previous day's outcome. Ryan Fitzpatrick looks like hot garbage. The defensive line is NOT who we thought they were. The secondary is an absolute joke. And of course, the injury bug has already hit big, as Fred-Ex is out for at least three weeks and David Nelson is out for the year, in a position of need where the team was already extremely undermanned. OH THE JOYS OF FOOTBALL!!!
Yet I'm not here to continue to whine and complain about how shitty the team looked in week one. There is enough of that everywhere (with obvious good reason). No, these previews aren't recaps, they are about looking forward and enjoying football, which is the most awesome-est sport in the world. In fact, as I said to the Yachtsman earlier today, I can't fully write this team off yet. I just can't. Because really, who am I betting against? If the Bills continue to suck, then it's just another year where by week 10 I have my Sundays back. Cool. However, If the Bills bounce back and show some of that early season 2011 spark, then maybe, just maaaaaaaaybe these ass clowns can still pull it together and all hope won't be lost. Naturally, as a fan I prefer the latter, but at this point in my life, I'm just going to enjoy football season and hope for the best. Brace yourselves, the Scizz is trying to keep things positive! Check it out after the jump....
DGWU Crew would like to welcome its newest guest contributor, The Wire. He is a proud ex-pat of WNY who now resides in New Haven, CT, so very close to us in NYC. A childhood friend of the Scizz, The Wire brings a college football/draft expertise like no one else. The analysis is a little late to the party, but totally worth the wait. Trust me. You will get more info from the first paragraph of this post on the Buffalo Bills' selections than anything else the rest of the DGWU Crew has said....combined. While we were Sabres-obsessed, he was reading every draft guide known to man. So let us welcome The Wire with open arms in a sexual chocolate style bear-hug (kudos to the podcast listeners who got that joke).
The Wire
1 (3) - DL Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Presuming Auburn QB Cam Newton would be off the board to Carolina, the Bills were set to pick whichever impact front-seven defender Denver passed on; Dareus or Texas A&M pass-rushing specialist Von Miller. With Miller selected at #2 overall, Dareus was the logical, prudent choice and consistent with the philosophy touted by GM Buddy Nix that the Bills would select the best players available on their board at positions of need. Dareus was a consensus top 3 prospect and NFLN's Mike Mayock's and ESPN's Todd McShay's top player overall. Dareus is big, powerful, and surprisingly athletic; an ideal fit as a zero- or five-technique in the 3-4 scheme and also capable of playing on the guard or center in the 4-3. He immediately legitimates the Bills' defensive line next to Kyle Williams and allows last year's draft picks Torrell Troup and Alex Carrington further time to develop. Any concerns about Dareus' weight are off-set by his superior character and work ethic.
Grade: A
 Yeah, that's 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford writhing in pain. Good on ya' Aaron.
2 (34) - CB Aaron Williams, TexasIt seems the Bills can't help but select a defensive back (or two or three) in every draft year. Whether that be due to the nature of the position or a crippling obsession with Tom Brady, is for another debate. At 6'0" 205, Williams is a big, physical, aggressive CB also capable of playing free safety. His most useful attribute is the ability to play on both the outside wideout as well as on the slot receiver. As a rookie, depending on McGee's health and McKelvin's general incompetence, Williams could see time as either a starting CB or as an impact #3 in the Bills' nickel package. In effect, with their top two draft picks, the Bills selected two players who can start at five different positions. Williams' primary weakness is straight-line speed as he may not be able to keep up with faster wideouts 30 yards downfield. No matter, his versatility and strength are key, and with the Bills possibly losing Donte Whitner, Drayton Florence, and Ashton Youboty in free agency, the secondary had become a major need mostly overlooked by fans.
Grade: B+
3 (68) - ILB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
The Bills' defensive coaches had the pleasure of working with Sheppard at the Senior Bowl, which was followed-up by a glowing visit to One Bills Drive. From that point forward, many fans had this marriage pegged. Sheppard is a big, strong, and cerebral inside LB who made all the defensive play calls at LSU. He was considered their emotional leader. Sheppard, who has been compared to former Bill London Fletcher, is a good insurance policy for pending free agent Paul Posluszny. If Posluszny re-signs in Buffalo, which he has indicated he will, Sheppard should have little trouble beating out deteriorating Andra Davis for the other starting inside spot. In pre-draft reviews, many analysts were concerned with Sheppard's speed from sideline to sideline. However, Bills' coaches stated that Sheppard, at 250 lbs, performed better in this regard at the Senior Bowl than he had on previous game tape. Considering value and need, this was the Bills' best pick of the draft.
Grade: A
 As long as he isn't celebrating a tackle 40 yards downfield after getting torched, then this is acceptable.
4 (100) - S Da'Norris Searcy, North Carolina
The Bills kept with the theme of defensive versatility with the selection of Searcy, who is capable of playing either strong or free safety. At 5'11" 225, Searcy is a big safety with fluid hips who appears to play faster than his clocked dash times (4.5s). Oddly, pre-draft reviews on Searcy were mixed; some labeling him as tough and physical against the run and others documenting an apparent reluctance to engage with ballcarriers. Most significantly, Bills coaches and scouts have complimented his willingness to get in the box against the run, and his potential to contribute as an emergency kick returner. Of all North Carolina players involved in last year's academic scandal, Searcy's role has been downplayed, suggesting that administration and bureaucracy, rather than anything substantive actually led to his brief suspension.
Grade: B-
Good stuff, right? Join us tomorrow for Part TWO of The Wire's 2011 NFL draft day fallout, in which he breaks down Buffalo's late round picks, including a brand-new DGWU favorite (please refer to earlier Sexual Chocolate joke). What's the best part about having The Wire on board? His college football knowledge you say? Naw. Excuses to play videos like the one below.
 The three stooges and some huge asian guy
The Scizz
Let's have some draft analysis, shall we? I'll start by making one thing clear. Due to the Sabres playoff run I have never been less prepared going into a draft. I normally have a minimum of three draft guides in my work-bag and bathroom stand (where most of the got read) and I know every player available. How obscure? When Buffalo picked Xavier Omon a few years ago out of Northwest Missouri State, I actually knew who he was and that one of his strengths was his up-hill running ability. I'm not kidding. Draft day has been a holiday of mine since college. I use to load up on beers and park myself in front of the TV for the entire thing. That actually lead to me blacked out and with a concussion after the 2003 draft, but that is a story for another day.
This year I wasn't totally lost, but nowhere near as prepared as usually. I knew the basics. Who the top few prospects, who the best available QB's were, and most importantly that there were no top-rated athletic RB's that Chan and Buddy would reach for. So please forgive me for my lack of accurate analysis here today. I still need to take a crack at it.
Please check out that video of Marcell Dareus above. Fantastic charisma. Before the draft I was sure Von Miller was going to be the guy. Yes, I was enamored by Cam Newton's athleticism (and I'm still confused on what are future plans for QB are), but in know way did I think that Denver would pass on this beast. When Goodell announced Miller to Denver, I was fired up. And then Buffalo did something they usually don't do. They didn't reach. The brought in a game-changing D-lineman that is going to look phenomenal next to our sole Pro Bowler Kyle Williams. He's a chameleon baby and he intimidated management to select him. I love it. Only time will tell how good Dareus will actual be, but the future of the D-line looks bright that big smile and Alabama charm disrupting backfields. Welcome to Buffalo Dareus  Aaron Ross, anyone? Sitting with hundreds of Bills fans Thursday night, it was very apparent nobody wanted a defensive back with the first pick. Just the idea of Patrick Peterson going to Buffalo had fans dropping angry rants before the game. At first I was totally inclined to agree with this, but after stepping back to think about it, it would not have been that bad. Many people still believe we have a strong secondary but look at it; McGee is always hurt, Leodis is obviously not turning out to be a 1st round corner, Florence may leave in free agency, and Corner and Youbuty are nothing more than dime backs. At safety, I like Byrd, Scott, and Wilson, but fuck that d-bag Whitner. Stop celebrating 37 yards downfield after making a tackle. So when Buffalo selected Aaron Williams yesterday I got excited for thee reasons. 1. He was projected to go as high as mid-1st round and depending on who you talked to he was a top-3 DB. 2. Everything I read about him says how well-rounded he is and how complete his game is. I can't remember the last time Buffalo drafted a guy that scouts labeled with no glaring weaknesses. Oh wait, we did in the first round. 3. This may be the final F-U to Donte Whitner. Williams can also play free safety and could be a great fit to takeover that role for the Bills. Please Lord let that happen and my next jersey purchase is Aaron Williams. Sing it with me to Donte everyone....Fuck You! OOO-OO-OO!! I'm mature. I don't know very much about Kelvin Sheppard. He is definitely no little like I mentioned in the title of the post, however the way his draft stock has risen shows me his perseverance. According to a friend of mine (great source, huh?) in early draft reports Kelvin was projected 5th or 6th round, but after LSU pro-day and the combine it appears his stock rose. All of a sudden he was a 4th round pick. But Buffalo fell in love with him at the Senior Bowl (which the staff coached) and he became our 3rd pick. Some may call it a reach but according to DGWU future draft expert "The Agent", fnas have been calling for this pick on Bills message boards for months. The smart message boards, not the dumb ones. I have no idea what that means.
What I do know is the Bills chose players the DGWU crew have been calling for them to do for years. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE! Yes, we need a QB, TE, and the offensive line still needs plenty of work, but every facet of the D needs it too. I for one look forward to seeing Mr. Dareus, Williams, and Sheppard in action soon. Enjoy the draft today folks and check back later today or Sunday for some more updates. GO BILLS!
|
RSS Feed
