Buffalo Bills fill needs in the 2007 draft part1

by Steve

After the first 2 draft picks by the Buffalo Bills some of their major holes have been filled. Marshawn Lynch at #12 over all and Paul Posluszny at #34 over all after trading with Detroit. As previously expressed taking a running back that isn't going to be dynamite in the first 20 picks of the draft is foolish. Lynch is going to be an average back in this league, and trading away an average back (Willis Mcgahee) and getting yet another average back is puzzling. Running backs are either elite or average 1,200 yard backs. Whether you get that in the 2nd or 3rd or 12th over all doesn't matter. It was a reach by the Bills but after much thought can be justified for a few reasons:
a. The Buffalo Bills had one truly decent running back on the roster, Anthony Thomas, and an unknown in the League, Fred Jackson. It was known from the onset that the Bills couldn't enter the season with just those two clowns on the roster. So it fills a need.
b. The Buffalo Bills spent mad jack on the offensive line in the offseason. Dockery and Langston Walker received large contracts to solidify the line. In doing so the team assumed this would improve the running game as well as the passing game. If you are going to invest that highly you can't just throw a joke back there to run through the holes, you need at least an average back that can find the hole and hit the home run, or pick up the line when they have an off game. I guess Lynch fits that mold and needs to now be successful behind this revamped o-line.

The second major aquicistion was Drafting Paul Posluszny out of Penn State. Yeah! He's Shane Conlin errr. Well at worst he is a solid linebacker who can play either inside or outside and should be able and actually NEEDS to contribute immediately. The cardinals at #37 over all traded a 4th round pick to move up to #33 to pick a player they were targeting. The Bills at 43 gave up a 3rd round pick to move up to #34. So they moved up 9 spots and gave up a 3rd while the Cards moved up 4 spots and gave up a 4th hmm. Furthermore a guy some people were higher on than others and was projected at least in the top 43 was linebacker David Harris Michigan who lasted until 47. There was no linebacker taken between picks 34 and 47 which leads me to believe the Bills could have stood pat at #43 and got their guy or at least Harris. True, I am no scout, I know slightly more than the average person but this again seems like a reach when we could have drafted another body in the 3rd round. Why I don't have a problem with the Poz choice and the trade:
a. The Bills clearly liked this guy. They were dialed in and made a move. No one wins by being complacent and sitting back on your laurels. However the guy did have major surgery on his knee which is a problem.
b. This pick fills a major need with a guy some thought had 1st round talent. He is versatile and should start week 1 at home against Denver.

The Bills still have another pick on day one as I type this so we'll be back.