Predictions for the 2015 NFL Draft

By Steve

Luckily I don't mind being wrong because I never am so here are some predictions for the 2015 draft:

The Jets (god I hope it is the Browns because that would make my year) will trade up for Marcus Mariota. Mariota could be good in the NFL but not in New York or Cleveland and not in year one or even year two. QBs dont get enough time to develop and coming out of college playing a  spead, zero read offense is not a recipe for success.

Some team will make a big play for Kevin White. As a one year wonder out of WVU and a physical freak some team will do something stupid ala the Rams two years ago. When a player blows up the combine and only has one year of production the whiff of bust becomes a stench.

Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon will be grossly overrated i.e. drafted in the top 20. What a disaster. Gurley is really good but he isn't healthy and there are a bunch of runningbacks behind them that are good.

The quick receiver Breshad Perriman will be over drafted and be a bust

Amari Cooper is the best player in this draft.

Chip Kelly will be praised regardless of what he does, be it trading for Mariota or not trading up and mortgaging the future. (Must be nice)

Only two quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round. Not exactly going out on a limb but last year Minny did slide in late day 1 to take Ted Bridgewater.

Now on to the Bills. The six seasons Rex Ryan was the head coach of the Jets they drafted defense in the first round 6 times. Six times!
2009 Sanchez
2010 CB Kyle Wilson
2011 DE Muhammad Wilkerson
2012 DE Quinton Coples
2013 CB Dee Miliner AND DT Sheldon Richardson
2014 S Calvin Pryor

Wowww lotta defense. If that pattern holds, and I assume it will because there is zero chance Rex Ryan doesn't have input into the draft, the Bills are going defense at 50. And since I'm not a hypocrete and love drafting defense.. consider me on board!

What The Bills Should Do in the Draft

By Steve

The Bills have six draft picks in the 2015 draft 50 (2nd) 81 (3rd) 155 (5th) 188 196 (6th) 234 (7th). So basically no picks Thursday, two on Friday and four on Saturday. No wonder there is no buzzzz.

Here is what the Bills shouldnt do

Here are the Bills needs as I rank them:

1. QB
2. O-LINE
3. S
4. LB
5. WR
6. TE

I go mostly offense because I am assuming the genius, Rex Ryan, can find fill-in OLBs and and defensive lineman any where. Right?

There is no quarterback worth reaching for at fifty so QB is out. Thus, the next best option is o-line. I dont specifically say guard on purpose. A versatile tackle would be the best option. Find a guy that could play both positions especialy if Cyress Kounijo has to move to guard or the current tackles have to shuffle around. (Not to mention there are only 3 OTs on the roster).

I'm not a scout so no names will be provided but there will certainly be an o-lineman worth taking. If not, then the second best option would be a defensive back.  Go with either a corner or a safety (think Aaron Williams) that, again, is versatile. (Also this is assuming that Shane Ray didn't fall into our laps)

Third round a quarterback isn't a horrendous idea if you could picture him starting in the league in 2-3 years. Maybe Hundley or Petty (if he surprisingly falls) could fit the bill.

If no QB then( according to Manos) Whaley and co. gotta try to find a starter. Basically flip whatever position wasn't filled from the previous round.

The rest of the draft go BPA except a quarterback unless you don't think he could make the practice squad (or there is no chance Manuel is traded or Cassel cut). This is obviously because Manuel has a ton of dead cap money if he is cut, Tyrod Taylor's contract is basically gauranteed and Cassel is the only true vet on the team and can't really be cut unless someone else looks greats in camp (which is unlikely).

Oh yeah and of course the best option of all is to trade back or trade out and accumulate picks for next year. But that doesn't seem to be Whaley's style. I'm not expecting a lot.

What the Bills Shouldnt do in the Draft

By Steve

The buzz is not in the air. The NFL draft is Thursday but doesn't start in Buffalo until Friday at the earliest. In one of many head scratchers over the past 15 fuckin years, Doug Whaley and co. traded away this years 1st round pick (19th overall) AND this years 4th round pick to move up four spots to draft a wide receiver last year.

Naturally, I want to rip that decision. Last years draft was rich with receivers, this years draft is (allegedly) just as rich at receiver and trading up for any position especially a non-QB is just plain stupid.

BUT the likelihood the Bills could have used the 19th overall pick to get a franchise quarterback seems remote. Moreover, the depth of talent in this draft is shallow (again allegedly). So while the trade was awful it isn't as bad as it could have been since the Bills did win 9 games and this years high end talent is questionable at best.

Either way, dont even think about trading up again this year. If the Bills trade up into the first round this year it would likely be a disaster. Yes, I have no idea what the hypothetical trade entails but it still is a horrid idea.

Don't draft a QB in the 2nd round unless you think he can compete and be the starting quarterback this season. The talent at QB behind Winston just isn't there. I dont see Bryce Petty or Brett Hundley starting in the next year or two thus drafting a QB at 50 would be a bad idea. Blame last year's decision.

Don't use the 2nd or 3rd round pick on a running back. They already used a 4h round pick on god damn Bryce Brown and have two other running backs seemingly gauranteed a roster spot.

Other than that, there isn't much if anything that would hypothetically piss me off. Its a wide open year with a limited number of glaring needs, go crazy!

PS
For the love of god do not trot out Sammy Watkins as this years first round pick like the old days. Hopefully I dont even need to say this.

Buffalo Bills 2015 Schedule

-Coast

As all of you know the 2015 Buffalo Bills schedule is as follows:

Week 1: Indy 1 PM

Week 2: NE 1 PM

Week 3: @Mia: 4:25 PM

Week 4: NYG 1 PM

Week 5: @Tenn 1 PM

Week 6: Cinci 1 PM

Week 7: @Jax 9:30 AM

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: Mia 1 PM

Week 10: @NYJ 8:25 PM (TNF)

Week 11: @NE 8:30 PM (MNF)

Week 12: @KC 1 PM

Week 13: Hou 1 PM

Week 14: @ Phil 1 PM

Week 15: @ Wash 1 PM

Week 16: DAL 1 PM

Week 17: NYJ 1 PM

Finally a Monday Night Football game…but of course it is a road game and at New England. Don’t worry though, it isn’t after the Patriots bye (though the Pats do have 10 days to prepare for the Bills in week 2).

The Bills are playing in their first Monday nighter since 2009 vs. the Patriots…and we all know how that game turned out. The Bills have not won a prime time (non TNF) game since 2000. The Bills have not won a road prime time game of any variety since…Lord knows. The Bills are playing back to back prime time roadies…first time 2 prime time games in one season since 2009. I don’t want to speculate as to the last time this team has won back to back road games let alone back to back road prime time games. So, while this looks fun on paper, it probably isn’t ideal for the win/loss record.

Overall, I have mixed emotions on the schedule. It doesn’t seem overly impossible. From week 3 to 10 the Bills only play one playoff team and that is a team led by Andy Dalton. The Bills also get to play Brady and Luck at home early in the season where the Bills tend to fare better.

On the contrary though, the Bills run into a gauntlet beginning in week 10 with that first Jets prime time road game. The Bills will play 5 road games in 6 weeks. Say what you will about the opponents, but at the end of the day this is the Bills and the Bills have not been good on the road in 20 years. What can we expect realistically out of this stretch of 6 games? 3-3 at best?

Looking at the schedule at this very moment, the Bills would be favored in 7 of the 16 games…Giants, at Titans, at Jags, Miami, at Jets, Houston, Jets. That is more than normal for this team.

Other quick thoughts…

-          3 straight NFC east games in December…strange. Though in the 25th anniversary of the Bills first super bowl appearance they will have the chance to avenge all of their super bowl losses.

-          Home January football game is guaranteed – first since 2004. The Bills play the Jets at home on 1/3.

-          9:30 AM kickoff in London will be sweet. 7 AM soccer game, then 9:30 football game, then the 1:00 games. Doesn't get any better.

-          No scheduled Sunday Night game EVER I don’t believe since Sunday Night Football became the game of the week...which shouldn't be surprising.

-          Road trip venues – Miami in September…would prefer that in December. At Eagles in December or at Washington in December could be fun though if either of those teams are in the hunt. Trips to NE or NYJ to watch a prime time game would be awesome though could also be risky...based on a really low win probability.

-          5 of 8 Bills home games in likely nice weather – good for ticket sales even if the team flops.

      Final prediction 12-4.

Grading the Bills Offseason

by Steve

Was Doug Marrone really the Bills coach just 4 months ago?  That seems like two seasons ago at this point damn.  The draft is next week, the schedule comes out this week and for now the offseason moves appear to be over.  So let's review and grade the Buffalo Bills 2015 offseason thus far:

Rex Ryan
I didn't want Doug Marrone to get fired after two seasons (mostly because starting over again seemed like the worse of two evils).  But since that asshat quit like a bitch and didn't have any backup plan, good riddance. Rex Ryan isn't some genius and he is at best an alright head coach but he is a star, has won 4 playoff games on the road with no quarterback and can create great defenses..  Maybe he is exactly what the Bills need..

Grade: B+


Charles Clay
Five years $38 mil for Charles freaking Clay?  The same tight end/h-back that played for the Dolphins last year and had only 58 catches and 3 TDs?  Did he really get more guaranteed money than Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham? Yes the Bills haven't had a good tight end in 15+ years and in turn made a division rival worse but the pursuit and the contract offered were an abomination.

Grade D


Percy Harvin
Basically a one year deal with the final 2 years voidable?  Ol' Percy will only be 27 and will theoretically be on his best behavior (you know actually listening to coaches, not punching out teammates etc).  He'll be motivated for a new contract with a strong season and is a freak athlete.  What's not to like?  The Bills had the cap space and the need.  The main question will be whether Greg Roman and co. are smart enough to figure out how the hell they can use Harvin's many talents.  I'm thinking a Randall Cobb esque slash that is in the back field, on the outside and on special teams.

Grade B+


Jerome Felton
Four years $9.2 mil seems like a nice contract for a fullback.  It screams Rex signing so I won't rip it.  Better yet I won't even grade it because the guy is a friggin fullback.

Grade N/A


Matt Cassel
The Bills needed a veteran quarterback if for nothing else but some camp fodder and Matt "Sam/Phil" Cassel fits that description.  Trading anything for this guy seems like an odd decision but the contract (1 year $5 mil left) is reasonable.  But let's face it this guy is a bum.   He flamed out in KC and did nothing in Minny.  If he beats out EJ Manuel that will be more of an indictment of Manuel than anything else. 

Grade C-


Tyrod Taylor
The guaranteed money is questionable but TT is an athletic freak with ok size at 6'1.  The odds he becomes a starting QB are remote but he is way better than Jeff Tuel for christ sake.  I'd even prefer he starts over Cassel.

Grade B-


Shady McCoy
The trade looks even worse for the Eagles after they gave big money to another running back but I still don't love it for the Bills.  Yes, McCoy is a star and has had some great seasons.  But what running back gets better with their 3rd and 4th contracts?  The answer is none.  If he stays healthy he'll be worth the money and the trading of Kiko Alonso.  But realistically how many really good seasons can we expect from a 27 year old going into his seventh season in the league? Three?  Four would be a major stretch but with a 5 year $40 million contract signed, four is what the Bills will need from Lesean.  Why not just keep Kiko and draft a RB in the second round?

Grade C+


Richie Incognito
One year contract at a need position for a dude that should be well rested and (again) motivated to play.  If it blows up and he sucks or is still a piece of shit then just cut him and find another guard.

Grade B+


Letting Da'Norris Searcy Walk
I liked Searcy.  He was a good player, a hard hitter and a mid round draft pick that blossomed into a good player.  Letting him leave because of some shortsightedness (I'm assuming that Searcy would have accepted an extension last year on the cheap) doesn't reflect well on Whaley.  Safety is an undervalued position and a position now of need for the Bills.  Duke Williams, really?

Grade C


Letting CJ Spiller Walk
Spiller was a bust the minute the Bills drafted him 9th overall.  This may have been the most furious I was after a draft pick since... well the last time the Bills drafted a running back in the first round.  He never lived up to the draft status of a top 10 pick even though he was seemingly on the precipice of greatness in perpetuity. 4 years $16 mil is ok but not a good idea for the Bills.

Grade B-


Overall, the Bills had a busy offseason full of spending and headline grabbing. Did they get better?  Maybe on paper but the QB situation is a disaster, everyone will not give two fucks what Rex says in press conferences in October when he punts from the Patriots 41 yard line on 4th and two.  The Bills max total wins is 11 but 8-8 is highly likely.  I just hope Doug Whaley doesn't trot out Sam Watkins next Thursday as the Bills first round pick this year.

Offseason total grade: C+

Bobby Hurley Will be a Failure at ASU

By Steve

First of all Bobby Hurley is a piece of shit. I will take great joy in watching that loyalless money chasing loser fail miserably at Arizona St. No connection to players, didn't recruit jack shit at UB and he thinks he's ready to do anything in the Pac12? Lol.

Two years as a head coach with the state university of New York at Buffalo and he thinks he can compete with the likes of Sean Miller at Arizona or Steve Alford and UCLA? What a fuckin joke.

The guy barely wins the MAC and completely chokes in his only NCAA tournament appareance and packs his bag for a few extra bucks out west? What a loser.

The guy played UB from the start. Two seasons? He was a fuckin assistant at Rhode Island 23 months ago and he thinks his name recognition is enough to compete in one of the best conferences in basketball? He didn't give a shit about his players, the program or this area.

I never expected Hurley to stay long term especially if he had success. But 2 seasons and a 12 seed one and done in the tourney? What a fuckin joke.

Maybe AD Danny White deserves blame for saying they agreed to an extension a few weeks ago but christ. Hurley had the chance to build something in Buffalo. Is four or even three seasons too much to ask? Wasn't one of lil Bobby's positive traits loyalty? Apparently fuckin not. Carpet bagger wanna be.

Your welcome for the opportunity hope you have fun battling for a CIT bid next year and fired like every other loser ASU coach in 3 years. Fuck off.

2015 Win Totals: American League

By Steve

American League over under total wins

East

New York Yanks 82.5
Tough to take the under here so i wont. Tanaka ftw

Boston R Sox 86
Under, Han-ram is no man-ram

Tampa Rays 78.5
Line makes no sense. Under under under

Baltimore Orioles 87.5
Under but barely

Toronto BJs 83
Over, leggo!

Central
CHI Sox 82.5
I want to buy in but this division is tough. 81-81 aka under

Cleveland Indians 85
Over, Tito is a great manager

Kansas City Royals 80.5
No respect. Over

Detroit Tigers 84.5
Over seems obvious, but who cares. Over

Minnesota twins 72.5
Dont want to over react because of the Santana suspension but they're toast. Under

West
LA Angels 92.5
Under. They need a new manager

Houston Astros 76
Over, .500 is a possibility but tough division.

Oakland A's 82
Billy Beane is overrated but he's still better than most. Under.

Seattle Mariners 87.5
Show me first. Under

Texas Rangers 75.5
Under. Who is their manager? Or their ace?

2015 MLB Over Under Wins: National League

By Steve

That time of year again! MLB over under total wins! Lets start with the superior league... the National:

East

NY Mets 83.5
Im feeling lucky despite Wheeler gettin elbow cut. OVER

Washington Nats 94
Seems high so thebunder is the play but if this team doesn't win 90+ it would be surprising.

Atlanta Braves 74
Sell sell sell. Fire sale. Under. Ouch

Phila Phillies 66.5
Are they that bad? Give me 68 wins c'mon.

Miami Marlins 83
Not loving this squad but over it is.

Central
St L Cards 88.5
Seems like an 87 win team. Under (and prob a ring)

Chicago Cubs 82.5
I'll see the kool aid. Over

Milwaukee Brewcrew 78.5
Under, keep drinkin.

Pitt Pirates 85.5
This line is way low. Over

Cinci Reds 77.5
Rebuild in denial. Under

West
LA Dodgers 92.5
$ = wins. Over

SD Padres 84
Over, ill buy into this facade

Colorado Rockies 73.5
Not sure I know anyone, is Tulo still there? Under

SF Giants 83
Over albeit an off year based on their every other year pattern.

Arizona Dbacks 72
Push? Fur surrre