by Steve
Davonte Shannon
Dude has been so good this year even Turner Gill is surprised by how much of a beast this true sophomore is. Not only has this balla of a strong safety stood out to his peers and coaches, he has stood on in the whole conference. He was the first player in UB history to be named First Team in the MAC as a true freshman. Oh yeah, he repeated as a first teamer again this year.
The dude just makes tackles. He is the first player in UB history to record 100+ tackles in back to back seasons. Donte Whitner who? The Jeannette, PA stand out hails from the same high school as Terrel Pryor, one of the higher touted prospects on last years signing day. The real question is how did this dude slip to the lowly University at Buffalo? People in the Big East should loser their jobs for missing on a player of Shannon's abilities.
At 6'0 there is zero doubt the dude has the size to ball on Sundays. Look for the hype machine to be ramped up a bit more next year as he is still a true sophomore. Already, NFL Draft scout.com has him rated #5 out of 88 strong safeties in the 2011 draft.
Positives: most tackles in the nation for a freshman in 2007, 4.49 40, first UB player to ever have 20+ tackles in a game
Negatives: too much hype, wait is that negative? Likes Superman.
Honorary mention of players that should/will be profiled when UB returns to a bowl game next year:
Domonic Cook, Mike Newton, Ernest Jackson, Brandon Thermilus, Brett Hamlin,. (Adekunle Akingba stepped up big time in the MAC Championship)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Get to know your Buffalo Bulls Naaman Roosevelt
by Steve
Naaman Roosevelt exploded onto the scene in 2008. He emerged as a legit #1 receiver and Drew Willy's favorite target. Not only did he nearly double his catches and receiving yards from 2007 (96 catches 1312 yards in 2008) he nearly quadrupled his touchdowns (13).
The St Joe's product was Turner Gill's number one priority when he took over the head coaching job in 2006. He was a raw dog coming out of prep school and was converted as yet another quarterback to wide out this time. He was only the second WR in UB history to gain 1,000+ receiving yards and has scouts turning heads.
He set a Western New York record by throwing 35 touchdown passes in just 10 games in high school and Gill knew he had a hard on for him. Moving to WR might be the greatest thing to happen to Roosevelt, a kid that grew up in Buffalo. He is currently ranked 30th of 333 WRs by NFL Draft scout. With a game to go Naaman has blown by former UB standout Drew Haddad's records for receptions and yards in a season.
Positives: 4.53 40, he is only a Junior, caught the hail mary pass against Temple, has 5 times more receiving yards than any receiver on the Huskies, didn’t crack the preseason top-50 but closed well inside the top 20.
Negatives: height 6'0, weight 187 however many have done a lot with less
Too early to predict his future draft prospects as he has exploded this year.
Naaman Roosevelt exploded onto the scene in 2008. He emerged as a legit #1 receiver and Drew Willy's favorite target. Not only did he nearly double his catches and receiving yards from 2007 (96 catches 1312 yards in 2008) he nearly quadrupled his touchdowns (13).
The St Joe's product was Turner Gill's number one priority when he took over the head coaching job in 2006. He was a raw dog coming out of prep school and was converted as yet another quarterback to wide out this time. He was only the second WR in UB history to gain 1,000+ receiving yards and has scouts turning heads.He set a Western New York record by throwing 35 touchdown passes in just 10 games in high school and Gill knew he had a hard on for him. Moving to WR might be the greatest thing to happen to Roosevelt, a kid that grew up in Buffalo. He is currently ranked 30th of 333 WRs by NFL Draft scout. With a game to go Naaman has blown by former UB standout Drew Haddad's records for receptions and yards in a season.
Positives: 4.53 40, he is only a Junior, caught the hail mary pass against Temple, has 5 times more receiving yards than any receiver on the Huskies, didn’t crack the preseason top-50 but closed well inside the top 20.
Negatives: height 6'0, weight 187 however many have done a lot with less
Too early to predict his future draft prospects as he has exploded this year.
Get to know your Buffalo Bulls James Starks
by Steve
He's a beast, he's a dog, he's a motherf**kin problem. Junior running back James Starks has blossomed in 2008 after showing much promise as a sophomore last season. Originally this dude was brought in as a Quarterback the same season as Drew Willy.
Fortunately for UB he failed to grasp the playbook and struggled as a quarterback in Division 1 college football. He was redshirted. Step in Turner Gill, and boom, you have a future NFL stud. At 6'3 the dude has the size of a real force. He is showing it in the MAC conference and soon will show his capabilities on Sundays.
A balla comin out of Niagara Falls in 2005, Starks career has changed dramatically from his humble beginning under former Coach Hofher. Heading into the international bowl Starks has over 1,300 yards rushing and 15 tds. Not only as a force in the backfield, but James can make plays split wide. He has 41 catches and 300+ yards receiving. Dude is versatile. Kiper already has him slated for the late 1st or 2nd rounds of the 2010 draft!
Positives: Local product, changed positions as a redshirted freshman, first back to back 1,000 yard rushers in school history, improves as the season progresses.
Negatives: After going bust as a QB was moved to the secondary, 4.59 40, missed 2 games this season thus hurting his numbers.
Pro Prospects:
NFL Draft Scout has him rated 13 out of 188
Still only a Junior but Kiper has him in the early 2nd round in 2010.
He's a beast, he's a dog, he's a motherf**kin problem. Junior running back James Starks has blossomed in 2008 after showing much promise as a sophomore last season. Originally this dude was brought in as a Quarterback the same season as Drew Willy.
Fortunately for UB he failed to grasp the playbook and struggled as a quarterback in Division 1 college football. He was redshirted. Step in Turner Gill, and boom, you have a future NFL stud. At 6'3 the dude has the size of a real force. He is showing it in the MAC conference and soon will show his capabilities on Sundays.
A balla comin out of Niagara Falls in 2005, Starks career has changed dramatically from his humble beginning under former Coach Hofher. Heading into the international bowl Starks has over 1,300 yards rushing and 15 tds. Not only as a force in the backfield, but James can make plays split wide. He has 41 catches and 300+ yards receiving. Dude is versatile. Kiper already has him slated for the late 1st or 2nd rounds of the 2010 draft!
Positives: Local product, changed positions as a redshirted freshman, first back to back 1,000 yard rushers in school history, improves as the season progresses.
Negatives: After going bust as a QB was moved to the secondary, 4.59 40, missed 2 games this season thus hurting his numbers.
Pro Prospects:
NFL Draft Scout has him rated 13 out of 188
Still only a Junior but Kiper has him in the early 2nd round in 2010.
Get to know your Buffalo Bulls Drew Willy
by Steve
This is my preview for the International Bowl. Since the Big East sucks, and I have no respect for the Huskies I'm just going to break down each important player on the Buffalo Bulls. The Bulls are getting 6.5 and will easily cover that. In fact I am predicting them to win 31-24. Here is my player break down... First Drew Willy.
Drew Willy has turned it on in 2008. At 6'3 214 he has the size to be a real NFL QB. He won't get a shot for at least 2 years but I digress.
He started 8 games as a true freshman back 2005. He was successfully recruited by Turner Gill's predecessor Jim Hofher. What a fricken steal! Not only is he the most successful QB in Bulls history but he may be the best player in Bulls history. (Until Starks pwns next year)
In Drew's last three years he has thrown a combined 17 interceptions in 33 games. Dude doesn't like to turn the ball over. This year he has 25 touchdown passes and is more poised in the pocket than any Bills quarterback since Kelly.
Pluses: Com major, runs a 4.79 40,semifinalist for the Johnny Unitas "Golden Arm" award, led his team to the teams first Bowl appearance and first Mac Championship
Negatives : He hails from New Jersey, is a Senior and will be leaving, he's #17.
Pro prospects:
Walterfootball has him rated the 19th best quarterback and slated for a 7th round draft pick.
NFLdraftdog has him ranked 16th
Todd McShay has Willy the 10th ranked qb as of 12/22/08
ESPN.com has him ranked the 143rd best prospect in the draft
This is my preview for the International Bowl. Since the Big East sucks, and I have no respect for the Huskies I'm just going to break down each important player on the Buffalo Bulls. The Bulls are getting 6.5 and will easily cover that. In fact I am predicting them to win 31-24. Here is my player break down... First Drew Willy.
Drew Willy has turned it on in 2008. At 6'3 214 he has the size to be a real NFL QB. He won't get a shot for at least 2 years but I digress.
He started 8 games as a true freshman back 2005. He was successfully recruited by Turner Gill's predecessor Jim Hofher. What a fricken steal! Not only is he the most successful QB in Bulls history but he may be the best player in Bulls history. (Until Starks pwns next year)
In Drew's last three years he has thrown a combined 17 interceptions in 33 games. Dude doesn't like to turn the ball over. This year he has 25 touchdown passes and is more poised in the pocket than any Bills quarterback since Kelly.
Pluses: Com major, runs a 4.79 40,semifinalist for the Johnny Unitas "Golden Arm" award, led his team to the teams first Bowl appearance and first Mac Championship
Negatives : He hails from New Jersey, is a Senior and will be leaving, he's #17.
Pro prospects:
Walterfootball has him rated the 19th best quarterback and slated for a 7th round draft pick.
NFLdraftdog has him ranked 16th
Todd McShay has Willy the 10th ranked qb as of 12/22/08
ESPN.com has him ranked the 143rd best prospect in the draft
Ko-J Simpson arrested
per pft
Whats more it is really embarrassing..
Whats more it is really embarrassing..
The New Year truly hasn’t started until an NFL player has been arrested.
And so, thanks to Bills safety Ko
Simpson , 2009 officially has begun.Early Thursday, Simpson was charged with hindering a police investigation. Per the Rock Hill Herald (via SportingNews.com), Simpson was a passenger in a car that had been stopped for speeding through a parking lot by police investigating a possible assault at a bar.
Simpson began arguing with police and refused to leave the area, repeatedly saying, “I’m Ko Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. I am worth millions!”
Actually, Simpson is worth perhaps hundreds of thousands, assuming he hasn’t pissed most of the money away. Selected in round four of the 2006 draft, Simpson’s base salary in 2008 was only $445,000.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Day(s) to Digest
-Coast
I have had a chance to reflect on this decision to keep Jauron a day after the worst moment in my life as a Bills fan and I am still in shock and disbelief. Ralph Wilson completely disregarded the public sentiment with this decision. 90 percent of people in a recent poll said to get rid of Jauron. The Broncos canned Shanahan in a move that would cost them $20 million. Our owner can't give up $5 million to get rid of a failure of a coach. What else can be said but Ralph Wilson completely doesn't care about the fans, about winning or about anything else really. He doesn't care about keeping this team in Buffalo. The countdown is on till his death and the movement of the team out of Buffalo. He is the number one problem. He failed by hiring Levy, a guy with zero experience as a general manager. That is what started this entire thing. Levy hired Jauron, a guy he was familar with and someone he thought reminded him of himself. Jauron is a collassal failure as a head coach, we all know that. Who is ultimately to blame? Ralph Wilson himself.
We have had some of the best personnel people in the business working for this team over the years. Arguably the best GM in the league, Bill Polian, was fired by Ralph. Polian does nothing but win. Ralph didn't like him or they didn't see eye to eye, so he got canned. AJ Smith was on staff, but we didn't offer him the GM job when Butler left. Smith left with Butler and has had nothing but success in San Diego. Instead, we hire Tom Donahoe who was a failure. Marv Levy was a failure, and Russ Brandon, who had his big shot to make a splash and fire Jauron, is a failure as well. You had to expect that though, Brandon is not a football guy, he is a marketing guy.
Wilson's statement is like a slap in the face. He talks about understanding the fans fustrations, but he says he wants to keep continuity in tact. He doesn't understand the fans fustrations, trust me. Every single person I know was borderline suicidal when we got the news that he was coming back. I was in complete shock. I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the past three years with Jauron.
In 2006, the Bills went 7-9. The Bills choked away the first game Dick Jauron coached vs. New England as a sign of things to come. Jauron is a wimpy coach, he always will be. He punted against Houston with 2:25 left down by 4 (yeah, just because he got lucky because Houston sucks, it doesn't mean it wasn't a terrible move). Everyone remembers the infamous Chargers game. At the end of the first half, the Bills punted with 1:04 left. So what? Well, there was 25 seconds left on the play clock. San Diego scored with 29 seconds left. Then, early in the 4th Jauron lost me completely forever. With 13:19 to go, down 3, the Bills used their first timeout. Then this: The Bills challenged an incomplete pass call with 11:56 to go. They called a timeout before the challenge and then proceeded to lose the challenge. Please fine one other time this has ever happened in NFL history. 3 timeouts in the first 3 minutes of the 4th quarter in a 3 point football game. The Chargers went on an 8:01 drive to cement the game on their next drive. Then there was the Titans game. Complete lack of game management on full display. You need to know without hesitation what yard line you need to get to in order to attempt a field goal at the end of the game. We had no clue at all.
Things didn't improve in 2007. The Bills once again choked away an opening day conference game against Denver. Obviously everyone remembers the Dallas game. I think it was the Dallas game which brought to light how bad Jauron really was for many people. I knew after the Chargers game in 2006 I was done with Jauron, but for many people, this was the moment. Not covering the sideline at the end of the game is a fireable offense in itself. Then of course the 56-10 drubbing on national TV against New England. The Pats outscored the BIlls 94-17 in two games. Finally, the shutout loss at Cleveland. On a day when passing was nearly impossible, the Bills went for a 4th and 10 plus in the first half from the 23 yard line. The play had no chance. Later, on the same side of the field, Phil Dawson drilled a 49 yard field goal.
2008 really needs to discussion...everyone watched the games and knows how pathetic he was. The Bills had a complete lack of enthusiasm and zero confidence once the losing streak began. This can be attributed to the coach. The New England game was absolutely pathetic. The end of the Browns game was inexcusable. Scoring 3 points at home against the 49ers and Dolphins, again is inexcusable. Getting shut out at home vs. New England...again, 6 points in three home games. The list is infinite.
Everyone knows my opinion, so let's just look at the simple facts. The most important football games are played in December. The Bills in three years under Jauron are 5-9 in December. They lost their final 2 games in 2006, their final 3 in 2007 and 4 of their final 5 in 2008. The Bills did not perform when it mattered most, not even close.
The Bills have only beaten 2 teams that finished a season with a winning record. One was the obviously overrated Jets in 2006 who won 10 games because of an easy schedule. The other was Washington in 2007, 4 days after the passing of Sean Taylor. The combined record of all the teams the Bills have beaten in Jaurons tenure is a staggering 115-221. This is a winning percentage of .342.
Obviously, in order to win the division, you need to go through New England. Ever since that opening day collapse in 2006, Jauron hasn't even come close in going 0-6.
I could go on forever, but if you think about it, Dick Jauron has zero good qualities. The fact that the players like him is embarrassing. Jauron is an easy coach. He has easy training camps. The team practices inside in the winter. The team probably doesn't wear pads in practice as much as other teams. God it makes me sick. Our only hope is he receives enough hate mail and death threats to cause him to quit and move away.
I have had a chance to reflect on this decision to keep Jauron a day after the worst moment in my life as a Bills fan and I am still in shock and disbelief. Ralph Wilson completely disregarded the public sentiment with this decision. 90 percent of people in a recent poll said to get rid of Jauron. The Broncos canned Shanahan in a move that would cost them $20 million. Our owner can't give up $5 million to get rid of a failure of a coach. What else can be said but Ralph Wilson completely doesn't care about the fans, about winning or about anything else really. He doesn't care about keeping this team in Buffalo. The countdown is on till his death and the movement of the team out of Buffalo. He is the number one problem. He failed by hiring Levy, a guy with zero experience as a general manager. That is what started this entire thing. Levy hired Jauron, a guy he was familar with and someone he thought reminded him of himself. Jauron is a collassal failure as a head coach, we all know that. Who is ultimately to blame? Ralph Wilson himself.
We have had some of the best personnel people in the business working for this team over the years. Arguably the best GM in the league, Bill Polian, was fired by Ralph. Polian does nothing but win. Ralph didn't like him or they didn't see eye to eye, so he got canned. AJ Smith was on staff, but we didn't offer him the GM job when Butler left. Smith left with Butler and has had nothing but success in San Diego. Instead, we hire Tom Donahoe who was a failure. Marv Levy was a failure, and Russ Brandon, who had his big shot to make a splash and fire Jauron, is a failure as well. You had to expect that though, Brandon is not a football guy, he is a marketing guy.
Wilson's statement is like a slap in the face. He talks about understanding the fans fustrations, but he says he wants to keep continuity in tact. He doesn't understand the fans fustrations, trust me. Every single person I know was borderline suicidal when we got the news that he was coming back. I was in complete shock. I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the past three years with Jauron.
In 2006, the Bills went 7-9. The Bills choked away the first game Dick Jauron coached vs. New England as a sign of things to come. Jauron is a wimpy coach, he always will be. He punted against Houston with 2:25 left down by 4 (yeah, just because he got lucky because Houston sucks, it doesn't mean it wasn't a terrible move). Everyone remembers the infamous Chargers game. At the end of the first half, the Bills punted with 1:04 left. So what? Well, there was 25 seconds left on the play clock. San Diego scored with 29 seconds left. Then, early in the 4th Jauron lost me completely forever. With 13:19 to go, down 3, the Bills used their first timeout. Then this: The Bills challenged an incomplete pass call with 11:56 to go. They called a timeout before the challenge and then proceeded to lose the challenge. Please fine one other time this has ever happened in NFL history. 3 timeouts in the first 3 minutes of the 4th quarter in a 3 point football game. The Chargers went on an 8:01 drive to cement the game on their next drive. Then there was the Titans game. Complete lack of game management on full display. You need to know without hesitation what yard line you need to get to in order to attempt a field goal at the end of the game. We had no clue at all.
Things didn't improve in 2007. The Bills once again choked away an opening day conference game against Denver. Obviously everyone remembers the Dallas game. I think it was the Dallas game which brought to light how bad Jauron really was for many people. I knew after the Chargers game in 2006 I was done with Jauron, but for many people, this was the moment. Not covering the sideline at the end of the game is a fireable offense in itself. Then of course the 56-10 drubbing on national TV against New England. The Pats outscored the BIlls 94-17 in two games. Finally, the shutout loss at Cleveland. On a day when passing was nearly impossible, the Bills went for a 4th and 10 plus in the first half from the 23 yard line. The play had no chance. Later, on the same side of the field, Phil Dawson drilled a 49 yard field goal.
2008 really needs to discussion...everyone watched the games and knows how pathetic he was. The Bills had a complete lack of enthusiasm and zero confidence once the losing streak began. This can be attributed to the coach. The New England game was absolutely pathetic. The end of the Browns game was inexcusable. Scoring 3 points at home against the 49ers and Dolphins, again is inexcusable. Getting shut out at home vs. New England...again, 6 points in three home games. The list is infinite.
Everyone knows my opinion, so let's just look at the simple facts. The most important football games are played in December. The Bills in three years under Jauron are 5-9 in December. They lost their final 2 games in 2006, their final 3 in 2007 and 4 of their final 5 in 2008. The Bills did not perform when it mattered most, not even close.
The Bills have only beaten 2 teams that finished a season with a winning record. One was the obviously overrated Jets in 2006 who won 10 games because of an easy schedule. The other was Washington in 2007, 4 days after the passing of Sean Taylor. The combined record of all the teams the Bills have beaten in Jaurons tenure is a staggering 115-221. This is a winning percentage of .342.
Obviously, in order to win the division, you need to go through New England. Ever since that opening day collapse in 2006, Jauron hasn't even come close in going 0-6.
I could go on forever, but if you think about it, Dick Jauron has zero good qualities. The fact that the players like him is embarrassing. Jauron is an easy coach. He has easy training camps. The team practices inside in the winter. The team probably doesn't wear pads in practice as much as other teams. God it makes me sick. Our only hope is he receives enough hate mail and death threats to cause him to quit and move away.
Rose Bowl sucked
by Steve
Hopefully Brent and Herbie's boners have gone down.. the Rose Bowl is over. As per seemingly every friggen big bowl game between a warm city and a cold city played in ideal conditions it was a blow out. Everyone says the SEC Big 12 and Pac 10 are just superior conferences. Did anyone ever think it might be the northern teams have to travel farther and in conditions they are not necessarily used to?
According to the play by play guys USC has one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football. I guess the greatest defenses and supposed national champion caliber teams give up 17 points in the second half and get outscored. The final was 38-24 and might not have been as close as it seems. Or was it...
I just hope you had the Trojans and the over cause those were both obvious locks. But anyone who had money on this game had to be nervous when, with 40+ seconds left the Trojans attempted to punt from about mid field and the ball went sailing over the punters head. Immediately I thought, shit, back door covered. Then I thought maybe Vegas fixed the game and was about to make crazy bank since the money was going on the Trojans. But in the end I lucked out and USC covered. But I digress.
Basically USC isn't one of the greatest teams ever. They lost to an average Oregon State team and don't deserve to play in the National Championship. They played a team with a coach who is so old he can't even stand on the sidelines and they don't even have to recruit cause players come to them.
The Big 12 has had a superior season and probably deserves both teams from the conference to play in the Championship. Whatever, the whole system is stupid any way. There should be a playoff. But just don't compare this team to the 2004 Auburn team that went undefeated and were blocked from playing for the title.
Oh and note to Keyshawn.. STFU. Stop saying we. You were a decent player for a decade who was always a primadona and not worthy of the #1 overall pick.
And completely off topic. How was Stafford not awarded a goal in the 3rd period??!??
Hopefully Brent and Herbie's boners have gone down.. the Rose Bowl is over. As per seemingly every friggen big bowl game between a warm city and a cold city played in ideal conditions it was a blow out. Everyone says the SEC Big 12 and Pac 10 are just superior conferences. Did anyone ever think it might be the northern teams have to travel farther and in conditions they are not necessarily used to?
According to the play by play guys USC has one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football. I guess the greatest defenses and supposed national champion caliber teams give up 17 points in the second half and get outscored. The final was 38-24 and might not have been as close as it seems. Or was it...
I just hope you had the Trojans and the over cause those were both obvious locks. But anyone who had money on this game had to be nervous when, with 40+ seconds left the Trojans attempted to punt from about mid field and the ball went sailing over the punters head. Immediately I thought, shit, back door covered. Then I thought maybe Vegas fixed the game and was about to make crazy bank since the money was going on the Trojans. But in the end I lucked out and USC covered. But I digress.
Basically USC isn't one of the greatest teams ever. They lost to an average Oregon State team and don't deserve to play in the National Championship. They played a team with a coach who is so old he can't even stand on the sidelines and they don't even have to recruit cause players come to them.
The Big 12 has had a superior season and probably deserves both teams from the conference to play in the Championship. Whatever, the whole system is stupid any way. There should be a playoff. But just don't compare this team to the 2004 Auburn team that went undefeated and were blocked from playing for the title.
Oh and note to Keyshawn.. STFU. Stop saying we. You were a decent player for a decade who was always a primadona and not worthy of the #1 overall pick.
And completely off topic. How was Stafford not awarded a goal in the 3rd period??!??
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