SB Nation User Blog: BuffCrunch

New Uni

BuffCrunch — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:45:36 -0000

Sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a shot...

They're a little more complex than SU's traditional look, but I think it works. I made an alternate version with a white helmet (with a blue/orange stripe), but I only liked it on the dark home uniforms. So whatcha think? Its definitely time for a change though, I'm hoping their current hideous uniforms can't even be genuinely recreated in that uniform builder...

Pace also signs with the Bears

BuffCrunch — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:28:49 -0000

On the same day Chicago traded for their gunslinger (perhaps even in the same hour), they signed Orlando Pace to help protect him. Looks like they are pretty serious about retooling that offense.

Crap. In my opinion this is relevant to the Buffalo Bills because there goes my idea of 1.trading Peters for multiple draft picks 2.drafting a future left tackle but let him learn at left guard as a rookie, and 3.signing Pace as a 2 year stop gap/tutor.

Interesting Early Picks...

BuffCrunch — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:49:01 -0000

The offseason has just begun (for most teams). Its still a little early to look at the upcoming draft (underclassmen don't even have to declare until Jan 15th), but nevertheless I gathered these from some Mock Draft sites round the Web. I thought it interesting that there doesn't seem to be any general consensus among them as to what the Bills' biggest need is...

Along the way I kept track of when it was foreseen that Mack would be drafted, and point out (in italics) anything else that I thought was interesting..

11) Buffalo Bills- OT Jason Smith

Jason Peters gave up more sacks than any starting tackle in the NFL in 2008. *(Is this true? Where can we find stats regarding this? Curious to get your thoughts on this one Ron...)

Mack at #26
http://www.kornheiserscartel.com/2009/01/10102.html

11) Buffalo Bills: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

After such a hot start, who would have thought that the Bills would once again end up with the No. 11 pick? It's not a good time to be a Buffalo fan right now. *(well said, ugh) One of the team's huge weaknesses this year was its lacking pass rush. Buffalo finished with 24 sacks on the year, and no player had more than four. I know Aaron Schobel missed most of the year, but they had similar problems even when he was in the lineup. *(This should make the DE camp happy, and I wouldn't mind the pick at all... Think he needs to gain some weight though, and I just wonder about some of the southern athletes playing in an upstate NY winter...)

Mack at #30
http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2009.php

Rd 1) BUFFALO BILLS: JERMAINE GRESHAM, TE, OKLAHOMA

After getting off to a great start in 2008 the Bills regressed as the season wore on and a lot of the blame can be placed on their offenses inability to score points. With a young quarterback that is to be expected to a degree but they also need to add some more weapons and firepower. One area where they are in particular need of an upgrade is tight end and Jermaine Gresham is the best this class has to offer. A fantastic athlete with a great blend of size (6-6, 261) and speed, Gresham is like a wide receiver in a tight end's body and a real weapon in the passing game. He's not just a pass catcher though and he has some potential as a blocker as well. Just to give you an idea of what kind of threat Gresham is, he actually led the Sooners in touchdowns catches in 2008 and even broke one for 73 yards. You won't see many tight ends do that! Some might say the Bills prefer a tight end who is more of a blocker than a receiver, in which case Brandon Pettigrew might be a better fit, but I would argue they have that now with Robert Royal and it isn't working out very well. Buffalo could also use an upgrade at safety alongside Donte Whitner and don't rule out a defensive end either because Chris Kelsay & Ryan Denney aren't getting the job done. *(I would love to see Gresham in a Bills' uniform... but I think its a luxury they cant afford. Address the lines first!)

No Mack in 1st Rd.
http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-A.php

11) Buffalo Bills - C, Alex Mack, California

Center, guard, plug him into the interior of your line and you will have a pro bowler for years to come. Mack (6' 4" 308 lbs) is one of the best centers to enter the draft in a number of years. *(No arguments here! Though I would still like to trade back and get him if at all possible...)

http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Mock_Drafts/2009_nfl_mock_draft.htm

11) Buffalo Bills: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

The Bills get a great LB here in the 2009 NFL Draft complementing their young LB Core. *(And move Poz to the outside I guess? Once again, unless we address the lines in FA, I think we have to go there first. There are good FA LB's available.)

Mack at #31
http://newnfldraft.com/archives/424

11) Buffalo Bills - Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Smith does not have prototype cornerback height. However, behind Jenkins he has emerged as the second-ranked corner prospect on many draft projection boards, and he has shown both great speed and (perhaps just as importantly) outstanding instinct at reading quarterbacks and blanketing receivers. Buffalo has not had a top-tier CB since losing Nate Clements to a free agency mega-payday with the 49ers in early 2007. *(Are you friggin' kidding me? People are still harping on the loss of Clements?! After Leo in Rd1 last year, it ain't happening...)

Mack at #32
http://www.draftking.com/nfl/2009/mockdraft.shtml

11) BUF: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

Another year of seasoning should help Trent Edwards and the offense, so the Bills grab a pass rusher. Brown had at least three sacks in four of his last six regular-season games.

Rd 2) BUF: Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
James Hardy was selected last year to fill the gaping hole across from Lee Evans, but he suffered a serious knee injury. Iglesias had a monster year with the high-scoring Sooners. *(Wait... just how serious is Hardy's injury? Will he likely be back in time for training camp?)

Mack #34 (2nd pk, Rd2)
http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/2009/2009_nfl_mock_draft.cfm?writer=19

Rd 1)Buffalo B.J. Raji DT 6'1" 325 Boston College*(I'd be ok with this pick...)

Rd 2)Buffalo Trevor Canfield OG 6'5" 320 Cincinnati *(Why G? Not after extending Butler...)
Rd 3)Buffalo Joe Burnett CB 5'11" 183 UCF *(Certainly the Bills have bigger needs)
Rd 4)Buffalo Jorvorskie Lane FB 6'0" 268 Texas A&M
Rd 5)Buffalo Kory Sperry TE 6'5" 252 Colorado State
Rd 6)Buffalo Robert Brewster OT 6'4" 312 Ball State
Rd 7)Buffalo William Beatty OT 6'6" 310 Connecticut
*(Don't know much yet about some of these later prospects... anyone?)

Mack #24
http://www.nfldraftsite.com/

Well there you have it... Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

Buffalo ST: Rangers, SEALS, Delta Force

BuffCrunch — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:29:04 -0000

Buffalo Bills special teams seek edge

ORCHARD PARK — Bobby April is a military buff, and as a show of his appreciation for the jobs our service men and women perform, each of the special teams platoons he coaches for the Buffalo Bills are named after specific armed forces units.

For instance, the punt return team is the Rangers because their credo is "No man gets left behind"; the kickoff return is Navy Seals because they must not only complete their mission, but also sometimes they have to find it to complete it; and punt coverage is Delta Force because it demands versatility.

"It's about special missions," April said.

(continue reading:)

Bills place LB Crowell on IR

BuffCrunch — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:08:48 -0000

The Buffalo Bills have announced that they have placed linebacker Angelo Crowell on Injured Reserve. The move ends the season club's leading tackler from the 2007 season. Keith Ellison is expected to assume Crowell's starting strong side linebacker position; look for the Bills to make a move for a linebacker on the active roster, as the team currently only has five.

Ineresting tidbit:

"Crowell’s decision to have surgery this close the start of the season likely did not sit well with the Bills coaching staff, and their decision to put him on injured reserve, in what is a contract year for the linebacker, likely does not sit well with him.

Crowell will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2008 season, but he’ll be unable to have an effect on his market value with his play on the field this season."

I wonder what this means for Crowell's future with the team... Think there'll be some bad blood?

Editor's Comments, by Brian Galliford: Props to BuffCrunch for breaking the news here. 17 players on IR in 2007, and before a single game is played, we're already at 2 in 2008. This one is fishy though... like, Jason Peters fishy.

I think it's pretty clear at this point that Crowell's brief appearance in the pre-season win over Indy was his final appearance in a Bills uniform. We've been hearing since before the end of the 2007 season that the Bills, while they like Crowell, aren't so enamored with him that they'll break the bank for him. Now the bridges between Crowell and the Bills organization may be ablaze. I don't think it was likely he was a Bill after '09 before this incident; I think he's a goner for sure now.

If I'm Buffalo - and clearly I'm not, because they're simply plugging and chugging with Keith Ellison - I'm sliding Kawika Mitchell over to strong side and starting John DiGiorgio (Buffalo's second-leading tackler in '07) on the weak side. Alas, that won't happen for now; Ellison starts on the strong side, Mitchell stays on the weak side, and we pray to the NFL gods that Ellison learns how to play well.

When did it become such a headache to be a Bills fan? So much promise has turned into so much distraction, and we haven't even taken the field yet... I'm disgusted. Something has to go right at some point.

Poll

What, in your opinion, is the best way to replace Crowell?

Start Ellison, draft LB #1 in '09

54 votes

Start DiGiorgio, draft LB #1 in '09

168 votes

Explore the trade market ASAP

88 votes

Play more nickel defense

10 votes

Other (please identify/explain)

8 votes

328 votes | Poll has closed

Great article on Whitner for those who missed it

BuffCrunch — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:22:07 -0000

Great article on Whitner for those who missed it

This quote made my day:

"When a guy gets that football in his hands, you get an opportunity to do something we can't do in public," Whitner said. "If we did, then we'd all be locked up. I try to be as violent and as fast as possible. I've always liked it. It's an adrenaline thing."