The dust has finally settled from the 2010 NFL Draft and the non-stop analysis that occurs in the days following it has reached it’s climax.  Everyone and their mothers have given opinions on what the Bills did right or wrong and overwhelmingly the criticism seemingly has outweighed the praise.   Take a couple of steps back from the edge of that tall building Bills fans; I can say that because I was just up there with you.  Then I thought better of it as I have found the silver lining that will allow us to survive well into next season.  I’m not claiming the Bills are now going to be Super Bowl favorites or even have a legitimate chance to win a playoff game.  However, I do see something I like out of a Buffalo draft for the first time in over a decade.  I am calling it “smart growth” and its coming in the way it should, from the ground up.

We all knew what the Bills “needed” going into the draft: help at offensive tackle(s), a 3-4 run stuffing DT, more playmakers and a new franchise QB.  We also had plenty of other needs that the experts blindly failed to mention to the most loyal fans in the NFL.   You see the problems with NFL network coverage and ESPN’s draftnik analysis stems from their own lack of true knowledge about what Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey actually intended to do in this draft.  If we trust Buddy Nix’s post draft comments that “Tebow was never an option” for the Bills you’ll begin to see that all that the analysts really do is spread the smokescreen that teams put out there intending to disguise what they really want to do.  We all bought into the future QB hype and the dozens of predraft visits and pro days that the analysts told us about.  We bought into the “insight” that these experts had and allowed them to draw the conclusions of what we would do with the #9 pick.  The reality of this predraft coverage is it’s nothing more than a poker game.  The “suckers” are the loyal fans who watch so intently year in and year out desperately hoping for better things to come.  The media is the “bluff” because they don’t ever actually see a team’s draft board and instead go purely on info from sources or actual representatives from the team.  After all was said and done and I saw such experts, like Kiper regarding Clausen, eat crow and I managed to look at the Bills draft differently.  We shouldn’t have actually expected to get McNabb, Tebow, Clausen, Vick or anything else that has been put out in the media by the poker players that are Buddy and Chan.  Instead we should sit back and trust what hopefully is a new era in Buffalo.  Not the same old One Bills Drive that panders to what the media, fans or a senile owner wants the team to do, but what real player personnel experts see as talent or lack of.

#9  RB C.J. Spiller – We didn’t NEED a RB, right?  Well at least that’s what the so called “experts” told us.  Take another look at the situation with our current RBs and you might see that this pick may be just what the doctor ordered for this team.  Jackson is less than a year under that dreaded 30 year old RB mark and Lynch is one hit and run from a season long suspension.  Spiller is a quick and shifty RB and the overall best playmaker in the draft, comparable to a Reggie Bush/Chris Johnson type of RB.  With 4.3 forty speed C.J. should step right in and play as a 3rd down back or be able to motion out to the slot position immediately.  This guy will make people miss and create big plays with Trent Edwards checking down as much as he does.  This might be a way to get the ball into the hands of an explosive touchdown machine.  I am not really disappointed that we didn’t address one of our so called glaring needs with this pick considering the top OT’s and QB were off the board at this point.  Chan is an offensive minded coach though and he needs big play weapons to make the offense work.  This guy will be a weapon instantly that will require game planning and could be a good rookie of the year candidate.

#41 NT  Torell Troup – A big strong run stuffing nose tackle is the most important position to fill when installing the 3-4 defense.  This guy is STRONG and can take on double teams allowing LBs to flow to the ball.  Was he a reach at the 41st pick? Maybe, but there were only a few true 3-4 NTs out of the dozen plus DTs in this draft that could step on the field and make an impact as a rookie and he is arguably available for 3 downs whereas guys like Cody would have only been 2 down guys.  Torell can learn under the veterans Stroud and Kyle Williams while they are still on our team and maybe even overtake them for the starting roles by the end of camp.  Only time will tell if the value was justified at this point in the draft.  I feel that this was the position we needed to address more than any other though and if not in the 1st I am glad we got it handled in the 2nd.

#72 DE Alex Carrington – Like everyone did, I felt the need with every passing pick at this point to geta future left tackle with this pick.  I was shocked to see us go with a DE when we seemingly had a stockpile of talent there already.  But this guy adds a little different element of size that we don’t have in our other ends.  I think it’s clear that the front office does not have much faith in Schobel returning or in the size of Chris Ellis and Chirs Kelsay.  Dwan Edwards is another big guy though and add Carrington and Troup into the mix and I think you have a very BIG future out of a totally new 3-4 defensive line.

# 107 WR Marcus Easley – Another offensive weapon before we even addressed the line or QB!!!  Ok, I was just as frustrated as you with this one.  On the bright side, he is fast and can develop into a superb weapon if coached well.  Could be a one year college wonder but WRs with his talent can be highly rewarding in later rounds of the draft.

#140 OT Ed Wang – FINALLY!  We got an offensive tackle.  Will he be able to play left tackle in year one, who knows?  He is the first Chinese-American player ever drafted in the NFL though and maybe we can sell more jerseys in China…  This guy is a project and may be a bust or could boom is coached properly.  Not an inspiring pick for the future of our offensive line.

Round 6 #178 DE/OLB Arthur Moats & #192 DE/OLB Danny Batten – I’ll address the 2 DE’s from the 6th together because they are both the same kind of players. We addressed the need of a versatile pass rushing OLB/DE that is critical in the 3-4.  Both guys have the talent and ability to improve but have significant missing pieces to their games.  Calling Lamarr Woodly…  If we could only be so lucky!

#209 QB Levi Brown – Well here he is our “franchise QB”, not a chance…  We go into camp with 4 and leave with 3.  Who is the odd man out in the Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Brohm, Brown stakes?  Who knows and I can’t really say I am all that excited about seeing anyone of them as the next Bills QB.  What I do know is that Trent “Captain Check Down” Edwards has a couple of new weapons and will have to get rid of the ball really quick which could bode well for Spiller and we might get to see something out of TE Shawn Nelson this year.

#216 OT Kyle Calloway -  This was strictly a depth pick for a versatile o-lineman who can play inside or outside.  We will probably need him even at LT at some point this season if last season is any indicator.

Overall:

Coming into the draft the common perception was that our most pressing needs were on offense.  Little did we know we would walk away from the draft with a whole new D line and a set of LBs to give us a potentially brand new look defensively.  After looking at the full body of work, I think it is a positive thing and a great start to rebuilding from that side of the ball.  Defense wins championships after all.  I am hoping that Gailey has enough planned with the current offensive talent that he can turn that side of the ball around.  It might be another long season this year but I am sure our defense is much improved and if the offense can just put 20 plus points on the board by making big plays and not turning it over we may see our first 0.500 plus season in a long time.  When it is all said and done we really shouldn’t be too harsh on the staff until they have 2 full drafts under their belt in which to fully rebuild the team with their guys.

I look forward to any comments, agreements or disagreements you may have and hope to see you at Hudson Grille vs. Miami on September 12th.

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Since we can’t be there, we’ve decided to fly down one of our favorite Buffalo foods – PIZZA. This year we’ve ordered from Mazia’s Pizza in Clarence. In case you don’t Mazia’s, they won the best pizza award at the Taste of Buffalo. You can order by the slice, pepperoni or cheese. We will have a raffle for everyone ordering pizza. After the 2nd period a winner will be chosen and any pizza they have eaten will be free. Please see Tori Allen.

Molson beer special – we have worked out a beer special for the 2010 NFL draft (22nd), the 2010 NHL hockey playoffs and the 2010 NFL football season. Buy a $4 BBA cup and receive the 32 oz Molson for the price of the 16 oz Molson! This special begins as soon as the cups arrive – could be this week, could be next week. But have no doubt, they will arrive! Remember to bring your cup back each game to receive the special. Cups can be purchased from any Board member or bar staff.

Back on tap – Genny Cream Ale. In case you haven’t had the wings post Bills season they have changed their frying method and they taste just like Buffalo. We received many compliments at the Sabres Road Crew.

Sabres playoff schedule vs Boston is as follows – all games aired at HG Midown:
April 15th – 7:00 pm
April 17th – 1:00 pm
April 19th – 7:00 pm
April 21st – 7:00 pm
April 23rd – 7:00 pm*
April 26th – 7:00 pm*
April 28th – 7:00 pm*

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The weekend of the big move is finally here, and we want to extend a big invitation to all our members to come check out the new Hudson Grille Midtown to watch this Sundays Bills game.

The menu has virtually not changed. All of your favorites are available including Anchor Bar Wings, Beef on Weck, Burgers, Dogs, Wraps, etc. Beer specials include $4.50 24oz. cans of Labatt Blue and $2.75 pints of Sam Adams Lager, Seasonal and my favorite, Cherry Wheat!

HG is located at 942 Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, directly across the street from Taco Mac. Because parking can be difficult in Midtown, HG is offering complementary valet parking! Just follow the valet parking signs and remember to tip!