Bleacher Report - Articles by Nicholas Spoljaric

Jason Peters' Departure Will Not Affect Buffalo Bills' Draft Approach

Nicholas Spoljaric — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:09:57 -0400

No more than three days ago, the Buffalo Bills decided that the left side of their line needed to start from scratch.

The Bills have been as active this offseason as any team, and their latest move to rid them selves of the foreshadowed Jason Peters headache is one of the bigger splashes to date.

On paper, there are more holes than any of the previous 7-9 campaigns under coach Dick Jauron. Regardless of owner Mr. Wilson's boost of confidence by keeping the career losing coach for another season, Jaroun's Fire Marshall Bill (for the rare In Living Color fans out there) buns are burning on the hot seat.

Therefore, after the front office made bold moves by "cutting the fat", moving on without Derrick Dockery, Melvin Fowler, Duke Preston, and Robert Royal. They then proceeded to allow Greer to sign elsewhere and trade Jason Peters, meaning the draft is now as important as ever.

Now the biggest question in Buffalo is not how long will it take for Owens to become a negative spectacle, but what direction do the Bills go in a draft class that is deep in position of need. I, for one, am impervious to "draft experts" and so called stock that rises and falls off the football field.

Round One, No. 11 - Brian Cushing, USC - OLB

A lot of people will not like this pick off the bat. But what needs to be taken into account is that USC's program is better than some NFL franchises in terms of talent. Therefore, when you look at Cushing and see a player that Pete Carroll could not keep off the field, one would have to believe there is talent and leadership in Brian.

Cushing is more than a "workout warrior." If anything, Cushing's work ethic should be admired, not used against him—especially when you consider the three positions Cushing manned at USC (SS, DE, and OLB).

The Bills fill a huge need at OLB and get a guy who could allow the Bills to actually blitz from the LB position.

Ayers may have "shot up" in rankings, however aforementioned I refuse to believe in risers and fallers in the offseason (barring legal issues). Michael Oher could be an option, but you will see later why I pass up a Peters replacement.

Round One, No. 28 - Larry English, NI - DE

English is one of the most under-the-radar pass rushers in the entire 2009 draft class. A four-year starter who has 32.5 sacks to show for it, he is hard to ignore.

English might not drop past the Patriots at No. 23, but if it does happen do not be surprised if Dick Jauron continues to build a defense and again passes on addressing the LT need.

English may not replace Kelsay as the starter opposite Schobel, but will he give the Bills better situational pass-rushing options.

Round Two, No. 42 - Alex Mack, Cal - C

There are questions because of Mack's lack of versatility to play other positions on the line. Therefore, guys like Wood and Unger could go before Mack. Mack is a true center and is one of the best prospects at that position to come along since Mangold went to the Jets in the first round in '06.

Again, the Bills will pass on a LT, because Jauron will not risk having rookies man the left side of the line. Do not be surprised if you see Walker moved to LT, while recent Panthers castoff Geoff Hangartner plays LG.

Mack is the exact player the Bills need to help against the 3-4 front that the Bills will face upwards of six times this season. Most likely of all, the rookies to start or at least see serious playing time.

Round Three, No. 75 - Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss - TE

Amazing value here if the Bills can land the tight-end threat their offense has lacked since Jay Riemersma. Nelson is a underrated blocker who can stretch the field. Currently standing at 6'5" and 240 lbs., there is room to build on the young man's frame.

Some would compare Nelson to Martin Rucker, a fourth-round pick of the Browns last year—only better. Nelson would likely be very well worked into the offense by midseason.

Round Four, No. 110 - Michael Hamlin, Clemson - SS

I would not be surprised if the Bills move Whitner to FS to try and justify the value of taking the kid eighth-overall, while starting Bryan Scott at SS. The Bills will be crossing their fingers Chip Vaughn is still around, but Hamlin had a terrific senior year—110 tackles, 10 PBU, and a solid six INTs.

Hamlin is a bit slower than some would like and Micahel's hips are not as fluid as one would like in coverage, but with the pieces added in front of him—and the ability to play special teams while learning for a year or two—make Hamlin a solid investment.

Round Four, No. 121 - A.Q. Shipely, PSU, C/G

Dick Jauron has a pattern over the years of taking two players at the same position. Shipelygives the Bills depth at center position as well as at the guard position.

Short arms are going to cost Shipley, but the 40 on his Wonderlic is right up the Bills alley. He also has that "great motor" label that seems to be the MO of the Bills' middle-round picks.

However, while PSU was being blown away in the Rose Bowl, Shipely made Rey Maualuga's life miserable, play after play—regardless of the score.

Round Five, No. 147 - Antone Smith, FSU - RB

Another pick that seems to be a must for the Bills. Lynch is suspended, Jackson is a question mark to return after this season, and Rhodes is only a stop gap. Smith is a home-run threat who could offer the Buffalo Bills a Leon Washington type of player.

Rumors are the Bills would like to move Parrish. Asking Mckelvin to be a full-time starting CB/KR is enough of a workload, let alone piling on PR as well.

Smith could return kicks and be a change-of-pace back. Dick Jauron tends to draft backs later in the draft (Dwayne Wright and Xavier Omon)

As far as the sixth and seventh round go, with the abundance of high picks it would be hard to see another Steve Johnson-type make the roster at any point next year.

The moral of the story? Dick Jauron needs to save his job. Therefore, depending on rookies is a real hit or miss and they need to be chosen wisely. Especially because there is not a doubt in anyone's mind that barring injury, only one or two of the picks will actually start a majority of the season.

Furthermore, the guys that do see playing time will be mainly because of thinness at the position more than wanting an upgrade. Buffalo fans cannot sit through another 7-9 season all while watching skill position players lack support.

The Bills need to get better with their front seven on defense as well as in the trenches on the offensive line. Should the Bills go in the direction listed above, not only do they address those needs, but they do it with high quality prospects—and saving their backside with picks like Hamlin and Smith.

Kawika Mitchell: A Giant Help in Buffalo

Nicholas Spoljaric — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:45:34 -0400

In an NFL that offers parody week in an week out, it was to no avail that the Buffalo Bills defense was just as lights out as their stadium against the potent San Diego Chargers. Most of that success that the Bills were able to generate came from new free agent addition Kawaki Mitchell.

The six year veteran from South Florida paid his dues with stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, who made Mitchell the 47th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft and with the New York Giants who made him a Super Bowl champion.

Many Bills fan will remember Mitchell as the guy who jumped a route against the Bills in the last game of the 2007-2008 season to propel the Giants into the post season. And although Mitchell was never known to be a Brian Urlacher type of player, throughout his career, especially with the Giants, Mitchell established himself as a high character leader who made crucial plays at crucial points in a game.

Mitchell eventually developed into a playmaker that Bills fan are starting to love along side second year player Paul Posluszny.

It started from the sack he put on Matt Hasselback during the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, to being one of the most dominate forces yesterday against what some considered the most explosive offense in all of football in the Chargers.

Mitchell might not have popped out at you with huge numerical stats, in six games, Mitchell has accumulated 27 tackles (21 solo), two sacks, two passes defended, and one interception.

However, the stats that count the most on defense [turnovers] is where fans will see Mitchell making his mark in Buffalo—two. And they were at the most crucial parts of the game, the first coming in the red zone when Kawika read gunslinger QB Phillip Rivers's eyes and made a points-stealing INT.

The second coming when Rivers was looking to march his Chargers down the field and Mitchell blew up the middle of the line and hit Rivers's elbow, forcing the game sealing fumble.

Many fans had cause for concern after being carved up by the Arizona Cardinals. Yet, if the Bills continue to get contributions from the likes of Kawika Mitchell, all Bills fans should get a Giant card, sign it thanking the Giants for letting Mitchell hit the free agent market, and send it the day the Bills make the playoffs.

I would also like to take the time to thank a new contributor to the Bills family. She might not suit up on Sundays in pads, but since she started sporting a beautiful Bills sweatshirt and cheering them on, we're 5-1. She is an amazing new Bills fan and a very important person in my life...Thank you Lauren!

Devils-Islanders: Deal with the Devil Backfires for New York in 2-1 Loss

Nicholas Spoljaric — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:19:40 -0400

New faces, fused in with nine holdovers from last season, franchise goalie blowing bubbles on the bench, and still Islanders fans get the same results.

The Islanders opened last night against the highly-touted Devils in what should have been as lopsided as me and Kate Moss on a sea-saw. However, the Islanders struck first and were able to keep the game "competitive." Or were they?

Aside from what some would call a perfect play (or luck, pending who you ask), Doug Weight scored on what appeared to be about the only aspect of the game to give Islanders fans' excitement.

A PP goal, set up by they man who was brought in for just such situations, Mark Streit, Weight fired a "slap pass" to Bill Guerin, who made his presence felt on Brodeur's door step. The puck caromed off a Devils defenders' right skate and beat Brodeur.

Yet, as aforementioned, that was just about the only play the Islanders had for the better part of 60 minutes. The Islanders looked slow, sluggish, and almost like a "Legends Team" playing against a bunch of energized college kids on Red Bull.

I preached that new Head Coach Scott Gordon was going to have a system in which the Islanders can succeed if they carry through and executed. Regardless, the Islanders' forwards were dreadfully slow outside of Park, thus even after pressuring the well at times with the forecheck, there was not enough speed to pounce on the puck and capitalize.

On one opportunity young blue-chipper Kyle Okposo was able to force a turnover at the Devils' redline and beelined straight for the cage.

After being pulled down from behind (just about the only time an Islanders was being chased by a Devil defender), Okposo was awarded a penalty shot. Rare, but yet exciting to no end, the shot was not taken by Miro Satan, therefore, Brodeur gave Kyle a lesson as to why he is still the best the NHL has ever seen between the pipes.

Meanwhile, another highlight of last night's events happened to be that Rick DiPietro was not manning the crease. Instead, Gordon took an advisable approach in keeping Ricky fresh for the home opener against the Blues tonight.

Nevertheless, backup netminder Joey MacDonald was a bright spot for the Islanders. he was making crucial saves at all junctures of the game and was a factor in keeping the Islanders afloat.

Good to know that there is a quality backup here on the Island. Yet, do not discount the influence and presence DP brings to the ice. Expect a bit more of a jump out of this team tonight; that is, if there is any jump in the likes of Weight and Hunter.

New York Islanders: Why You Shouldn't Write Them Off

Nicholas Spoljaric — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:35:43 -0400

In recent years, the New York Islanders have not quite boasted a lineup that offers dominance from top to bottom like other teams in their very own division do. They go into every season with low expectations, with little to nothing to be excited for other than seeing Rick DiPietro try and pull one out while standing on his head.

However, as a "glass can be half full or half empty"—pending what you have in the glass—type of guy, I present this question to Islander fans. Other than last season (during which the Islanders were still in the hunt until late January), have the Islanders not been one of the "surprise teams?" Have they not made the playoffs in years where they had no business being there?

I am not writing in an attempt to get Islander fans believing that we are a shoo-in for the playoffs, but to say that there is finally a direction on this team. A direction that says if we do make the playoffs and get bounced in the first round, that it might just be okay. It might be a learning experience for a group of players that is intended to be together for a long period of time.

I mean, think about it: Other than guys like DiPietro, Trent Hunter, and Chris Campoli, the Islanders change up their roster more than many people change their underwear (the same could be said for head coaches).

This brings me to my next point:

Scott Gordon is going to be the coach the Islanders need. Why, you ask? Does anyone remember a coach by the name of Peter Laviolette? Much like Gordon, Laviolette was a very creative and intriguing AHL coach who was ready to take his brand of hockey to the NHL. It goes without say the success Laviolette has obtained at this level both with the Islanders, and then eventually the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gordon, whose last name is clearly funny to some of us fans who still choose to remember the fish stick gear that the Islanders once donned, brings a style that is fast moving, in your face, high tempo hockey.

Gone are the days of a trap style of play without the right personnel; long gone are the days of having no true identity as to what the forwards are trying to accomplish. What it all boils down to is whether or not Gordon has the right players to pull it off.

The Islanders' roster has been deemed a youthful movement, along with the "Father Times of hockey." To me, that is a blend of hockey that can breed success, especially when the "youth" does not consist of players such as Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stall (any one of them), or even a Filatov for that matter.

However, with players such as Okposo, Comeau, Bergenheim, and this year's first rounder, Josh Bailey, you are going to need players like Guerin, Weight, and Witt to teach these guys what it is to play at this level.

Now on to things that might actually excite some fans, because the ideas of such things make me pumped for this season.

I, for one, was crushed about the Islanders passing on both Filatov and Boedker. However, Josh Bailey has grown on me more and more. That is not to say they are the same players, but Bailey's production coming into this draft, along with his vision and intelligence for the game, reminds me of Joe Thorton or even a Mike Ribeiro.

The Islanders have not had a true center since Peca was on the roster (pre Tucker hit), nor have they had a winger with as much promise as the Iginla-esque Okposo since Palffy.

Obviously it takes more than two young players, who by no means are blue-chippers to make a written off franchise a contender. But, for once, I have to admit that I like the direction and like the talent this team has in play under Gordon.

2-0 Enough Reason to Bill-ieve? History Can Shed Some Light on That

Nicholas Spoljaric — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:34:27 -0400

After doing some research, fans will find that the Bills have started out 2-0 in 2000, 2003, and 3-0 back in the grandeur days of Jim Kelly. Needless to say, those confident explosions only once lead to anything meaningful and not leaving the Bills drafting in the top 15. So that rose-red “playoff” bandwagon might be premature.

Of course the 2008-2009 season offers Bill-ievers plenty of reasons for enthusiasm. For starters the offense is being lead by Trent Edwards, whose play is in ways reflecting that of Jim Kelly. Doubt that statement? The numbers will back me up with a career high 80 percent completion rate, a QB rating of 119.8, accompanied by 16 complete passes in a row(carried over from the Seahawks game) in Jacksonville.

This is coming from a die hard Losman fan.

That aside, Turk Schonerthas looked like a complete genius with the play calling involving everyone from Josh Reed to Freddy Jackson. The defense lead by hard nosed, play without a hat just to make the tackle Donte Whitner have looked as stout as possible and the "Special Forces" unit consistently sets the Bills up for a chance to win/put the game away.

However, the word consistency is the word people need to focus on. If anything can be taken away from this weekend in the NFL is that there is still glaring holes in the NFL when it comes to keeping that status-quo.

—The almighty Fets, AKA Jets fall to the Brady-less Pats. In turn giving Pats fans hope in Matt Cassel.

—Jay Cutler can do whatever he wants with the ball and it will be considered an incomplete.

—The Chargers, Browns, and Jags once considered teams to beat if you want to make the playoffs, are 0-2.

—And the Bills can be one of only 10 teams in the NFL with a 2-0 record, and one of only five in the "stacked" AFC.

However, as aforementioned the Buffalo Bills have started just as fast, and just as electrifying in the past.

The 2000 season amounted to an 8-8 record and the 2003 season amounted to a 6-10 campaign. To believe that history is doomed to repeat it self is one thing, but to be overly optimistic in games where in all actually the Bills should have won is another.

Both squads the Bills faced were dinged up. And to be taken serious in this league you bury your opponents when you have the chance. Not a single team took pity on the injured Bills over the past two seasons.

Yet, if this build up is to be more than premature the Buffalo Bills can not look too much into beating teams with a combined record of 0-4. With the Raiders, Rams, and Cards on the horizon a 5-0 record seems all but within reach. Nevertheless in this league, guys like McFadden, Jackson, Boldin/Fitzgerald can quickly change those affluence of confidence.

So, before Bills fans become overly optimistic, commit to memory last season; games all but won were lost in final seconds. Thus, giving every last Bills fan a responsibility and that is to not put the cart before the horse. The Bills maybe a young blue-collar team, but keep in mind they are just that. YOUNG!

I would love to see the Bills be 5-0 at the BYE week just as much as the guy drinking beer and eating wings next to me, but knowing our gross misfortunes in years recent I will take a rain check for the bandwagon.