2011 NFL Mock Draft: What If The Computer Drafted For The Buffalo Bills?
In reviewing all of the different mock drafts out there, I came across one that I found to be pretty interesting. The folks at Draft Tek have created a computer simulation mock draft process and they are now up to their 20th version of it.
What was interesting to me is that the draft crop of the Buffalo Bills had many familiar names, but just not the names that everybody else has been speculating about. Because of the different names and trying to keep an open mind about who the Bills could actually be drafting that we haven't considered yet, I thought it made sense to share this with the rest of the Bills fans.
You can check out their entire mock simulation here: http://www.drafttek.com/CMDRound1.asp. From a time reference standpoint, this version was conducted on February 15th, 2011.
The Draft Tek Format and First Round Pick
1 of 9
For each round of the draft, not only do they show you who your team should draft, (according to their computer), but also who the first and second alternate choices are for each round as well. That shows who else could be a viable option for the team in question. We will go ahead and list each of the three names they listed for every pick of the Bills.
Round 1—Bills select—Robert Quinn—North Carolina.
No, this is not my colleague, Robert Quinn, who also covers the Bills as a Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. This is Robert Quinn, a defensive end for North Carolina. He seems to be better suited for a 4-3 than a 3-4, which makes him a curious pick.
1st Alternate—Prince Amukamara—Nebraska Cornerback
2nd Alternate—Patrick Peterson—LSU Cornerback
Analysis—The computer had Da'Quan Bowers and Nick Fairley off the board when the Bills turn came up. This is the first mock that I saw mention of Robert Quinn or Prince Amukamara as potential Bills picks. Both seem like a stretch or reach to me. Of the three names listed, I would go with Peterson.
For the record, here are some other names mentioned in major mocks going to Buffalo and where they went in the Draft Tek mock: Patrick Peterson (7th overall), Von Miller (11th), Marcell Dareus (14th) and Cam Newton (15th). Like I said, this was a different kind of mock draft than anything that I saw on the internet.
2nd Round Pick
2 of 9
Coming in at the 34th overall draft pick, the Draft Tek computer cranked out the name of Akeem Ayers, UCLA linebacker. The junior Bruins player has been widely considered a first-round talent after he declared for the draft, so it was a surprise to see him appear early in round two. If that were truly to happen for the Bills, I don't think they would object at all, as they definitely need more talented linebackers.
1st alternate—Kyle Rudolph—Notre Dame Tight End
2nd alternate—Christian Ballard—Iowa Defensive Tackle
Analysis: This is a strong trio of options for the Bills in the second round. If the Bills find either Rudolph or Ayers available with the second-round pick, I would be pleased. This would be a great start for the Bills draft, as it would appear that they had two first-round picks, but didn't have to trade to acquire either one.
3rd Round Pick
3 of 9
The computer shows that the Bills take their quarterback in Round Three, when they select TCU QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has been figured to go around the third round and he is clearly one of the viable QB options in the draft. This is the first time that I have heard his name linked to the Bills. Previously, I have heard Christian Ponder. Lately, people have been talking up Cam Newton and even some Blaine Gabbert, but not Dalton.
1st Alternate—Luke Stocker—Tennessee Tight End
2nd Alternate—Colin Kaepernick—Nevada QB
Analysis: If the Bills are presented with these three names in the third round and if they are told that all three will be gone if they don't pick one of them, then I would have to select Kaepernick. Watching him at the Senior Bowl practices, he reminded me of a gazelle as he ran down the field. Tall, fast and athletic, he needs to put on some more weight and muscle before I would want him to run out there and get laid out.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
4th Round: 1st Pick
4 of 9
Lance Kendricks is the Bills first selection in the fourth round, according to Draft Tek. After looking at other tight end options in Round 2 (Rudolph) and Round 3 (Stocker), the Bills finally draft their tight end for the near term future by selecting Kendricks. He had a solid season and is considered to be in the top five of tight ends for this draft class.
1st alternate—Sione Fua—Stanford Defensive Tackle
2nd alternate—Mike McNeill—Nebraska Tight End
Analysis: The computer seems bound and determined to give the Bills a tight end by the fourth round and it looks like Kendricks would be my choice, given these three specific options. Let Kendricks compete with Shawn Nelson. If Nelson doesn't have any more migraines, then we can use a two tight end set. If Nelson's headaches don't go away, then we have a young starter we can plug in.
4th Round: 2nd Pick
5 of 9
For the second pick in the fourth round, the Draft Tek computer came up Brandon Hogan, the cornerback from West Virginia. Hogan would not be my first choice for a number of reasons. For one, he was caught urinating in public and secondly, he doesn't have strong playmaker skills with the ball. Other than that, he would be a solid pick. Pass !!
First Alternate—Chris Rucker—Cornerback from Michigan State. This is a kid that got in a fight on campus and was suspended. He also missed games due to detached retinas. I wonder if this computer was made by the Jets, Dolphins or the Patriots?
Second Alternate—James Brewer—Tackle from Indiana University
Analysis: This late pick in the fourth round seems to be where the talent is starting to get a little more shaky regarding player character. However, there is still a player that they have going in the fifth round that I would gladly draft right here, and that is the Stanford LB/FB Owen Marecic. Hands down, that would be my pick here. Who needs a computer anyway?
Fifth Round
6 of 9
As we work our way in to Day Three of the NFL Draft, the Draft Tek computer is still cranking out names at a furious pace. The Bills appear to be taking Cedric Thornton, the Defensive End from Southern Arkansas.
1st Alternate—Pernell McPhee—Defensive End from Mississippi State
2nd Alternate—Ian Williams—Defensive Tackle from Notre Dame
Analysis: Looks like the computer was bound and determined to make sure the Bills got a defensive linemen for some added depth in the fifth round. As all three of these guys played in the Senior Bowl game, the Bills got a strong read on the two from the South team—McPhee and Thornton. I will defer this choice to Giff Smith, the Bills defensive line coach that was responsible for coaching both guys all week.
Sixth Round
7 of 9
Sixth round sees the computer punch out the same name as it did in round five. Ian Williams was the 2nd alternate pick in round five, but Draft Tek says he is the guy for round six. As Williams played for the North team in the Senior Bowl game, Gailey and company can run tape back on the game to see how well he played.
1st alternate—Anthony Gray—Defensive Tackle from Southern Mississippi.
2nd alternate—Harold Ayodele—Defensive Tackle from Tennessee State.
Analysis: Again, the computer appears to have a one track mind, saying that the Bills must draft a defensive lineman with this pick. If all three options are a defensive linemen, than the computer has to be correct, right? I will go with Williams from Notre Dame.
Seventh Round
8 of 9
The computer is starting to slow down. I had to reboot it several times and I am starting to get error messages. It appears that the Bills are drafting Auburn tackle Lee Ziemba. Now, it is all well and good if the Bills want one of Cam Newton's old linemen to be his roommate on road trips. But watching him get repeatedly burnt in one-on-one drills at Senior Bowl practices leaves me with a less than excited state of numbness.
1st Alternate—Carl Johnson—Guard from University of Florida
2nd Alternate—Adam Grant—Tackle from University of Arizona
Analysis: This seems to be a repeat of last year - taking an offensive linemen in the seventh round. Last year it was Kyle Calloway from Iowa in this spot and the Bills waived him and didn't even invite him to be on the practice squad. This time around, it doesn't matter, as based on what I saw of Lee Ziemba, the same fate will await him as well. Maybe the Bills will keep him to babysit Cam Newton. Great pick Buddy!
So How Did The Computer at Draft Tek Do, Bills Fans?
9 of 9
Let's refer to the Draft Tek computer as "Hal", because I think all computers should be named Hal. They already have their own unique ID tags, so what more do they want to be special?
Here is the rundown on what Hal cranked out for Draft Tek for the Buffalo Bills. Okay, Bills fans, what kind of a job do you think he did?
1st pick—Robert Quinn—North Carolina DE
2nd pick—Akeem Ayers—UCLA LB
3rd pick—Andy Dalton—TCU QB
4th pick—Lance Kendricks—Wisconsin TE
5th pick—Brandon Hogan—West Virginia CB
6th pick—Cedric Thornton—Southern Arkansas DE
7th pick—Ian Williams—Notre Dame DT
8th pick—Lee Ziemba—Auburn Tackle
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
