35Pete
April 21st, 2007, 7:35:46 PM
35Pete: How'd you find the Range? What's your take on the joint? How'd you gather such an strong interest in "scouting" college players, so to speak?
Merk: I’m not really sure how I found it. I think I was looking around for Bills news one day it’s just stumbled a crossed it. Lucky Me!
My take on it is that it’s a great place to not only find info on the Bills and Sabres but to exchange interest and thoughts on everything going on in the world. I like to write, its sort of a hobby, so I also like the wide open aspect of grammar and just being able to free write w/out restraints is a big plus(I love speling J ). It’s helped me hone my skills. Once I finish up some other projects I‘d like to write a book about the range.
The interest in scouting players for the draft and the Bills specifically comes from two places. The first is I learned a long time ago that with the Bills being a small market team the draft is the lifeline of this franchise in terms of talent and we will only be good as we draft. Free Agency to me is fools gold in the majority of cases and while I think its an important aspect in today’s NFL I don’t think a team like the Bills can or should rely on FA’cy as there main pipeline for talent. It should be used to augment the draft not the other way around. I’m a firm believer that the foundation of this team should be built through the draft and I think Marv and the current higher ups in the Buffalo Bills are using that model to redirect this franchise to future glory.
The second is I got tired of relying on scouting sites to tell me what type and caliber these players are. I’d read the report then watch the player and think to myself that just doesn’t add up. I think its fun watching these players and trying to find diamonds in the ruff. I also like hearing what fellow posters have to say about prospects, it’s a great time in the War Room.
Pete: What direction do you predict the Bills will go in the draft?
Merk: I think the majority will be on defense again this year. We for the most part have ignored that side of the ball this off season and I think the Bills are counting again on the draft to fill the holes on that side of the ball. I agree with the strategy they are using. I believe building a young athletic defense that can grow together is a great way to get this team on track. I’m a firm believer in defense wins championships. Outside of that I think we will either draft or trade for a RB using one of our Day 1 picks and I’d like to see another WR or a pass catching TE added to the mix.
Pete: Bills draft. Need vs Best player available?
Merk: Personally I break that down into round by round. There are advantages to doing both as well as disadvantages. With the best player available you are always getting the best talent you can but might leave holes on your roster. With the fill your needs route you pass on better players to fill your needs and in the end may bite you because you reached for them. I think a good GM uses a balance between the two and here how mine would shake out
Round 1- Best player available regardless of position. The only exception being if you have a 25 year old L.T. on your team and a RB is atop your board then move to number 2. IMO the first round has way to much $$$ tied to it to be reaching for a player that has less chance of working out than a player ranked higher on your board. The ideal situation is when you’re biggest need and the best player match up
Round 2-Your biggest need w/ an eye on the best player available. You don’t want to completely ignore your needs in this round but you also don’t want to pass up on a player that you have a first round grade on either. A lot of steals happen in this round and this also happens to be my favorite round in the draft because they seem to be the players that are most motivated b/c many feel they should have been first rounders and they are out to prove that they should have been
Round 3-Draft for your biggest need here. This is still the first day and there is still a lot of talent on the board. Reaching here wont kill you
Round 4- Same as round 3
Round 5- Start looking to add depth and start taking special teams into consideration w/ this pick. Need takes precedent but this is when depth starts being taken into acct
Round 6- Same as round 5. The only difference is this is were you would look hard at a special teams specialist (K, P, KR, PR) if you don’t already have those positions figured out on your roster
Round 7-Take the biggest athletic freak you can find. I think this is the project round were you should take a player w/ uber athletic skill that needs to be developed over a couple of years.
Pete: Who is the hottest woman on the planet? Pic please? Wives don't count unless the pics are racey.
Merk: My top 3
3. http://www.celebritylowdown.com/august/images/76358_Jessica_Biel_MalibuBeach_025.jpg
2.
http://www.pure-nude-celebs.com/toons/scarlett-johansson/scarlett-johansson_05.jpg
1.
http://www.moneyshotmovies.com/celebs/jessicaalba/images/08.jpg
http://www.youngluvmovies.com/jessica-alba-naked-5_011.jpg
http://www.youngluvmovies.com/jessica-alba-naked-5_012.jpg
Pete: What positions should the Bills focus on in the 1st day?
Merk: I really don’t see how they can’t focus on LB and RB the way our off season has unfolded. If we can come out of day 1 w/ 2 LB’s and 1 RB then I would consider that a pretty good day one. I don’t think we have as many needs as we did going into the 06 draft but the holes this year are much more glaring.
Pete: I understand that you once worked for that secret government agency. To protect your identity I won't disclose the name of that place located in Langley, Virginia and the current topic of Valerie Plame. In any event, what did you do there? Tell us a few things about your activities there that we shouldn't know about.
Merk: LOL Ah yes “The Agency”. It was my first job out of college. The first thing I can say is its not what Hollywood makes it out to be, well most of the time ;) . I didn’t have to tell my friends I worked someplace else, I didn’t wear a black suit 24/7, I can not confirm or deny any of the conspiracy theories out there and no I’ve never killed somebody over a micro disk……that I remember. I worked there for about a year and a half. I was in research and I wish there was something exciting I could tell you guys about the place but there really isn’t anything to tell. I left b/c I wanted to own my own business so I could be in control of my own future. A lot of my close friends still work there and that’s not a bad place to have close friends lol.
Pete: What would be your dream draft day scenario?
Merk: I guess I could just sit here and say something like Calvin Johnson in the first, P.Willis in the second or go the more realistic route and go by round grades and some players that I would like to see the Bills draft. Truly though my dream draft in a somewhat realistic sense would be if with our 8 picks if we get 2 Pro Bowlers 3 starters and the rest make the team and contribute to some degree or another from the get go I think that would be my dream draft.
Pete: Do you follow the Sabres? What's your take?
Merk: I really don’t follow hockey that much. I grew up in a place where hockey really isn’t all that popular. I still watch Sabres games when they’re on TV but I mostly get Ranger games where I live, which sucks. I like how they have built the team and the year there having is amazing. I also enjoy the passion the people have on this site for them.
Pete: What players in this draft best fit the Bills needs, system and character?
Merk: There’s a lot more than people think because w/ the NFL cracking down on its image it’s sending a message to college players that you better shape up or it’s going to start costing you money. The ones who fit the profile who might be there when we pick Willis, Poz, Okoye, and Hall. I think all 4 of those players go above and beyond the character traits that the Bills look for in players. Not to say that there are not others but those are the guys that stand out the most in my opinion.
Pete: What one player, likely to be available at 12, will make the biggest impact for the Bills?
Merk: I think Patrick Willis would be that player. Just his passion for the game combined w/ his athletic gifts along w/ his character would give this defense a face and someone who I think Bills fans could relate to and get behind. The guy is a warrior on the football field and would have a big impact on the running defense and what goes on in the middle of the field.
Pete: Give us a sleeper or two that will be available day 2 that will end up being stars?
Merk: I think T. Bain from Hampton is one guy who I think can be an impact player from the get go. I like Carson Palmer little brother Jordan Palmer from UTEP a lot. I think he would be a perfect QB to develop over a 1 or 2 year period. A. Fairooz from Central Arkansas is a nice big physical WR with some speed that would be a nice pick for someone on day 2. Akeem Jordan from James Madison has stats that just jump off the page and is someone who I think will make a team very happy. I could go on and on with this because sleepers are one of if not my favorite part of the draft lol So I’ll just give you the thread I started on it with the rest of them listed.
http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=106106
Pete: How will you spend draft day?
Merk: I will get up at about 10 because that is when the news about the draft usually starts breaking. I’ll move another TV into my living room so I can have both the NFL network and ESPN on at the same time. I will also be listening to Sirius satellite radio. Lucky for me they can all be recorded live so I can listen to all three at one point or another. I also have my computer next to me so I can post on the Range. At least one of my friends will watch it with me straight through, he’s a Raider fan so it’s a long day for him in most cases lol. Other friends will drop in or call to ask me about players and the GF handles ordering the pizza, wings, and beer.
Pete: Who do you think, going on just gut instincts, is the potential first rounder that will win the Ryan Leaf/Tony Mandarich Award?
Merk: To me its JaMarcus Russell. I don’t think people are looking at his overall body of work in college as closely as they should be. It just seems like he ripped apart a bad to very bad ND secondary/defense and all of a sudden he went from being a fringe first rounder to the number 1 over all pick because of that and the theory that Al Davis likes big strong armed QB’s. I just find it funny how many of these analyst just don’t bother to research, instead they just comment on a topic by what they see on the surface. When they say the Raiders “Have” to take J.Russell I laugh because Al Davis will be the first one to say the Raiders don’t “Have” to do anything. Russell does have nice physical attributes but as Buffalo fans know all to well that is only half the story. It seems to been forgotten that he almost lost his job as starting QB before the season began and if that ND game never happened he would still be considered a mid first to mid second round selection.
Pete: Any final thoughts or comments?
Merk: On the draft I just want people to remember that the draft is more than one round and good sometimes great players can be found even in the 7th round or as a UDFA. If the Bills have done there homework, which I truly believe they do with how much we rely on the draft now, we should be able to get contributions from these players early on. The key for me is to focus more on the player that rather where he was drafted. I hate phrases like “so and so was a 6th rounder so he must not be good” or “we cant rely on him because he’s a 7th rounder”. The round they were drafted in means exactly squat the second the draft ends (besides the difference in contracts based on the NFL’s loose slotting system) and they should be judged based solely on what they do on the field from then on out.
I would also like to encourage people to post more especially the lurkers. I think you should at least give it a try and throw your hat into the ring. It’s a great way to find out how other people view topics and even change the way you view a certain topic. I’ve found that if you have never really openly discussed an issue or topic before than you truly don’t know where you stand on it. This place will also make you great at arguments/debating with your friends because the more practice you get the better you are at it. Debating is an art form and believe it or not you can be completely wrong and still win a debate
In the end I would like to thank everybody for all the work they do around here to make this not only the best Bills website on the web but easily one of the best sites anywhere.
Merk: I’m not really sure how I found it. I think I was looking around for Bills news one day it’s just stumbled a crossed it. Lucky Me!
My take on it is that it’s a great place to not only find info on the Bills and Sabres but to exchange interest and thoughts on everything going on in the world. I like to write, its sort of a hobby, so I also like the wide open aspect of grammar and just being able to free write w/out restraints is a big plus(I love speling J ). It’s helped me hone my skills. Once I finish up some other projects I‘d like to write a book about the range.
The interest in scouting players for the draft and the Bills specifically comes from two places. The first is I learned a long time ago that with the Bills being a small market team the draft is the lifeline of this franchise in terms of talent and we will only be good as we draft. Free Agency to me is fools gold in the majority of cases and while I think its an important aspect in today’s NFL I don’t think a team like the Bills can or should rely on FA’cy as there main pipeline for talent. It should be used to augment the draft not the other way around. I’m a firm believer that the foundation of this team should be built through the draft and I think Marv and the current higher ups in the Buffalo Bills are using that model to redirect this franchise to future glory.
The second is I got tired of relying on scouting sites to tell me what type and caliber these players are. I’d read the report then watch the player and think to myself that just doesn’t add up. I think its fun watching these players and trying to find diamonds in the ruff. I also like hearing what fellow posters have to say about prospects, it’s a great time in the War Room.
Pete: What direction do you predict the Bills will go in the draft?
Merk: I think the majority will be on defense again this year. We for the most part have ignored that side of the ball this off season and I think the Bills are counting again on the draft to fill the holes on that side of the ball. I agree with the strategy they are using. I believe building a young athletic defense that can grow together is a great way to get this team on track. I’m a firm believer in defense wins championships. Outside of that I think we will either draft or trade for a RB using one of our Day 1 picks and I’d like to see another WR or a pass catching TE added to the mix.
Pete: Bills draft. Need vs Best player available?
Merk: Personally I break that down into round by round. There are advantages to doing both as well as disadvantages. With the best player available you are always getting the best talent you can but might leave holes on your roster. With the fill your needs route you pass on better players to fill your needs and in the end may bite you because you reached for them. I think a good GM uses a balance between the two and here how mine would shake out
Round 1- Best player available regardless of position. The only exception being if you have a 25 year old L.T. on your team and a RB is atop your board then move to number 2. IMO the first round has way to much $$$ tied to it to be reaching for a player that has less chance of working out than a player ranked higher on your board. The ideal situation is when you’re biggest need and the best player match up
Round 2-Your biggest need w/ an eye on the best player available. You don’t want to completely ignore your needs in this round but you also don’t want to pass up on a player that you have a first round grade on either. A lot of steals happen in this round and this also happens to be my favorite round in the draft because they seem to be the players that are most motivated b/c many feel they should have been first rounders and they are out to prove that they should have been
Round 3-Draft for your biggest need here. This is still the first day and there is still a lot of talent on the board. Reaching here wont kill you
Round 4- Same as round 3
Round 5- Start looking to add depth and start taking special teams into consideration w/ this pick. Need takes precedent but this is when depth starts being taken into acct
Round 6- Same as round 5. The only difference is this is were you would look hard at a special teams specialist (K, P, KR, PR) if you don’t already have those positions figured out on your roster
Round 7-Take the biggest athletic freak you can find. I think this is the project round were you should take a player w/ uber athletic skill that needs to be developed over a couple of years.
Pete: Who is the hottest woman on the planet? Pic please? Wives don't count unless the pics are racey.
Merk: My top 3
3. http://www.celebritylowdown.com/august/images/76358_Jessica_Biel_MalibuBeach_025.jpg
2.
http://www.pure-nude-celebs.com/toons/scarlett-johansson/scarlett-johansson_05.jpg
1.
http://www.moneyshotmovies.com/celebs/jessicaalba/images/08.jpg
http://www.youngluvmovies.com/jessica-alba-naked-5_011.jpg
http://www.youngluvmovies.com/jessica-alba-naked-5_012.jpg
Pete: What positions should the Bills focus on in the 1st day?
Merk: I really don’t see how they can’t focus on LB and RB the way our off season has unfolded. If we can come out of day 1 w/ 2 LB’s and 1 RB then I would consider that a pretty good day one. I don’t think we have as many needs as we did going into the 06 draft but the holes this year are much more glaring.
Pete: I understand that you once worked for that secret government agency. To protect your identity I won't disclose the name of that place located in Langley, Virginia and the current topic of Valerie Plame. In any event, what did you do there? Tell us a few things about your activities there that we shouldn't know about.
Merk: LOL Ah yes “The Agency”. It was my first job out of college. The first thing I can say is its not what Hollywood makes it out to be, well most of the time ;) . I didn’t have to tell my friends I worked someplace else, I didn’t wear a black suit 24/7, I can not confirm or deny any of the conspiracy theories out there and no I’ve never killed somebody over a micro disk……that I remember. I worked there for about a year and a half. I was in research and I wish there was something exciting I could tell you guys about the place but there really isn’t anything to tell. I left b/c I wanted to own my own business so I could be in control of my own future. A lot of my close friends still work there and that’s not a bad place to have close friends lol.
Pete: What would be your dream draft day scenario?
Merk: I guess I could just sit here and say something like Calvin Johnson in the first, P.Willis in the second or go the more realistic route and go by round grades and some players that I would like to see the Bills draft. Truly though my dream draft in a somewhat realistic sense would be if with our 8 picks if we get 2 Pro Bowlers 3 starters and the rest make the team and contribute to some degree or another from the get go I think that would be my dream draft.
Pete: Do you follow the Sabres? What's your take?
Merk: I really don’t follow hockey that much. I grew up in a place where hockey really isn’t all that popular. I still watch Sabres games when they’re on TV but I mostly get Ranger games where I live, which sucks. I like how they have built the team and the year there having is amazing. I also enjoy the passion the people have on this site for them.
Pete: What players in this draft best fit the Bills needs, system and character?
Merk: There’s a lot more than people think because w/ the NFL cracking down on its image it’s sending a message to college players that you better shape up or it’s going to start costing you money. The ones who fit the profile who might be there when we pick Willis, Poz, Okoye, and Hall. I think all 4 of those players go above and beyond the character traits that the Bills look for in players. Not to say that there are not others but those are the guys that stand out the most in my opinion.
Pete: What one player, likely to be available at 12, will make the biggest impact for the Bills?
Merk: I think Patrick Willis would be that player. Just his passion for the game combined w/ his athletic gifts along w/ his character would give this defense a face and someone who I think Bills fans could relate to and get behind. The guy is a warrior on the football field and would have a big impact on the running defense and what goes on in the middle of the field.
Pete: Give us a sleeper or two that will be available day 2 that will end up being stars?
Merk: I think T. Bain from Hampton is one guy who I think can be an impact player from the get go. I like Carson Palmer little brother Jordan Palmer from UTEP a lot. I think he would be a perfect QB to develop over a 1 or 2 year period. A. Fairooz from Central Arkansas is a nice big physical WR with some speed that would be a nice pick for someone on day 2. Akeem Jordan from James Madison has stats that just jump off the page and is someone who I think will make a team very happy. I could go on and on with this because sleepers are one of if not my favorite part of the draft lol So I’ll just give you the thread I started on it with the rest of them listed.
http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=106106
Pete: How will you spend draft day?
Merk: I will get up at about 10 because that is when the news about the draft usually starts breaking. I’ll move another TV into my living room so I can have both the NFL network and ESPN on at the same time. I will also be listening to Sirius satellite radio. Lucky for me they can all be recorded live so I can listen to all three at one point or another. I also have my computer next to me so I can post on the Range. At least one of my friends will watch it with me straight through, he’s a Raider fan so it’s a long day for him in most cases lol. Other friends will drop in or call to ask me about players and the GF handles ordering the pizza, wings, and beer.
Pete: Who do you think, going on just gut instincts, is the potential first rounder that will win the Ryan Leaf/Tony Mandarich Award?
Merk: To me its JaMarcus Russell. I don’t think people are looking at his overall body of work in college as closely as they should be. It just seems like he ripped apart a bad to very bad ND secondary/defense and all of a sudden he went from being a fringe first rounder to the number 1 over all pick because of that and the theory that Al Davis likes big strong armed QB’s. I just find it funny how many of these analyst just don’t bother to research, instead they just comment on a topic by what they see on the surface. When they say the Raiders “Have” to take J.Russell I laugh because Al Davis will be the first one to say the Raiders don’t “Have” to do anything. Russell does have nice physical attributes but as Buffalo fans know all to well that is only half the story. It seems to been forgotten that he almost lost his job as starting QB before the season began and if that ND game never happened he would still be considered a mid first to mid second round selection.
Pete: Any final thoughts or comments?
Merk: On the draft I just want people to remember that the draft is more than one round and good sometimes great players can be found even in the 7th round or as a UDFA. If the Bills have done there homework, which I truly believe they do with how much we rely on the draft now, we should be able to get contributions from these players early on. The key for me is to focus more on the player that rather where he was drafted. I hate phrases like “so and so was a 6th rounder so he must not be good” or “we cant rely on him because he’s a 7th rounder”. The round they were drafted in means exactly squat the second the draft ends (besides the difference in contracts based on the NFL’s loose slotting system) and they should be judged based solely on what they do on the field from then on out.
I would also like to encourage people to post more especially the lurkers. I think you should at least give it a try and throw your hat into the ring. It’s a great way to find out how other people view topics and even change the way you view a certain topic. I’ve found that if you have never really openly discussed an issue or topic before than you truly don’t know where you stand on it. This place will also make you great at arguments/debating with your friends because the more practice you get the better you are at it. Debating is an art form and believe it or not you can be completely wrong and still win a debate
In the end I would like to thank everybody for all the work they do around here to make this not only the best Bills website on the web but easily one of the best sites anywhere.