NFL Draft Preview: Buffalo Bills

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With the 3GML season more than half over the NFL draft has started to become a topic of conversation among the three league owners. The most intriguing part of being an owner in this league is figuring out how to maneuver around salary cap space, draft picks, and free agency in order to build a “perfect” team, if there is such a thing. While all three teams in the league are exceptional, and could arguably be the three most complete teams in the 3GML football world, there are still holes on each roster. In looking forward to the draft, we are going to explore ways that each of these teams could improve themselves in order to compete for championships and ultimately, and most importantly, get his name on a plaque.

Buffalo Bills:

BIGGEST MOVE IN 2016
Giving up two first round picks for Amari Cooper was a huge gamble on the part of 'Owner B.' However, you can clearly understand the logic. His team is right up against the salary cap, and star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is quickly approaching the wrong side of 35 and his play in “real life” hasn’t quite been as elite as it was in years’ past. Rodgers is still a top 5 quarterback in the league though, and if you think he’s not you haven’t watched him play. That being said, the team is getting to the point where improving the team will have to be done via draft because players like Luke Kuechly and his contract are going to explode next season so free agency will be tough.

ANALYSIS
Good move. The team doesn’t really utilize the “split-end” position as much as it does the slot in this offense, but Cooper has proven to be an elite deep threat. While I’m never a proponent of giving up first round picks, the team is certainly in win now mode and couldn’t pass on being one of the top 3 teams in the NFL and going for a Super Bowl title.

DRAFT PLAN & NEEDS
The team is very solid overall but has a couple of needs that they can try to solve in the draft. The three biggest needs on this team are cornerback, backup running back in-case obvious MVP Todd Gurley got hurt, and pass rusher. The team struggles to get consistent pressure on the quarterback and without elite corners they can get torched at times by elite quarterbacks.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

1. Christian McCaffrey, ATH Stanford. McCaffrey’s ability to return kicks and play all over the field would be ideal for the spread west coast attack of Buffalo. He would be an immediate upgrade as a second running back on this team and could help out immediately for a win-now team.
2. Tre’Davious White, CB LSU: White has elite speed and potential and can make the splash plays that this secondary could use. He can also play in the slot if needed with great quickness. His technique leaves something to be desired at this point but he could has potential to be really good in the NFL.
3. Demarcus Walker, DE FSU. For a team that plays multiple schemes defensively, Walker makes a lot of sense. He could play the “JACK” OLB spot in a 34 or a 43/34 defensive end if you want. While he’s not likely an elite pass rusher, you probably won’t find those in rounds 2-4.

All of these guys are probably day 2 players, which is where Buffalo is likely to draft this spring.

Mid-Season PFF All-Pro Team (3GML Players)

Below are the 3GML players who made it on the PFF Mid-Season All-Pro Team:

BUFFALO BILLS (3)
WR Amari Cooper (2nd Team) - 83.2
MLB Luke Kuechly (1st Team) - 90.8
SPECIAL TEAMS Patrick Chung (2nd Team) - n/g

MIAMI DOLPHINS (3)
RT Morgan Moses (2nd Team) - 83.4
LE Khalil Mack (2nd Team) - 90.3
K Justin Tucker (1st Team) - n/g

NEW YORK JETS (6)
HB David Johnson (2nd Team) - 80.4
LG Zack Martin (2nd Team) - 85.7
C Travis Frederick (2nd Team) - 87.0
RG Marshal Yanda (1st Team) - 87.6
DT Aaron Donald (1st Team) - 95.6
CB AJ Bouye (2nd Team) - 91.3

2016 Season - Week #10

Los Angeles @ New York Jets

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

LOS ANGELES        3         0         0          0         3

NEW YORK              3         14       0          6        23

NEW YORK – The New York Jets (4-6) bounced back from a disappointing outing a week ago with a 23-3 thumping of the hapless LA Rams.
In a game where the stingy Jets defense allowed only 82 yards of total offense, Jeff Fischer's Rams did nothing to dispel the notion that, despite being 4-6, New York cannot be fully counted out of the AFC Playoff picture.
"I know they've had some tough breaks," Fisher said. "But the tape doesn't lie. That is a championship defense over there if they can tighten up some other areas."
Fisher is most likely referring to turnover differential and red zone touchdown scoring percentage (both last in the league).
"Still not happy with the turnovers today," Todd Bowles said. "But we are getting better each week. It was a 3-year plan from day one - we will keep working towards our goal."
Steadily improving sophomore Dante Fowler Jr. picked up 4.5 sacks on the day and has quietly become one of the more disruptive edge rushers in the NFL.
The Jets head into their bye precariously sitting at 4-6 on the verge of a late playoff push - or a plummet into the Top 10 of the NFL Draft. 

Miami @ San Diego

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

MIAMI                     10        0         0         0         10

SAN DIEGO              0         3         3         0         6

SAN DIEGO – A year ago on this very field, the San Diego Chargers handed the Miami Dolphins (8-1) their final defeat of the 2015 season en route to the Super Bowl 50 trophy. This year: The teams slugged it out over four quarters with the Dolphins holding on to finish with a hard fought 10-6 victory.
Miami finished the game 0-for-8 on 3rd downs as their vaunted rushing attack was stymied by San Diego's defensive front headllines by former Dolphins Marcell Dareus and Star Lotulelei.
"We knew we'd have to face them as we made those deals," Adam Gase said. "They were tough guys to get rid of and they showed their value today."
The Dolphins #1 rated unit against the rush allowed 41 yards on the ground while Philip Rivers was unable to crack the 200 yard passing mark or find the end zone during the defensive struggle.
"Just ugly all around," Rivers said. "Our defense deserved a better effort from us on offense."
Defensive end Khalil Mack ended a pair of late San Diego drives with crucial sacks to seal the victory.
Miami will look to continue their impressive 2016 season as they head to Los Angeles to face the Rams next week. 

2016 Season - Week #9

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

NEW YORK              6         0         9         0        15

MIAMI                      14       3         21       7        45

MIAMI – Two Jimmy Garoppolo red zone interceptions doomed what was a competitive game in the first half as the Miami Dolphins (7-1, 2-1 AFC East) ran away from the New York Jets (3-6, 0-2) 45-15.
Jacoby Brissett started the scoring for his squad with an 81-yard TD pass to Clive Walford on the first play from scrimmage. 
The rookie passer bounced back from his ghastly performance two weeks ago with 156 yards passing and the one score.
"It was just great to get back out there and play some football," Brissett said. "They are a tough unit over there and it could have been a much different game if they had scored on those two red zone possessions."
Garoppolo, facing his former Dolphins teammates, set many Jets passing records, completing 48-of-70 passes for 491 yards and two touchdowns.
"Meaningless," Garoppolo said. "The stats mean nothing without the win."
The Jets dominated in most statistical categories except turnovers and score.
Tight end Coby Fleener finished with a PPR lovers dream day with 18 catches for 206 yards. 
Linebacker Bobby Wagner who was tasked most of the day with covering the hot Fleener, finished with a game-high 18 tackles.
"That was the gameplan," Wagner said. "We didn't want to get beat deep and were willing to give up underneath all game."
The Jets next head home to face the LA Rams.
Miami will take the cross country trip to square off against the San Diego Chargers.

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

BUFFALO                  3        13        7         7         30

SEATTLE                  7         9         0         0         16

SEATTLE – The Buffalo Bills (8-1) traveled to a raucous Century Link Stadium in Seattle, Washington and took out the home Seahawks 30-16.
At the end of the third quarter, with the Bills hanging on to a 7-point lead and Seattle poised to score, Luke Kuechly caused a fumble by Tre Mason with a vicious hit at the goalline. Clay Matthews scooped up the loose ball and scampered towards midfield before Todd Gurley and company scored five plays later to salt the game away.
"It was a great call by our coaches," Kuechly said. "I was just fortunate enough to be able to make that play."
Offensively, the Seahawks managed three field goals on the day and amassed a total of zero rushing yards. Not a typo: 0.
"The better team won today, certainly," Russell Wilson said. "We need to help our offensive line with some better run plays early to get them going."
Aaron Rodgers carved up JV version of the Legion of Boom with a 20-25, 265 yard performance, including a 72-yard bomb to steadily improving Amari Cooper.
"We're really hitting a nice stride," Rodgers said. "I wish I could have back that pick six, but our defense was absolutely unstoppable today."
The surging Bills head into their Week #10 Bye as the NFL's #1 team.

Week #9 AFC East Preview

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks
A cross country trip to Seattle is never an appealing date on the schedule. But with Seattle's O-Line issues and the strength of the Buffalo defense's front seven, the Bills jaunt into the Pacific Northwest is coming at a good time. 
"Offensively, we have found a nice groove," Aaron Rodgers said. "Our defense has been our strength this year, so it's nice for us to get this time to work and support our D out there."
Seattle has struggled to keep Russell Wilson healthy and to find a decent running game to help their over-worked defenders. 
Each of these issues point towards disaster against the consensus #1 team in the NFL from the loaded AFC East. 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Seattle's 12th Man can empower the 'Hawks to play above their skill level at times. Although the team has its deficiencies, do not expect them to get blown out at home.
PREDICTION: Bills win 21-14

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
Miami's bye week couldn't have been scheduled for a worse time. The team has had to sit and stew on an embarrassing loss to the Bills in Week #7. For a competitive team that had been rolling, the game against New York can't start soon enough.
"Torture," Earl Thomas said. "We need to get out on the field ASAP man."
Although their margin of error is razor thin in the rough-and-tumble AFC, Todd Bowles' New York Jets are entering a portion of their schedule with very winnable games. After their conference game against the Dolphins play the LA Rams, enter their bye, host the 4-4 Patriots, then host the Colts.
If the team wants to march into the playoffs, this stretch will determine if the team is playing January football or picking in the Top 10 in the '17 NFL Draft.
"Sunday is playoff game #1 for us," Darron Lee said. "We stumbled a bit early, but the time is now for us to make that run."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The hungry underdogs versus the walking wounded. The NFL is as much a mental game as it is physical. On paper, based on the records and the location (at Miami), all traditional signs would point to a Dolphins victory. However, momentum is not a traditional animal. Expect the Jets to keep their season alive on Sunday with a big win on the road. 
PREDICTION: Jets win 38-29

Owner's Meeting & Competition Committee Results

CORVALLIS - The 3GML Owner's Meeting & Competition Committee met this past weekend and ratified the following league changes:

1. Voted to keep injuries at a minimum of 20 moving forward (can be adjusted upward in the future if needed).

2. Voted that, starting in the 2017 season, all owners will log in with their unique usernames to avoid any user vs user errors within franchise.

3. Tabled vote for 2017 to have home games be played at home user's 'home.'

4. Agreed to allow teams to acquire (via trade) maximum of (1) player rated 80 or higher during a given regular season.

5. Voted to begin watching NFL Draft "together" via tape delay starting in 2017.

6. Voted to adjust current year's sliders as follows: CPU Reaction (+7), CPU Run Block (+7), CPU Pass Accuracy (-5), User Run Block (-10), User Pass Coverage (+7).

Competition Committee & Owner's Meeting Agenda

2016 Voting Agenda

(2/3 Majority Approval Required to pass)

#1: Vote to keep injuries permanently at 20. (New York Jets) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#1A: Vote to keep injuries permanently at 30. (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#2: Starting in 2017, remove ability of team with 'lowest record' to use custom playbook in H2H matchup. (New York Jets) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#2A: Starting in 2017, require all teams to use non-custom playbook. (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#3: Starting in 2017, all users required to create personal PS4 account to be 'owner' of individual franchise (to eliminate playbook, XP, and other in-game glitches). (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#4: Starting in 2017, H2H match-ups required to be played at home team's 'home.' (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#5: Starting in 2017, create league as 'Online' league with H2H match-ups being played on two screens & systems (in same room/location). (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#6: Starting during 2016 Off-Season, limit of one "Blockbuster" trade per regular season (involving acquiring player rated 85 or higher). (Buffalo Bills) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#6A: Starting during 2016 Off-Season, limit of one "Blockbuster" trade per regular season (involving acquiring player rated 80 or higher). (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#7: Yearly mid-season slider review to lower/raise/adjust in spirit of (realistic) competition. (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___

#7A: For 2016 Season - 

   I - Raise CPU Reaction Time 5-10 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

   II - Raise CPU Pass Blocking 5-10 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

   III - Raise CPU Run Blocking 5-10 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

   IV - Lower CPU QB Accuracy 5 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

   V - Lower User Run Blocking 5-10 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

   VI - Raise User Pass Coverage 5-10 Yes:___ No: ___ Change: ___

#8: Starting with 2017 NFL Draft, Round 1 (Day 1) and Rounds 2-3 (Day 2), to be watched on tape-delay (recorded) as a group. (Miami Dolphins) 

Yes:___ No: ___