dplank wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 11:57 am
Yea all good, no need to keep saying these are opinions. Of course they are opinions and we are here to debate our opinions.
I strongly disagree with a sentiment that Poles saw no opportunity to draft a 3T. That's not a well founded opinion IMO.
Also, I keep using Armstead as an example, but there were other moves I'd have been happy with on the OL as well. It's not restricted to that one example. It includes Bates, it includes 5-10 other FA's, it includes our top 3 draft slots. In each case, Poles went for options other than dealing with our OL. It's the totality of it that bothers me, combined with staring down the barrel of Sam Mustipher being a starter again. That should not be acceptable to the fan base.
To me, Poles' biggest mistake along the OL was his reaction to Bates. I can understand him NOT signing other OL FAs as being too old, too injured, too expensive, too slow, etc... But in Bates' case, he identified his guy, and after Poles identified him, he lowballed him just about as much as he possibly could, making the Bills' match easy. After you identify your guy, you go after to get him. You don't penny pinch him. Aside from that though, I'm willing to give Poles the benefit of the doubt as a former UDFA offensive lineman on his ability to evaluate that position. I'm very high on ALL the offensive linemen he did pick, even though they were late. They ALL have athletic ability and good tape. And Poles did have pretty good success in Kansas City in accumulating offensive linemen, either through the draft or free agency.
No, my biggest gripe with Poles is as DP claims--his attitude toward the defense and the 3T specifically, only for different reasons than DP. Again, Poles identified his guy in Ogun and the importance of that particular position in the defense with his initial offering. And I'm even okay with Poles walking away from the signing because he didn't pass the physical (although in truth, I don't know how Poles could expect him to pass at the time it was taken). But after walking away, he immediately signed a second-tier guy in Jones, and I'm okay with that too.
Still, he identified the position of extreme need (as his Ogun contract attests), and he then followed up (rightfully so) with a second tier stop gap. But then if he put so much emphasis on that position, he should have addressed the position in the draft and it was very possible to do just that. I agree with Tommie Harris that Perrion Winfrey would be a PERFECT 3T in this defense, and he was a steal in the fourth round. Poles could have easily traded away a 2023 third to take Winfrey.
Now, I know this sounds like a Pace move, but so what? It wasn't always bad Pace trading up. It's how we got Fields after all. And I know we want to build through the draft, but so what if we lose a third rounder next year when we have a gazillion free agent dollars to spend and an otherwise pretty full allotment of draft picks. Perrion Winfrey in the fourth round this year was an ABSOLUTE STEAL, particularly of you were looking for a 3T. If you're looking at spending all those bucks for Ogun, you should be willing to part with a future third for drafting a perfect fit of a steal. And if not that, then try to ensure you got Ogun even though you kind of dissed him.
So, my criticism of Poles (aside from trading Mack), isn't so much what particular high price free agent he failed to get, it's more along the lines that once he identified a player or a position of need, then he needed to ensure that he got that player or the future of that position. Neither Bates nor Winfrey nor Ogun (1 year, 6.2 mill? Really?) cost that much. Hopefully, he learns how to obtain the players or positions of need that he identifies with more experience. I do know that I'd feel much better about our off season with Bates and either Ogun or Winfrey in the fold.
I'm your huckleberry.....er uh ninny. 
good post IE, it’s a multifactorial situation.
