Location: Orchard Park, N.Y. | Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium (73,967) | Owner: Ralph Wilson | Chief Operating Officer: Russ Brandon Coach: Dick Jauron | League Championships: 2
Did the Bills wait too long in the recent NFL draft to take a tight end that can help spark their 30th-ranked passing game?
Club officials don't believe so.
Derek Fine, a 6-3, 250-pound fifth-year senior who helped Kansas win a school-record 12 games last fall, was selected in the fourth round by Buffalo 132nd overall and the 10th tight end overall.
Wanting to address their weak pass rush, Buffalo selected Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis in round three, passing over more highly-rated tight ends such as Brad Cottam (Chiefs), Jermichael Finley (Packers) and Craig Stevens (Titans). Players like Finley, who played at Texas, and Martellus Bennett (second round, Dallas) of Texas A&M, received more attention than Fine in the Big 12.
But lack of hype perhaps allowed Fine to slip to the Bills in the fourth round, where they were eager to take him.
"Of the tight ends I did this year to me he was the most complete tight end," Bills scout Brad Forsyth said. "He does everything very well. He's an excellent blocker in the run game and ... in terms of the pass game, he's more of a short-area type receiver but he's a better athlete than people give him credit for. We like his toughness, we love his versatility."
The Bills have been looking for a serious pass catching tight end since parting ways with Jay Riemersma in 2002.
Kevin Everett, a third-round pick in 2005, was slow to develop and then saw his career upended by a spinal cord injury last fall. Free agent Michael Gaines (25 catches, two TDs) showed promise last year but has since signed with Detroit.
For the kind of offense Buffalo runs, tight end coach Charlie Coiner said the tight end can't merely be a glorified big receiver. He's got to block, too. That made Fine and best find for them.
"It's always helpful to have a down-the-field, stretch-the-field tight end but only if you have one who can also block at the line of scrimmage, unless you're going to go to a different scheme," Coiner said. "There were some tight ends who had tremendous pass receiving ability who we liked but at the same time, a guy that can do both things, I don't know that there's another one out there we liked better than Derek Fine. He can stretch the field. But here in this organization you have to be able to block at the line of scrimmage, too."
Fine caught 46 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns last fall and threw some dandy blocks. For his career, he had 98 catches for 1,009 yards and 10 touchdowns while starting 33 games in 49 appearances.
One other attribute? He was Kansas' special teams co-MVP and Buffalo needs help there.
"I had really good interviews (at the combine) and I knew that they were interested," Fine said of the Bills. "I knew that they needed a tight end and they also run the ball and they would want me to do some blocking.
"I think my game is really complete," he added. "I've had a couple of mishaps here and there where I had a drop but ... even the best receivers drop balls every now and then, and it's something you have to let go. Other than that, I feel I'm really complete. I run good routes, I'm a really hard worker and I take a great amount of pride in all of my blocking. I think my blocking is kind of what's gotten me this far and got me through the combine. I feel really confident with my game, and with special teams, too."
During Buffalo's recent rookie minicamp, Fine was the only tight end on hand and he received a ton of work, impressing Coiner with his route running.
At Kansas, Fine split out wide at times. He also was sent in motion or did lead blocking as an H-back.
"I'm used to be being an in-line tight end," he said. "This past year our offense came onto the scene and that's what made it seem like I was split out more because we ran the spread-type of offense."
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Hello there team up north. You were one of the biggest Browns supporters when our team was stolen away from. You helped us then by offering up tickets to come see your Bills play, and I'm asking for your help now to knock the
...(more)
Ok im gonna start this off easy and say 10-6 mabey 11-5 wild card berth making it to ...... lets say the 2nd round of the playoffs. What do ya think? Oh and further more 36-24 Bills over Patriots on opening day!
Ok is it me or am I being a bit too pscyho. I'm seeing alot of teams sign their draft picks and I don't think I seen one or even heard of any rumors of the Bills comin close to signing any of their draft choices?? Am I crazy to think that this isn't right?? Please has anyone heard anything??
Why not take a look at this guy and see if he can compete for a back up spot? With the inexperience behind Trent Edwards, he would be a good lift in the locker room. I'm struggling as to why nobody drafted him, not to mention why nobody has him trying out?
I am looking to put a league together representing all the NFL teams in an online league. The league would have a formal draft (every player and position so every team would be custom) and play the entire schedule of 16 games. I am in the process of constructing a website with all the particulars. If you are interested please respond to this thread and I will contact you pe
...(more)
Really - Knock on a window and pull your junk out? If this crap keeps up we may as well sign Levi Jones so he can tell us how the control a locker room through all of the player mis-steps. I think this one bothers me more than the Marshawn Lynch stuff. The dude rode a bike which makes it even more silly. M
...(more)
I'm sure some of you have seen this, T.O gets emasculated by supermodel Joanna Krupa, his teammate on some reality sports show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmPfLRsx_Bs
Thoughts, other than she looks fiiine walking away from the camera?
Hello all, Out of curiosity, was I the only one that watched Pac-man on Pro's Vs. Joe's last night on TV. For anyone that doesn't know what its all about. This is where washed up retired professional athletes play in simulated game situations against amateur athletes that never made it. With that being said. last night featured Priest Holmes, Steve McNair and Adam (Pac-Man) Jones. I
...(more)