Whitner Disappointing in Cleveland Homecoming

by Brian Galliford on Dec 17, 2007 7:54 PM EST in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Poor performance hamstrings defense (BuffaloBills.com)

Heading into yesterday's showdown between the Bills and Browns, much was made about Donte Whitner's Cleveland homecoming. And why not? It's a compelling story; young safety on a scrappy defense comes home to try to beat the team he rooted for growing up as a kid. Very newsworthy.

What was not newsworthy on Sunday, however, was Whitner's performance.

In perhaps his most invisible performance since assuming the starting strong safety role in Week 2 of his rookie season, Whitner recorded five tackles in Cleveland. Let me repeat that - five tackles. Granted, no Bills defender was particularly productive in the Cleveland blizzard that hampered the game; Whitner, however, failed to live up to high expectations playing in front of many members of his family.

The Weather
The optimist in me is whispering in my ear that the weather played a large role in the defensive production of this game. A quick glance at the stats indicates that Whitner was actually Buffalo's second-leading tackler, and that no defender - Bill or Brown alike - had more than 6 tackles on the day. Why, then, should Whitner take flack for being one of the most productive defenders on this day?

My rebuttal to that line of thought (yes, I'm essentially talking to myself here) is that blizzards are safety weather. This is especially true of safeties that are supposed to be on the up and up - Bob Sanders, for example, always performs well in the harsh conditions at Gillette Stadium. With the Browns emphasizing the run and drawing the assignment of covering Kellen Winslow, Whitner probably should have been more productive than he was. A difference-maker, if you will. It didn't happen.

Three plays in particular stick out like sore thumbs in terms of Whitner's performance. On one, while on a run blitz, Whitner whiffed badly aiming for Jamal Lewis' ankles, and the missed tackle resulted in a 6-yard gain for Lewis - a stat he made routine during yesterday's win. On the second, Whitner meets Lewis in the hole, grabs his waist, slides off, and Lewis picks up another big chunk of yardage. The third - and perhaps the most irritating of all - Whitner is playing man coverage on Winslow, and as a Derek Anderson pass errantly sails toward the tight end, Whitner cuts off the route perfectly, yet watches a possible interception sail by.

A Disturbing Trend
I love making excuses for Whitner. That's not sarcasm - I'm serious. I love the kid - I think he's a promising talent, a great leader, and a definite building block for this defense going forward. His work ethic is great, he's intelligent, and he's still a solid fit in Dick Jauron's preferred style of defense (though I still maintain he'd be a better fit at free safety). I still believe that he's one of the budding young stars on a budding young team.

But how long is too long to keep making excuses for Whitner? The former #8 overall pick has now made 29 consecutive starts for the Bills, yet has only accrued 2 interceptions, 6 passes defensed and one forced fumble in that time period. His 188 tackles have been steady production (6 and a half per game), but tackles aren't enough for a top-ten pick. When, if ever, will Whitner make the jump from "gamer" to "game-changer"?

Whitner's lack of production has been a hot topic amongst the community here for quite some time. So now, folks, I beg the question to you: are you as concerned with Whitner's performance yesterday as I am? Will Whitner ever be an elite safety? Is it pointless to speculate about Whitner's future at this point? Discuss.

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Whitner

I don't think he'll ever be elite. I've talked about him plenty of times before about his lack of playmaking. He just doesn't look capable of being that type of player.

Right now, he's a glorified LB. He struggles covering TE's and just doesn't really have much of an impact on games.

He's still young and learning, but the signs aren't there for him to become an elite player, IMO. He'll be a solid player for us, but doesn't look capable of living up to the top 10 draft status he has...

by Kurupt on Dec 17, 2007 9:30 PM EST reply actions

OK

If that's your belief, K, then my question is this - does Whitner then have to be considered a "bad draft pick"? Or is finding a solid player in the draft a good thing, no matter what position they were taken?

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 17, 2007 9:52 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, i've come away a little

concerned about whitner not blowing up plays as i had assumed he would start doing right about now.

but it looks like - and i don't feel like looking up the statistics to back this up - game changing safeties are, in general, surrounded by a top-notch pressure defense.

i'll just point out a few safeties that are considered "elite." don't agree with the term, but i'll humor it.

brian dawkins, troy polamalu, bob sanders.

those are three people that are without doubt beneficiaries of defenses that are perennially able to create get into the opponents' backfield, whether through blitzing or through a four man rush.

the bills, on the other hand, (as you've noted on several occasions, brian) have had trouble getting pressure in the backfield.

i think at this point, all you can ask of whitner is not to get beat, take good angles, and be a sure tackler. but it is time for him to start stepping up his game, i think he will.

and about your man-crush on jp, brian. you have one. lets not talk about starts, lets talk about performance. donte whitner has performed well for a safety, jp losman has performed poorly, and spectacularly so. you say he's had three more starts - but at that stage he's one of the worst performers at his position, whereas donte is one of the best, or one of the better ones - however you want to describe it.

your jp articles are generally written in defense of jp, and the subtext is that you're making excuses jp's poor performance. however, you criticize whitner for generally good performances in your whitner articles, with the overt reminder that you actually usually enjoy make excuses for him.

so you set a lower standard of performance for a poor performer, and a higher standard of performance for a good performer, at similar stages of their career. that's the definition of a double standard.

also, about this abstract "elite" status. it's absurd. you either do your job or you don't. when the defensive unit as a whole performs at a high level, the better players shine. there are no "elite" players, there are elite squads which allow a superior players to put his skills on display.

the bills defense is not an elite squad.

this is of course assuming you're talking about "elite" with respect to the entire nfl - which generally means getting pub.

if you're talking about "elite" on the squad itself, donte whitner is already there. the team gets better, he'll get better.

by sri on Dec 17, 2007 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Sri

Good point about the pressure. Whitner's two career interceptions came on plays where the opposing quarterback was being hit. I agree that if the pressure can be amped up, Whitner will probably make more plays.

I'll defend myself one more time in regards to Losman - I write articles defending JP because I'm sick to death of Bills fans being impatient with quarterbacks. From Collins to Johnson to Bledsoe to Losman, we shuffle through quarterbacks at an alarming rate. You watch - if Edwards struggles as the starter next year, there will be people calling for his head. I won't be among them - sooner or later, we have to invest four years (four full years) into a prospect, for better or worse. I think Losman is a talented guy, and it pains me to see the Bills give up on him so quickly. I only hope Edwards can develop quickly - otherwise, he'll suffer the same fate, and the franchise will be in disarray all over again.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

If it's any consolation

Michael Huff stinks with the Raiders too. They were hoping he would be a Ronnie Lott type and that hasn't happened. It is my understanding that he was Marv's #1 target that year. They didn't like Jason Allen later, so they turned down a trade offer from Denver and picked Whitner.

by RabidBuffalo on Dec 17, 2007 11:13 PM EST reply actions

BTW

I do not believe that Whitner stinks. He has had to play this year with a WR turned safety and other assorted folks. The defense gets no pressure what-so-ever and the LB's get bowled over constantly.

I will withhold judgement on Whitner until next year when (hopefully) he will get to play on a fully loaded defense.

by RabidBuffalo on Dec 17, 2007 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Donte...

I am not really concerned with Whitner's lack of explosive plays. Really he is just an extra run stuffer. I mean he really never even makes big, timely hits on WR's. Maybe the scheme just doesn't allow it. The only time I really notice his game killing the defense is in man-on-man coverage against TE's. I remember last year vs. SD when he got torched by Gates a couple times....but who doesn't get torched by him. He was defintely a smart draft pick. I mean who else would you want defensively that was selected near him? Ernie Sims 9th, Kameron Wimbley 13th or Broderick Bunkley 14th? He will be fine. Our problem on defense is lacking big playmakers in the front 7. I have no idea how this defense will ever rush the passer with DE's we have locked up for the next 5-6 years?

Every time Whitner gets interviewed I get pumped up. I love having a guy like him on my team. A guy from a big school that played in big games and never backs down. He is developing into a vocal leader for this defense. And most importantly he has never missed a game due to injury. So, I consider him a success. He's a safety and a safety can only do so much. You don't get chances to make too many plays when the QB isn't having our great White DE's breathing down their necks.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Dec 18, 2007 12:52 AM EST reply actions

Whitner

Whitner is forced to do so much for the Bills defense in terms of assignments that I think it's asking a lot of him to come up with the turnovers for the team as well. As you mentioned above, Whitner's tackle totals have been steady as he is often foced into the box to compensate for Buffalo's smallish linebackers and defensive tackles on "running downs". In spite of this assignment, he's athletic enough to get back and help in coverage and over the past two seasons, Buffalo has given up very few big plays through the air (Last year, they were tops in the NFL). Whitner is also versatile enough that when Jerametrius Butler was first injured, Fewell played Whitner at corner back in the dime defense rather than turn to a true cornerback. Whitner held his own on this assignment as well. It was also Whitner who I saw shadowing Kellen Winslow at times on Sunday and the standout TE was really a non-factor. I'm more than pleased with Whitner's play in his first two seasons. I think it's strange that Whitner and the defense are getting criticized for an 8-0 loss (only six given up by the defense) snow or no snow. let's look at Jauron's weekly decision to run out the clock before halftime with multiple timeouts at his disposal. Let's look at Jauron's decision to punt, down 8 at midfield on 4th and 2 with 7 minutes left in the game. Let's look at the insane screen play call that ended the game. Let's look at Michael Gaines' drop. Let's look at Trent Edwards fiddling with his gloves the entire game and failing to lead the team to an offensive touchdown for the 4TH TIME IN 7 STARTS! I just don't see how Whitner's the issue here.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Dec 18, 2007 9:22 AM EST reply actions

Sure

But we re-hash the "big issues" so much here, I thought it'd be nice to discuss something else for a change. Apparently not. :)

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

But...

...we always give Jauron and Edwards a free pass as Bills fans. Seriously, Jauron's clock management borders on the bizarre and it's not "nit-picking" because we've lost games due to his in-game decisions. Any chance he'd have gone for the extra point had Jackson scored on the screen play at the end of the game? I wouldn't have been shocked. How about when he just let the clock expire against the Dolphins before the half with Miami playing a prevent and 90 seconds left? Buffalo got down to Miami's 20 without even trying and more points would have come in handy when Miami was coming back in the 3rd quarter. At this point, he's like a cartoon character with his conservative game management and 30 games into his tenure here, I don't even get angry anymore; I just laugh it off like a deranged lunatic because you know it's coming. As for Edwards, his play has received a free pass from the Buffalo media all season and I have no idea why. Rookie or not, he's the handpicked starting quarterback of a professional team and the lack of offensive production with him at the helm has been historical. He looked like such a wuss fidgeting with his gloves all game that 8-0 felt like 28-0. Derek Anderson looked like he was battling the elements; Edwards looked like he was caving into them. Edwards has something to him, but he sure isn't there yet and 2008 is do or die for the Bills.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Dec 18, 2007 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Jauron, Edwards

We've discussed Jauron here, as I said; here's a prominent example. Your problems with the Miami game are unfounded - that's an example of a classy coach not running up the score before the half; he made up for the lack of "decisive points" when he went deep early in the fourth quarter with a 2-touchdown lead. I don't have a problem with anything Jauron has done except for the Cowboys fiasco (linked above) and his punting in the fourth quarter of the Browns game. That, I'll admit, was bad.

Yes, Edwards struggled in the snow. Did you expect something different? Both quarterbacks had awful stats, and even though he sucked for 58 minutes, he still had the team on the 10-yard line looking for the tying score, and had it not been for an epically bad play call (thanks, SF-M), might have indeed tied the game. For a rookie, he's got a lot of moxie; he'll start scoring points with an off-season's worth of work and some better talent around him. Keep the faith, Nick! :)

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

Miami game

I hate running up the score more than anyone, but you're crazy if you think it factors into the 2nd quarter of a game. Miami got within 14 points in the 3rd quarter and came within a hair of recovering an onside kick. Right before the bomb that iced the game, Miami dropped an easy interception that could have turned the game around. There's no reason in the world Jauron should've thrown away that possession before halftime and it's another example of his butchering the clock. I like the way the team plays hard for Jauron, but the mistakes he makes with the clock are unforgivable for someone who's been a head coach in the NFL for seven seasons...I have guarded faith in Edwards' potential, but he's not there yet and the local papers up there are in denial over his production. Maybe he'll get there in time for 2008, maybe he won't, but I'd like to have a contingency plan in place.

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Dec 18, 2007 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

Really?

Buffalo's defense had dominated - absolutely flat-out utter destruction, save for one drive - that first half, and the Bills had a 31-7 lead. There was no point in putting up more points in that situation based on the lead and how the defense was performing.

Everything Miami did to close the gap came after that decision - it's not like he did it during Miami's "surge". Jauron played that one the correct, diplomatic way - it appeared that we'd already hit the jugular; he was trying to get out of the stadium. There's really no other way to play it, unless your surname is Belichick.

I agree about the Edwards hype - the papers seem to think that just because Bill Walsh endorsed him, he's the next Montana. I'll abide by your "guarded faith" plan, as well - I'm not ready to anoint Edwards by any means, but I've been impressed with his pocket awareness and his moxie.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Brain

What were you thinking ;)

by RabidBuffalo on Dec 18, 2007 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

Grrrr

That's Brian. Sorry.

by RabidBuffalo on Dec 18, 2007 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

haha

I get "Brain" a lot, even from family members. It's all good.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

So what is an "elite" safety?

I figured I'd ask this since it might be unfair to compare Whitner to Polamalu for example. I'm thinking that a safety can only be as "elite" as their defense as a whole. Or let me throw it out to those with more football knowledge - is there an example of a "elite" safety on a bad defense?

Also looking around I came up with this article from the NY Times about the safety position from earlier this year: What's Big, Fast and Runs All Day? An N.F.L. Safety. I liked this quote:

"It's a blue-collar position," Polamalu said. "You have your glory positions like quarterback, corner, linebacker. But then you have the glue that really holds everything together. And those positions, whether in football, whether in politics, are always overlooked."

by Zumone on Dec 18, 2007 10:59 AM EST reply actions

Re: Elite safeties, bad defenses

Kerry Rhodes of the Jets (#29 defense in NFL)
- 62 tackles, a sack, 5 picks, 1 TD, 9 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles this season. A playmaker on a bad defense.

John Lynch of the Broncos (#22 defense in NFL)
- 45 tackles, a sack this season. Missed 5 games due to injury.

Darren Sharper of the Vikings (#20 defense in NFL)
- 51 tackles, 4 picks, a touchdown, 6 passes defensed, a forced fumble this season. A playmaker on an underrated defense.

Adrian Wilson of the Cardinals (#18 defense in NFL)
- 44 tackles, 2 picks, 2 passes defensed this season. Missed seven games due to injury.

Off the top of my head... :)

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

Donte Whitner

of the Bills (#30? defense in the NFL)
- 83 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pick.

He's not in this company, why? I don't know if he'll achieve an elite status, but if the 2008 defense stays healthy (ie. better run defense, better pass rush) - I think the picks will be there. 83 tackles tells a story.

by Zumone on Dec 18, 2007 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

Re:

Whitner doesn't make that list because while "83 tackles" sounds good, it doesn't make him elite. It makes him a weakside linebacker. All of those guys have either had a much, much bigger impact than Whitner (especially in the case of Rhodes), or injuries have prevented them from doing so.

Hopefully, as he enters his third year as a full-time starter, Whitner will come close to matching the non-tackling production of those gents.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

I agree the 83 tackles is not elite

the fact that this seems so skewed indicates that something else is going on - maybe he's being asked to do too much; maybe he just sucks. In any case I think the breakdown is not just Whitner and his "lopsided" performance - I'm just holding out hope that this was just an off year for him and he's going to become the playmaker we expect. Anyway my biggest disappointment with the Defense was their inability to get off the field on 3rd down this entire season (don't they rank dead last on 3rd downs on both sides - horrible). Whitner was as much to blame as anybody for this.

by Zumone on Dec 18, 2007 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think he sucks

He can get better and I think he will with the improvement of the D as a whole. I think you make a good point that maybe he's being asked to do to much, and it's effecting his ability to make big plays. Perhaps with some improvement to the D we'll see some more plays out of the 8th overall pick.

who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Dec 18, 2007 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

OK next question

How about safeties that only became elite after their defensive squads as a whole became elite? I'm not making arguments here; I'm just trying to understand how much you think the position is a matter of raw talent or development over time or being in the right system.

John Lynch I think makes this list as well going back to his Tampa days. Drafted in 1993 he didn't make the pro-bowl until 1997 and his first few years statistically at least were not what I would call elite.

(Side note - I like the John Lynch and Whitner comparison from the standpoint of the franchise model that the Bills are following. You (Brian) said that they were following a Colts model; I brought up Tampa.)

by Zumone on Dec 18, 2007 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Re:

Mike Brown of Chicago, Will Demps of (formerly) Baltimore, Lawyer Milloy in NE and Buffalo, Brian Dawkins in Philly, Dwight Smith (TB, Min) are the best examples of young guys who became productive as their defense became very good.

Dawkins is my favorite example there. Philly's defense was awful and he was a no-name; that unit has grown into the best pressure unit in the league, and Dawkins has been a beast for them for a long time.

That's the best I got for ya. :)

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 18, 2007 5:46 PM EST up reply actions