My apologies to Whitner...

by krytime on Jul 18, 2008 6:21 PM EDT Comment 23 comments

Back when Whitner was drafted, I, like many of you, screamed to the high heavens, wondering why Ngata wasn’t the pick. My way of building a team is and has been to build through the lines. At the time, I truly felt Ngata would’ve helped Buffalo immensely, even if he didn’t fit the traditional specs of a Cover 2 DT.

Over the last two years, I really wasn’t overly impressed with the play of #20. Sure he was solid, but he didn’t make the big plays associated with a guy drafted in his spot. Maybe it was unfair to expect much, considering the talent he was surrounded with. Anyway…

Is this guy quickly becoming “the” leader of the Bills? I’m only going on a couple of puff pieces by CB at the teams’ home page. But, the way he has seemingly taken both McKelvin and Hardy under his wing certainly should be lauded. Maybe it wasn’t reported, but I can’t think of another vet, young or old, who has taken the time to show the younger guys the ropes. Personally, I think this speaks very well of Whitner. Maybe Levy & Co really did know something about him that none of us did, Mel Kiper included.

With an assumed increase in the talent level surrounding Whitner, maybe this is the year he breaks out. He seems to be a pro’s pro, and the type of guy you want to root for. If I would have known this two years and three months ago, I definitely wouldn’t have “bashed” the pick; I would have applauded it.

Now please intercept and sack Tom Brady....

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the reviews of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Whitner

The off field stuff and leadership is great. He just needs to be more of a playmaker ON the field

by Kurupt on Jul 18, 2008 7:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My sentiments exactly.

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s been steady if not spectacular. But the leadership role he has taken should be lauded. He is making this team better by investing his time and intelligence into the younger guys. They’ll be further along because of it. He makes the team better for being there, IMO. That should really be given more respect than it gets.

And, let’s see what he does this year with a stronger front and a more experienced partner next to him. No hate towards G. Wilson, because what he did was more than adequate, but he was no tackler. Whitner was/is. I think that might have a little to do with his production last year.

And can we get over the Ngata fascination yet? I mean, at the time, he was considered too large for the style of D the Bills were running (maybe not necessarily now, but certainly then). If they took a DT, it would have been freaking Bunkley. No question.

by DCRumbler on Jul 19, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bunkley over Ngata

I agree.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jul 19, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

Haloti Ngata had to be replaced on running downs in Raven’s training camp last year because he was too disruptive to get anything done in the running game. I’m not saying he’s going to be Albert Haynesworth this year, but he is certainly better than Broderick Bunkley who’s not even the best D-Tackle on his team, as that would be Mike Patterson.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jul 23, 2008 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not saying that Bunkley is a better player. At draft time that year it was thought that Bunkley was better suited for the style of defense that the Bills play. If the Bills were going to take a DT there they would have gone with Bunkley over Ngata.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jul 23, 2008 6:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I should have read more of the statement before

My apologies. It’s just that I have been hyping up Ngata as going to be one of the d-lineman in the game eventually, that I pounce on anything that seemingly doesn’t agree with that.

by jobe on Jul 23, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is way late in the discussion…but I totally agree that Ngata was a better prospect and will ultimately be the better lineman. And its definitely true that big space fillers no matter the scheme are needed. But the Bills wouldn’t have picked him even if they were going D-Line; it would have been Bunkley and that would have been far worse for Ngata backers. So, I just don’t think its fair to pile on Whitner with that “Ngata alternative” in mind, that’s all.

Also, Whitner is gonna light ‘em up this year. F-A-C-T!!! (I am a shameless Buckeye backer as well)

by DCRumbler on Jul 26, 2008 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great call

couldn’t agree more. the Bills would have taken Bunkley and I don’t expect him to become a stud.

McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year

by poz on Jul 19, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"He makes the team better for being there, IMO. That should really be given more respect than it gets."

Those are the words I was looking for. Thanks for getting them out in public…

Completely agreed about the Bunkley pick. [On a side note, I was pitching heavy back then that it didn’t matter if Ngata didn’t “fit” the scheme. But, that’s a topic for another day…]

by krytime on Jul 19, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same arguement I went with for Red Bryant this year

A space eater is useful in ANY defensive scheme, plain and simple. If a guy has a knack for taking 2 OL every play and can clog the middle run lanes, I don’t care what the base D is. You need a hog regardless, especially in goaline formations and Ngata, or Bryant this year would have been a huge help. I really wish we had taken Red so he could learn behind Marcus for a couple of seasons, then joined McCargo so we would have a penetrator and hog combo out on the field for years to come.

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Jul 20, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

especially with Bryant. I would have taken my chances that Reggie Corner would have been available later in the draft and taken Bryant with the first of our 4th rounders….I guess I will never understand why this coaching staff and front office seems so enamored with undersized DT’s (first Tripplett, then Williams and now Sp. Johnson). Not that these guys can’t help against the run, but they’ve got to actually beat the OL to make an impact. I don’t see any of those guys getting double teamed too often. Luckily, we added Stroud who should take on a ton of double teams, but what happens when he’s out of the game or gasp, gets hurt? We’ve got undersized DT’s starting who more often than not don’t require a double team, which in turn hurts our LB’s and run D as a whole. It would have been nice to have added another big DT, even as a #5 DT for now. I’d be much more willing to hang on to a 5th DT, than a 4th TE, 3rd QB, 7th LB, 9th OL, 2nd FB, etc. Just when I thought this front office had finally realized how important the trenches are, they totally neglect to add a backup DT who can hopefully grow into a starter down the line in the mold of the space eating, double team garnering big dude….

by Kurupt on Jul 20, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was big on Red before the draft this year as well.

From what I read, he’s gonna be a keeper. Nice work Seattle. You might have the next Sam Adams – didn’t you have the first one too?

by krytime on Jul 20, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a team sport

and one guy is not going to show you much when the other ten are performing as the 29th or 30th ranked defense in the league.
It’s really an interesting proposition, isn’t it? What elements come together to actually produce a winner? And which is key – talent certainly; a willingness to lead, which I define as taking responsibility, for winning, for losing, for nurturing the young guys; a game plan that actually plays to your strengths and limits the opponent’s; guys willing to sacrifice their own individual laurels so the team can thrive. You could go on, and I’m sure any number of NFL coaches have books that speak to this issue. If anyone has read Levy’s, and can shed some light, please chime in.
I think Whitner has ``it,’’ whatever that is.
I think a lot of people around the planet are going to be surprised by these Buffalo Bills, and Whitner’s attitude is just one of the reasons for my optimism. I think they put it together this year.

by Defensewinsgames on Jul 19, 2008 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

krytime

Just because Whitner is turning out to be a good player, doesn’t mean it was not a bad pick. We needed then and still need now a yound stud DT in the middle. Ngata would have been the better pick. I like Whitner and am glad we have him, but we have paid dearly for not getting pressure on the QB and not being able to stop the run. Build through the lines is a solid strategy.

by Joe P. on Jul 19, 2008 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

How perfect our draft could have been:
1. Ngata DT
2. Richard Marshall CB
3. Brandon Marshall WR
3. Mark Anderson DE
4. Brad Butler OG
5. Kyle Williams DT
5. Dawan Landry SS
6. Antoine Bethea FS
7. Jarred Page SS
7. Marques Colston WR

That would have been the greatest draft ever!!!

by Kurupt on Jul 19, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's always fun to look back at who the "better" picks would have been.

I like the new avatar by the way, Phil Rivers never looked better.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jul 19, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

found it quite humorous to say the least

by Kurupt on Jul 19, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To know we could have had that draft,

is too painful to even think about. We will never speak of this again! LOL!!!!!

by Joe P. on Jul 19, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty close to my draft:
1. Antonio Cromartie CB
2. Marcus McNeill OT
3. Elvis Dumervil RE
3. Owen Daniels TE
4. Jahri Evans OG
5. Kyle Williams DT
5. Brad Butler OG
6. Antoine Bethea FS
7. Marques Colston WR
7. John DiGiorgio LB

Peters – Evans – (Fowler) – Butler – McNeil on the line, and then they could go out and spend for a FA center instead of Dockery/Walker…

Maybe not the best in history; the ‘74 Steelers draft still has that beat by a longshot. But it would certainly help the Bills quite a bit…

by Krenn on Jul 20, 2008 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right to an extent...

There are worse guys that could have been picked. And I do agree, I’d still rather have Ngata. I’m just saying Whitner really is turning into a real pro, so it’s not a “bad pick.” This will be a big year for him to produce on the field…and not just off it.

by krytime on Jul 19, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Give him time

his supporting cast has been weak the past two years, certainly last year with the defensive backfield injuries to jason webster, Ko simpson, and Youbooty (i admit this one wasnt a big deal) And defensive injuries in general. They were devestated last year but this years is going to be alot different believe me. Donte whitner’s breakout season is now.

by jdol1568 on Jul 19, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs