My problem for figuring out what I want the Bills top three corners to look like is Will James. I would normally say that having a McGee/McKelvin starting duo with Greer at nickel would be what I want at corner. However, James’ size and experience make me want him on the field as well, which means I’d like to see him at nickel, which means that Greer or McKelvin goes to the bench. Well, McKelvin is just too good to go to the bench and I think Greer has earned playing time for this season after his admirable effort last year. But James could bring some toughness and even allow us to explore using nickel coverage on plays that are clear passing downs because he can help against the run. Gha! I’m so confused…....

Right now, I’d be willing to say Greer is a lock to start. Unless he is injured, I expect him to have another good training camp, as always. I don’t see how McKelvin can steal the starting job for game 1 unless he absolutely blows the coaching staff away this summer. As a rookie, I don’t know if that’s even possible.

I still think we keep 6 CB’s, especially after last year when injuries were the norm. We’ve got to have quality depth this year, especially since I would have to expect Corner may take some time.

Despite being unrelated I had to share this and its not fanpost worthy but it is a pretty incredible statement from rotoworld. The website posted this about our very own Steve Johnson:

Bills signed seventh-round WR Steve Johnson to a multi-year contract.
Both from physical and in-college production standpoints, it’s difficult to comprehend why so many teams let Johnson fall to round seven. He was also impressive in minicamp season, and if Johnson keeps it up deep into the summer, he could push fellow rookie James Hardy for snaps opposite Lee Evans.

Pushing James Hardy for snaps? That’s then assuming he’s passing Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish on the depth chart. I don’t know if I buy this but rotoworld has never given me information that proved incorrect in the past. I just don’t know why they would post this unless they had a reason.

I have no problem letting James sit as #4. I also think the highest McKelvin gets by week 1 is Nickel back (See Evans, wk 1 2004. He was behind Reed to start).

I predict that for the first 6-8 weeks of the season, we go Greer/McGee with McKelvin getting plenty of snaps and making some plays. By that point, Greer starts to fade a bit and McKelvin takes over the #2. From there, Greer and James split the nickel role depending on package and situation with Corner as their backup, Cox on PS, and Youboty traded for a Cleveland 5th.

Second scenario is, Bills value McGee’s ability in the slot (his quicks against Welker’s quicks) and McKelvin slowly starts to replace him on the outside in Nickel, and then in base situations. No knock on McGee, but the Bills like Greer on the outside with his speed, and McGee on the inside with his agility. James is Dime/situational back and Youboty/Corner runs 5th. I say we keep 5 CBs with Wilson, Ko, Whitner, Wendling, and Scott at S, so unless we keep 11 DBs, or PS Corner (unlikely), I don’t see a spot for Youboty.

Will James is a big, strong corner, something we have been lacking. I think the Bills will match the different talents they have at corner on certain matchups with WRs. I think it was here that this was talked about in an article about Fewell trying to do this in the past, but being unable to do to lack of depth. I think now we have the depth and he may go back to trying this mix/match method, if all the players perform at a high level.

McKelvin probably won’t be starting in Week 1. With the talent and depth we have on the roster right now, we have the luxury of bringing him along gradually until he’s ready. Which will probably be somewhere around Week 4.

Probably McGee and Greer will be the starters and James the nickel for Week 1, if Jauron’s track record carries over here. They’re going to have some very difficult decisions to make regarding who stays and who goes in the defensive backfield at the end of training camp this time around…

I like having McKee, McKelvin, Greer, and James, all in no particular order, as my top for CBs. I think no matter how it plays out, we’ll definitely be getting better play in our secondary this year.

The only way I see Youboty beating out Corner is if neither one contributes to STs, and Corner turns into a dud.

I was really pulling for Youboty last year. Considering this is supposed to be an easy defense for a CB to play (If’m I’ wrong, someone please correct me), I can’t figure out why the guy hasn’t “got it” yet. I think the worst part is that I didn’t here his name much in the OTAs. Knowing they signed a FA and drafted 3 CBs, you would think he would have been “scared,” and thus played like it. I was hoping to hear stories of how he studied the playbook all offseason, showed up in great shape, watched film morning, noon, and night. But nothing. It’s possible that all three things did happen, but I doubt it.

We’ve all heard that Cle was looking for a CB – too bad we couldn’t have swung a deal for Bentley.

Also, one quick question – why do we need to have a bigger corner in the slot (like James) when most slot WRs are on the smallish side? I would think a guy like Greer or even Mckee would flourish more on the inside, and guys with size like James and Mckelvin would be better off outside.

Poz – definitely start about a FanPost on Johnson. My thinking is that it turns into a “Reed must go” thing.

As long as Leodis McKelvin is signed and in camp on time, here’s my predicted depth chart by opening day against the eventual Super Bowl champions from Seattle:

McGee
James
McKelvin
Greer
Corner

I think all of the kind words from Buffalo’s coaches about Jabari Greer and his position on the team are nothing more than a reward for a gutsy effort last year. In actuality, signing James and promising him a chance to compete for a starting job and drafting 3 CBs, including a 1st rounder, speaks far more loudly about Buffalo’s evaluation of Greer’s play last year. In effect, it wasn’t good enough for the NFL My guess is Greer lines up as the starting corner early in camp and James and McKelvin both pass him on the depth chart by the second preseason game.

More importantly, here’s my depth chart for after the bye week as Buffalo battles back from a horrible start to regain some respectability before ultimately wimping out on Jauron in December to finish a very comfortable 7-9 (We’re a rebuilding team! Look at all the injuries we had! It’s amazing we won even 7 games! I bill-lieve Dick Jauron has us on the right track! I don’t care that we scored 13 points a game, let’s draft a safety in the 1st round…God, I hate February through April as a Bills fan.):

McKelvin
McGee
James
Corner
Greer

...My last point on the subject is that Buffalo better not trade Youboty until they’re sure they’re going to make it to opening day with the the top 5 CBs healthy. I almost want Buffalo to keep 6 CBs after last season, but I’m starting to think it’s not practical. In any case, we don’t need more street free agents playing large chunks of time in the secondary again next season. Keep Youboty as insurance until the final cut.