Youboty wins Nickelback Job

by poz on Sep 1, 2008 6:42 PM EDT

Amazingly, considering the view of Ashton Youboty at the end of last year, the kid has been able to fight his way back into a Nickel role in the Bills secondary. Considering that with James cut and Corner and McKelvin clearly not yet ready to get anything more than dime duties, I think its fair to have an intriguing discussion on the future of this always promising but not always performing corner.

Following the NFL draft and up until now, it has been a view of many on this blog that by years end Jabari Greer would have his starting position wrestled away from him by Leodis McKelvin. With Youboty impressing both coaches and fans, dare we ask if perhaps he will be the one, if anybody, to steal Greer's job? Youboty is still very young, very athletic, and should have a leg up on McKelvin and Corner in terms of understanding the defense. If a light has clicked on for the kid, could we finally see the talent we were hoping for when he was drafted? Of course, McKelvin was drafted 11th overall for a reason and that has to count for something, as coaches and the front office will want to reap the benefits of such a lofty investment.

Finally, Jabari Greer can not be discounted from finishing the year as the starter as well. While many were impressed by his hustle and never say die playing style, many more fans were equally eager to see him leave the starting lineup.

In my opinion, the battle at cornerback is far from over. Round 1 has been decided and Youboty has emerged as the surprise victor but I think we will continue to see a struggle at the position until the end of the year. Who do you all think will be starting the last game of the year?

Poll

Who will be Buffalo's starting cornerback opposite Terrence McGee at the end of this season?

Jabari Greer

25 votes

Leodis McKelvin

21 votes

Ashton Youboty

18 votes

Reggie Corner

1 votes

65 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings.

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Comments

MCGee

What are people’s analysis of his play and progression over the past few years? How does he stack up to other top corners? His coverage skill has always been suspect to me since the Detroit game where he was eaten alive.
I will keeping a very close eye on his play this year, because he might be in the conversation of losing his spot to McKelvin next year, if someone else dethrones Greer

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Sep 1, 2008 10:59 PM EDT 0 recs

I was thinking along the same lines, next year his starting spot may not be as much of a given as it was this year.

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

by sireric on Sep 2, 2008 6:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

McGee

To me, McGee is not an issue.

I don’t see him as a top notch, stud CB, and neither should anyone else. However, he’s a very solid player who is our best all-around CB, by far.

McGee is excellent in run support for us, something no other CB on the team is very good at at this point. He’s a sound tackler, who will come up and hit you. Nate Clements was very, very good against the run in his time here, and I think McGee is a very small notch below him in that area. On the other side, Greer is rather weak against the run and fighting off blockers. Greer may have looked alright last year against TO and Housh, etc, but he wasn’t great against the run for us, so anyone thinking he’s a better CB than McGee is probably well off-base, IMO.

You mentioned that Detroit game, and I don’t disagree that McGee got eaten alive. However, if you remember that season, we played a TON of that crappy 10-15 yards off the ball coverage by our CB’s for the first half of that season. Fewell didn’t learn until the second half of the season that his CB’s (McGee, Clements) strengths included tight press coverage. Once he implemented more tight coverage, McGee was MUCH better, ditto for Clements. This is something that absolutely baffles me and really angers me. We’ve seen it again this preseason with our CB’s not even in the screen at the snap. It’s so easy for teams to complete underneath passes and it also makes it even harder for the CB’s to have good coverage on deeper passes without interfering or getting beat. Greer also is better in tight coverage (actually which CB isn’t?!?!??), and Youboty has looked better playing closer to his man, so I still have no idea what the cushion accomplishes. It’s a built-in advantage for an offense and with our safeties playing a lot of cover 2, 3, etc manning the deep half of the field, I don’t even know what the point of it is.

What I’m trying to say is I like McGee and have felt he’s developed into a very dependable player for us. Sure, he’s not Champ Bailey or Asante Samuel, but he’s still a well above average all-around player. Now, if our DC would just use him and our other CB’s more to their strengths, I’d be happy.

by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree that the pass coverage underneath is lacking, and if are guys have the ability to stick to receivers, than they should be lined up as such. That is what lost us the Denver game when they marched down the field with their slant routes and ate us up. Hopefully, we will see a better mix of defensive gameplanning from Fewell, because if Fairchild can be lost, and the Dick Jauron regime left intact, than Fewell can be lost as well. I think that with DJ as a defensive coach he has more say in this area than in the offense, but we’ll have to see how the Bills respond with the upgrade in talent and progression of young players

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Sep 2, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well...

I don’t think McKelvin will be ready to start by year’s end. He’s going to have a much bigger learning curve than people expected. He played in a weak college football conference and it will be a while before he catches up to the talent and the schemes in the NFL. I’d say if Youboty keeps forcing turnovers and playing as physical as he has been, then he will unseat Jabari. The coaching staff wants physical guys in there for this scheme. Maybe by Week 10 at the earliest will McKelvin be able to start playing fast and see significant time in the nickel, but it will be on a match-up basis. Jauron sure as hell won’t put him out there in any close games in big situations because he’s still a liability to make mental mistakes. Youboty still is as well but to a lesser extent, and he will have to prove himself at the nickel spot in the weeks to come.

"I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I would die for your right to say it."

by ForeignArrow on Sep 2, 2008 9:52 AM EDT 0 recs

I agree with you on McKelvin he will have a big learning curve and i see what happened to Aston happening to him. He will have a rough 1.5 years still tyring to firgue things out but then will actually let his athleticism make the plays and he will be one of our best corners.

by Parrish11rules on Sep 2, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

IF

McKelvin stays healthy, it better not take him 1.5 years. Youboty lost a lot of time to injury and the death of his mother and fell behind.

McKelvin does have a big learning curve, but it really shouldn’t take him that long to get ready. He HAS to prove something by the end of this season.

by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

CBs

To me, McGee was excellent in 2005, awful in 2006 (not just the Lions game; he was off that whole season), and very good last season. Overall, I think he’s a solid starter and really don’t see his job in jeopardy at any point over the next two seasons. I can see a scenario where Greer and Youboty hold off McKelvin for most- or even all- of the season, but I can’t see Greer re-signing in 2009 even if he surprises and has an excellent season. My guess is that Buffalo will try and get McKelvin more playing time as soon as he is even close to as good as the players above him on the depth chart in order to take advantage of his supreme athleticism. Maybe I’m being optimistic, but I think it will happen before December. By next season, McGee/McKelvin/Youboty/Corner will bea solid depth chart heading into draft (as Buffalo prepares to take their 23rd DB in the first round of the draft over the past 15 years).

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Sep 2, 2008 11:29 AM EDT 0 recs

McGee

was not awful for all of ‘06. Just the first half when Fewell refused to allow the press bump and run coverage out of our CB’s. He definitely improved significantly as that season progressed.

I see your playing time scenario happening this year. McKelvin should be ready to contribute more by season’s end and I don’t think any of the other 3 will play poor enough to lose a spot….

by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2008 11:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

Greer

I like Greer.

I kinda think McGee’s more at risk than Greer.

Maybe not this season…but definitely down the road.

by Scoe221 on Sep 2, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs

why do you see McGee as more at risk than Greer

McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year

by poz on Sep 2, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

McGee

Make no mistake he is our BEST corner.

by Scoe221 on Sep 2, 2008 4:41 PM EDT 0 recs

So why is he more at risk then?

I’m confused too

by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Risk Because

1. I think Greer can continue to get better where as McGee has pretty much reached his potential. Greer has better height.

Perhaps…

2. With the coming emergencies of Youboty, McKelvin, and Corner.

Greer may accept a back up role. I can’t see nor do I think Terrence McGee deserves a back up role.

It would expensive………

by Scoe221 on Sep 2, 2008 6:22 PM EDT 0 recs

I couldn’t find Jabari Greer’s combine weigh in numbers, but he was listed at 5’10 in college and there is no way he is actually 5’11. I would guess he is close to exactly 5’10 while McGee is a touch over 5’9. I dont think the height difference even comes close to making up for McGee’s build (he weighs about 20 pounds more than Greer) and overall athleticism. Greer is 15 months younger than McGee so it isn’t like Greer is some young kid either.

Greer’s contract is up after this year and the Bills won’t give him starters money. I don’t see how the Bills resign Greer next offseason if our other CBs make it through the season without suferring a major injury or struggle badly.

by kaisertown on Sep 2, 2008 6:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think Greer has easily reached his ceiling. He’s never going to be much help in run support and is still pretty weak against bigger, stronger WR’s. His play last year was mediocre at best, so I’m not sure where all the Greer love comes from.

McGee is, by far, the more well-rounded CB. He is able to match up against any sized WR and won’t get outmuscled. He will get out-heighted(??), but is able to hold his ground much better than Greer.

Most importantly, McGee is pretty solid against the run, while Greer leaves a lot to be desired, IMO.

by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2008 7:03 PM EDT up 0 recs