State of the Bills Roster: Strong Safeties
by Brian Galliford on Jan 19, 2009 1:30 PM EST
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The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.
We continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings right now. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the Bills' situation at strong safety.
Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE :: WR :: OT :: G/C :: DE :: DT :: MLB :: OLB :: CB :: FS
New: Prioritized Offensive Needs List
Opening statement
First, a quick review: due to developments during the 2008 season as well as some logical inference, we included Donte Whitner in our assessment of the team's free safety position. Why? Because he spent a lot of time there this past season, and because there's a hypothesis that he'll stay there next year. For that reason, only two players will be reviewed at this position - and, unsurprisingly, it's an area that is stable, but hardly remarkable.
#43 Bryan Scott (starter)
6'1", 219 pounds
Age: 28 in April 2009
Contract status: 1 year remaining on undisclosed contract.
- Let's make one thing perfectly clear: when the Bills moved Whitner to free safety, it wasn't in an attempt to increase his production, it was so Scott could get more playing time. Throughout his two years in Buffalo, Scott has been largely unheralded, but he's been one of Buffalo's most consistent defenders. He'll never be a superstar or even a difference-maker, but he is a dependable tackler with good size, and he has shown the ability to match up with and contain some of the game's best tight ends (see: Gates, Antonio). He deserves a shot at a full-time safety role after finishing fourth on the team in tackles in '08.
#29 John Wendling
6'1", 222 pounds
Age: 26 in June 2009
Contract status: 2 years remaining (UFA after 2009); owed $1.01M in base salary.
- Wendling likely won't ever be a contributor defensively for the Bills, for two reasons - he doesn't have great range, and he's the prize pupil of special teams coordinator Bobby April. He shouldn't be counted on as reliable depth next season, but he's a heck of a special teams guy.
The Breakdown
Keepers: Scott, Wendling. Scott very well could be the starting strong safety on opening day next year. Wendling isn't going anywhere as long as April is on this staff.
Extendables: None.
Expendables: None.
What we need: Just like the free safety position, don't expect any change here. Scott is dependable and Wendling is one of the core members of April's vaunted special teams units. Clearly, neither of these guys is special, but not every position has to be elite. If the Bills can fix their pass rush issues and Scott can stay healthy, the Bills will be absolutely fine at the strong safety position.
That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. How much SS do you see Whitner playing next season? At 28, is Scott one of the Bills' more underrated signings of the past three years? Do you want to use this analysis as another launching point for some Whitner hate? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.
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I love watching Scott play
I think he did a great job against some very good TEs this year, especially in the SD game. He is certainly a keeper. He may not be the starter on opening day if we play the Patriots but if we play the Dolphins or someone else with a good TE, look for him to be out there a majority of the snaps when that guy is on the field.
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
Agree on Scott being solid
And he had a sack this year, which is more than the average Bill defender can say. It seems like he didn’t get many chances to blitz, though.
And how about Wendling and his leap-frog technique? That was awesome to watch…I laughed pretty hard when he would basically hurdle a center from a (basically) standing position. If he keeps that up, it could actually make a difference some day. I think it could get into the kicker’s head.
Sweet home Orchard Park.
Not much to say here.
I think Scott looked very good on the field this year. But this is another position that will improve greatly by an improved pass rush. If the Safeties are free to make plays in stead of trying to cover receivers for ever because the Bills have no pass rush.
Scott has been more than serviceable and every position does not have to be a pro bowler but it just seems like the kind of players the Bills have they work hard and are good guys but they are not play makers.
A top tier defensive end can make the entire defense better!!!
Scott is solid......and one of the most fun defenders to watch.....
keep him for a while
12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.
by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 19, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions
You could make the arguemtn
that Scott was one of the BEST defenders we had this year. He played well against Gates as was mentioned but also covered Kellen Winslow extremely tight. Add to that that when he makes a tackle the defender actually goes down, which is more than can be said for Keith Ellison, Donte Whitner, Kawicka Mitchell, and many more, and I think we defintely keep him unless we sign a serious elite upgrade like Sean Jones
Kawika Mitchell is a leader. He will help this young team develop.
It's not surprising that this post has gotten very little buzz
but seriously 5 comments????
Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.
Bigger fish to fry in FA and the Draft
I doubt we see any exciting developments at SS.
"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"
True that. Didn’t expect much activity. Still, can’t just skip SS… but now, thankfully, we’re done with the series.
Eric’s got TMT in the morning, and then we start putting together our needs list for real.
Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more
by Brian Galliford on Jan 19, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
well
I like Scott, but I’m not sold on Whitner as a FS and there in lies the problem. Scott did a great job in coverage vs TE’s, being physical, and making plays in the run game. I’m not sure what the solution is at the safety position but I’m not convinced Scott is a starter in this league or that Whitner can excel at FS.
Adding a FS, and using Whitner and Scott in some packages together might be something I’d looked into
MARVelous
Scott was our best Safety this past year, probably by a significant margin. He’s the only one that can tackle consistently and also the only one I have confidence in covering a TE.
I wish we could upgrade the other starter, but that isn’t happening. If there is a way to bring in a better starter than Scott in FA, we should seriously investigate that. Sean Jones might be the only option out there to do that. Other than that, Scott should remain the starting SS.
~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"
I agree. If they can do better, go for. But there are many places that need to take priority.
The fact that Scott was manned up with TE’s this year quite a bit is a good sign- you can tell the Bills are shifting away, slowly, from that cover 2 they played before. I didn’t see a whole lot of cover 2 out of them this year at all.
I liked Scott a lot in run support. He actually seemed to be able to make some plays behind the LOS, which is more than can be said for any other safety Buffalo has employed recently.
by Make a play Whitner on Jan 20, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
John Wendling
I’m surprised nobody is making a case for Wendling to be given a chance. I’d love to see him penciled in as the starter in next year’s training camp to see what he can do. The guy has great size, he had outstanding combine numbers, and he is pretty intelligent (four-time all-academic at Wyoming).
While Scott has played admirably, it’s tough to think that he is the long-term solution at the SS position.
Brian, what’s the reason you say he lacks range?
Why should we make a case for him? He hasn’t even been able to get on the field defensively despite a rash of injuries at the Safety position the past 2 years. I don’t think we’ll ever see him play defensively except in a pinch.
~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"
I’d like to believe (and Brian hinted at this) Wendling’s special teams proness is the main reason he is kept off of the field defensively.
After seeing his combine numbers were equal or better than both Eric Weddle and Brandon Meriweather, I would like to see what he can offer.
Lots of players are good special teamers, but you don’t keep them off of defense and offense because they are good at STs. Buffalo has consistently played their special teams captain, George Wilson before Wendling on defense. It seems obvious to me that if the coaches thought Wendling could play defense, then he would be playing defense.
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