Ten Bills to Decide 2009, No. 6: CB Leodis McKelvin

I wholeheartedly agree with you Brian on this matter. Leodis is one of the biggest keys to our succes this upcoming season, because of his playmaking capability, on Special Team as well as defense. As you so correctly mentioned we’re in dire need of a defensive player to step up and become a consistent playmaker (Stroud and Mitchell are the only ones that roll in that category on defense in my opinion), and I’m – as are the Bills – counting on Leo becoming that difference making player.

I see big things for the little guy…love the attitude and the ability. I hope it was a solid pick by DJ & Co

Funny name, but you gotta like what this guy brings to the field, rookie lumps and all.

I’m optimistic that he will continue to improve his game (as long he keeps working at it), and that he’ll make Bills’ fans forget about Jabari Greer pretty quickly.

Leodis will be practicing against Evans and Owens this year. This will help out tremendously. He will be someone to watch during camp. Closing speed, applying the right coverage and the ability to get his hands on the ball. He is most dangerous when he has the ball.

Expecting Leo to be a playmaker in the secondary might be more wishful thinking that probability. He was never a playmaker there in college, so who knows if he’ll get there in the pros. He wasn’t a playmaker in the secondary last year, even though it appears many Bills fans believe he was based on his one game against KC. I’m expecting big things from him and see the talent there to become a playmaker. I’m just not certain it’ll happen. He needs to become a lot more consistent and much, much, much better than he played last year. It was a solid rookie campaign at CB for him, so he needs to build off that and become less of a liability this season.

His return ability is unmatched in the AFC, and maybe throughout the league. He is so fast and able to make a move so quickly, it’s unbelievable. I’d say Devin Hester is right there, but he spends too much time dancing and getting short yardage returns to compare to Leo’s consistent 25+ yarders and more often than not 40+ yarders. I really hope we don’t see teams kicking it high and short all season. We need the ball in his hands, badly.

Leo is probably right where he should be on this list. If he takes that step forward, becoming more consistent as a CB and hopefully becoming more of a playmaker back there, our passing D will be much improved. I’d love it if a QB felt uneasy throwing his way, instead of picking on him sooner rather than later. He’s got more than enough ability to become one of the league’s best. Let’s hope that consistency comes this year and he shows the league why he was the first CB taken in 2008.

Pressure on the quarterback forces poor passes leading to interceptions. Blanket coverage leads to poor decisions by the QB leading to interceptions, but with a good pass rush could lead to more sacks. I know Leo is exciting when the ball is in his hands. So isn’t McGee. As long as we are not getting burnt deep, I would say Whitner and Scott are holding their own as well. Still we need to get those picks as well as more three and outs, but it seems it requires everyone on the field to supply the opportunity. Giving a QB 5 seconds in the pocket is ridiculous. The same can be said for the offensive side. Reception leaders last year was Evans , Reed, then our two running backs. A third reciever was a distant fifth on the list. Terrell should provide much more opportunity for Trent but he will still need the protection to get the ball to those guys. So I am thinking the playmakers are in place they just haven’t had much opportunity becasue we really haven’t been strong from top to bottom. I like the pieces in place going into 2009 but it will still take a consistent effort from all eleven on the field at any given time. Trust me nobody outside of Buffalo wants to see McGee and McKelvin with the ball in their hands and nobody outside of Buffalo wants to see Schobel and Maybin wrapping up Brady like a rag doll. This would mean we have turned the corner and there is a new sherrif in town. Same goes for the offense.

He might not make a ton of game breaking plays, but I can see a solid campaign of being on top of the ball and knocking a large number away, he has long arms for his size. I don’t think he’ll have a lot of INTs, but keeping the ball from the opponent is useful none the less.

He does need to work on his angles and tackling form, then again, that could have been said about 95% of the Bills D last year with guys ducking their heads and not keeping them up to complete the stick on a tackle. Thats what made me so mad about Youbuty getting hurt last year, everyone on the D should have been watching how he hit guys.

Return wise, I have no worries, I think he’ll have an even better year with another season under April.

He looked good last year, and looked really good against Denver

Buffalochip said that Greer would be missed and if leodis slips this year and we lose Mcgee next year, look to take another DB. i was just commenting on the fact that Corner has showed promise and would be another guy to keep an eye on this year.