Power Play Of The Week: Leodis McKelvin vs. Dez Bryant

by Brian Galliford on Nov 15, 2011 8:30 AM EST in Sponsored Posts

Each week, we're asked to talk about the one play from the previous Buffalo Bills game that defined the game, or determined the game's outcome. I can think of no better play this week than Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant's touchdown grab over Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin.

Aside from the opening kickoff (a touchback), this was the fifth play of the game. Dallas had already driven 46 yards in just four plays, keyed by a 15-yard screen pass to DeMarco Murray and a 25-yard go route to Jesse Holley. On the latter play, Holley climbed the ladder and took a pass away from Terrence McGee.

Bryant would climb the ladder and take a pass away from McKelvin, as well, when Tony Romo threw him the ball down the right sideline on a stop-and-go route. McKelvin covered the route well, but when the ball was in the air, it was clear that Bryant wanted it more. He got it, the Cowboys went up 7-0, and this play served as a symbol for how the rest of the 44-7 blowout loss would play out for Buffalo.

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FAIL

by Sluss88 on Nov 15, 2011 8:45 AM EST reply actions

Putrid

The team can no longer bank on McKelvin ever getting it and they will have to plan accordingly going forward. I honestly believe (and did last year as well) that the eternally subpar Reggie Corner is a better player than McKelvin. Whenever Williams is healthy enough to play, my hope is that McKelvin takes a seat on the bench. If Buffalo gets knocked out of the playoff chase in December, I’d prefer to get rogers’ feet wet over watching this stiff anymore.

"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix

by Port Royal on Nov 15, 2011 8:59 AM EST reply actions

McKelvin haters - hear me out

I’m not saying McKelvin is a good or great corner, but I do seriously think that he is by far our best corner on the team (maybe Mcgee when he’s healthy) – I don’t know why everyone keeps destroying this guy like he’s the only one who can’t cover. Florence has been a joke all season!

He has his flaws to be sure, but I fully blame the Bryant TD on the coaching staff. McKelvin has shown repeatedly year in and year out that he struggles with guys bigger than him, so why do we keep matching him up with guys like Bryant to get beat? His coverage was excellent on this play, the throw, while not perfect, was in a real good spot, and Dez (4 inches taller and 30 ounds heavier) made a great play on the ball.

To me, this is almost like the CJ Spiller thing – McKelvin needs to be put in a position to do the things he does well, and for some reason, we don’t really do that. I think he’s a decent corner (decent, not good or great), but Bills fans always need a scapegoat and person to villify (mine has always been Kelsay)…

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 8:59 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

i agree with you

by Fernando brazil on Nov 15, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

me too

Why dont they use him in special teams? In the picture above he is in perfect position, Dez just made a play. It happens. Florence hasn’t done a good job this year.

by webadinc on Nov 15, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed. you can fault the guy for a lot of things, being shorter and not being able to jump higher than Dez Bryant are not among them.

by tm on Nov 15, 2011 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

I’m not saying McKelvin is a good or great corner, but I do seriously think that he is by far our best corner on the team …

If this is true then it should be noted that the coaching staff on most teams play their best CB vs the other teams best WR. Since Austin was a scratch, Bryant was the ’boys best WR.

He has his flaws to be sure, but I fully blame the Bryant TD on the coaching staff.

Seems to me this was the correct coaching decision based on your beliefs.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Nov 15, 2011 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

I disagree – Michael Jordan was obviously Chicago’s best player but he was never going to be matched up on Shaq or David Robinson – it wasn’t in his skill set and beyond his phyical limitations

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

Basketball coverage is position to position…why would a forward defend a center ever?

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 15, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

I stand corrected…Jordan played Guard most of the time. The question is even more relevant, though.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 15, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

you’re partly right – fat Jordan on the Wizards was definitely a forward :)

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

Haha, fair enough. But I don’t actually take that Jordan into account when speaking of MJ…ever.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 15, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

first off, no it’s not – basketball is usually position to position by is more matchup to matchup, which is why Lebron guarded D-Rose most of the series last year – it’s why power forwards usually defend centers and why small forwards usually guard Kobe – you play your matchups…

same as football – we see safeties occasionally on receivers, linebackers on receivers, tight ends, running backs – depends on what you’re doing and what type of position you put your players in…

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

basketball is usually position to position by is more matchup to matchup

should say *but, not *by

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Guards do not cover centers, just like centers do not cover guards. The MJ/Shaq comparison is absurd to me.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 15, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

There’s a reason for it too – I know it was an extreme but it was to illustrate the fact that good coaches don’t consistently put their players in positions where the expected outcome is negative.

And it’s purely my opinion – Edwards and Gailey may sit there, watch the tape and say, “man, McKelvin sucks manning up with these receivers, but he’s still the best option for us there” – if that’s the case, so be it… It just doesn’t look like he’s put where he’s most effective as a corner.

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

He was drafted for the Cover 2, unfortunately. He was considerably better, in my opinion, in that defense.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 15, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

I do not see any comparative connection to your analogy. In basketball guards do not routinely cover centers, in football CBs do routinely cover WRs.

Let’s ask this question; which Bills CB do you think should have been matched up opposite Bryant?

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Nov 15, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I would have played McGee most of the time on Bryant – he has shown the ability to match up with bigger guys better than McKelvin…

It seems though that you’re missing the point – Why can’t McKelvin be our best corner (IMO) and still face a bad matchup (big WR’s)? All I’m saying is that I don’t think the coaching staff put him in a position to have the most success for his skill set

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Why can’t McKelvin be our best corner (IMO) and still face a bad matchup (big WR’s)?

I guess my view is the coaching staff evaluates both Bills and the opposing players better than you or I do. They game-planned accordingly. If a teams “best CB” can’t routinely cover a “big WR” then maybe the group is weak overall.

I get your point but your analogy earlier was a poor one. Perhaps sending a personal letter to HC Gailey listing your observations might bring about the change you desire.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Nov 15, 2011 9:40 PM EST up reply actions

He turned for the ball

which is a great improvement for #21.

The picture above shows Leodis doing exactly what he needs to do, or make a play on the ball, which is what he was lacking.

"Alright Men, lets go out there, bust um in the chops & get somebody bloody. Keep working hard till you get it right. Take the W in battle & make the Bills Nation Proud." coach Karma420

by Blood, sweat & Win on Nov 15, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

i think Aaron Williams will prove to be better

and had he not been injured, we might already be seeing him starting on the outside.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Nov 15, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

How much of our secondary's problem a result off no pass rush

If we could put pressure on the Qb our secondary would be fine. I think they have enough depth to be one of the elite secondarys once Williams returns.

by webadinc on Nov 15, 2011 9:35 AM EST reply actions

that’s also a big part of it…

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

huge factor

as evidenced by the proven production they can generate when the QB is rushed. Any QB is going to pick apart your defense when they have time to. but when pass rush is getting there like in the Redskins game, because we stuffed the run, and destroyed their line, well, then you see how a QB can be neutralized.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Nov 15, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Knock it down

I think if he stopped trying to intercept it against these big receivers, he’d be better off by just knocking it down. He’s almost always in position – just give up on even trying to intercept.

by zipper on Nov 15, 2011 9:49 AM EST reply actions

Maybe this is a symptom of our defensive philosophy

We rely so heavily on turnovers to cover up our other shortcomings, McKelvin knows a pick kills the drive but a pass break-up probably wouldn’t have. In any case, he gets the pick – we’re all singing a different tune.

by inthegaddadavida on Nov 15, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Why was this not an offensive pass interference??

It seemed to me that McKelvin was in the best position and Bryant reached over him making contact (almost taking his head off). If the players were reversed this would be an obvious def. pass interference.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Nov 15, 2011 12:37 PM EST reply actions

They’re both going for the ball. I don’t think it gets called if the roles are reversed. At least it shouldn’t.

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Nov 15, 2011 12:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

when I saw that play on tv and even looking at the picture, it doesn’t look like PI to me at all… but…

PROHIBITED ACTS
Article 2 Prohibited Acts by both teams while the ball is in the air. Acts that are pass interference
include but are not limited to:
(a) Contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch.
(b) Playing through the back of an opponent in an attempt to make a play on the ball.

but it’s somewhat contradictory to this:

PERMISSIBLE ACTS
Article 3 Permissible Acts by both teams while the ball is in the air. Acts that are permissible by a
player include but are not limited to:
OFFICIAL NFL PLAYING RULES 48
(a) Incidental contact by an opponent’s hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball, or neither player is looking for the ball. If there is any question whether contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no interference.

by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe their thinking that these two are different…

attempt to make a play on the ball.

competing for the ball,

"A deaf person can hear better than a ignorant person."- Unknown Comedian

by blknites on Nov 15, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks

It sure seems to me that Bryant was playing through the back of McKelvin who is in better position. What makes this obvious IMO is the fact that each of Bryant’s elbows is over the shoulder pads of McKelvin in an attempt to play through the back of the defender. I will admit it has been a while since I have payed attention to the PI rules.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Nov 15, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

I hate to say it

But McKelvin had perfect position on this play, he just didn’t have perfect hand technique. But, he does give away 50 pounds to Bryant. Leodis was just cast aside as Dez caught the ball. I haven’t really been too impressed with McKelvin’s play, but in this instant he was in the right position to make a play…he just didn’t MAKE THE PLAY. He is just another underachieving 1st round pick the Bills have made in recent years. (Dareus excluded).

2011-Things are Looking Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by JTM1023 on Nov 15, 2011 7:54 PM EST reply actions