Poll: Which Bills CB Would Be Odd Man Out?

by Brian Galliford on May 28, 2011 2:00 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

After the Buffalo Bills spent a second-round draft pick on Texas cornerback Aaron Williams last month, GM Buddy Nix made it very clear that the team still wants to re-sign free agent Drayton Florence.

Last week, we took a look at some recent contracts given to cornerbacks and determined that a four-year, $22 million deal might be the market price Florence seeks on the open market.

Let's assume for the sake of this poll that the Bills are able to re-sign Florence once the lockout ends. Should that happen, the Bills would suddenly have a logjam of fairly excellent talent at the cornerback position - so much so that they'd legitimately be four deep in starting-caliber players, including veterans Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin.

Knowing that NFL defenses spend an inordinate amount of time in pass-specific sub-packages, depth at cornerback is a priority for most teams. However, in nickel packages (ones that use three corners), one of these players would be riding the pine. Our question for you: which player would be the dime back?

Poll

Which of the following four Bills cornerbacks would be the odd man out in nickel (3 CB) packages?

Terrence McGee

459 votes

Drayton Florence

251 votes

Leodis McKelvin

512 votes

Aaron Williams

615 votes

1837 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

voted williams for the start of the season.

of course that depends on if we retain Florence or not. this is a nice problem to have, especially considering the size of these new guys. What was our biggest issue last year, McKelvin’s inconsistency, florence and too many penalties, corverage of the tight ends. With this group we should be able to cover some of these things.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on May 28, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Ditto

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on May 28, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

It'd be Williams, of course

due to his rookie status. As time goes on, I expect him to push some vets for playing time, especially if some of the issues VanScott mentioned reappear: McK being inconsistent, Flo taking too many bad penalties, McGee getting more nagging injuries.

Gotta admit, when I first saw the post title, I thought it was in reference to which CB would be the odd man out PERMANENTLY — our two main candidates for that are Youbouty {who can’t get on the field} and Corner {who someone aptly described as misnamed} . . .

by go_buff on May 28, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

In the beginning I’d think it would be Williams, but he’s a rookie, so that’s the easy answer. Over the course of the season I get the feeling McGee will be the odd man out due to his injury history. I just don’t really believe he’s capable of remaining healthy for an entire season anymore.

by Schrims on May 28, 2011 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

For now Williams, but......

McGee has been expressing an interest in getting back into return duties. Anyone remember how good at it he was? Maybe he does that and takes a secondary role as a CB. Or Florence does not get resigned. Florence has not been doing return duties, so he may be the odd man out, permanently. It’s pretty hard to nail this question down with a definitive answer, but the rookie has the most rope to climb.

Another variable to throw into the mix, is that the coach wants bigger CBs. Is that going to be a factor this year? Not an easy answer.

by rockinon on May 28, 2011 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

You forgot option E.

Which of the following four Bills cornerbacks would be the odd man out in nickel (3 CB) packages?

Which ever CB is…… injured (McGee), committing dumb penalties (Florence), come down with another case of double moveitis (McKelvin), or is playing like a rookie because he is one (Williams).

In short….the odds are pretty good that each week one of these guys will make the decision pretty easy for the coaches.

QB SMASHER KING KONG JASPER
Dareus will put you on you Dar-e-ass

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

by Joe P. on May 28, 2011 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

Just read Chris Brown's Fan Friday

Basically if McGee stays healthy and McKelvin is more consistent and no other additions are made or return I anticipate that McGee and McKelvin will be the starters outside. Those are a lot of ifs however. McGee has had trouble staying healthy the past two seasons and McKelvin has not been consistent.

That could open the door for Williams if he has a solid training camp, provided there is one. I don’t believe Williams will do any worse than being the third corner. McGee has been the team’s best run support corner. If staying healthy is still an issue for him they need a good run support corner on the strong side and Williams is the next best option for that.

Corner and Rogers would be corners four and five with other additions likely leading up to the season before final roster cuts are made.

Seems Florence is the odd man out.

QB SMASHER KING KONG JASPER
Dareus will put you on you Dar-e-ass

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

by Joe P. on May 28, 2011 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Williams will be CB #5 if Florence is resigned

But Chris Brown was not taking Florence into account when he wrote that reply. If Florence is resigned, then it changes the whole picture. Given the fact that there are no mini-camps this year and that there may not be a real training camp, Williams is likely to be at a severe disadvantage. Remember that he is also, as Buddy Nix admitted, too slow to play starting CB going down the sidelines. He might eventually see some action as the nickel back if there are multiple injuries, but my bet is that Reggie Corner is likely to beat him out as the dime back and Williams will be on the bench for most of the time.

by Macktruck on May 28, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure I agree with your read on that....the poster asks

Can you break down what you presume to be the starters for the defensive backfield? Listening to Buddy, it seems McGee, McKelvin, and Williams will be in competition for starting. …… Buddy wants to bring back Drayton, how would that affect Reggie Corner and Rogers? ……

CB: A lot of questions there. Basically if McGee stays healthy and McKelvin is more consistent and no other additions are made or return I anticipate that McGee and McKelvin will be the starters outside.

Why isn’t Florence mentioned here? Almost feels like CB assumes Florence will not be resigned.

Those are a lot of ifs however. McGee has had trouble staying healthy the past two seasons and McKelvin has not been consistent.

Again, CB could have mentioned Florence as an option.

That could open the door for Williams if he has a solid training camp, provided there is one. I don’t believe Williams will do any worse than being the third corner.

Third time passing on Florence
McGee has been the team’s best run support corner. If staying healthy is still an issue for him they need a good run support corner on the strong side and Williams is the next best option for that.

Corner and Rogers would be corners four and five with other additions likely leading up to the season before final roster cuts are made.

I don’t see anywhere where either the poster or CB says…..assuming Florence is not resigned.

QB SMASHER KING KONG JASPER
Dareus will put you on you Dar-e-ass

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

by Joe P. on May 28, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

block quote fail......"Third time passing on Florence" is mine :-)

QB SMASHER KING KONG JASPER
Dareus will put you on you Dar-e-ass

If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

by Joe P. on May 28, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, the poster did talk about Florence in his question, but CB did not pick up on it in his answer. Instead he answered the question without making any mention of Florence one way or the other. Since Nix has said clearly that he would like to resign Florence if possible, I think we have to assume that Florence may very well be back, and if he is he will surely have to be taken into the equation in a way that CB failed to do here (for reasons that are totally unclear — maybe he just forgot).

by Macktruck on May 28, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Since Nix has said clearly that he would like to resign Florence if possible, I think we have to assume that Florence may very well be back

I figure it this way: Nix is only going to want to spend big money to resign EITHER Florence or Whitner — but not both. So, the fact that he’s clearly stated he wants to resign Flo means Whiffner is the odd man out, at least as far as safeties are concerned . . .

by go_buff on May 29, 2011 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

brian you copy my poll

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/5/20/2181488/cb-depth-chart

by Fernando brazil on May 28, 2011 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

if mcgee is healthy the position is set

if not we need every guy listed! or we can plan on leading the league in sacks? that would work

by badnewsBills on May 28, 2011 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

McKelvin

I’m working under the impression that McGee will be good to go in 2011 and when he’s healthy, he’s a legitimate player in this league. The same cannot be said for McKelvin who has been inaccurately labeled as “inconsistent” by many Bills’ supporters. I’d argue that he’s been consistently bad and while I’d give him one more chance in 2011 and would let Florence walk, if they did re-sign him, I’d bet that McKelvin will play himself out of the top 3 jobs based on what I’ve seen from him- basically lousy play across the board.

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

by Port Royal on May 28, 2011 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

I'd say Williams

simply because of his rookie status, although I think he will be earning PT in the slot as the season goes on.

Also, I don’t think there will really be an “odd man out” per say, because I envision the Bills running a 4 man rotation a lot, trying to keep McGee healthy for the duration of the season.

"Winning is not a goal. It is a belief."

-Terry Pegula-

by Eric Murawski on May 28, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

I agree about the rotation. I hadn’t thought of it, but they’ve shown with the OL that they prefer to keep players healthier longer by using a rotating system.

"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 May 28, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s a good point. They may rotate their DB’s, and if they do Williams will have a chance to get on the field provided there are at least a few weeks of training camp to get him prepared (a big “if” at this point).

by Macktruck on May 28, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I went with Williams

just to participate in the poll. However, to somewhat go along with the rotation, i would have to say there more than likely won’t necessarily be an odd man out. Given the diversity of the skills our cornerbacks possess, as well as the diversity of the teams we will play, our rotation may change on a week by week match up. We play a team who likes to run the ball (Miami, NYJ), we start the guys best suited to stop the run (McGee, Williams); against a team with quicker receivers (NE), the starters may be McKelvin and McGee, etc… From there, the game situation will dictate who is in the game.

by BFFL on May 28, 2011 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

My feelings exactly. Situational subbing.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on May 29, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I have no faith McGee can stay healthy anymore.........

soooo I chose him.

The score dictated they pass

by norcaliangelsfan on May 28, 2011 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

No way

that’s why it should be Wet Willy. By the time McGimp comes up lame the rookie should be able play the nickel and/or outside.

The AFC East is, perhaps, the league's most talented division, making it the most respectable division to finish last in. -The Onion

by JonasPounder on May 28, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Me too. I was taking the question to mean by the end of the year, and I think that McGee will get hurt again (although I would love to be pleasantly surprised).

"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 May 28, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions