Cornerback: The Next Big Addition?

by Brian Galliford on May 18, 2007 8:52 AM EDT in News

Is Youboty ready to start?

Most Bills fans came out of the 2007 NFL Draft pleased with what GM Marv Levy and the Bills' front office accomplished. Landing Marshawn Lynch and Paul Posluszny gave the Bills two immediate starters and provided a little excitement to what had otherwise been a tiresome off-season in Orchard Park.

However, of the seven picks that the Bills made, it's easy to point out the position that the team didn't address that probably should have been: cornerback. Head Coach Dick Jauron was recently quoted in a Buffalo News article saying as much - the team still needs depth at corner.

"We like the guys that we have, but I would think that if you were a free agent corner this is a place where you would be interested in coming because of our lack of great depth there," Jauron said during the Bills' rookie minicamp, which concluded Monday. "We brought some in and we'll keep looking. We'd like to get the best group we can to compete at every position and we'll look everywhere."

The lack of depth, of course, was created by the monstrous(ly overdone) contract that Nate Clements received from the San Francisco 49ers. That left the oft-burned Terrence McGee as our number one corner, with veteran Kiwaukee Thomas battling youngsters Ashton Youboty and Jabari Greer for playing time at the starting and nickel spots. Behind these four, the most experienced player on the roster is Eric Bassey, who spent last year (his rookie season) on the practice squad. Despite the lack of depth, the four guys we have are at least steady and talented.

Jauron's plea to free agent corners is almost touching, but at the moment the corner market is too thin to take any candidates seriously. Juran Bolden was released by the Buccaneers and has experience in the Tampa-2 system, but he is over 30 years old and is probably at the end of his career. Sadly, he seems to be the best option - Jason Webster is a close second, with Rashad Bauman, Chris Cash, and Daylon McCutcheon the other "big" names available. To be honest, I'd rather see the team keep Bassey as a fifth corner than sign any of these guys.

We must keep in mind that there will be some cuts on June 1st, so a few names might surface there. There is also the Asante Samuel situation in New England - no, I'm not saying the Bills should make a move for Samuel; the price tag to a division rival would be far too high. But if he does get moved, it could free up another name who would conceivably be released to make room for Samuel on another team's roster. It's not a given, it's just an idea.

I do love the fact, however, that Levy decided to focus on other parts of this young football team besides cornerback. This is a trend in the league in terms of teams that run a Cover-2; Indianapolis watched Nick Harper and Jason David leave the team and will replace them with a very young trio of corners there. WCG of Windy City Gridiron mentioned here a couple of days ago that the Bears will likely follow suit next off-season and let both Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher walk. Cornerbacks are not a huge priority in this defensive scheme - cover skills aren't as big a necessity; the one thing corners need to be able to do in this system is tackle.

Only time will tell whether the Bills bring in another cornerback. I expect that they will, but don't expect a big name - it would be a depth signing. Our top four corners are set. Get used to seeing McGee and Thomas on the outside in base packages. Get used to seeing McGee and Youboty outside with Thomas and Greer inside on nickel and dime packages. That's our situation heading into the year, and any free agent addition we make won't change that.

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I don't think they will let both of them go

granted they could go with Manning and Manning Jr., but I think the intent is to only keep one.

by WCG on May 18, 2007 9:39 AM EDT 0 recs

Ah

My apologies, WCG. My point still stands, I believe; my theory remains intact, thank goodness. :)

Buffalo Rumblings: we are awesome.

by Brian Galliford on May 18, 2007 9:54 AM EDT up 0 recs

CB

I agree that CB was overlooked during the Draft and remains a major question mark.

Personally, I'm not comfortable with any of the CB's we have right now, or at least their position on the depth chart.

I like McGee as a starter, but as our supposed top corner, I'm a little concerned. I think he improved as last season progressed and he became more comfortable in the cover 2 scheme. He needs to concentrate on making some plays back there this year. Zero INT's from a starting CB is just plain bad.

Youboty's potential is intriguing to me, but we have no idea what he'll give us in extended game time. He has the size, skills and big time college experience, but whether that translates to being an effective CB at the pro level remains to be seen. I think he'll struggle early on as teams look to pick on him, but he should improve in leaps and bounds as the season wears on. At least I hope so.

Thomas is a nice 3rd or 4th CB, but should not be any higher than that. I think he excelled for us last year because of something you mentioned...tackling. Thomas showed he has the ability to stick his nose in there in the run game and also avoid getting burnt in the open field. If he in fact does start for us this year, I won't be questioning his ability to help against the run. Hopefully, like McGee, he'll be able to generate a few turnovers this year.

Greer is someone I do NOT want on the field defensively. He's a very good, in fact excellent, special teams gunner and is also effective on kick coverage, but I think he's well below average in pass defense. He doesn't have the bulk, playmaking ability or instincts, IMO, to help us. He's been toasted often in the past and I see no reason to believe it won't continue in the future if he gets snaps on D.

Chris Brown had a nice article on Bassey today over at BB.com. It's quite obvious that Bassey is still very raw and inconsistent, but he has good size and excellent speed. If he can refine his technique and play more consistently, he may be able to help us this year. I look for him to push Greer for the #4 CB job. I also want to see him trying out at the gunner spot on punts opposite Greer/Scobey to see if we have anything there.

The UDFA's all seem to have some talent, but I can't see any of them helping out other than in spot duty this year, if any of them even make the team.

Right now, as you mentioned Brian, there is very little available in FA. One name to keep in mind is David Barrett of the Jets. I've read in the NY Daily News numerous times the past couple months about how the Jets will be releasing him. I'm guessing that will come around June 1st. He may be a guy to look at and would improve the depth of the group and push Greer to ST duty only. He also has 8 picks the past two seasons, so he does have some playmaking ability despite being generously listed at 5'10".

I also wouldn't rule out a trade at some point. If we start getting through minicamps and into the preseason and the coaches still feel uncomfortable with the position, I could see a deal being looked into. Maybe a guy like Brian Kelly of the Bucs, who's been rumored to be on the block, could be a possibility with his heavy Cover 2 background. I hate to speculate on anybody else, because I frankly have no clue.

And next year, I'd love to see us make a run at Tillman or Vasher. Either would be a nice addition and would probably be willing to work with Fewell (and Jauron??) again. I can't see either being valued anywhere near what Clements was this year. I'd say half that if anything, even though both have been Pro Bowlers in the past.

In the end, I think we need to add a vet at some point in the coming months to improve the depth and experience at CB. I don't think we necessarily need to find a starter, but we do need someone with the ability to start if needed and general overall experience in the NFL.

by Kurupt on May 18, 2007 5:42 PM EDT 0 recs