This defense is going to be very good

[Mikie2times]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

[deep2evans]

Yea, pretty much a bunch of studs all over the field now. Bout time after sucking for so long. Add to that Lynch, Evans, Hardy, Edwards, and Peters....i like it.

[Geno Smith's Arm]

Yea, pretty much a bunch of studs all over the field now. Bout time after sucking for so long. Add to that Lynch, Evans, Hardy, Edwards, and Peters....i like it.

What !?!?

Denney and kelsay ain't studs. Mcgee is alright.

They will be better, but c'mon.

[Tcali]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

Well the glaring weakness is DE...but we can address that or try to hide it as best as we can.

[Mikie2times]

Well the glaring weakness is DE...but we can address that or try to hide it as best as we can.

I don't think thats the case. Schobel is good enough to have been to a pro bowl. Kelsey and Denney are strong in the run game. Ellis has exceptional quickness as a pass rushing specialist. It's not our strongest area, but it's hardly a weakness, and it will only improve as the interior draws more attention.

[BrooklynBills]

Unless McGee returns to 2006 form, I don't think he and Greer have a long future on this team, but I like them as stop-gap types until/if Youboty matures or another young corner is drafted. It would seem that Reggie Corner was drafted to eventually become the nickelback. Greer is a good depth guy, but he is not a starting CB on a good defense. McGee regressed a bit last season, and needs to pick up his play this year if wants to stay. Youboty is the X-factor. He has talent and can play, and if he reaches his potential he is better than McGee and Greer. But he needs to mature soon or he could be gone by next season. I don't think they cut him in camp though. They will probably keep 10 DBs: McKelvin, McGee, James, Greer, Youboty, Corner, Whitner, Simpson probably all make it. Wendling, Wilson, Scott fight it out for two spots. Cox goes to the practice squad. Injuries and guys games going to hell can obviously change that but I think that is how it will go. Good young secondary though. The young D core of McCargo, Poz, Whitner, and McKelvin looks good to build around. A nice every-down DE and a dynamic playmaking LB would be the next additions I would like to see.

[deep2evans]

What !?!?

Denney and kelsay ain't studs. Mcgee is alright.

They will be better, but c'mon.

 

I didn't mean all 11 positions. Chill out.

[Chilly]

Whats that I hear? Defense wins championships?

 

!@#$ yeah!

[Pete]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

I love it! Sack totals, turnovers and TDs are going increase. At the very least- this unit will be exciting to watch

[Tcali]

I don't think thats the case. Schobel is good enough to have been to a pro bowl. Kelsey and Denney are strong in the run game. Ellis has exceptional quickness as a pass rushing specialist. It's not our strongest area, but it's hardly a weakness, and it will only improve as the interior draws more attention.

So what you are saying is that they are not very good unless they have very good players in the middle drawing attention away from them. Hmmmm...what was their excuse when we had fat Pat and fat Ted and fat Sam? Yes Schobel made the probowl-- but many people could see thru that the way he disappeared for so many plays and for so many plays when it counted. And those people who saw thru him were justified when he completely disappeared after fat pat left as well as fat sam.

Schobel is one microspicly thin slice of an atom above average....not what we really need to be in the same universe as the contending teams.

[Chilly]

So what you are saying is that they are not very good unless they have very good players in the middle drawing attention away from them. Hmmmm...what was their excuse when we had fat Pat and fat Ted and fat Sam? Yes Schobel made the probowl-- but many people could see thru that the way he disappeared for so many plays and for so many plays when it counted. And those people who saw thru him were justified when he completely disappeared after fat pat left as well as fat sam.

Schobel is one microspicly thin slice of an atom above average....not what we really need to be in the same universe as the contending teams.

 

You mean players play better when everyone around them is more talented?

 

WHAT A REVELATION!

 

For every great player, there are great players supporting him.

[Pete]

I think Schobel is one of the top DEs in the league. Add in a healthy Denney, platoon him with Kelsay, and add in Ellis and our DE's have a nice rotation. Tripplet did not do much for us last year, Williams is better in a rotation, and last year McCargo was recovering from a foot injury. Without help from the interior Schobel's job is much more difficult. I would bet dollars to donuts that Schobels sack totals go up this year. McCargo really came on last year and will only improve. Stroud and Johnson are a huge upgrade over Tripplet. I do not think people give Schobel enough credit

[Chilly]

I think Schobel is one of the top DEs in the league. Add in a healthy Denney, platoon him with Kelsay, and add in Ellis and our DE's have a nice rotation. Tripplet did not do much for us last year, Williams is better in a rotation, and McCargo was recovering from a foot injury. Without help from the interior Schobel's job is much more difficult. I would bet dollars to donuts that Schobels sack totals go up this year. McCargo really came on last year and will only improve. Stroud and Johnson are a huge upgrade over Tripplet. I do not think people give Schobel enough credit

 

 

^^ Bingo.

[MavBavButav]

Unless McGee returns to 2006 form, I don't think he and Greer have a long future on this team, but I like them as stop-gap types until/if Youboty matures or another young corner is drafted. It would seem that Reggie Corner was drafted to eventually become the nickelback. Greer is a good depth guy, but he is not a starting CB on a good defense. McGee regressed a bit last season, and needs to pick up his play this year if wants to stay. Youboty is the X-factor. He has talent and can play, and if he reaches his potential he is better than McGee and Greer. But he needs to mature soon or he could be gone by next season. I don't think they cut him in camp though. They will probably keep 10 DBs: McKelvin, McGee, James, Greer, Youboty, Corner, Whitner, Simpson probably all make it. Wendling, Wilson, Scott fight it out for two spots. Cox goes to the practice squad. Injuries and guys games going to hell can obviously change that but I think that is how it will go. Good young secondary though. The young D core of McCargo, Poz, Whitner, and McKelvin looks good to build around. A nice every-down DE and a dynamic playmaking LB would be the next additions I would like to see.

 

have you ever watched an actual game?

[BrooklynBills]

have you ever watched an actual game?

 

Not really.

[Oneonta Buffalo Fan]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

Yup. Young, strong, and fast!

[John from Riverside]

I didn't mean all 11 positions. Chill out.

 

2 things.....

 

- You are not going to be pro bowl at every position

- We dont even know how good these DE's are going to be because they have not been playing with solid DT's. Now we will know. It is a lot easier to get a pass rush when you can get teams in 3rd and long by

[Mikie2times]

So what you are saying is that they are not very good unless they have very good players in the middle drawing attention away from them. Hmmmm...what was their excuse when we had fat Pat and fat Ted and fat Sam? Yes Schobel made the probowl-- but many people could see thru that the way he disappeared for so many plays and for so many plays when it counted. And those people who saw thru him were justified when he completely disappeared after fat pat left as well as fat sam.

Schobel is one microspicly thin slice of an atom above average....not what we really need to be in the same universe as the contending teams.

What I'm saying is having good players in the middle will help your DE. He doesn't need a good DT, as was the case in 2006 AFTER Pat and Sam left, and he ranked 3rd in the league in sacks. That same year he averaged getting a sack in 75% of his games, while the other top 6 sacks leaders that year averaged getting a sack in only 59% of the games. In 2005 he ranked 5th. He actually had two of his best season without good interior players. He had a down year last year, but that isn't a clear signal his double digit years are behind him.

 

Name me 7 players with more sacks then him over the last three seasons.....

[PNW_Bills_Fan]

What I'm saying is having good players in the middle will help your DE. He doesn't need a good DT, as was the case in 2006 AFTER Pat and Sam left, and he ranked 3rd in the league in sacks. That same year he averaged getting a sack in 75% of his games, while the other top 6 sacks leaders that year averaged getting a sack in only 59% of the games. In 2005 he ranked 5th. He actually had two of his best season without good interior players. He had a down year last year, but that isn't a clear signal his double digit years are behind him.

 

Name me 7 players with more sacks then him over the last three seasons.....

 

I say top 10 in ever d category

[the_franchise]

Even though the general consensus is that DE is our glaring weakness, I think with the rotation at DT, it is going to greatly improve 1-on-1 match ups for our DE's which will lead to more sacks, hurries, and knockdowns. Call me crazy, but I think Stroud and Johnson are HUGE improvements on the D-Line. Now, If Poz stays healthy, McKelvin plays up to par, and McCargo continues to improve, our defense SHOULD be lights out.

[truth on hold]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

all the units appear stong now. but we must AVOID THE INJURY BUG this season or it will all be for naught

[Brandon]

I say top 10 in ever d category

 

Taken alone, maybe, but don't forget that they still have the boat anchor on the other side of the ball to deal with. If the offense doesn't show significant improvement this year, this defense is going to look an awful lot worse than it really is because they'll be on the field the whole game. Hopefully Hardy will hit the ground running, but they've given themselves no plan B this offseason and if he struggles as a rookie, there's not much reason for optimism about this Bills offense, at least IMO, and its going to translate into problems for the defense as well.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

Unless McGee returns to 2006 form, I don't think he and Greer have a long future on this team, but I like them as stop-gap types until/if Youboty matures or another young corner is drafted. It would seem that Reggie Corner was drafted to eventually become the nickelback. Greer is a good depth guy, but he is not a starting CB on a good defense. McGee regressed a bit last season, and needs to pick up his play this year if wants to stay. Youboty is the X-factor. He has talent and can play, and if he reaches his potential he is better than McGee and Greer. But he needs to mature soon or he could be gone by next season. I don't think they cut him in camp though. They will probably keep 10 DBs: McKelvin, McGee, James, Greer, Youboty, Corner, Whitner, Simpson probably all make it. Wendling, Wilson, Scott fight it out for two spots. Cox goes to the practice squad. Injuries and guys games going to hell can obviously change that but I think that is how it will go. Good young secondary though. The young D core of McCargo, Poz, Whitner, and McKelvin looks good to build around. A nice every-down DE and a dynamic playmaking LB would be the next additions I would like to see.

Um...McGee needs to return to his 2006 form? The form that got him benched? He didn't regress last season, he finally established himself. You got this completely backwards. He's not a "stop-gap type," he's a long-term starting cornerback.

 

One of the few good things about the McKelvin pick is that I don't have to read about people whining about cornerbacks anymore when we have no pass rush. Please, at least give me that.

[truth on hold]

Taken alone, maybe, but don't forget that they still have the boat anchor on the other side of the ball to deal with. If the offense doesn't show significant improvement this year, this defense is going to look an awful lot worse than it really is because they'll be on the field the whole game. Hopefully Hardy will hit the ground running, but they've given themselves no plan B this offseason and if he struggles as a rookie, there's not much reason for optimism about this Bills offense, at least IMO, and its going to translate into problems for the defense as well.

true, we're starting to look like the bears. and that has both positive and negative implications.

[BuffaloRebound]

Looking back, it truly is amazing and a testament to the coaches that we were 7-6 and playing in Cleveland for a playoff spot. Add Stroud, Poz, Johnson, Ellis, Mitchell, McKelvin, Simpson and some more corner depth and we might have a defense that can get off the field. I just hope with all these new faces on defense that they can play with the same heart the under-manned guys played with last year.

 

Lack of a Tight End is still the #1 worry. Unless Hardy has a rookie-of-the-year type season, the offense really hasn't improved much on paper. God forbid if one of starting OT's goes down.

[todd]

God I hope so. I have a new meditation chant instead of "Ommmmm":

 

"Pleasedon'tgethurt, Pleasedon'tgethurt, pleasedon'tgethurt"

 

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

[Brandon]

true, we're starting to look like the bears. and that has both positive and negative implications.

 

I hope its just a case where they really did think that most of the guys available on offense this year sucked, both in the draft and FA. I've never been a big fan of building a team that is strong on one side of the ball, weak as a kitten on the other. Hopefully, its just the intense frustration and skepticism I've developed for this Bills offense over the last 4-5 years talking, but I see a team that's weak right up the middle, both in the passing game and running game (lack of a quality C and TE), and I think its going to haunt them until they fix it.

[molson_golden2002]

I think Schobel is one of the top DEs in the league. Add in a healthy Denney, platoon him with Kelsay, and add in Ellis and our DE's have a nice rotation. Tripplet did not do much for us last year, Williams is better in a rotation, and last year McCargo was recovering from a foot injury. Without help from the interior Schobel's job is much more difficult. I would bet dollars to donuts that Schobels sack totals go up this year. McCargo really came on last year and will only improve. Stroud and Johnson are a huge upgrade over Tripplet. I do not think people give Schobel enough credit

He is above average, but that's about it. He isn't a dominating player unless he's playing against a backup or someting. The defense as a whole looks good though. Let's hope they can stay healthy this year. Good defense plus solid running game and a decent passing offence might just get them into the playoffs

[Lofton80]

Keys are for Stroud to stay healthy and McCargo to progress. No more Kyle Williams and Jason Jefferson trying to pass rush.

 

I think one os the reasons we drafted so many corners is due to the lousy run support we got out of that position. Youbouty cannot tackle and likely is gone.