scribo Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Another fine piece by Chris Brown about the "Tone Setter"... Whitner is providing direction to McKelvin as they walk through the film. He does the same thing on Thursday evenings at his home when he and his fellow defensive backs watch more film in preparation for the upcoming game inviting everyone to make their calls as they watch the same play three times through. When I hear about a high-drafted player not practicing hard, not caring that his play is below expectations, etc., I often wonder how someone could be so disloyal to his team, teammates and himself. Whitner, on the other hand, seems truly dedicated to making the Bills, his teammates and himself better for having spent that high pick on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 what a bargain at pick # 8. Whitner is the leader of this team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawgg Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 what a bargain at pick # 8. Whitner is the leader of this team He understands PR, that's for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 He understands PR, that's for sure Poor attempt at instigation, Dawgg...I'd expect better from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hossage Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Im for all the high character guys from Ohio and Pennsylvania we can get. Whitner and Poslusny are well drilled in the fundamentals. Maybe we can send McKelvin down to Ohio State or Penn State for a year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Poor attempt at instigation, Dawgg...I'd expect better from you. You are correct, Dawgg is usually much better at instigating. That was halfhearted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 what a bargain at pick # 8. Whitner is the leader of this team [sarcasm] No, no. He's not a pro-bowler and he's only above average on the field. He was the eighth pick and he should be a perennial pro-bowler. I don't give a crap about off field leadership. We should have gotten...... Any one of those players would have been a better selection. This FO doesn't know about football. I should be the GM then everything would be perfect. We'd be in the SB every year!! [/sarcasm off] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fingon Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 You know, I think Whitner is thought of more highly around the league than at TSW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganesh Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 [sarcasm] No, no. He's not a pro-bowler and he's only above average on the field. He was the eighth pick and he should be a perennial pro-bowler. I don't give a crap about off field leadership. We should have gotten...... Any one of those players would have been a better selection. This FO doesn't know about football. I should be the GM then everything would be perfect. We'd be in the SB every year!! [/sarcasm off] During that draft everyone was clamoring for the DT Ngata. How many pro-bowls has Ngata made in the same period. Also, note that Whitner is playing the same position as Bob Sanders of the Colts and Polamalu of the Steelers in the AFC. It is hard to get pro-bowl recognition with these players in the AFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 During that draft everyone was clamoring for the DT Ngata. How many pro-bowls has Ngata made in the same period. Also, note that Whitner is playing the same position as Bob Sanders of the Colts and Polamalu of the Steelers in the AFC. It is hard to get pro-bowl recognition with these players in the AFC. Valid point he also needs to be on a team that helps him to get recognition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Im for all the high character guys from Ohio and Pennsylvania we can get. Whitner and Poslusny are well drilled in the fundamentals. Maybe we can send McKelvin down to Ohio State or Penn State for a year... Because high character is a geographic phenomenon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Because high character is a geographic phenomenon. Damn right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarthur31 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm freaking glad we drafted Donte. Wish somebody would post a list as to who the actual players are the show up for these meetings. And why isn't Evans or Edwards doing the same for the O? Hell, even ST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawgg Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 During that draft everyone was clamoring for the DT Ngata. How many pro-bowls has Ngata made in the same period. Also, note that Whitner is playing the same position as Bob Sanders of the Colts and Polamalu of the Steelers in the AFC. It is hard to get pro-bowl recognition with these players in the AFC. The Ravens have ranked in the top 3 in rush defense and Ngata is a big part of that. The Bills passed on Ngata because they felt they could give up the farm for McCargo later on in the draft... that turned out great, didn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawgg Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 And why isn't Evans or Edwards doing the same for the O? Hell, even ST. They might very well be. They just don't have Donte's PR savviness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Maybe they can get a few turnovers frmo all this film-studying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm freaking glad we drafted Donte. Wish somebody would post a list as to who the actual players are the show up for these meetings. And why isn't Evans or Edwards doing the same for the O? Hell, even ST. From the article: Whitner is providing direction to McKelvin as they walk through the film. He does the same thing on Thursday evenings at his home when he and his fellow defensive backs watch more film in preparation for the upcoming game inviting everyone to make their calls as they watch the same play three times through. Sounds like they all do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 You know, I think Whitner is thought of more highly around the league than at TSW. Why would you say that? In this thread alone Whitner is called, "what's right about the Bills," "a bargain at #8," and a "tone setter." In another thread, he is often referred to as a "star." Imo, Whitner is a good, perhaps very good player. I do not have a problem with his performance, and his effort is highly worthy of praise. One has to admire his technique as well. He hits hard and seems to take great angles. Looking back, he was not a terrible selection at all. My problem is not with Whitner as a player, but the philosophy of the 06 draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Why would you say that? In this thread alone Whitner is called, "what's right about the Bills," "a bargain at #8," and a "tone setter." In another thread, he is often referred to as a "star." Imo, Whitner is a good, perhaps very good player. I do not have a problem with his performance, and his effort is highly worthy of praise. One has to admire his technique as well. He hits hard and seems to take great angles. Looking back, he was not a terrible selection at all. My problem is not with Whitner as a player, but the philosophy of the 06 draft. Yeap, I said it at the time and I still belive it. Whitner had to be a game changer to be worthy of that pick. To use a pick that high on a Safety - where you can find good players on the second day of the draft - the guy has to be an amazing player. Whitner is good but if we were going to settle for "good" from that spot I'd prefer a DT. A "good" DT is much more important (and more difficult to find) than a "good" S. Safety is the easiest position to hide on the field - bar none. DT is one of the hardest. That, in and of itself, helps determine vaule. That being said I prefer a "good" Safety over a bust from another position. The problem is, the player everybody wanted there - Ngata - is far from a bust. He's one of the best young DTs in the game. As the original poster said, Whitner IS all that is right with the Bills - I love the guy. How can you not root for him. But I still would have prefered Ngata. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDD Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 You can justify the selection of Whitner all you want by his leadership qualities and character, but the bottum line he was drafted too high and the Bills were foolish for passing on Ngata. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowery4 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I think if we had Ngata we wouldn't be saying how could we have skipped over Whitner. I like him but I would have loved to have them draft Ngata, he is a beast and will be for a long time. I think you draft for talent first. We still need D line help and it's what 3 drafts later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribo Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 It's one or the other. If we drafted Ngata, we'd be trying to find a good safety. But, more importantly, our defense would likely be looking for a leader and trying to find an identity. There are too many variables to say anything would be any way if we drafted someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 The Ravens have ranked in the top 3 in rush defense and Ngata is a big part of that. The Bills passed on Ngata because they felt they could give up the farm for McCargo later on in the draft... that turned out great, didn't it? Do the Ravens have te top 3 Defense because of Ngata or because of all the other players there. Certainly Ngata is a part of it and plays well, but take away Reed, take away Lewis, take away a few other game changers and what would Ngata be? At the time I was shocked with the Whitner pick. It was so far out in left field and Ngata seemed like such a big need for us. However, I now feel much better about the decision. The Bills were drafting their defensive leader. Whitner has become the heart of the defense. He leads by example on the field. He mentors the younger players (as odd as that sounds in his 3rd year). It's impossible to say, but would Ngata be the leader and motivator that Whitner is? If not, then who would? It's easy to say player x or y would have been better, but we really have no idea how these players would have turned out in Buffalo. What we do know is that Whitner has and continues to become a solid all around player, integral to our defense, and one of the key team leaders. To criticize his selection is to ignore all the good he has brought to the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 In all fairness, i'd say that Ngata has had just a slightly better surrounding cast on baltimore's defense than he would have had here in buffalo. That may have something to do with why he's been playing so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 In all fairness, i'd say that Ngata has had just a slightly better surrounding cast on baltimore's defense than he would have had here in buffalo. That may have something to do with why he's been playing so well. That and that he is a stud DT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Biscuit97 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 That and that he is a stud DT. Kelly Gregg is just as big of a reason why the Ravens' run defense has been good. Haven't the Ravens always had a nasty defense since Ray Lewis has been there? What did Ngata really change? He stepped into a great situation. The funniest thing is that alot of the people who are praising Ngata would be the first ones here ripping if he was a bust with the Bills. The guy had questions about his work ethic. Didn't we just get rid of a DT with that problem? It is a lot easier to get motivated if you think your MLB might murder you if you don't work hard. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Kelly Gregg is just as big of a reason why the Ravens' run defense has been good. Haven't the Ravens always had a nasty defense since Ray Lewis has been there? What did Ngata really change? He stepped into a great situation. The funniest thing is that alot of the people who are praising Ngata would be the first ones here ripping if he was a bust with the Bills. The guy had questions about his work ethic. Didn't we just get rid of a DT with that problem? It is a lot easier to get motivated if you think your MLB might murder you if you don't work hard. W I think you are thinking about Bunkley. The real concern on Ngata was the knee that he blew out and that he was an early entry. His work ethic should have never been in question: he came back from major knee surgery on schedule and stronger and more dominant than he was before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawgg Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 The funniest thing is that alot of the people who are praising Ngata would be the first ones here ripping if he was a bust with the Bills. The guy had questions about his work ethic. Didn't we just get rid of a DT with that problem? It is a lot easier to get motivated if you think your MLB might murder you if you don't work hard. W Ngata didn't have any such problems with his work ethic. In fact, pre-draft reports indicated the contrary. When you're rebuilding and you have a choice of (a) a very good, not great DT and (b) a very good, but not great Safety, you always always ALWAYS take the DT – unless the safety has very rare game-changing ability. When confronted with this decision, the Bills thought they could get cute by taking the safety and trading back into the first round and nabbing McCargo to address the DT need. Yesterday's trade is their admission that the move blew up in their face. And they surrendered a high 2nd and high 3rd in one of the deepest drafts in years in the process. Whitner is a good player in his own right and he's a great locker-room guy. And his PR savvy has made him a media darling. But it seems to me that the front office picked him over Ngata in large part because they had their eyes on McCargo. As it turns out, they were wrong. If there's one thing I like about this front office, it's that they are more than willing to ship players out who lack motivation. McGahee and McCargo are prime examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 One of the knocks on Ngata was an injury concern because he had a torn ACL in 2003. He also was said to be inconsistent on the field taking plays off and he was projected mostly as NT in a 3-4 which is what Baltimore plays but Baltimore is using him as DE now. It may be that the Bills didn't see him as a good fit for their defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 That and that he is a stud DT. He plays DE for baltimore. I know he's listed as a "DT" but he plays DE. And his being a "stud DT" has a lot to do with the surrounding talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 For arguements sake: http://www.kffl.com/article/47708/160 Negatives Physically, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Ngata. Most of the issues concerning him, however, are in his head. The "lazy" label has been placed on him by some scouts, and his consistency has also been brought into question. http://nfldraft.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp...r=7351#scouting Cons: When he brings his A-game, he can be totally dominant, but still needs work on his hand use and to keep his motor running all the time. There were some concerns about his work ethic and motivation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLynchTrain Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Im for all the high character guys from Ohio and Pennsylvania we can get. Whitner and Poslusny are well drilled in the fundamentals. Maybe we can send McKelvin down to Ohio State or Penn State for a year... Sorry to be an instigator here, but you could hardly call LJ a "character player," and he definately went to Penn State. Same goes for all those lineman that went to PSU that end up as busts in the NFL... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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