Bills Put Their Trust In Ellison
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 7/31/2007 4:05 PM ET
The summer before Keith Ellison began his junior year at Oregon State he held an uncommon summer job for most college students. He worked for L.A. Federal, an armored truck company. As a 20-year old he was trusted with handling and bundling $100 thousand a day in small bills. Since then no one has trusted him as much with their fortunes until now when the Bills will make him their starting weak side linebacker in a revamped and dramatically younger defense.
Fortunately for Buffalo's staff they had the luxury of an extended interview process which included seven starts for Ellison as a rookie. Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell feels very comfortable with the heady linebacker on the field.
"He was a consistent guy last year," said Fewell of Ellison's rookie campaign. "He was a guy that just went out and did his job and that's what he's doing again this year."
Ellison appeared in 14 games as a rookie including the season opener after Takeo Spikes went down with a hamstring injury. By week two he was making his first NFL start and one week later he tied London Fletcher with a game-high eight tackles.
Showing so much promise as a rookie, the coaching staff believes Ellison's play will take a noticeable leap forward in year two.
"I think he is making that jump because the knowledge is there, and you're seeing some of his playmaking abilities come out," said Fewell.
"He did an excellent job last year being a rookie and having to come in and play for us," said veteran Angelo Crowell. "He did well last year and now it is a situation where he is getting more comfortable with the defense. From year one to two that's where you become more comfortable in the defense and you can see a change in your game."
Before the first week of practices were even close to being finished at training camp this summer at St. John Fisher, Ellison led the defense with three interceptions, two of which would have been returned for touchdowns in game situations.
Even though he knows he's being counted on to play a starting role for Buffalo's young defense, he can't help but think where he was at this time a year ago.
"This time in camp last year I was third string and I was getting just a few reps a day," said the former sixth-round pick. "So there are a lot more things on my plate, but as far as putting in the defense it's all the same."
Ellison isn't taxed mentally when it comes to defensive concepts, coverage responsibilities and run fits. He studies very hard to learn it, but once he's absorbed it the information is on lockdown.
"I put a lot of time in," he said. "I do what I'm supposed to be doing. I think I have a very good retention rate so when somebody tells me something or I make a mistake and get corrected on it I try not to make that same mistake again. I think I'm just good at remembering information."
"We very seldom had to correct or get on him a lot a year ago," Fewell said. "So he's just taking off from where he left a year ago, and then he's adding on top of that."
And Fewell is adding to his responsibilities as well as he tries to find new ways to take advantage of the skills possessed by the second-year linebacker.
...
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 7/31/2007 4:05 PM ET
The summer before Keith Ellison began his junior year at Oregon State he held an uncommon summer job for most college students. He worked for L.A. Federal, an armored truck company. As a 20-year old he was trusted with handling and bundling $100 thousand a day in small bills. Since then no one has trusted him as much with their fortunes until now when the Bills will make him their starting weak side linebacker in a revamped and dramatically younger defense.
Fortunately for Buffalo's staff they had the luxury of an extended interview process which included seven starts for Ellison as a rookie. Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell feels very comfortable with the heady linebacker on the field.
"He was a consistent guy last year," said Fewell of Ellison's rookie campaign. "He was a guy that just went out and did his job and that's what he's doing again this year."
Ellison appeared in 14 games as a rookie including the season opener after Takeo Spikes went down with a hamstring injury. By week two he was making his first NFL start and one week later he tied London Fletcher with a game-high eight tackles.
Showing so much promise as a rookie, the coaching staff believes Ellison's play will take a noticeable leap forward in year two.
"I think he is making that jump because the knowledge is there, and you're seeing some of his playmaking abilities come out," said Fewell.
"He did an excellent job last year being a rookie and having to come in and play for us," said veteran Angelo Crowell. "He did well last year and now it is a situation where he is getting more comfortable with the defense. From year one to two that's where you become more comfortable in the defense and you can see a change in your game."
Before the first week of practices were even close to being finished at training camp this summer at St. John Fisher, Ellison led the defense with three interceptions, two of which would have been returned for touchdowns in game situations.
Even though he knows he's being counted on to play a starting role for Buffalo's young defense, he can't help but think where he was at this time a year ago.
"This time in camp last year I was third string and I was getting just a few reps a day," said the former sixth-round pick. "So there are a lot more things on my plate, but as far as putting in the defense it's all the same."
Ellison isn't taxed mentally when it comes to defensive concepts, coverage responsibilities and run fits. He studies very hard to learn it, but once he's absorbed it the information is on lockdown.
"I put a lot of time in," he said. "I do what I'm supposed to be doing. I think I have a very good retention rate so when somebody tells me something or I make a mistake and get corrected on it I try not to make that same mistake again. I think I'm just good at remembering information."
"We very seldom had to correct or get on him a lot a year ago," Fewell said. "So he's just taking off from where he left a year ago, and then he's adding on top of that."
And Fewell is adding to his responsibilities as well as he tries to find new ways to take advantage of the skills possessed by the second-year linebacker.
...
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