Who will be the nickel corner?

[justasportsfan]

It's a position where your head has to be on a swivel and you can't use the sideline as an extra defender. Things happen fast in the slot for a cornerback so you have to be quick, smart and strong. What Bills cornerback fits that list of criteria the best will be determined in training camp in a couple of weeks.

Buffalo's nickel corner job is completely up for grabs as veteran slot corner Kiwaukee Thomas was not re-signed by the club this offseason. The main candidates to claim the role are veteran free agent signee Will James and rookies Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner.

James worked throughout the spring with the first nickel unit and performed admirably, which is not surprising since he has experience in the slot.

"My last year in New York (Giants) I was playing inside," said James. "So I was playing inside and outside matching up with receivers. Then I was out for a year and came back with Philly and they used me in the nickel also."

James is a heady player and at 6'0" and 200 pounds he can also muscle up on receivers inside and re-route them.

"Things happen fast and receivers have two-way go's and you have the short quick guys in there a lot of the time," said James. "You also have run reads, so there's a lot going on at one time."

That's why the other two candidates for the job in McKelvin and Corner could be at a disadvantage in the competition in terms of experience.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6213

[Mr. Pink]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Greer will be the nickle corner.

You don't draft a CB in round 1 if you don't plan on him being one of your top 2 corners.

James will end up being the dime corner.

[Confused]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Alot more mention of corner and james than mckelvin. I see mckelvin @ no2 or even no.1 after the bye.

[OpIv37]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

I think that before the halfway point, Greer will be nickel and McKelvin will be starting.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Slot CB role is James' to lose
Today Posted By: Chris Brown | Time: 1:18 PM ET | Link


SLOT CB ROLE IS JAMES' TO LOSE: Even though it will be an open competition for the slot CB role in the nickel package, Will James clearly has the inside track entering camp. It's clear that since defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has been here that he prefers an experienced player in that role. Kiwaukee Thomas was the first example since Dick Jauron's staff has been here. James looks like the next.

There's just too much riding on this season to put a wet behind the ears rookie out there. You need a guy that's been in there before. Corner and McKelvin could be quick on the uptake and outperform him, but I think their level of play would have to be dramatically better to take the job from him. Anyone feel differently?

http://buffalobills.com/blog/index.jsp?blogger_id=1

[gr8slayer]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

I'm sure McKelvin will start out as the number three. Greer deserves a shot after the way he played last season.

[Confused]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

No1 greer
No2 mckelvin
No3 Mcgee

in my convoluted world.

[gr8slayer]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

No1 greer
No2 mckelvin
No3 Mcgee

in my convoluted world.

I still think that Greer is our best CB with McGee closely following. I can't say anything about McKelvin yet.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

McKelvin starts out as Nickle, and then by mid season becomes the starter over either McGee or Greer. Probably McGee...

[Pinkerton Security]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

McKelvin starts out as Nickle, and then by mid season becomes the starter over either McGee or Greer. Probably McGee...

i dont get it. why would greer leapfrog over mcgee in the depth chart?? special teams?? no way. that is only 3 or 4 returns a game (hopefully) compared to having arguably our best corner starting. i just dont see them making the tradeoff, especially when parrish and mckelvin can do similarly well at returning kicks.

[gr8slayer]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Greer > McGee

[The Answer]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Slot CB role is James' to lose
Today Posted By: Chris Brown | Time: 1:18 PM ET | Link


SLOT CB ROLE IS JAMES' TO LOSE: Even though it will be an open competition for the slot CB role in the nickel package, Will James clearly has the inside track entering camp. It's clear that since defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has been here that he prefers an experienced player in that role. Kiwaukee Thomas was the first example since Dick Jauron's staff has been here. James looks like the next.

There's just too much riding on this season to put a wet behind the ears rookie out there. You need a guy that's been in there before. Corner and McKelvin could be quick on the uptake and outperform him, but I think their level of play would have to be dramatically better to take the job from him. Anyone feel differently?

http://buffalobills.com/blog/index.jsp?blogger_id=1

James was a solid signing - if McKelvin can secure a starting spot by midseason we might just have one of the deepest secondaries in the league.

Who knows - we might be good enough now to limit the Patriots to 30 points per game against us as well.

~The Answer

[Scumbag College]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

I love the explosive return abilities of McGee and during the week he just didn't have the practice time to work on kickoff returns and focus on being a starting CB. In today's NFL, you need at least three good CBs and probably five capable cbs on your roster with all of the 4 and 5 wide sets most teams use. If McKelvin and Greer are "1 and 2" McGee will still be playing on probably around half of the defensive plays as a nickel.

I think the CB position will be the most interesting positional battle this year in training camp and the preseason. If James is healthy, a fourth round pick and the collegiate playmaking skills of Corner, and Youboty finally showing flashes near the end of the year last year, I think at least one good player will be sent packing by the final cuts.

[Oaf]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

In Nickel situations, I'd like to see McGee move inside and McKelvin take his spot on the outside.

[Confused]

Re: Who will be the nickel corner?

Greer is a better cover corner than mcgee. MCkelvin is reportedly a shutdown corner. I am all for playing a Tampa2 if our corners can man up when they have to. Mcgee's size will suit us well in the nickel when he is called up for run support.