Question #2: Who will emerge on defense?

[madness]

Buffalo's 2008 defense certainly has its share of headliners. Marcus Stroudhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#) and Aaron Schobelhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#) are chief among them as they have five Pro Bowls between them. And Kawika Mitchellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#) has a gigantic Super Bowl ring on his finger.
But who will take a big step forward in their NFL career for the Bills defensively this season? There are some names that have been on this Buffalo defense for more than a season, but are they ready to take their game to a level where observers have no choice but to recognize their exploits on the field?
Buffalo's three main candidates are all young players and all former draft picks of the last three seasons. All of them have provided Bills fans with a taste of what they're capable of, but they've got a lot more to put on display and stand a good chance of doing so this fall...

http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235

[madness]

Donte Whitnerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#)
There are some that still scoff at the fact that Whitner was taken 8th overall in the 2006 NFL draft. While Whitner has proven himself a capable starter in his first two NFL seasons, the big plays have still been too few and far between.
But that was due more to the limitations within Buffalo's defensive scheme than Whitner himself. Lacking top flight personnel at a majority of the defensive positions, coordinator Perry Fewellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#) had to also limit Whitner's ability to roam freely. As a result Whitner had to be more responsible defensively both against the run and the pass.
Now with the addition of proven veteran talent up front and a veteran presence in the slot in Will Jameshttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6235#), Fewell has the freedom to turn Whitner loose and use him as the multi-faceted weapon he's capable of being.
With the ability to line up as a blitzer, a slot corner, a centerfielder and extra linebacker, Whitner's production could be off the charts this season as Fewell has big plans for the versatile safety.

Somebody on this board better school Fewell on how Whitner is a bust and save him the trouble.

[PECKERWOOD]

That is a loaded question, if the question was: "Who will emerge on offense." I could give you an answer in .2 seconds but pertaining to the defensive side of the ball it's really hard for me to pick just one player because I think we are absolutely loaded this year on defense. I think our DL is going to eat QB's/RB's alive this year but if I have to pick ONE player then it will be Posluszny because typically MLB's put up incredible numbers because of the nature of the position. I really wanted to give those honors to a DL'men but I can't decide between Stroud, Williams and McCargo.

[mysticsoto]

That is a loaded question, if the question was: "Who will emerge on offense." I could give you an answer in .2 seconds but pertaining to the defensive side of the ball it's really hard for me to pick just one player because I think we are absolutely loaded this year on defense. I think our DL is going to eat QB's/RB's alive this year but if I have to pick ONE player then it will be Posluszny because typically MLB's put up incredible numbers because of the nature of the position. I really wanted to give those honors to a DL'men but I can't decide between Stroud, Williams and McCargo.

Poz is probably a good choice. With Stroud charging down the middle and McCargo doing the same when Stroud sits, I think Poz will have an easier time manning the middle of the field for quick, short slant passes as well as chasing down RBs that are forced to run sideways.

[DraftBoy]

Who needs to emerge:
Whitner
Simpson/Wilson
Poz
McCargo/Johnson

Who will emerge:
Johnson
Poz

[FlyingDutchman]

Ko Simpson will emerge

[justasportsfan]

Whitner!Whitner!Whitner! He's a probowler in the making and a great leader who will eventually make Fletcher look like a corporal.

[djjimkelly]

how about nobody we dont run a scheme that sets anyone up to make big plays.

of course im hoping to be wrong but we run a **** system in the cover 2.

i do like POZ to have a big year.

but i call 0 pro bowlers

[mysticsoto]

how about nobody we dont run a scheme that sets anyone up to make big plays.

of course im hoping to be wrong but we run a **** system in the cover 2.

i do like POZ to have a big year.

but i call 0 pro bowlers


I'm not sure what you mean by the above. The cover 2 is actually designed to create turnovers. In that sense, it is probably the best scheme that's designed to make big plays other than maybe LeBeau's style of varied blitz attacks. The cover 2 Dline is designed to penetrate and get after the QBs with sacks and forced fumbles. If they don't get the sack, they should atleast hurry the QB into making a mistake by throwing before he is ready or before he has completed reading a defense. In that sense, LBs patrolling the field, CBs and Safeties, can possibly get some interceptions. Last year, despite our woes at the Dline and starting LB & S being out, we still did pretty well and were tied in 7th place with interceptions!

[DraftBoy]

I'm not sure what you mean by the above. The cover 2 is actually designed to create turnovers. In that sense, it is probably the best scheme that's designed to make big plays other than maybe LeBeau's style of varied blitz attacks. The cover 2 Dline is designed to penetrate and get after the QBs with sacks and forced fumbles. If they don't get the sack, they should atleast hurry the QB into making a mistake by throwing before he is ready or before he has completed reading a defense. In that sense, LBs patrolling the field, CBs and Safeties, can possibly get some interceptions. Last year, despite our woes at the Dline and starting LB & S being out, we still did pretty well and were tied in 7th place with interceptions!

At least somebody understands the scheme...

[PECKERWOOD]

Who needs to emerge:
Whitner
Simpson/Wilson
Poz
McCargo/Johnson

Who will emerge:
Johnson
Poz

I think that we're relying heavily on Stroud in particular to emerge as a leader on the DL and ofcourse we expect Williams and McCargo to pick up where they left off.

[patmoran2006]

If he's injury free, I think Ko Simpson emerges big time this year.

[OpIv37]

If he's injury free, I think Ko Simpson emerges big time this year.

that depends how much of his injury time he spent hitting the books and game tapes. Ko's got the physical tools but the mental aspects of the game were holding him back in his rookie season. He never really got going last year before the injury so it's impossible to tell whether he improved yet.

[tat2dmike77]

I love whitner cause he knocked the crap out of Chad Johnson last season and that made me very happy to see him wooble off the field.

I think and this is a long shot and i'm sure i will catch flack for this but maybe just maybe yobooty or however you spell ashtons name.

Yeah it may be a lonshot but he could help the defense in ways that nobody expects.

On anthor note i can't wait for the season to start so we have something worthwhile to talk about.

[Jolielova143]

I think the addition of Mitchell is really going to solidify our LB'ers. I'm really excited to have that guy playin on our team. I think he's going to be a great producer in that spot!

Man, I can't wait for football!!!!!

[yordad]

Kelsey, McCargo, Stroud, Schobel, Johnson, Williams, Greer, Whitner, Simpson, McGee, McKelvin, James, Poz, Crowell, Mitchell, Denny, et al.

I think the defense as a whole will emerge. Solid all around. No holes. Every week we'll have a different hero. The no- named defense. Team work. 11 leaders on the field at a time.

Everyone accountable and hopefully dependable.

[Mr. Pink]

Poz better emerge in the mental aspect of the game...knowing the calls, reading plays, etc. If he doesn't, the D is gonna be miserable. It's already bad enough that I don't think he can make up for his liabilities in the pass defense department.