Ron Brooks finally gone... Thankfully

[X-Era]

http://www.wgr550.com/Brooks-will-not-return-in-2016/22350739

Never been a fan. I'd be surprised if CB is not a position where we sign or draft someone. Probably not to big money or with a high pick but still.

If it were me I'd be looking for a guy that can return punts and kicks as well.

[Night Train]

yawn

[YardRat]

I liked Brooks coming out of college and was glad the Bills plucked him, in all honesty. He never even was able to attain the level I expected of him (nickel/dime corner), and he shouldn't have made the team this season to begin with.

[Crisis]

Him lined up on DeAndre Hopkins in crunchtime was one of the most baffling things of the year.

[Albany,n.y.]

Another failure on the part of Buddy Nix. Of course, his biggest failure that year was trading up in the 3rd round to draft Russell Wilson and writing the name T.J. Graham on the card instead.

[Scumbag College]

I liked the Brooks pick and he actually played will in preseason of his rookie year...then he broke his foot near the end of that preseason and never seemed to be able to put it together. Definitely shouldn't have made the team vs. Cockrell this year. I wouldn't mind a mid round pick as a 4th CB, we really can't complain with our starters and Robey as a nickel. You need at least 4 good CBs (preferably 5) active on game days in the NFL now with the multiple WR sets and injuries.

[YardRat]

Put Graham back at corner and get a real safety.

[Mace]

http://www.wgr550.com/Brooks-will-not-return-in-2016/22350739

Never been a fan. I'd be surprised if CB is not a position where we sign or draft someone. Probably not to big money or with a high pick but still.

If it were me I'd be looking for a guy that can return punts and kicks as well.

I'm just happy to agree with you wholeheartedly on something for a change.

[yordad]

Kinda weird he is acting like he is worth more than someone is offering.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Gilmore, Darby, Butler, Robey, Graham. McKelvin walks to save cap room. That's a pretty solid group.

[BillsImpossible]

I wish him the best.

[casdhf]

I wanted him cut after that taunting penalty on special teams.

[starrymessenger]

Another failure on the part of Buddy Nix. Of course, his biggest failure that year was trading up in the 3rd round to draft Russell Wilson and writing the name T.J. Graham on the card instead.

I can forgive him for Wilson (albeit with difficulty) but if he was looking for a WR TJ over TY? C'mon Man!

[swiper]

Another failure on the part of Buddy Nix. Of course, his biggest failure that year was trading up in the 3rd round to draft Russell Wilson and writing the name T.J. Graham on the card instead.

I am still hot as anyone about taking TJ Graham and not one of the 3 starting QBs in the 2012 draft (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1161625-buffalo-bills-2012-nfl-draft-picks-grades-results-and-analysis/page/11). But that draft did yield Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn and Nigel Bradham. Not to mention, I think, Tank Carder is still playing with the Browns. So that draft wasn't a complete failure. Just another QB failure draft.

[Dr. Lecter]

Gilmore, Darby, Butler, Robey, Graham. McKelvin walks to save cap room. That's a pretty solid group.

McKelvin is better than Graham right now. Graham was moved to safety in part because he can't cover very well anymore.

And I don't get how getting rid of Brooks is a "finally". He's a 5th CB. Those guys aren't very good

[Dr. Lecter]

Another failure on the part of Buddy Nix. Of course, his biggest failure that year was trading up in the 3rd round to draft Russell Wilson and writing the name T.J. Graham on the card instead.

He was a 4th round pick

What was he supposed to be? Revis?

Nix had a lot of failures. A 4th round pick that was on the team for 5 years isn't one of them

[X-Era]

McKelvin is better than Graham right now. Graham was moved to safety in part because he can't cover very well anymore.

And I don't get how getting rid of Brooks is a "finally". He's a 5th CB. Those guys aren't very goodBecause he could of and should have been replaced last year or the year before with a rookie who might actually develop into something.

Instead he was tying up a roster spot and play crappy when he played. You don't keep guys for 5 years just because they are 4th rounders. If they don't get better or belong on the field hey should be gone.

[YardRat]

McKelvin is better than Graham right now. Graham was moved to safety in part because he can't cover very well anymore.


Eh, I don't know about that...he had a better season under Schwartz than McKelvin (who played well in '14 also), and more than a couple of games where he was the best corner on the field, including Gilmore. Granted, Graham got toasted a few times this year, but playing S in Wrecks' scheme is an entirely different animal than corner.

[Dr. Lecter]

Eh, I don't know about that...he had a better season under Schwartz than McKelvin (who played well in '14 also), and more than a couple of games where he was the best corner on the field, including Gilmore. Granted, Graham got toasted a few times this year, but playing S in Wrecks' scheme is an entirely different animal than corner.
If he can't cover at safety how can he cover at corner?

And he wasn't better than McKelvin in 14 anyway.

[DraftBoy]

Because he could of and should have been replaced last year or the year before with a rookie who might actually develop into something.

Instead he was tying up a roster spot and play crappy when he played. You don't keep guys for 5 years just because they are 4th rounders. If they don't get better or belong on the field hey should be gone.

The Bills brought in competition for Brooks in the form of draft picks like Ross Cockrell, so it's not like he was anointed to make the team annually. And before you talk about how bad Cockrell is he was the guy who made the game turning fumble recovery last night as part of the Steelers DB rotation.

[DraftBoy]

Eh, I don't know about that...he had a better season under Schwartz than McKelvin (who played well in '14 also), and more than a couple of games where he was the best corner on the field, including Gilmore. Granted, Graham got toasted a few times this year, but playing S in Wrecks' scheme is an entirely different animal than corner.


McKelvin was really good in 2014. As a primarily slot cover CB he shut down that option, had a career high four INT's and made multiple big plays. In no way, shape, or form was Graham better.

[YardRat]

If he can't cover at safety how can he cover at corner?

And he wasn't better than McKelvin in 14 anyway.


McKelvin was really good in 2014. As a primarily slot cover CB he shut down that option, had a career high four INT's and made multiple big plays. In no way, shape, or form was Graham better.

I'm thinking you guys might want to re-visit some threads from last season, especially the first-half. A common theme is Graham was playing the best of any of the corners on the team, and should be starting.

Also, as I stated earlier, covering from a safety position and covering from corner is apples and oranges.

[Dr. Lecter]

I'm thinking you guys might want to re-visit some threads from last season, especially the first-half. A common theme is Graham was playing the best of any of the corners on the team, and should be starting.

Also, as I stated earlier, covering from a safety position and covering from corner is apples and oranges.
They would've been wrong.

But I'm sure either one of us would be willing to review them

And yes coverage can be different. Graham was beat at corner the second half of last year too a lot. He was moved for a reason. Generally, it's easier to cover at safety than it is at CB.

I doubt you would deny that, although you might surprise us.....

[DraftBoy]

I'm thinking you guys might want to re-visit some threads from last season, especially the first-half. A common theme is Graham was playing the best of any of the corners on the team, and should be starting.

Also, as I stated earlier, covering from a safety position and covering from corner is apples and oranges.

You think the threads here are much evidence of anything? Every week there are threads asking to bench/cut any number of starting players and others calling the same player the greatest ever.

[YardRat]

They would've been wrong.

But I'm sure either one of us would be willing to review them

And yes coverage can be different. Graham was beat at corner the second half of last year too a lot. He was moved for a reason. Generally, it's easier to cover at safety than it is at CB.

I doubt you would deny that, although you might surprise us.....

Well, we'll just have to disagree...I think they are right.

You don't know if the reason was his declining coverage skills (your contention, not mine) or simply a move based on numbers and need.

I will deny that covering from a safety position is more difficult than corner...more reads, more responsibilities, more decision making involved. Corners man up or squat a zone, on their third/quarter of a field only...safety responsibility is much more dependent on who on the offense is doing what, and when. The only time safety might be easier than corner is when that particular position is locked into a C1 or C2 regardless of any other circumstances...even then, choices need to be made.


You think the threads here are much evidence of anything? Every week there are threads asking to bench/cut any number of starting players and others calling the same player the greatest ever.

Not really, but I think a generally-held perception can be held up as evidence to a certain point, especially when more than a few share the same opinion of the 'eye test'.

If either of you prefer statistics instead of watching the actual play on the field...

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2015/best-cornerback-stats-2014

Best Cornerback in a Supporting Role The Best Supporting Cornerback for 2014 was a slam dunk. Corey Graham (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/player/15943/corey-graham), part of a Bills defense that ranked second in DVOA (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef), blew away the field. Ranks here represent placement among 45 cornerbacks who didn't qualify as No. 1 corners but had either eight starts or 50 charted passes.



<tbody>
Top Supporting Role Cornerbacks by Adjusted Success Rate, 2014


Player
Team
Games
Started
Charted
Targets
Pct Team
Snaps
Est
Tgt%
Rk
Adj
Yds/Pass
Rk
Adj Success
Rate
Rk


Corey Graham
BUF
9
58
71.6%
20.0%
8
4.8
1
71%
1


Kareem Jackson
HOU
13
66
68.5%
20.6%
12
5.7
3
61%
2


Brandon Boykin
PHI
0
56
42.7%
30.3%
41
6.2
6
59%
3


Rashean Mathis
DET
16
74
97.9%
18.8%
4
5.7
2
58%
4


Chris Culliver
SF
14
74
78.4%
22.6%
22
6.2
7
58%
5


Orlando Scandrick
DAL
14
52
83.8%
16.2%
2
7.2
12
57%
6


Brandon Browner
NE
9
53
53.3%
22.5%
21
7.4
14
56%
7


Jerraud Powers
ARI
11
76
70.3%
26.0%
34
7.7
18
56%
8


Aqib Talib
DEN
15
91
84.8%
22.4%
20
5.9
4
55%
9


Adam Jones
CIN
3
76
69.1%
24.9%
30
6.1
5
55%
10


Patrick Robinson
NO
6
51
57.1%
20.7%
14
7.0
10
53%
11


D.J. Hayden
OAK
8
60
52.0%
31.3%
42
8.4
26
53%
12


Cary Williams
PHI
16
92
99.2%
21.4%
15
9.1
31
52%
13


Jimmy Smith
BAL
8
37
42.5%
20.6%
13
6.8
8
51%
14


Byron Maxwell
SEA
12
66
71.6%
25.4%
32
6.9
9
51%
15

</tbody>

Graham posted a 71 percent success rate, nine points higher than any other corner in football, and allowed just 4.8 adjusted yards per pass, almost a full yard better than any other corner. With Stephon Gilmore (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/player/29547/stephon-gilmore) one spot off the list for No. 1 corners, the Bills' secondary is perhaps underrated. They benefit from a pass rush that ranked first in the NFL in adjusted sack rate, but the secondary leaped off the film on its own -- against Green Bay, to give one strong example. Graham's dominance in his role extended far beyond that game.

[DraftBoy]

Well, we'll just have to disagree...I think they are right.

You don't know if the reason was his declining coverage skills (your contention, not mine) or simply a move based on numbers and need.

I will deny that covering from a safety position is more difficult than corner...more reads, more responsibilities, more decision making involved. Corners man up or squat a zone, on their third/quarter of a field only...safety responsibility is much more dependent on who on the offense is doing what, and when. The only time safety might be easier than corner is when that particular position is locked into a C1 or C2 regardless of any other circumstances...even then, choices need to be made.



Not really, but I think a generally-held perception can be held up as evidence to a certain point, especially when more than a few share the same opinion of the 'eye test'.

If either of you prefer statistics instead of watching the actual play on the field...

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2015/best-cornerback-stats-2014

Best Cornerback in a Supporting Role The Best Supporting Cornerback for 2014 was a slam dunk. Corey Graham (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/player/15943/corey-graham), part of a Bills defense that ranked second in DVOA (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef), blew away the field. Ranks here represent placement among 45 cornerbacks who didn't qualify as No. 1 corners but had either eight starts or 50 charted passes.



<tbody>
Top Supporting Role Cornerbacks by Adjusted Success Rate, 2014


Player
Team
Games
Started
Charted
Targets
Pct Team
Snaps
Est
Tgt%
Rk
Adj
Yds/Pass
Rk
Adj Success
Rate
Rk


Corey Graham
BUF
9
58
71.6%
20.0%
8
4.8
1
71%
1


Kareem Jackson
HOU
13
66
68.5%
20.6%
12
5.7
3
61%
2


Brandon Boykin
PHI
0
56
42.7%
30.3%
41
6.2
6
59%
3


Rashean Mathis
DET
16
74
97.9%
18.8%
4
5.7
2
58%
4


Chris Culliver
SF
14
74
78.4%
22.6%
22
6.2
7
58%
5


Orlando Scandrick
DAL
14
52
83.8%
16.2%
2
7.2
12
57%
6


Brandon Browner
NE
9
53
53.3%
22.5%
21
7.4
14
56%
7


Jerraud Powers
ARI
11
76
70.3%
26.0%
34
7.7
18
56%
8


Aqib Talib
DEN
15
91
84.8%
22.4%
20
5.9
4
55%
9


Adam Jones
CIN
3
76
69.1%
24.9%
30
6.1
5
55%
10


Patrick Robinson
NO
6
51
57.1%
20.7%
14
7.0
10
53%
11


D.J. Hayden
OAK
8
60
52.0%
31.3%
42
8.4
26
53%
12


Cary Williams
PHI
16
92
99.2%
21.4%
15
9.1
31
52%
13


Jimmy Smith
BAL
8
37
42.5%
20.6%
13
6.8
8
51%
14


Byron Maxwell
SEA
12
66
71.6%
25.4%
32
6.9
9
51%
15

</tbody>

Graham posted a 71 percent success rate, nine points higher than any other corner in football, and allowed just 4.8 adjusted yards per pass, almost a full yard better than any other corner. With Stephon Gilmore (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/player/29547/stephon-gilmore) one spot off the list for No. 1 corners, the Bills' secondary is perhaps underrated. They benefit from a pass rush that ranked first in the NFL in adjusted sack rate, but the secondary leaped off the film on its own -- against Green Bay, to give one strong example. Graham's dominance in his role extended far beyond that game.

Then explain the position switch.

[YardRat]

Then explain the position switch.

Wrecks is a ****ing moron that ruined the defense.

Next question?

[DraftBoy]

Wrecks is a ****ing moron that ruined the defense.

Next question?

Is Rex going to be the excuse for everything for the next few years, similar to the Andy Levitre loss excuse to the struggles in the rushing attack?

[Dr. Lecter]

Wrecks is a ****ing moron that ruined the defense.

Next question?

Yes, his history of coaching defense clearly shows he knows nothing about defense. At all.

If Graham was so great, why was McKelvin starting over him?

Or was Schwartz a moron too?

[jamze132]

Put Graham back at corner and get a real safety.
Uh no. Cut Graham.