Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

[Mitchell55]

I understand he was a surprise pick at 8, but he has lived up to be a very great player. Look at this. All in red have been busts. Blue are the players who have been ok. Whitner has had better success than most of the players picked after him. Only 8 players turned out to be great and Whitner could be put into that catagory.

1	Houston	Mario Williams - DE
2	New Orleans	Reggie Bush - RB
3	Tennessee	Vince Young - QB
4	New York	D'Brickashaw Ferguson - OT
5	Green Bay	A.J. Hawk - LB
6	San Francisco	Vernon Davis - TE
7	Oakland	Michael Huff - DB
8	Buffalo	Donte' Whitner - DB
9	Detroit	Ernie Sims - LB
10	Arizona	Matt Leinart - QB
11	Denver	Jay Cutler - QB
12	Baltimore	Haloti Ngata - DT
13	Cleveland	Kamerion Wimbley - DE
14	Philadelphia	Brodrick Bunkley - DT
15	St. Louis	Tye Hill - DB
16	Miami	Jason Allen - DB
17	Minnesota	Chad Greenway - LB
18	Dallas	Bobby Carpenter - LB
19	San Diego	Antonio Cromartie - DB
20	Kansas City	Tamba Hali - DE
21	New England	Laurence Maroney - RB
22	San Francisco	Manny Lawson - DE
23	Tampa Bay	Davin Joseph - OG
24	Cincinnati	Johnathan Joseph - DB
25	Pittsburgh	Santonio Holmes - WR
26	Buffalo	John McCargo - DT
27	Carolina	DeAngelo Williams - RB
28	Jacksonville	Marcedes Lewis - TE
29	New York	Nick Mangold - C
30	Indianapolis	Joseph Addai - RB
31	Seattle	Kelly Jennings - DB
32	New York	Mathias Kiwanuka - DE

[Novacane]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

He's not a "very great" player. He's good and I'm glad he's a Bill but he's not great or near there imo.

[HHURRICANE]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I like Whitner. People have a hard on because we took him at #8. What people don't consider is who was taken after him at SS. There was him and Huff and than a drop off of mega proportions.

We cut Lawyer Milloy so we needed to take Whitner. Our D sucked and this kid played every position.

[Novacane]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

Bush is a bust huh? Are you serious?

[Philagape]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

No way has he lived up to No. 8 overall, yet.

[HHURRICANE]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

No way has he lived up to No. 8 overall, yet.

I really don't agree. Hard to be great when you are playing 5 different positions and having to back up the run D constantly.

At one point he was playing FS, CB, and LB in addition to SS.

[Historian]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I think he stinks.

Last year should have been his breakout year.

[Philagape]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I really don't agree. Hard to be great when you are playing 5 different positions and having to back up the run D constantly.

At one point he was playing FS, CB, and LB in addition to SS.

Then yes, you do agree. You're just saying why.

[HHURRICANE]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

Then yes, you do agree. You're just saying why.

I think it's unfair. I wonder how well Ben Rothlinsberger would have played his first two seasons had he had dropped one spot to the Bills?

[Jan Reimers]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I think he's had to play in the box, against the run, way too much because of our problems on the D-line and at LB.

With a better front seven, we should see him emerge as more of a playmaker this year.

[Philagape]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I think it's unfair. I wonder how well Ben Rothlinsberger would have played his first two seasons had he had dropped one spot to the Bills?

I'm not saying he's a bust, and I'm not saying he can't become worthy of the pick. I said he hasn't done it yet.

[Captain gameboy]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

Nobody on this site has any valid argument about the year he had last season. Way too hard to determine what he may have been asked to do with all of those injuries in the secondary and lb group.
Only the staff would really know.

The guy was lined up with next to safety who was a practice squad receiver in the prior weeks.
Think that might have impacted his role?

[Mitchell55]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

Bush is a bust huh? Are you serious?

Dude. Bush is listed by every sports writer in the country as a bust. Get some knowledge will ya.

[Patti120]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I think he is a solid player but as other "posters" have mentioned, he has had to play up in the box, etc. I think that based upon our prior defenses and the fact that we don't hear his name to often is actual an indication that he is doing a good job. Once he can focus solely on his position and can really just play his position I think we will all be happy with his performance.

I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say that he might be the "unsung hero" on our D.



I could be wrong but that is just my opinion so take it for what it is worth.

[OpIv37]

Re: Why does everyone talk bad about Whitner?

I like Whitner. People have a hard on because we took him at #8. What people don't consider is who was taken after him at SS. There was him and Huff and than a drop off of mega proportions.

We cut Lawyer Milloy so we needed to take Whitner. Our D sucked and this kid played every position.

our D still sucked after we got Whitner. We needed an impact player and through two seasons, Whitner has yet to do that. Tom Brady consistently whizzes TD passes by him, he's always getting to the play a step late, his hit on CJ was his only big hit in two years (after being touted as a "big hitter" coming out of college), he missed the tackle on McGahee that led to a huge touchdown run, and his INT's are extremely low. Hell, forget INT's, look at his tipped balls and pass breakups- I don't remember the exact number, but the amount of times he gets his hands on the ball is pathetically low.

Certainly there are worse safeties out there, but this guy has yet to live up to his potential or make an impact.

Also I have to question MLynch23's judgement on some of those players- Ngata has been much better than "ok". And why is it that Whitner can still be great, but several other players on that list from two years ago are already busts? Either Whitner's a bust too based on what he's done so far, or those guys could still be great. You can't judge the guys you like by one set of rules and the guys on other teams by a different set of rules.