"Oh great looks like we draft another Antoine Winfield"

[elegantelliotoffen]

I know he had few picks but he was a solid lockdown corner on Bills teams whose defense was awesome. If McKelvin is another Winfield I would be thrilled!

[Sisyphean Bills]

I know he had few picks but he was a solid lockdown corner on Bills teams whose defense was awesome. If McKelvin is another Winfield I would be thrilled!

 

IMHO, having the next Winfield is not a bad thing.

 

The potentially bad thing will be if, after spending millions and a few years to develop him, the Bills kick him to the curb and draft another CB in 4-6 years to restart the clock at zero. And doing that while they go trawling the free agent scrap heap for "Trey Teague putty" to fill holes on the OL and DL.

[elegantelliotoffen]

IMHO, having the next Winfield is not a bad thing.

 

The potentially bad thing will be if, after spending millions and a few years to develop him, the Bills kick him to the curb and draft another CB in 4-6 years to restart the clock at zero. And doing that while they go trawling the free agent scrap heap for "Trey Teague putty" to fill holes on the OL and DL.

 

Couldnt that be said about any position?

[buffaloboyinATL]

IMHO, having the next Winfield is not a bad thing.

 

The potentially bad thing will be if, after spending millions and a few years to develop him, the Bills kick him to the curb and draft another CB in 4-6 years to restart the clock at zero. And doing that while they go trawling the free agent scrap heap for "Trey Teague putty" to fill holes on the OL and DL.

We will get plenty of use out of him in the return game while he develops.

[John Adams]

Winfield had the rep of being a hard hitter--and was. McElvin has the opposite rep. Soft as a tackler. He's no Winfield.

[BenchBledsoe]

Winfield had the rep of being a hard hitter--and was. McElvin has the opposite rep. Soft as a tackler. He's no Winfield.

I agree. But, McKelvin is widely considered much better in coverage than Winfield. Winfield is only slightly above average in that category. Anyone notice Minnesota's pass D last year? Wasn't it last or 31st?

[Sisyphean Bills]

Couldnt that be said about any position?

 

Yes. The Bills just have a long history of doing this with CBs. If they had tossed aside 4 straight franchise LTs in free agency, people wouldn't be thrilled either.

 

The one difference is that some positions, such as LT or QB, are very difficult to impossible to fill via free agency. Elite QBs do not hit the free agent market, for example. CB is not one of those positions. CB, WR, and RB are examples of positions where it is more likely to see very good talent change teams.

[John Adams]

I agree. But, McKelvin is widely considered much better in coverage than Winfield. Winfield is only slightly above average in that category. Anyone notice Minnesota's pass D last year? Wasn't it last or 31st?

 

So he's not the tackler Winfield is. And he's better in coverage than Winfield. He returns kicks where Winfield did not.

 

Why exactly are people comparing him to Winfield? Because he can't intercept a ball?

[BenchBledsoe]

So he's not the tackler Winfield is. And he's better in coverage than Winfield. He returns kicks where Winfield did not.

 

Why exactly are people comparing him to Winfield? Because he can't intercept a ball?

Yes. His hands are like Winfield's, the scouts say. Even Jauron addressed it saying that if McKelvin actually caught the ball, "it would be a bonus".

[In-A-Gadda-Levitre]

Modrak said they weren't worried, saying that he is such an athlete that he gets his hands on balls that many others wouldn't, and many of his dropsies aren't really catchable. Yes, he said he dropped a couple, but not a big deal. He also said what a great problem to have, your corner has his hands on the ball and maybe doesn't catch it.

[Lurker]

Couldnt that be said about any position?

Of course it can. But there are 5-6 guys here who don't seem to care/understand that....you'll get used to it after a while.

[WildBills]

that's fine if they kick him to the curb, as long as we win a superbowl first

[Pyrite Gal]

I agree. But, McKelvin is widely considered much better in coverage than Winfield. Winfield is only slightly above average in that category. Anyone notice Minnesota's pass D last year? Wasn't it last or 31st?

Winfield was obviously a very good player (and he was one the Bills were setting up to sign him as an FA but Milloy suddenly came on the market and AWs money correctly was used to give a huge contract to Milloy so we did not have to start Coy Wire at SS) and the comparisons with McKelvin are overblown.

 

AW was a very good cover guy and McKelvin may be even better. McKelvin also brings performance in the return game in college that AW did not have,

 

That being said, folks are concerned because in the version of the Dover 2 we run, McKelvin will not be utilized much as a cover guy expected to take WRs all over the field. Unless we alter our D a lot the best part of his game will not be utilized. What's worse, given the primary role a CB plays in a Cover 2 of containing and tackling outside rushers, IF this is a problem for him he does not seem well-suited to how we use the CB.

 

As far as MN sucking in pass protection, they apparently are spending major resources to improve their pass rush. Particularly with WRs getting so big and so good and with QBs aspiring to the Tom Brady model of accuracy depending upon shutdown coverage as the primary way one stops the pass is simply a losing battle. Most teams would easily trade 6 passes being defensed in exchange for one TD. Unless the CB is good at getting the INT to really stick a fork in the O, simply defending against the pass is good but ultimately is a losing proposition.

[BenchBledsoe]

Winfield was obviously a very good player (and he was one the Bills were setting up to sign him as an FA but Milloy suddenly came on the market and AWs money correctly was used to give a huge contract to Milloy so we did not have to start Coy Wire at SS) and the comparisons with McKelvin are overblown.

 

AW was a very good cover guy and McKelvin may be even better. McKelvin also brings performance in the return game in college that AW did not have,

 

That being said, folks are concerned because in the version of the Dover 2 we run, McKelvin will not be utilized much as a cover guy expected to take WRs all over the field. Unless we alter our D a lot the best part of his game will not be utilized. What's worse, given the primary role a CB plays in a Cover 2 of containing and tackling outside rushers, IF this is a problem for him he does not seem well-suited to how we use the CB.

 

As far as MN sucking in pass protection, they apparently are spending major resources to improve their pass rush. Particularly with WRs getting so big and so good and with QBs aspiring to the Tom Brady model of accuracy depending upon shutdown coverage as the primary way one stops the pass is simply a losing battle. Most teams would easily trade 6 passes being defensed in exchange for one TD. Unless the CB is good at getting the INT to really stick a fork in the O, simply defending against the pass is good but ultimately is a losing proposition.

Sounds like you do not really like the McKelvin pick. Do you?