This defense is going to be very good

[truth on hold]

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

all the units appear stong now. but we must AVOID THE INJURY BUG this season or it will all be for naught

[Brandon]

I say top 10 in ever d category

 

Taken alone, maybe, but don't forget that they still have the boat anchor on the other side of the ball to deal with. If the offense doesn't show significant improvement this year, this defense is going to look an awful lot worse than it really is because they'll be on the field the whole game. Hopefully Hardy will hit the ground running, but they've given themselves no plan B this offseason and if he struggles as a rookie, there's not much reason for optimism about this Bills offense, at least IMO, and its going to translate into problems for the defense as well.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

Unless McGee returns to 2006 form, I don't think he and Greer have a long future on this team, but I like them as stop-gap types until/if Youboty matures or another young corner is drafted. It would seem that Reggie Corner was drafted to eventually become the nickelback. Greer is a good depth guy, but he is not a starting CB on a good defense. McGee regressed a bit last season, and needs to pick up his play this year if wants to stay. Youboty is the X-factor. He has talent and can play, and if he reaches his potential he is better than McGee and Greer. But he needs to mature soon or he could be gone by next season. I don't think they cut him in camp though. They will probably keep 10 DBs: McKelvin, McGee, James, Greer, Youboty, Corner, Whitner, Simpson probably all make it. Wendling, Wilson, Scott fight it out for two spots. Cox goes to the practice squad. Injuries and guys games going to hell can obviously change that but I think that is how it will go. Good young secondary though. The young D core of McCargo, Poz, Whitner, and McKelvin looks good to build around. A nice every-down DE and a dynamic playmaking LB would be the next additions I would like to see.

Um...McGee needs to return to his 2006 form? The form that got him benched? He didn't regress last season, he finally established himself. You got this completely backwards. He's not a "stop-gap type," he's a long-term starting cornerback.

 

One of the few good things about the McKelvin pick is that I don't have to read about people whining about cornerbacks anymore when we have no pass rush. Please, at least give me that.

[truth on hold]

Taken alone, maybe, but don't forget that they still have the boat anchor on the other side of the ball to deal with. If the offense doesn't show significant improvement this year, this defense is going to look an awful lot worse than it really is because they'll be on the field the whole game. Hopefully Hardy will hit the ground running, but they've given themselves no plan B this offseason and if he struggles as a rookie, there's not much reason for optimism about this Bills offense, at least IMO, and its going to translate into problems for the defense as well.

true, we're starting to look like the bears. and that has both positive and negative implications.

[BuffaloRebound]

Looking back, it truly is amazing and a testament to the coaches that we were 7-6 and playing in Cleveland for a playoff spot. Add Stroud, Poz, Johnson, Ellis, Mitchell, McKelvin, Simpson and some more corner depth and we might have a defense that can get off the field. I just hope with all these new faces on defense that they can play with the same heart the under-manned guys played with last year.

 

Lack of a Tight End is still the #1 worry. Unless Hardy has a rookie-of-the-year type season, the offense really hasn't improved much on paper. God forbid if one of starting OT's goes down.

[todd]

God I hope so. I have a new meditation chant instead of "Ommmmm":

 

"Pleasedon'tgethurt, Pleasedon'tgethurt, pleasedon'tgethurt"

 

DE:Schobel,Kelsey,Ellis,Denney

DT: Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams

OLB: Mitchell, Ellison, Bowen

MLB: Posluszny, DiGiorgio

OLB: Crowell

CB: McKelvin, McGee, Greer, James, Corner, Youboty

FS: Simpson, Wilson

SS: Whitner

 

Nucleus in bold

Youth: Average nucleus age 26.47

Signed: 15 out of 17 nucleus players under contract threw 2009

Depth: 19 of 23 players with starting experience

[Brandon]

true, we're starting to look like the bears. and that has both positive and negative implications.

 

I hope its just a case where they really did think that most of the guys available on offense this year sucked, both in the draft and FA. I've never been a big fan of building a team that is strong on one side of the ball, weak as a kitten on the other. Hopefully, its just the intense frustration and skepticism I've developed for this Bills offense over the last 4-5 years talking, but I see a team that's weak right up the middle, both in the passing game and running game (lack of a quality C and TE), and I think its going to haunt them until they fix it.

[molson_golden2002]

I think Schobel is one of the top DEs in the league. Add in a healthy Denney, platoon him with Kelsay, and add in Ellis and our DE's have a nice rotation. Tripplet did not do much for us last year, Williams is better in a rotation, and last year McCargo was recovering from a foot injury. Without help from the interior Schobel's job is much more difficult. I would bet dollars to donuts that Schobels sack totals go up this year. McCargo really came on last year and will only improve. Stroud and Johnson are a huge upgrade over Tripplet. I do not think people give Schobel enough credit

He is above average, but that's about it. He isn't a dominating player unless he's playing against a backup or someting. The defense as a whole looks good though. Let's hope they can stay healthy this year. Good defense plus solid running game and a decent passing offence might just get them into the playoffs

[Lofton80]

Keys are for Stroud to stay healthy and McCargo to progress. No more Kyle Williams and Jason Jefferson trying to pass rush.

 

I think one os the reasons we drafted so many corners is due to the lousy run support we got out of that position. Youbouty cannot tackle and likely is gone.