BeastMode54 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 In the NFL leadership is shown in many different ways. There are those players that lead by example. Others stand up and make sure they are heard in the locker room. Some leaders are most effective on the field, while others do their best work away from the action. Bills strong safety Donte Whitner, who already established himself as a leader in 2007, and is just entering his third NFL season, has taken his leadership to another level. Beginning this week, Whitner will be putting Bills top pick Leodis McKelvin up at his home with the intent of shortening the rookie's learning curve for the pro game. "I'm having him stay with me until he finds a place of his own," said Whitner. "Each night I'm going to teach him a little bit more about the defensive scheme. It's hard as a rookie because you're going to make mistakes. So I'll try to slowly bring him up to speed on things and be a sounding board for him if he has any questions." McKelvin was a bit floored by the offer extended to him by Whitner, but happily accepted the invite. "He told me he was in the same position I was and he told me he wanted to get me more comfortable with the playbook and get me through the plays faster to get me on the field faster," McKelvin told Buffalobills.com. "He's trying to help me out." Whitner can relate to McKelvin's situation. He too was a top pick of the Bills taken eighth overall in 2006. He knows what kind of expectations are out there that McKelvin has to live up to as a rookie and plans to help the cornerback fulfill them. "I feel I can help him make the transition," said Whitner. "Everybody doesn't get that type of mentor around them to help them make that transition into being a pro. Just because you make it to the NFL doesn't mean you're a pro. You have to learn how to eat, practice and sleep. You have to learn how to be a pro. I feel like I can teach him that." With a home theater just installed in the basement of his home, Whitner has the perfect environment to school McKelvin on film study and review practice tape. "I have all of the film at my house. I have the same tools that the coaches use to show us the film and the things that we need to know I have at my house," said Whitner. "So he and I have time to go one-on-one and I get the practice film from practice and show him what he did wrong in practice and how he can improve. We'll have the playbooks and anything else that he needs." "With him being on the field all the time the past two years and him knowing what he's got to do and helping me with my mistakes on the field, the fewer mistakes I'll make and the better I'll get as a player," said McKelvin. Cornerback was a thin position for the Bills until they signed veteran Will James in free agency and then drafted McKelvin as well as cornerbacks Reggie Corner and Kennard Cox. Now expected to be one of the more competitive positions in training camp this summer, Whitner realized that it would be best if he provided McKelvin with what he needs to know at his position. "Any time you come into a situation whether it's your teammates or anybody you have guys that want to compete so they might be a little reluctant to share information that can help you in fear that you might take their spot," said Whitner. "And that's natural with every team and every individual at every position. Me being a safety and him being a corner I naturally have to talk to him on the field anyway and get him lined up and tell him what's going on, so I feel the relationship will work better that way instead of another corner taking him in and helping him." "He makes all the calls so I listen to him whenever he's making a call anyway," said McKelvin. "With me and him working together personally I'm going to know exactly what I've got to do. It's a great benefit for me." Not playing the same position it's easier for Whitner to recognize the likelihood that the Bills at some point this fall will need to rely on McKelvin's talents. So Whitner believes if he can reduce the rookie's learning curve it will improve McKelvin's chances at making an impact in year one. "If you're going to be realistic about it, we drafted him that high because we needed somebody at that position," Whitner said. "I'm not knocking anybody else, but we need somebody at that position. He has all the physical tools. He runs hard to the football and he's not out there dogging the workouts and he really wants to learn. When you talk he listens. You don't meet a lot of guys like that and that's why I think he could be a great addition to our team and to this league. He's going to help us this year so it's never too early to try to get him ready." And knowing how rare it is to be presented with the offer he received from Whitner, McKelvin is looking to make good on his new teammate's expectations as well as everyone else's in Western New York. "It feels real good that he's put himself out there to help me with the playbook," said McKelvin. "You don't see that every day. I just have to learn from him and learn what he tells me and take it from there." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyT Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 "I have all of the film at my house. I have the same tools that the coaches use to show us the film and the things that we need to know I have at my house," said Whitner. "So he and I have time to go one-on-one and I get the practice film from practice and show him what he did wrong in practice and how he can improve. We'll have the playbooks and anything else that he needs." In a completely unrelated story, a man was apprehended on Whitner's property and accused of attempting to break into his basement. The suspect was a middle-aged Caucasian with brown hair with a $5 haircut, who was wearing a gray hoodie which featured the New England Patriots* logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 In the NFL leadership is shown in many different ways. ... "It feels real good that he's put himself out there to help me with the playbook," said McKelvin. "You don't see that every day. I just have to learn from him and learn what he tells me and take it from there." You forgot the "quoted with permission of the author" sentence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 In a completely unrelated story, a man was apprehended on Whitner's property and accused of attempting to break into his basement. The suspect was a middle-aged Caucasian with brown hair with a $5 haircut, who was wearing a gray hoodie which featured the New England Patriots* logo. "Is this the man you saw trying to break in Mr. Whitner?" "Yeah, that's him." "We also want him on suspicion of Trying to date waaaaay out of his league!! We believe he used incriminating tape in this game too!" This is a great story. I understand he can't house all of the rookie CB's but it would be cool if they got in on the film study too. Stuff like this just makes me say "Huff who?" I think the Bills got it right on draft day. Reach my bunghole!! Great pick!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyT Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I wonder if Greer is going to show up every once and awhile and cut the power to Dante's house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I wonder if Greer is going to show up every once and awhile and cut the power to Dante's house. Great article. I'm really impressed with Whitner's leadership in this situation. As the article referenced, its a little easier for him to do this because they don't play the same position, but this looks like a prime example of what Marv Levy saw in Whitner that many of the "talking heads" didn't take into account when he was drafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WellDressed Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 In a completely unrelated story, a man was apprehended on Whitner's property and accused of attempting to break into his basement. The suspect was a middle-aged Caucasian with brown hair with a $5 haircut, who was wearing a gray hoodie which featured the New England Patriots* logo. wait.....wait..........did that guy have the sleeves cut off, and a big "BB" under that hideous logo of that boston nfl team?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bills fan Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Donte Whitner sounds like an outstanding person to have on your team. What a true professional. If memory serves me right, I think he was personally mentored by an NFL pro while he was playing at Ohio State, but I forgot who that was? Does anyone remember if this is true? Go Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 but Whitner was a reach at 8 Nice article. Donte is a quality player, person and teammate. What else could you ask for in a Buffalo Bill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobot Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I want to see a Bills Media video showing Whitner's basement system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drnykterstein Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Nice article. Donte is a quality player, person and teammate. What else could you ask for in a Buffalo Bill? I'd take a whole team full of Donte's if we could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bflojohn Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Wow, is this player becoming the quintessential Buffalo Bill? Like Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly before him.... loyalty, team, leadership and mentorship of younger players from a 3rd year pro. This, to me, is the best article to point out that the Bills have this plan down, and the results will likely be extrordinary!! How can any Bills fan NOT enjoy this type of commitment, it makes me a pretty happy guy today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corp000085 Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Donte's a good guy. And, i'm calling BS on the "film training on the newly installed home theatre" It sounds a lot like "film training on the home theatre after some madden on the ps3". Gotta give it to donte though for letting a guy he's probably met 3 times in his life into his house, just to help the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Drane Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Donte's a good guy. And, i'm calling BS on the "film training on the newly installed home theatre" It sounds a lot like "film training on the home theatre after some madden on the ps3". Gotta give it to donte though for letting a guy he's probably met 3 times in his life into his house, just to help the team. That, and the Mr. Skin server is linked right into the television. Whitner clearly took over as the leader of this team during last year. He has some of the same intense honesty and reflection as Darryl Talley used to have, but he is doing it early and often. Kelsay has the brains and will talk, but not the talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeF Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I'd take a whole team full of Donte's if we could. A team full of Safties....Bill in NYC's vision of Hell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clownments22 Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I effing love Whitner. He's a leader, Period. He says all the right things to the media, and he backs it up on the field. This article is just the latest in why he is the man. If the bills finally get things turned around this season, I truly believe Whitner's influence will have been a big part of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Drane Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 I effing love Whitner. He's a leader, Period. He says all the right things to the media, and he backs it up on the field. This article is just the latest in why he is the man. If the bills finally get things turned around this season, I truly believe Whitner's influence will have been a big part of it. I'm excited to see Simpson back with him. I started to get nervous that he wasn't healed up with the safety talk in March, but things look good. I think we are going to have one of the hardest hitting DB groups out there. If guys like Stroud, Mitchell and Poz can shave a half a second off of pocket time for the opposing QB, then we will see some national recognition for Whitner and crew this year. It's about time for a new catchy Bills poster to come along. I'm sick of seeing Fred Smerlas' grease covered arms in camo at the local bar. Let's knock some receivers out and maybe get a Donte's Inferno poster going with the DBs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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