Anyone else love the Whitner late hit on Higgins?

[jad1]

That seemed to be the result of many things happening, at the same time, on that play. I doubt one play like that gets those results in 100 tries.

Every little thing that could go wrong, did, and the pass was pinpoint perfect to a guy in full stride.

 

Yep, it was a perfect pass into the seam of the zone. When that happens up the middle in a cover-two, it usually goes for six.

[EndZoneCrew]

Welcome. Not a strong first post, IMO...but what the heck.

 

Dean....you are a douche.....

[The Dean]

Dean....you are a douche.....

 

 

Thank you.

[Shanahan's Horseshoe]

Welcome. Not a strong first post, IMO...but what the heck.

 

The Bills haven't used Whitner the way Indy does Sanders, as an example. He isn't allowed to free-lance the way many safeties are. He almost always has a primary responsibility. Because of this, he's not making the ESPN highlights you may equate with greatness.

 

Watch his total game and you will may better appreciate what he brings to the team.

 

Thank you for the response "Post Police", but could you possibly be more vague?

 

Are you saying that his primary responsibilities hold him back from ever touching the football? No highlights needed, but the occasional tip would be nice.

 

Again, he is limited within the D because he lacks the skills to play like an elite safety and you make him out to be "bound" by his "responsibilities"...WHAT A SPIN!!! You would make Karl Rove very proud.

[The Dean]

Thank you for the response "Post Police", but could you possibly be more vague?

 

Are you saying that his primary responsibilities hold him back from ever touching the football? No highlights needed, but the occasional tip would be nice.

 

Again, he is limited within the D because he lacks the skills to play like an elite safety and you make him out to be "bound" by his "responsibilities"...WHAT A SPIN!!! You would make Karl Rove very proud.

 

 

OK, so your second post was worse than the first. Most people improve with time, though.

 

 

The reason I criticized your 1st post is, I find it odd that the thing that made you decide to come and actually contribute, was to criticize one the best defensive players, and one of the toughest players, on the team. But, I have no standing to grade posts, so for that, I apologize.

 

I won't engage in your argument, as you seem to be focused on highlight plays, and things like "tipped balls". I would suggest you simply watch his entire game, see all of the different things he does on D, that don't make the stats, or the ESPN highlights.

 

In his rookie year, Whitner had over 100 tackles in 15 games (14 starts). Last year, when the D was decemated with injuries, Dante was often used to replace whatever player was dinged, taking a breather, or whatever. He lined up all over the D. Still, you rarely see him make a mistake, and virtually never see him get burned. I'm sure he must have missed a few snaps by the end of the year, but well into the season (I think it was about 9 or 10 games in) Whitner played EVERY DEFENSIVE SNAP for the Bills.

 

This year, I would expect to see Dante get more "big plays" whatever the hell that means, as the season wears on (I think keeping receivers in check, making tackles that deny 1st downs and covering WR's and TE's so well that the ball rarely gets thrown in your direction are very "big plays".) But, you still won't see him make as many ESPN highlight plays as some of the other, more flashy, but less reliable play-in/play-out Safeties. You also aren't likely to see Whitner miss stretches of games, most years, as you do with Sanders and Polamalu. (Actually Polamalu missed games the past two years, but not the years before that.)

 

I don't know about you, but I like my best defensive players on the field, doing their job. I appreciate quite greatness. I liked Nate Clemens, but thought that Winfield was the better CB. Didn't get INTs but was the best tackling CB in the league and was terrific in one-on-one coverage.

 

The Bills rely on Whitner to be SOLID, not flashy. I have to believe that, if he was on another team, and asked to play differently, he could. But, he wouldn't be as reliable as he has been here in Buffalo. What made the Higgins play stand out so much, is Whitner actually made a mistake. That happens very rarely.

[Ball'n]

Right before that TD I thought this is going to be the 2nd pass of the halfby the Raiders, I expect our defensive secondary to be rusty. That def. could of been part of it.

[marauderswr80]

On that play Youboty was getting ripped into by Simpson. I checked the reply, I think Youboty got messed up and took the wrong man........blown coverage.

[The Dean]

It could have been a huge 15 yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff. Fortunately, there were off setting penalties on the play because the WR acted like a jackass after Whitner's tackle.

 

 

I don't think the penalty on Oakland was for Higgins dance.

[BillsFanInRochester]

Whitner and Simpson both got smoked on that TD to #15. I'm still trying to figure why Whitner tackled the dude 10 yards in the end zone. I realize the WR slowed down at about the 10 yard line but come on. It's not like the whole T.O.- George Teague thing when TO stomped on the Dallas star at the 50 yard line then rightfully was slammed by Teague. I expected more composure from a guy who's one of our leader's on D. And I will maintain he's a better leader than player for what that's worth.

 

I wish Whitner would have laid a little bit harder hit on that bastage.

[lets_go_bills]

I know it was late, but for some reason I found myself satisfied that he hit him. He slowed down and was being cocky and Whitner put him down. I can't explain it, but that hit took some of the sting away.

[drunkenirishmann]

Whether he got a penalty or not didn't matter to me. Sometimes during a game a statement is worth a lot more then 15yds. The showboating from a player on a team that won 1 game this year and a total of 4 wins last year on an opponets field was unacceptable and deserved some type of reaction.

 

Whether or not that was the reason the momentum of the game completely changed from that point on.

[Kelly the Dog]

I don't think the penalty on Oakland was for Higgins dance.

Even though it may not have specifically been, it still could have been. I still think that it was to offset the unnecessary hotdog and taunt, and the roughness we had to call but didn't want to.

[The Dean]

Even though it may not have specifically been, it still could have been. I still think that it was to offset the unnecessary hotdog and taunt, and the roughness we had to call but didn't want to.

 

 

That's what I originally thought, too...and still kinda do.

 

Bucky Gleason (and a poster or two) noted that the penalty was on Russell, though. If that was the case, I don't know what to make of it, because I don't know what Russell did.

[Lurker]

Please visit this link...

Ditto.....

[Shanahan's Horseshoe]

OK, so your second post was worse than the first. Most people improve with time, though.

 

 

The reason I criticized your 1st post is, I find it odd that the thing that made you decide to come and actually contribute, was to criticize one the best defensive players, and one of the toughest players, on the team. But, I have no standing to grade posts, so for that, I apologize.

 

I won't engage in your argument, as you seem to be focused on highlight plays, and things like "tipped balls". I would suggest you simply watch his entire game, see all of the different things he does on D, that don't make the stats, or the ESPN highlights.

 

In his rookie year, Whitner had over 100 tackles in 15 games (14 starts). Last year, when the D was decemated with injuries, Dante was often used to replace whatever player was dinged, taking a breather, or whatever. He lined up all over the D. Still, you rarely see him make a mistake, and virtually never see him get burned. I'm sure he must have missed a few snaps by the end of the year, but well into the season (I think it was about 9 or 10 games in) Whitner played EVERY DEFENSIVE SNAP for the Bills.

 

This year, I would expect to see Dante get more "big plays" whatever the hell that means, as the season wears on (I think keeping receivers in check, making tackles that deny 1st downs and covering WR's and TE's so well that the ball rarely gets thrown in your direction are very "big plays".) But, you still won't see him make as many ESPN highlight plays as some of the other, more flashy, but less reliable play-in/play-out Safeties. You also aren't likely to see Whitner miss stretches of games, most years, as you do with Sanders and Polamalu. (Actually Polamalu missed games the past two years, but not the years before that.)

 

I don't know about you, but I like my best defensive players on the field, doing their job. I appreciate quite greatness. I liked Nate Clemens, but thought that Winfield was the better CB. Didn't get INTs but was the best tackling CB in the league and was terrific in one-on-one coverage.

 

The Bills rely on Whitner to be SOLID, not flashy. I have to believe that, if he was on another team, and asked to play differently, he could. But, he wouldn't be as reliable as he has been here in Buffalo. What made the Higgins play stand out so much, is Whitner actually made a mistake. That happens very rarely.

 

A guy that posts at a clip of 100 posts per game should be able to grade!

 

What is "quite" greatness? Greatness is never "quite"! Please don't put the word "greatness" with dOnte, it's an insult to players who are great, "quite"or not.

 

I have no idea where the ESPN highlights are coming from, isn't it the job of the secondary to get to the ball? Oh wait, thats probably not the way he is used in the D scheme.

 

Anyway, all is well and the Bills are 3-0, but lets start giving the praise to the D players who are actually making the plays out there like K Williams, Stroud, Mcgee, Kelsey and Greer. If you dont know who they are, just watch sportcenter tonight.

[The Dean]

A guy that posts at a clip of 100 posts per game should be able to grade!

 

What is "quite" greatness? Greatness is never "quite"! Please don't put the word "greatness" with dOnte, it's an insult to players who are great, "quite"or not.

 

I have no idea where the ESPN highlights are coming from, isn't it the job of the secondary to get to the ball? Oh wait, thats probably not the way he is used in the D scheme.

 

Anyway, all is well and the Bills are 3-0, but lets start giving the praise to the D players who are actually making the plays out there like K Williams, Stroud, Mcgee, Kelsey and Greer. If you dont know who they are, just watch sportcenter tonight.

 

 

Meant "quiet"...been a long day. I think most of the D made some nice plays today. One you are unlikely to see on ESPN, that was quiet important (see what I did there?) was Youboty's stop of McFadden in the 2nd Q.

[Kelly the Dog]

That's what I originally thought, too...and still kinda do.

 

Bucky Gleason (and a poster or two) noted that the penalty was on Russell, though. If that was the case, I don't know what to make of it, because I don't know what Russell did.

I don't either but it really doesn't matter. It's like they wanted to call the Higgins nonsense, had to call the Whitner roughness, and then whatever Russell did, even if it were marginal, gave them an excuse, and a good one, to even it up.

[The Dean]

I don't either but it really doesn't matter. It's like they wanted to call the Higgins nonsense, had to call the Whitner roughness, and then whatever Russell did, even if it were marginal, gave them an excuse, and a good one, to even it up.

 

 

Only, I'm guessing a different official would have flagged Russell. Dunno, quite frankly

[The Cincinnati Kid]

How many times does a team get beat on a play like an everyone just kinda gives up on the play? It happens all the time! I've even heard that guys don't chase because it makes them look like they got beat, even if they weren't in coverage. Here is what that play tells me, StupidNation, Donte Whitner is a MAN! He, along with Pos and Simpson, got beat on that play. Whitner chased that jackass to the endzone even though everyone in the world knew he was going to get him. Then he took the joker down because that idiot taunted the Bills team in Buffalo and our undisputed defensive leader sent a message to the Raiders and the league. Donte may not be the fastest guy, and he may not be the best in coverage but there is no other SS in the league that I'd rather have on my Buffalo Bills Defense. (And I hate Ohio State with a Passion!) Donte is my dude and I dont like you raggin on him after he makes one of the best plays in his young career.

[lets_go_bills]

The hit was satisfying for me. Made me feel better. Glad I'm not the only one. Great Bills fans think alike!