Cornerback: The Bills' thinnest position last year could be one of their strongest this season. The Bills are expected to keep five corners, but could warrant keeping six, looking at what they have on the roster depending on preseason play. Buffalo seemed to lack size and strength last year at the corner position, but seem much improved in that area. Terrance McGee (5'9" 198 lbs) will again probably be a starter on one side, but who will start on the other?
Jabari Greer stepped in last season after injuries to Jason Webster (not with the team anymore) and Ashton Youboty, and played pretty solidly. Greer has good size (5'11" 180 lbs) and speed (a former track star at Tennessee), and made some good plays, showing solid coverage against some of the league's elite receivers last year. He will be pushed by third-year cornerback Ashton Youboty (5'11" 189 lbs), free-agent pickup Will James (6'0" 200 lbs formally Will Peterson), and first-round pick (11th overall) Leodis McKelvin (5'10" 184) out of Troy.
All five of them could warrant time on the field, but there is also the Bills' fourth-round pick Reggie Corner (5'9" 175lbs) and seventh-round pick Kennard Cox (6'0" 192 lbs). Cox most likely will be delegated to the practice squad, leaving six. Greer got significant playing time last season for the first time in his career, and is probably the favorite to start opposite McGee.
McKelvin won't be rushed unless James and Youboty don't play well. McKelvin has looked good in mini-camp, and could play some in nickel or dime packages early in the season, along with playing on special teams.
Will James will probably get to play on the outside receiver in the nickel package when McGee moves into the slot. Youboty, a former third-round pick out of Ohio State has a lot of potential, but has not quite reached it yet. If he is not traded to the Browns, then I would suspect he would be released, unless he puts on some weight and plays well in the preseason. If the latter happens, then the Bills may keep six with Corner, who is a good cover-guy, and have some real playmakers in a deep backfield. This will be an exciting battle to watch as it plays out this preseason.
Safety: The Bills had one of the most promising young safety tandems in the league going into the 2007 season. Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson had just come off of a solid rookie season, and were looking to add to their success in 2008 when Simpson broke his ankle in Week One. Now healthy, it looks like Simpson will again be the starter next to Whitner, and they should continue their promising careers.
Whitner (5'10" 208 lbs) is one of the leaders of this defense. He is a hard hitter who flies around the field, hitting anything that comes near him. The former eighth-overall pick in 2006 recorded 89 tackles last year and played every snap until Week 17. With the return of Ko Simpson (6'1" 202 lbs), Whitner should be able to make more plays and show he's one of the best safeties in the league.
John Wendling (6'1" 222 lbs), a sixth-round pick last year is the main backup to Whitner, and is a major special-teams player. George Wilson (6'0" 212) was one of the great stories from last season, a converted wide receiver who moved to safety last year to have a better shot at making the team.
When Simpson went down, and Jim Leohnard, the backup, went down, Wilson got his chance and took advantage of it, scoring on an interception on Monday Night Football against Dallas, and picking up a fumble against the Dolphins and returning it for a touchdown, finishing the season with 37 tackles and two interceptions.
The other backup will be Bryan Scott, a good run supporter and blitzer who played well joining the team halfway through the season. It will be a stretch to think the Bills will keep five safeties, but this group will make it a tough decision.
Special Teams
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