McKelvin scale doesn’t measure correctly for Bills

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, April 29, 2008  |  Comments( 105 )

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Leodis McKelvin would have a great pick for a team with a blitzing defense that didn’t already possess a No. 1 cornerback and doesn’t have to plug glaring breaches on the ball’s other side at places like tight end. Unfortunately, his selector, the Buffalo Bills, doesn’t qualify for any of these categories, and using a choice this high on a pass defender is an extravagance that contradicts the team’s stated defensive philosophy.

First, is he suited to what the Bills want from the spot? Despite some dissenting analysis, McKelvin doesn’t have a reputation as a dispenser of overpowering brute force at the line of scrimmage according to most scouting reports. That’s only a problem if a team plays, say, a Tampa 2 style where it want its corners physically confronting wide receivers as soon as the ball is snapped. Of course, the Bills employ this exact technique; defensive backs are schooled to engage in bumping knowing a safety should be ready to help if the opponent gets by, and McKelvin will have to adapt.

More importantly, a player drafted this high needs to be phenomenal, and yet they don’t need a phenomenal player at this position. With all the money NFL teams invest in player evaluation and rookie contracts, the Bills should have spent a fraction of a dollar on a pad of Post-Its so they could have stuck one on their board reminding them that they didn’t need a potential shutdown corner. Like having a chef wash dishes, they may have added someone whose skills will be underutilized.

The Bills drafted a player they can ideally leave on an island, and will now insert him in a system where he will rarely be left alone. It’s like buying a Rolls Royce and using it to pick up the kids from school and dash to the supermarket: Why waste resources on something that won’t be used to its potential when a Subaru will do the same job?

This mentality is part of the reason why the Bills let Nate Clements escape: There’s no reason to pay Pro Bowl prices at a position where the team doesn’t need a Pro Bowl-caliber performance. One of the nice things about this defense is that if they’re not sold on, say, Jabari Greer as their second corner behind Terrence McGee, they could have waited a draft turn or two if they wanted to bring in competition, knowing that the new guy wouldn’t have to be spectacular. But the team ignored the advantage it created.

It’s not to give McKelvin undue grief: He is a well-regarded college talent who also gives the Bills a potentially threatening return game option. But the cocktail comprised of his gifts and the franchise’s specific needs seems to mix as poorly as Goldschläger and dry vermouth. In a defensive philosophy where quick pass-rushing linemen and help over the top are almost as crucial to stopping throws as corners, using the 11th overall pick on the Troy product comes across as wasteful.

If the Bills were absolutely fixated on drafting a corner first, they could have traded down in the round and still been able to choose from a decent buffet of secondary prospects; doing so would have allowed them to stockpile an extra pick or two while still giving them a chance to obtain a player appropriate for their style. The nature of this defense is based on the secondary leaning on the buddy system, and they could have even waited until Sunday to acquire a less glamorous but nonetheless sturdy coverage man. Cornerback was a need for the Bills, but they didn’t need one this badly.
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CommentsComments: 105  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
bardley80		05:37 AM
04/30/2008
It'll be interesting to see how McKelvin adapts to the NFL cominf from a small school. I think he'll be a solid CB right away, ...
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No.2
ddd		05:40 AM
04/30/2008
I thought the Bills had a VERY average draft. With that said, I think they did the best they could at least with the 1st two ...
No.3
bflobob8		05:44 AM
04/30/2008
There is a good article this morning in the Buffalo news that explains a little about the bills profits from the Toronto games. ...
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