PFW: Bills Counting on Rookies At Crucial Positions

[Thurman#1]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/201...cial-positions


An in-depth Kevin Fishbain article from PFW. Good stuff.

Excerpt:

"The Bills don’t have to look far to find examples of teams having success with rookies playing prominent roles. When the Patriots had the best record in the NFL in 2010, starting CB Devin McCourty was in his rookie season, and that defense had several rookie contributors.

"But Devin McCourty is the last rookie to start at an outside corner spot in a playoff game. Seahawks OLT Russell Okung, who started in Seattle’s postseason games in 2010, is the last rookie blind-side tackle to start a playoff game. Rookies play roles on playoff teams, but it has been a rare occurence of late to see a rookie starting for a playoff team at either cornerback or left tackle."

[bozemankid]

Yeah but we're filling those roles with a first and a second rounder. First like 40 something picks. Big difference

[TheBlackDahliaMurder]

Yeah but we're filling those roles with a first and a second rounder. First like 40 something picks. Big difference

Rookies are rookies. We'd have to be delusional to believe there won't be growing pains for these guys.

[AWorldOfPain]

Rookies are rookies. We'd have to be delusional to believe there won't be growing pains for these guys.

I agree. Relying on rookies is frightening. Gilmore and Glenn will get burned a few times. Hopefully, it's only a few times and they're able to quickly adapt to the NFL.

[Buddo]

TBH, it's not an unfair piece. However, there are some overlooked factors.
These would be that there are alternatives, i.e. depth. McGee, if healthy, is still a capable starter outside.
Hairston also, has shown that he can fill in.
I wouldn't doubt for one moment that there will be mistakes made - that even happens with vets, but I feel that the aspect of 'reliance' is somewhat over-emphasised.
A final aspect to consider, is that Glenn, and also Hairston, will be getting some serious work in TC, having to go against the likes of Mario, Merriman and Anderson. If they can come through that without looking bad, then I think that they will have every confidence, and rightly so, that they will be able to perform when the season starts. That degree of competition, could be as valuable as anything else, and wasn't really thought of in the article.
Long way to go yet, but with the improved depth of the team overall, I feel we will be able to see much better, where we might be 'weak' once we are well into TC.

[Section333]

Both Glenn and Gilmore are quick study's though. Just look at Glenn last year as he made the switch from Guard to Tackle. He started off pretty bad but was dominant by the end. Gilmore has quickly shown that he is willing to put the time in to learn his craft. All this being said, nothing can replace NFL game experience, so we will have to wait and see. I know both will get burned once in a while, but so will the vets. I am excited what both of these "first rounders" will add to the Bills this year.

[LINDA_D]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/201...cial-positions


An in-depth Kevin Fishbain article from PFW. Good stuff.

Excerpt:

"The Bills don’t have to look far to find examples of teams having success with rookies playing prominent roles. When the Patriots had the best record in the NFL in 2010, starting CB Devin McCourty was in his rookie season, and that defense had several rookie contributors.

"But Devin McCourty is the last rookie to start at an outside corner spot in a playoff game. Seahawks OLT Russell Okung, who started in Seattle’s postseason games in 2010, is the last rookie blind-side tackle to start a playoff game. Rookies play roles on playoff teams, but it has been a rare occurence of late to see a rookie starting for a playoff team at either cornerback or left tackle."

Nate Solder started 13 games for Pats at both RT and LT because of injuries. Even if Fishbain is dismissing that, 2010 was the year before last, so we're NOT talking a long term trend here.

[steve2006]

If the first and second rounders are actually talented / NFL ready enough to win starting positions, that will be a big positive for this team as compared to years past IMO.

[Joe Fan]

Last year Patrick Petersen was touted as one of the best CB's to ever come out of college. He was taken#5 overall. Had a great year as a returner, struggled at times as a CB. He will be great, but its taking him some time. As another poster said, there are veteran options at CB, so I don't think we are "relying" on Gilmore. He will only be starting if he is a better player than the veterans we relied on last year. As a rookie, Glen is not going to be able to take on every top pass rusher in the league 1 on 1. Hopefully he can eventually. The veterans available at tackle have more questions about them than the CBs we have.

[hulk1914]

Buddy Nix has made more good choices than bad choices when it comes to talent on. this team. Gilmore and Glenn are two high pics the Bills brass have done there homework on and these 2 players will show Nixs eye foe talent

[DIESEL-USMC]

Relying on rookies at any position will be a ride of ups and downs. Its up to them to bring everything to a stable, high efficiency level. Even star players have days, but its the number of occurrences and the length of time between each one that sets players apart. Its not unorthodox to expect a rookie to do well. But it is unorthodox to expect them to start and maintain a high efficiency level of play their rookie season. Is it possible? Absolutely. But expect the growing pains to come at inopportune times during the season. May even cost a game or two.

[bozemankid]

Rookies are rookies. We'd have to be delusional to believe there won't be growing pains for these guys.

Yeah, but if they didn't start, we'd all be complaining that our draft picks can't see the field. Then use it a an excuse to bash Buddys draft strategy. I think it means we're getting better at drafting. And that Gilmore and Glenn are the studs we think they are

[mat68]

Im ok with give big time playing time to 3 plus yr starters in the SEC. By the home stretch in Dec they should have the experiance to help with the push.

[pauliepaul]

Sorry, but these guys don't HAVE to start. Hairston can, and may, start at LT. Same goes for McKelvin, McGee, Williams at CB. This article is jumping the gun. We don't know what to expect from the second year players.

[RalphWilson'sWar]

Let the young pups jump into that sand box opening day and start getting their hands dirty.

[mvp216]

It's kind of interesting in that both of those positions can tend to play on an island.

I'm actually not really expecting rookie mistakes from Gilmore. When I watch him, his greatest attribute to me looks like his awareness, to an extent he looks like a safety playing corner. When Aaron Williams was in last year, I wasn't seeing the "rookie" mistakes from him, so I'm expecting the same from Gilmore.

Glenn on the other hand I'm a bit nervous about. He's a big boy and I'm not sure how he'll fare against the speed rush. My main hope for him is that he can use that big frame to move some bodies for Fred and CJ.

[LINDA_D]

Relying on rookies at any position will be a ride of ups and downs. Its up to them to bring everything to a stable, high efficiency level. Even star players have days, but its the number of occurrences and the length of time between each one that sets players apart. Its not unorthodox to expect a rookie to do well. But it is unorthodox to expect them to start and maintain a high efficiency level of play their rookie season. Is it possible? Absolutely. But expect the growing pains to come at inopportune times during the season. May even cost a game or two.

This is true, but they will never really develop into starters if they don't get into the games. Now, maybe they're NOT starters from opening day, but I'd like to see them get some decent PT. I think the only position where that doesn't work is QB because you want the starter to get into a rhythm, but most positions use a lot of subs. Even with QBs, though, if you get a nice lead late, you should put your rookie QB in for a series or two to at least get rid of the butterflies.

Sorry, but these guys don't HAVE to start. Hairston can, and may, start at LT. Same goes for McKelvin, McGee, Williams at CB. This article is jumping the gun. We don't know what to expect from the second year players.

This is true. The article was based upon Gilmore and Glenn lining up with the starters in the OTAs and minicamp, but that might very well have been just to see if they looked like they belonged with the starters. The Bills already have a good idea of what they have with A Williams and Hairston.

[ThereIsNoDog]

This makes it sound like the Bills are resorting to starting rookies. Um, no. They're going to compete and if they win, they're the best men for the job.

[Feeling On Youboty]

The premise of the article is correct but I think we've made big improvements in a lot of other key areas.

[Feeling On Youboty]

At any rate I think this is the last year we're they'll be rookies pegged to start at the start of camp. We've improved our depth considerably over the past 24 months.