Link
Bills rookie Whitner begins learning process
Leo Roth
Staff writer
(May 6, 2006) — ORCHARD PARK — Donte Whitner jogged onto the field for his first practice with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, decked out in No. 36.
Taken in the first round of last weekend's NFL draft to replace departed veteran Lawyer Milloy at strong safety, it was fitting — or was it eerie? — that Whitner would also be assigned Milloy's number.
As the Bills make the transition from veteran to rookie at a critical position, the comparisons have begun in earnest.
But Whitner, whose eyes were wider than manhole covers as he got his first taste of NFL speed, deserves a honeymoon. OK, a short honeymoon. The Bills' 29th-ranked defense needs him to contribute right away. And he knows it.
"I'm always going to be confident even if I'm wrong," said Whitner following an up-tempo workout inside the Bills field house, where he was learning formations as well as first names. "If I learn this defense, do my job, do what they expect of me, I will be able to become a starter here. Maybe it's on Opening Day, or mid-season, or it's next year. But if I do what I'm supposed to, I will be a starter."
After ruining a lot of mock drafts by selecting Whitner No. 8 overall, Buffalo needs Whitner to live up to that pick and a lot more.
Whitner, an All-Big Ten performer at Ohio State, long a factory for elite defensive backs, was a key performer on the No. 5 defense in college football last season.
The Cleveland native racked up 73 tackles, 4 sacks and 2 interceptions in support of linebackers A.J. Hawk (Green Bay) and Bobby Carpenter (Dallas), fellow first-round picks.
But while he was regarded as the second-best strong safety behind Texas' Michael Huff, Whitner wasn't considered better than a mid-first round pick. Draft "experts" have skewered the Bills for taking Whitner in the top 10, comments Whitner has filed away for future use.
"It motivates me," he said. "A lot of those guys don't really know what I can do on the football field, they haven't really watched me on film, don't really know the type of person I am, the type of player I am. So it really doesn't bother me, it motivates me. After this season, we'll see what guys are reaches and what guys are busts."
Bills middle linebacker London Fletcher would be shocked if Whitner were in that latter category. Also a Cleveland native and Ohio State fan, Fletcher followed Whitner's career and works out with him in the off-season. He lauded his maturity and work habits.
"A.J. Hawk received a lot of attention but Donte Whitner made as big an impact on that Ohio State defense," Fletcher said. "Turn on the tape and he was always around the football. ... He has an attitude of a Lawyer Milloy, he plays with a mean streak, but he's faster."
It's that speed — sub 4.4 in the 40-yard dash — that made Whitner so appealing.
As great a player as Milloy, a four-time Pro Bowler, was in his day, it appeared the 32-year-old was carrying a grandfather clock on his back last season. He could not get back into coverage, bait quarterbacks or consistently shut down a growing legion of athletic tight ends in the NFL.
After breaking down last year's game tapes, new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Buffalo was as easy to read as a highway billboard whenever Milloy came to the line.
"As I looked at it last year, Lawyer was always sitting in the box," Fewell said. "Looking at it, that's an eight-man front, maybe they're going to blitz. Now we're interchangeable (with Whitner and fourth-round pick Ko Simpson at free safety). They give us flexibility because both guys can cover. From a look-disguise standpoint, we've gotten better with those additions."
Doug Majeski, the Bills coordinator of college scouting, said Whitner has a very good chance to follow in the footsteps of two other top Bills defensive backs from Ohio State, Antoine Winfield and Nate Clements.
It goes beyond his physical gifts. At Ohio State, Whitner, a film rat, was known to walk around campus with a thick notebook of information on upcoming opponents. And oh yeah, his schoolbooks.
"He's a football junkie," Majeski said. "He's been putting together his own scouting reports on opponents in college. He's a very intellectual player. He's a guy who might rub you the wrong way if you're on offense because he's going full speed all the time, even in practice. He's a leader, he's physical, and he wants to win."
Whitner said he patterns himself after Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins, Baltimore's Ed Reed and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu, star safeties of similar size.
He showed no problem running to the ball and squaring up Friday on ball carriers in the non-contact drills. He can't wait until summer at St. John Fisher College when the pads go on for real.
"Guys are a little bigger and faster here, but once you get out there, that all leaves your mind," Whitner said. "The nerves left when we started doing the special teams drill (and it included veterans). I realized then that everybody's on the team, everybody's working to get better, and everybody wants to win. That's what I'm here for. To help this team win."
[email protected]
Strong safety Donte Whitner, Buffalo’s first pick in last weekend’s draft, is expected to contribute right away.
Day in Photos
Donte Whitner
Draft position: First round, 8th overall.
Playing position, school: Strong safety, Ohio State.
Vitals: 5-10, 204.
Background: One of top high school players in country at Glenville High in Cleveland. ... Started 18 of 35 games at Ohio State, registering 144 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 interceptions. ... Clocked 4.38 in 40-yard dash and has 40-inch vertical leap. ... One of five Buckeyes drafted in round one. .... Patterns his play after Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu. ... Honor student.
The skinny: Would've brought better value late in round one, but Bills took no chances in finding their next starting strong safety. ... Vicious hitter. Has temperament of a Lawyer Milloy but is much faster. Can cover tight ends and wide receivers from the slot. ... Injuries are a concern given his size and fearlessness, but the same was said of former Buckeyes cornerback Antoine Winfield. ... Several publications said he has All-Pro potential.
