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S Donte Whitner (Official Thread)

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Posted: Tuesday August 10, 2010
Bills' defensive switch rejuvenates S Whitner

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -With sweat dripping from his nose and his practice uniform covered in grass stains, safety Donte Whitner looked up and smiled and said how rejuvenated he is playing in the Buffalo Bills' new defensive system.

"I feel like a new man,'' Whitner said after a recent training camp practice.

It shows.

Experiencing little difficulty in making the transition to the newly-introduced 3-4 defense brought in by first-year head coach Chan Gailey, Whitner has made his presence felt by providing a hard-hitting pop to practice that, at times, he had been missing in his previous four seasons in Buffalo.

There was Whitner's bone-jarring, and fumble-forcing hit on tight end Jonathan Stupar last week. A play later, he sent running back Fred Jackson tumbling into the sideline. A day later, Whitner burst to the line to get a big lick on Marshawn Lynch, stopping the running back in his tracks just as he was attempting to cut the corner up the right side.

Add in two interceptions in practice Friday, and Whitner's been the most noticeable player - on defense or offense - since camp opened on July 29.

"I feel like that's the way I have to play from here on out,'' Whitner said. "The game is fun again.''

The reason for that is a very simple one as far as he's concerned. It's as easy as going from the Tampa 2-style coverage-oriented defense the Bills previously used, to the 3-4 system, which is very similar to the one Whitner spent three years playing in at Ohio State.

"I think this is a defense I should've been drafted into,'' said Whitner, who was selected eighth overall by Buffalo in 2006. "This scheme really fits my skills.''
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Read more: Bills' defensive switch rejuvenates S Whitner - NFL - SI.com

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAaMVfseKK8]YouTube - ‪Donte Whitner - Bills Training Camp 2010 Chillin'‬‎[/ame]
 
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Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner on Buffalo's new 'D' and more
Published: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Brent Axe

If you drive about an hour west on the New York State Thruway and exit the 490 in Rochester for a visit to Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College, there is a player who will jump right off the field at you.

Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner looks like a man on a mission on the field at all times and is someone who is loving Buffalo's switch to the 3-4 defense this season under new head coach Chan Gailey and new defensive coordinator George Edwards.

Whitner joined me on The Score 1260 on Wednesday to talk about why he loves the new defense so much, on what to expect from rookie sensation Jarius Byrd in his second season, and the clear leadership difference he has noticed in Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards from a season ago.

Take a listen to the full podcast of my chat with Whitner right here.
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Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner on Buffalo's new 'D' and more | syracuse.com
 
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Bills' Whitner thinks outside the box
Strong safety is off to a good start in new defense, but Jermichael Finley looms
By Mark Gaughan
News Sports Reporter
Published:September 15, 2010

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Safety Donte Whitner says he is re-energized in the Buffalo Bills' new defensive scheme.

Whitner's energy level figures to be put to a major test Sunday when the Bills visit the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay ranked third in the NFL in scoring last season and sixth in yards gained. The Packers have one of the top tight ends in the NFL, Jermichael Finley, who will be matched up with Whitner at least some of the game.

"We're a confident bunch," Whitner said Wednesday. "We don't intend on going out here and allowing these guys to throw for 300 or 400 yards on us and run up and down the football field.

"We expect to come out and stop 'em. We expect to get up in their faces and challenge them and compete, and that's what we're going to do."

Whitner had a pretty good debut against the Miami Dolphins, making nine tackles, which tied for second most on the team.

That's the start of what the 25-year-old fifth-year veteran expects to be a rebound year. Whitner sat out six games due to injuries last season and lost his starting job to George Wilson for one game late in the year.

Overall, Whitner has been a solid performer. He has 50 starts. He has been a productive tackler and versatile coverage man.

However, the Bills were looking for more than "solid" when they drafted him eighth overall in 2006. Whitner has not been a big playmaker like some of the NFL's elite strong safeties, players such as Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh, Adrian Wilson of Arizona and Brian Dawkins of Denver. In four seasons, Whitner has four interceptions, one sack, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Whitner thinks the scheme of defensive coordinator George Edwards is more conducive to big plays.

"This defense allows us to put guys where their strengths are, allows us to play to our strengths more," Whitner said. "That's what Coach Edwards is doing ... and we're enjoying it."

In the 3-4, the 5-foot-10, 208-pound Whitner has bigger defenders in front of him.

"When I first came in, in the Tampa 2 I was always in the box," Whitner said, referring to the area between the offensive tackles, closer to the line of scrimmage. "But that wasn't my strength in college. My strength in college was more Cover 4 and blitzing and other things."
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http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article191647.ece
 
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Bills Whitner would like to stop all the laughter
Paul Hamilton

Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550) --
Donte Whitner is sick of looking across the line of scrimmage and seeing the Patriots and others laughing at the Bills. New England has won 18 of 19 games vs the Bills and Whitner was not here for the one win. The safety said, "By the end of the fourth quarter they're laughing at us and it always happens and not just in Foxboro, It happened last week, the Green Bay Packers were laughing at us, Aaron Rodgers and a lot of those guys were laughing at us towards the end of the football game and that never feels good. We can't keep allowing that to happen because guys go out there and they work too hard and when they don't come out the way you prepared all week. We want to get things turned around, but at the same time it's football teams of grown men laughing at other grown men on the football field and that happened to us in the ballgame last week and it happens every time we play New England."

I remember three or four years ago the Bills played the Pats tough for three quarters and of course lost it in the fourth. Tom Brady came out and said Perry Fewell had a great game plan. Brady said it took him three quarters to figure out what the Bills were doing and then he killed them in the fourth. I've been saying this for years about Dick Jauron, Fewell and the rest of that staff, well I'll let Donte Whitner say it for me, "Yah and that was even last year on Monday Night Football, we had 'em and we give up the same pattern for a touchdown I think two, three times in a row because we didn't make any adjustments on the defensive side of the ball, so that's what happens when you don't make any adjustments, but now we're ready, we're ready to beat New England."
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http://www.wgr550.com/Bills-Whitner-would-like-to-stop-all-the-laughter/8201481

Whitner: Laughing must stop
Posted by Chris Brown on September 22, 2010

Bills strong safety Donte Whitner said the Green Bay Packers offensive players were laughing at the Bills in the fourth quarter of last week?s game. He also said there?s another AFC East opponent of theirs that has done the same in recent years.

?It happened last week,? said Whitner. ?The Packers were laughing at us. Aaron Rodgers and a lot of those guys were laughing at us toward the end of the football game and that never feels good.?

When asked about the different kinds of losses at the hands of the Patriots over the years, Whitner said the New England players do the same thing.

?Yeah, by the end of the fourth quarter they?re laughing at us,? said Whitner of the Pats after last year?s Monday Night loss to New England. ?It always happens. We can?t keep allowing that to happen. Guys go out there and they work too hard. When you don?t come out the way that you prepare all week and all offseason to come out then there?s obviously something wrong.?
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http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/09/22/they-were-laughing-at-us/
 
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Posted: Thursday, 07 October 2010
Whitner Doesn't Think Bills are Rebuilding
Joe Buscaglia Reporting
[email protected]

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Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550) -- Buffalo Bills safety and former first round pick Donte Whitner was one of the most visibly upset after the team's dismantling loss to the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium last Sunday.

Even though there has been move after move made that look towards the future of the franchise, Whitner will not give in to the ideology that team is in fact rebuilding.

"I don't feel like we're in a rebuilding mode," declared Whitner. "I feel like we have enough talent on this football team to go out and win football games. You're in a rebuilding mode when you need a ton of pieces out there. We don't need a ton of pieces to win football games."
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http://www.wgr550.com/Whitner-Doesn-t-Think-Bills-are-Rebuilding/8308823
 
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Whitner: The Bills are the "laughingstock" of the NFL
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 10, 2010

Sunday was a winnable game for the Bills. (So winnable, Florio and I both incorrectly took them to beat the Jaguars.) Buffalo jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but their defense collapsed against the Jaguars in a 36-26 loss. Their switch to a 3-4 defense has been a disaster.

Bills safety Donte Whitner was apoplectic after the game.

It's terrible. It's 0-5, the laughingstock of the National Football League. I think we are losing fans by the minute," Whitner said via Tim Graham of ESPN.com's AFC East blog.

Ralph Wilson Stadium was rather empty on Sunday, and things may only get worse. Graham brings up the possibility of an 0-16 season, which is hard to imagine. The "easiest" games they have left are home contests against the Browns and Lions.

Still, there's a reason there's only been one 0-16 team. It's hard to lose them all, no matter how big a laughingstock this Bills team has become.
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/10/whitner-the-bills-are-the-laughingstock-of-the-nfl/

Whitner: don?t put it on coaches
Posted by Chris Brown on October 10, 2010

Donte Whitner made it loud and clear in the locker room after Sunday?s game that the scheme and the coaching staff shouldn?t be taking the heat for the team?s performance Sunday.

?I can honestly tell you that the coaching staff is doing a really great job of preparing us throughout the week,? said Whitner. ?Now, us as players, we have to do an even better job of going out there and executing the game plan, understanding what they are going to do to us each play and not give up things that twe have practiced against. Things that are so simple in the football world.?
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http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/10/10/whitner-dont-put-it-on-coaches/
 
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Whitner bothered
Posted by Chris Brown on October 24, 2010

Donte Whitner was lamenting the missed opportunities defensively the Bills had to make game-changing plays, especially after a game that was so close down to the very end.

?Me personally had a chance to break the game open and I dropped the interception, which can?t happen,? said Whitner. ?We had another one where Reggie (Corner) in the end zone had an opportunity to get an interception. And there was another in the red zone when (Flacco) beat me on a touchdown and Byrd was there and had the opportunity to run through him or get the interception, but we didn?t make those plays.

?Those are plays we have to make if we want to be a winning football team. Still with all that we had an opportunity to win the game in overtime. The only thing that matters in the NFL is ?W?s and ?L?s. You can throw everything out the window, when it comes down to ?W?s and ?L?s we had an opportunity late in the game, we didn?t capitalize on it and we?re going home with an ?L?.?
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http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/10/24/whitner-bothered/
 
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Buffalo Bills like Donte Whitner's style
Sal Maiorana ? Staff writer ? November 6, 2010

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Donte Whitner, left, hasn't been a great player for the Bills, but he also hasn't been as bad as many people think. (KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer)

ORCHARD PARK ? As the Buffalo Bills stumble their way toward what may end up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history, there are several players who have shouldered the brunt of the fans' frustration.

While they were here, quarterback Trent Edwards and running back Marshawn Lynch were easy targets, Edwards for his on-field inability, Lynch for his off-field transgressions; linebacker Chris Kelsay, he of the $24 million contract extension, has been another guy squinting into the glaring spotlight; and so have first-round busts John McCargo and Aaron Maybin, who symbolize the team's repeated draft-day failures.

Then there's safety Donte Whitner, who has been in the crosshairs for much of the four-plus seasons he has played in Buffalo because he just hasn't been a difference-maker.

"Not really," Whitner said when asked whether the criticism he receives ? and there's plenty of it ? bothers him. "Mostly, those are the people that don't understand the ins and outs of football. People around the league, they understand, and those are the people that matter. Our coaches, our personnel staff, and other players around the NFL."

The heat that Whitner receives is directly proportionate to his status as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2006 draft. Based on where he was selected, Whitner has not given the Bills what was expected of a player picked so high.

He has never played in a Pro Bowl, never come close to being considered, and he hasn't made the type of big plays that other safeties such as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed make.

A couple of weeks ago, Reed ? who hadn't played all season for Baltimore ? came off the physically unable to perform list and made two interceptions and forced a fumble as the Ravens beat the Bills. In his 60-game career, Whitner has only four interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Since Whitner came into the league in 2006, Reed has 26 picks and six forced fumbles, while Polamalu has 15 picks and four forced fumbles.
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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101106/SPORTS03/11060314
 
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Whitner plays larger role than critics perceive
Safety spoken highly of by coach Chan Gailey.
By Jay Skurski
News Sports Reporter
Updated: November 17, 2010

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Buffalo Bills fans have always clamored for a little bit more from safety Donte Whitner.

More sacks. More interceptions. More big plays.

Such are the expectations that come with being the eighth overall pick in the draft. In his fifth year in the NFL, those plays have been sporadic for Whitner ? and that's drawn the ire of fans.

Ask coach Chan Gailey about Whitner, though, and the opinion changes.

"He's a force on our defense," Gailey said. "He's made a lot of tackles. He's around the ball a lot. He covers a lot of ground. We ask him to be a guy that reads run and pass and make the right decision almost every time and be a playmaker. He's accepted that role. He wants to be a playmaker."

To that end, the Bills used Whitner a bit differently Sunday against the Lions. He was sent in to blitz Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill on a few occasions, a role he's practiced but rarely used on Sundays.

"It's beautiful, man," Whitner said. "When you do that, it's fun. We do it all the time in practice and I get in there and tap the quarterback and get sacks. The football game comes [and] we have to change some things. But coach says he's going to let me play. He's going to let me do things that I like to do."
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http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/article255694.ece
 
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Bills and Whitner Have Talked Extension, Posluszny Hasn't
Joe Buscaglia Reporting
[email protected]

Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550) -- Considering where he was drafted in 2006, Buffalo Bills starting safety Donte Whitner has failed to live up to expectations in the eyes of many who follow the team. Whitner was the selection when All-Pro and Baltimore Ravens Haloti Ngata was still on the board, at a very big position of need for the Bills.

But Buffalo brought him in, and now five years later, they may just intend to keep him.

Whitner is a free agent at the end of the season and told WGR Sports Radio 550 that the two sides have indeed talked about a matter of an extension.

"We talked a little, we talked a little," said Whitner. "I leave all that stuff up to my agent. All I can focus on is helping the guys around me, helping myself and getting prepared each and every game."

He said when it comes to those matters, he merely checks in with his representatives for anything new.

"The contract stuff, like I don't even think about it," remarked Whitner. "Maybe update with my agent once every two weeks and see if they talked and what they talked about. But other than that, we're just focused on winning these football games and setting ourself up to running a couple of these wins off in a row."

Whitner is on pace to shatter his personal best season in tackles. The strong safety accrued 104 total tackles in his rookie year in 2006. If he continues his current rate, Whitner will finish the season with 138 total tackles.
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http://www.wgr550.com/Bills-and-Whitner-Have-Talked-Extension--Not-Poslu/8655814
 
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