With more offenses moving to spread systems, defenses must adjust. Slot corners are vital to stopping these offenses and the Buffalo Bills have a battle at that position.
This year’s training camp will be much different than previous years for the Buffalo Bills. There is a significant number of young players looking for playing time. McDermott and Beane are in year two of their “process” and they’re getting players that fit their system.
This will be known as the year of camp competition. There will be position battles, on both sides of the ball, that Bills fans should be paying attention to. I will be writing a series of articles, throughout the month of June, highlighting the four most important battles that will determine where the Bills land in the standings this upcoming year.
Upcoming articles:
(June 10th) Guard: Vladimir Ducasse, Ryan Groy, Wyatt Teller
(June 17th) Slot Wide Receiver: Andre Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, Ray-Ray McCloud, Austin Proehl
(June 24th) Quarterback: Josh Allen, AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman
This article will be about the slot corner (nickel) position. With offenses moving to spread formations, defenses have to be able to match-up. The nickel position needs to be filled with a talented player that can move laterally with quickness and has the poise to not get fooled by double-moves.
Whoever ends up playing nickel will be surrounded by the best secondary in the league. The duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer will be roaming deep while Tre’Davious White and Vontae Davis secure the edges. All that talents means one thing: The nickel corner will be targeted plenty throughout the season.
Let’s look at the candidates.
Phillip Gaines, 5th Year
(6-foot-1, 193 pounds)
Contract: 1-year $790,000
Career Notes
Third-round pick (No. 87 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Rice University.
Played in 41 games with the Kansas City Chiefs (16 starts).
Career stats: 1 INT, 14 deflections, 2 forced fumbles
Ended the 2015 and 2017 seasons on the Injured Reserve.
Analysis
He has been anything but steady during his time in the NFL. As a relatively high pick, he was given the chance to play early and found a home as the Chiefs’ starting nickel. Although he has more experience than the other two candidates, he was rarely considered an impact player. His one interception in four years shows cause to pause.
Another alarming note is the Chiefs had no interest in re-signing him. When you let a third-round pick walk away from your team after their rookie deal, that means you lost faith in their ability along the way.
On the plus side, he will be surrounded by much more talent than he ever was during his time in Kansas City. Other than Marcus Peters, the Chiefs secondary was rough to say the least. Gaines is only 27 and is entering the prime of his career. Gaines getting a fresh start, with this starting group, could help live up to his draft value.
On a one-year deal, he will need to prove he belongs on the roster from day one.
Taron Johnson, Rookie
(5-foot-11, 192 pounds)
Contract: 4-year $3.1 million
Career Notes
Fourth-round pick (No. 121 overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Weber State.
Finished college career with 42 pass breakups.
Earned first-team Associated Press All-American in his senior year.
Ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Analysis
Johnson has the talent to be a nickel corner in the league for a long time. Although he is a bit undersized for a boundary corner, he has the quickness and size you look for as a nickel.
At Weber State, he was “the man” on the defensive side of the ball and was rarely tested. When he was thrown on, he was up for the challenge. He showed the awareness to break on routes and come up with several big plays. He showed the physicality to come up and make a hit, even with his lack of prototypical size.
I believe he is a year or two away from being an NFL-caliber corner. He will have to catch up with the level of the competition, something he rarely saw at Weber State. It was obvious at the Senior Bowl that he struggles with bigger receivers, so the slot may be his best option for a long career.
As a fourth-round selection, he will be looked upon to contribute on special teams at the very least.
Levi Wallace, Rookie
(6-feet-tall, 179 pounds)
Contract: 3-year $1.7 million (non-guaranteed)
Career Notes
Undrafted free agent signing out of Alabama.
Started his collegiate career as a walk-on at Alabama.
Earned a scholarship and became a starter in 2017 season.
2017 Season: 3 INTs, 15 deflections, 48 total tackles.
Analysis
Really? An undrafted free agent starting for the Bills?
Let me begin by saying, I am a big believer in Levi Wallace. He started as a walk-on and worked his way into a starter at the 33rd NFL franchise known as Alabama. Having a coach like Nick Saban recognize your tenacity and dedication goes a long way. Wallace had to beat out several five-star recruits to lock up a starting position, so I think he should be a consideration for starting nickel role.
Even though his journey through Alabama was remarkable, he still went undrafted. The reason for that is his inability to get physical with big receivers, lack of long distance speed and his inefficient tackling. Those three attributes paired with the lack of strength he showed during workouts landed him as an undraftable player.
I personally thought his game film showed a mid-round round talent, but he tested poorly and it obviously cost him in the long run. I would not bet against this kid making the roster or competing for the starting nickel.
My Prediction
Phillip Gaines: Starter
Gaines will bring experience to the position and show his ability to play during camp. He is not competing with high draft picks, so the pressure on him is not going to be immense. He will start the season at nickel and try to learn from a veteran like Vontae Davis on how to play corner at a higher level.
Taron Johnson: First player off the bench and special teams ace
Johnson is just too raw to start from day one. Weber State did not face a high level of competition and he’d be playing a different position than he played in college. That is not a good recipe for a starting rookie.
First he must learn the playbook. Then he should consult White and Davis on the techniques needed to succeed at the NFL level. He will make a name for himself on special teams in year one.
If Gaines suffers from bad play or an injury, Johnson will be the next man up.
Levi Wallace: Last round of cuts or core special team player
Undrafted free agents rarely make the final roster. His story is remarkable, and I do not want to write him off as a camp cut.
Next: The beginning or end of Buffalo’s Shaq Attack?
I do believe he has the talent to succeed in the NFL, so if he makes the roster, he will be on several special teams.