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Fletcher Gives Whitner Stamp of Approval
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist

Last Updated: 4/29/2006 5:08 PM ET

If you were wondering what the veteran players on the Bills' roster think of top pick Donte Whitner you need only ask London Fletcher his opinion.

"He's a guy you can ink into the starting lineup for many years to come," said Fletcher of the chances of Whitner coming in and nailing down the starting strong safety role.

Fletcher is so confident in Whitner because he's very familiar with his abilities on the field and his approach to the game. He and Whitner share the same athletic trainer as both are Cleveland natives.

"What I know about Donte is he's an extremely hard worker and a very mature guy," said Fletcher. "He left high school early to get started on his college career early at Ohio State. He's been coached by one of the best high school football coaches in Ted Ginn who is Ted Ginn Jr.'s (Ohio State teammate) father. What I know is Donte is an excellent addition to the Buffalo Bills and to the defense."

Whitner is happy to be coming to an organization where there are some familiar faces.

"I played with Tim Anderson at Ohio State my freshman year," said Whitner. "I know London Fletcher and work out with him. I know Nate Clements very well and I speak to him a lot. I'm ready to get up there and play football."

Bills Assistant GM Tom Modrak in speaking of Whitner said he plays the game with an edge that they could use more of in their defense.

"You're always looking for the kind of defensive player that wants to hit you," said Modrak. "They want to play the game hard and be as good as they can be. It's just the approach that defensive players have to take and he has that. His want-to is extremely high. He studies the game and plays the game hard. It's important to him. It's hard to find sometimes in a player, but they're there with him."

Fletcher who voraciously goes through hours of film during the game week will be happy to know that Whitner does the same. Most rookies learn how to watch film after they get to the pro level, but Whitner already knows how.

"I give all thanks to Mel Tucker the defensive backs coach with the Browns," said Whitner. "He was my defensive backs coach for two years and showed me how to watch film and what tendencies to look for. During the game week I'd try to put at least seven, eight or nine hours of film time in of the team we were playing. And I would take what I saw on film to the football field. Football is a mental game. It's physical, but it's a lot more mental than physical."

And the film is what makes Buffalo's defensive captain is confident that Whitner can make an immediate impact in the Bills' secondary.

"I'm an Ohio State fan being from Ohio," said Fletcher. "I happened to watch a lot of Buckeye games and I know that during the season last year A.J. Hawk received an awful lot of attention, but Donte Whitner made just as big an impact on that defense. You turn on the tape and he was a guy that was always around the football. He plays with an attitude and has a suddenness about him."

"I want to get up there and learn the defense as soon as possible so I can get out there and play fast," said Whitner. "I'm going to come in and compete from Day One."

And for anyone who doubts Whitner as a 5'10" safety he isn't discouraged. In fact he believes the position is changing in the league and caters to a player of his stature.

"Over the past year a lot of these safeties that are 5'10" or 5'11" or six-foot are all Pro Bowlers," said Whitner referring to Troy Polamalu, Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins and Indianapolis' Bob Sanders. "They're all not prototypical type safeties, but they're all making plays and helping their team win games."

Ultimately Fletcher sees a no-nonsense player who will seamlessly fit into their new defensive system.

"Having played in that 'Tampa' system I think he's going to be that John Lynch type of hitter in that secondary," said Fletcher. "And with 4.38 speed you know he can cover."