CB Ashton Youboty (Buffalo Bills)

[Buckskin86]

Organized Team Activity: Day 10
Chris Brown, Lead Journalist
Posted Jun 4, 2009

It?s been a long road back, but Ashton Youboty is closer than ever to a full return to football as he participated in individual position drills with his teammates at OTAs Thursday. Youboty has been out of action since Week 5 of last season after suffering plantar fasciitis in both feet.

?It felt good being out there with the fellas,? said Youboty. ?It felt a little sore here and there, but generally a lot better.?

Youboty is encouraged by how his ailing feet have come along, which is important considering the high impact nature of his position. At this point however, one foot is a bit ahead of the other.

?Right now they?re both going good,? said Youboty. ?One is still getting treatment, but once that?s done I?m ready to go.?

The fourth-year defensive back is hopefully he gets the green light from the trainers for the mandatory minicamp, which starts this coming Tuesday for the Bills. But Youboty maintains he has the patience to wait until training camp if necessary.

?(It?s) not frustrating at all,? he said. ?I?ve just got to be patient and do what I can at this time and that?s just getting in the books and learning in the film room.?

Youboty believes by training camp his plantar fasciitis will be a distant memory.

?Once you rupture it and it heals it should be steadily gone,? said Youboty. ?It shouldn?t be a nagging issue. It should be completely gone and I should be good.?

Organized Team Activity: Day 10

[Buckskin86]

Youboty coming along
The news is a bit better for Ashton Youboty (plantar fasciitis). After participating in practice for the first time since early October on Thursday, Youboty did a little more Friday as he was sprinkled in during team work.

Youboty got some snaps working in the slot as a nickel corner with the first unit. Jauron sounded more encouraged about his prospects for next week than McGee or McKelvin.

?(Head athletic trainer) Bud (Carpenter) feels pretty good about him so we?re anticipating that maybe he can go a little harder,? said Jauron.

Organized Team Activity Day 11

Reserve cornerback Ashton Youboty, who's coming off a season-ending foot injury, could be cleared for contact next week, Jauron said

The Canadian Press: Buffalo Bills injured cornerbacks uncertain for minicamp

[osucollegebuck]

I will be rooting hard for Ashton. He has really turned into a sure tackler and I'd say he's one of the best on the Bills.

[Buckskin86]

Ashton Youboty?s recovery is ahead of schedule.
James P. McCoy/Buffalo News

06/10/09
Bills? Youboty aims to stay well-healed
By Allen Wilson
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER

There is a lot to like about Ashton Youboty?s game.

Now if he can just stay on the field long enough to show it.

Injuries the last two seasons have prevented the Buffalo Bills? fourth-year cornerback from reaching his full potential. He has taken the physical setbacks in stride, saying it is part of the game.

But if ever a player could use some good fortune, it?s Youboty. He was limited to 11 games in 2007 with a high ankle sprain and is coming back his year from plantar fasciitis in both feet that ended last season after five games.

?Ashton is a very good football player,? Bills defensive backs coach George Catavolos said. ?Unfortunately, he?s had some issues. He hasn?t been on the field for us in a long period of time.?

Fortunately for the Bills, Youboty?s recovery is ahead of schedule. It was believed he wouldn?t be ready to practice until training camp, but he returned to the field for the tail end of organized team activities and is participating in the Bills? three-day minicamp, which began Tuesday.

?I?m just getting back into it, but it feels good being out there,? Youboty said. ?I?m not where I want to be yet, but I?m looking forward to being 100 percent.?

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the area supporting the arch and the pain extends to the heel. It?s bad enough to have the injury in one foot. It can be downright debilitating in both feet.

Youboty said his left foot healed with rest, but the right one is still recovering after surgery. Even though he is not limited in workouts, Youboty is being brought along slowly by the Bills.

?We have been bringing him up to speed with 10 reps the first day, then he had 20 and 25 and hopefully he?ll be able to build on each practice,? Catavolos said. ?I?m happy to see him out here. He?s a good player when everything is right.?

Everything will have to be right for Youboty this season. With Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin the likely starters, Youboty?s chances of getting playing time on defense will depend on whether he can beat out veteran free agent Drayton Florence and rapidly improving second-year pro Reggie Corner as the team?s nickel corner.

But Youboty can?t be counted out. His place on the roster was in serious question going into training camp last year, and all he did was outplay the competition and open the season as the team?s No. 3 cornerback behind McGee and Jabari Greer.

?I think Ashton is a competitor,? Catavolos said. ?You have to figure that you?re going to play four or five corners during the course of the year, so he?ll be in the mix. We know what Ashton can do. There?s no doubt he can play, if he can stay healthy.?

Bills’ Youboty aims to stay well-healed : Sports : The Buffalo News

[Buckskin86]

Bills? Youboty faces questions about health, not his play
By Anthony Bialy | Monday, June 15, 2009 |

Plantar fasciitis is tough to spell, let alone overcome. Buffalo Bills cornerback Ashton Youboty, who has been coping with the malady since it sent him to injured reserve in early October 2008, knows. The heel pain-causing condition is a maddening problem for a player who?s trying to finally contribute steadily. After limited work during his first three seasons for wildly various reasons, Youboty at least no longer has to prove that he?s a competent defender.

The most exasperating aspect of his abbreviated 2008 was how well he was at last playing. It was pleasantly surprising when compared to his earlier showings. Of course, a family tragedy ruined his rookie season, as he missed most of it after the loss of his mother. Understandably, he floundered upon returning to the lineup.

Next, an ankle injury skunked his second year, although his own woeful play didn?t help. Youboty was indistinctly sluggish in coverage during 2007, and it didn?t look as if he had a lock on a roster spot, much less playing time.

The 2006 third-rounder seemed destined to bust until last year?s preseason slate, when everything suddenly clicked. He settled in and competed like he was comfortable for once, covering ample territory in the nickel spot. Youboty began serving as a nuisance to opposing coordinators who thought they?d get easy first downs with three wideouts deployed.

The Liberia native?s auspicious demonstration carried into the regular season, where he totaled 20 tackles (19 solo) and two pass defenses over five appearances. That?s why his foot injury was particularly frustrating: He was finally playing like a 70th overall pick. Even worse, he spent much of the early offseason watching guys who want to take his job practice at full speed while he hobbled back to good health.

It?s unlikely Youboty will start even after he heals. Terrence McGee of course tops the depth chart, and the Bills seem intent on using second-year man Leodis McKelvin as second cornerback based on how regularly he?s been used during practices so far.

But Youboty will get every chance to once again snag nickel duties. That part-time role plays into his full-time strengths: With extra defensive backs on the field, he?ll enjoy chances to play the instinctual game at which he specializes. With everyone aware that a pass is coming, he can prepare to break on the ball with plenty of help around.

Buffalo Bills “Ashton Youboty faces questions about health, not his play” - Realfootball365.com

[Buckskin86]

15: Who will be the nickel CB?
Chris Brown, Lead Journalist
Posted Jul 10, 2009

It was a hotly contested position last summer and the situation figures to be no different later this month at St. John Fisher. On a roster blessed with cornerback depth, Buffalo?s coaching staff will have a good dilemma when it comes to deciding the player best fit for the team?s nickel corner role.

?It?s good to have depth at that position,? said defensive backs coach George Catavolos. ?Last year, we went through three.?

Ashton Youboty won the nickel corner job after a strong preseason last year, but was lost for the season after just five games due to plantar fasciitis in both feet, which required surgery.

Not feeling completely comfortable playing rookies Leodis McKelvin or Reggie Corner so early in the season, the defensive staff began putting Donte Whitner on the slot receiver in nickel packages.

Whitner would shift back and forth between safety and nickel corner until he suffered a shoulder injury and missed time as well. Enter Reggie Corner. The former fourth-round pick saw extensive playing time in the nickel role over the final quarter of the season and performed admirably.

With Youboty, Whitner, Corner and veteran free agent Drayton Florence all with time on the job, Catavolos likes that he has options.

?It?s a tough position because it?s demanding,? Catavolos said. ?There?s some line backer assignments as well as corner assignments. We have four individuals that have experience in playing that position so hopefully we can be more productive there.?

Whitner is not expected to be part of the competition for the job as his focus will be more on safety. Corner, Florence and Youboty will be the ones battling for the position, and with no true incumbent the competition will be wide open.

Youboty is still a viable candidate for the job, but his offseason work was severely limited as he participated fully in just four practices all spring. Still recovering from plantar fasciitis Youboty intends to hit the ground running come training camp.

?That?s my plan,? said Youboty. ?Once we get to camp I?ll be in shape and there are no worries about taking a step back. I?ve just got to get out there and make plays and prove I can be a starter out there. That?s my goal to be a starter, but nickel back is cool too. We?ve got a lot of decent corners, guys making plays and they?ll put the best guys out there.?

?It?s just getting back into the swing of things,? said Catavolos of Youboty. ?It will take some time in there, but again, when you?re out there on the football field playing a certain technique on defense we expect him to do well.?

?I think the coaches have the challenge,? said Youboty. ?We?ll have guys out here making plays every day. They have to make the decision who they think can do that consistently. I have no worries, just come out here and do my best and make plays. We all know at the end of the day we don?t make the decisions so we root for each other.?

15: Who will be the nickel CB?

[BuckeyeNation36]

I live in the Buffalo area and obviously stick up for Youboty. He's got talent but has fought nagging injuries all along.

Here's hoping he can put it together this year and stay out of the trainers room.

[osucollegebuck]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation36

I live in the Buffalo area and obviously stick up for Youboty. He's got talent but has fought nagging injuries all along.

Here's hoping he can put it together this year and stay out of the trainers room.

You a season ticket holder? Go Bills!!!!

[Buckskin86]

HOT: CB Ashton Youboty. Is anyone truly surprised that Youboty has been Buffalo's most consistent defensive back in the early stages of camp? He's not as flashy as some of his teammates, but he's consistently making plays on the ball, and he's perhaps the best tackler of the group. He appears to be fully healed from the high ankle sprain that sidelined him last season. He had a pass break-up today that thwarted a potential touchdown throw; Youboty turns in plays like this every day. Reggie Corner is still taking first-team nickel reps, but Youboty is hot on his tail.

Rookie OG Levitre practices, highlights Bills camp day?three - Buffalo Rumblings

[osucollegebuck]

I think he's the best tackler on the whole Bills defense. Kinda like another player who wore #26 for the Bills......Antoine Winfield.

[Buckskin86]

Recapping week one of Buffalo Bills training camp
by Brian Galliford on Aug 2, 2009

The battle at nickel corner rages on, but only technically - Drayton Florence has distanced himself early from Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty (and right now, we'd place Corner slightly ahead of Youboty as well, but that should change quickly once the team starts playing games).

Recapping week one of Buffalo Bills training?camp - Buffalo Rumblings

[osucollegebuck]

Youboty is getting after it!!!!! Go Ashton!!!!!!




http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/practice-notes---day-10/4db524a6-cb2e-461b-a15b-4b8c1bb0fd4a



Ashton Youboty got some work as the first team nickel cornerback. That may have been due in part to Drayton Florence?s duty at right cornerback, with Leodis McKelvin still limited in practice and not taking part in any team work.
But Youboty had a great practice with a pair of interceptions, including one in the end zone that was intended for Josh Reed when he was lined up as an outside corner on the left side with the second unit.
Youboty?s play did not experience much of a drop-off at the outset of camp despite the long layoff due to plantar fasciitis in both feet. And now a week and a half into camp the fourth-year corner is really rounding into form.
?Just staying focused and making small progress every day as they install the new defenses,? said Youboty. ?(I?m) re-learning things I missed out on being out so long. So just getting comfortable going out there and making plays. It?s a matter of reps right now. The more reps I get the more consistent I can get.?

[Buckskin86]

Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty worked in and out at second team nickel as they both took reps on the outside as well. Coming off of double plantar fasciitis Youboty has bounced back well and his head coach has noticed.

?It?s great to have Ashton back,? said Jauron. ?At the time he got injured that was a big loss to us. He?s been performing very well as our nickel, so it?s good to have him pain free and working.?

Practice Notes - Day 11

[Buckskin86]

Youboty trying to show he belongs on the field
Kevin Oklobzija ? Staff writer ? August 7, 2009


Cornerback Ashton Youboty pulls on his helmet as he goes back out onto the field for coverage drills at the Buffalo Bills training camp Wednesday in Pittsford. (SHAWN DOWD staff photographer)

Not until Nick Saban and Louisiana State University offered a scholarship did Ashton Youboty ever think football could take him much beyond high school.

His Friday Night Lights in Klein, Texas, didn't include a dream about Saturday Afternoon Sunshine and the big-time college football stage.

"I was ready to go to community college and walk on to the football team," he said.
But when the powerhouse LSU Tigers showed interest, he realized he really did have talent.

Soon Oklahoma was talking to him. Then Ohio State.

And the next thing you knew, Youboty was leaving Texas for Columbus, Ohio.
"I just wish I knew then what I know now about defenses and coverages," the fourth-year cornerback said. "Like at spring ball at Ohio State. I was thinking, 'Man, if I had just learned that in high school ...
"And now here, there are things you go over and you think, 'If I had just learned that in college ...'"

Things like how to read the three-step drop by the quarterback. That outside leverage when lining up on tight coverage forces the receiver inside. In certain defensive coverages, the inside is where defensive backs have help waiting.
He absorbed plenty about football in college, and also over his first three seasons with the Bills.

But one thing Youboty didn't need to learn when he joined the Bills as a third-round draft pick in 2006: that he belonged.
"He has good size (5-feet-11, 189 pounds), he's smart and he's athletic," said defensive backs coach George Catavolos.

Youboty trying to show he belongs on the field | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

[Buckskin86]

Secondary: Serious competition here. The locks are Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin, Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott. Jairus Byrd, Reggie Corner, Drayton Florence and George Wilson will be the top reserves. Jauron has kept 10 DBs in all three of his previous years and created some room by trading Ko Simpson to Detroit on Friday. That leaves Ellis Lankster, John Wendling, Cary Harris and Ashton Youboty vying for two spots.

Look for Lankster and Harris to end up on the practice squad with Wendling and Youboty making it.

Buffalo Bills to make tough roster decisions | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle

Cornerback is the Bills’ deepest position and while Ashton Youboty, the 2006 third-round draft pick, seemed safe, after last night you wonder.

The starters are Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin, while Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster are the backups with veterans Youboty and Drayton Florence behind them.

With a chance to start, Youboty, never known for his toughness, was trampled by the Lions’ Calvin Johnson on a flat pass. Two plays later, that same wide receiver beat him for 37 yards on a “go” route. The final indignity came when Johnson whipped Youboty and safety Ko Simpson for a 34-yard touchdown connection, only to have it nullified by off-setting penalties.

He saved the night from being a complete disaster by making a good stick on the second-half kickoff return.

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/arti...5591844657.txt