Buffalo Bills: Ronald Darby will shine in 2015

By Luis Tirado Jr. | May 11, 2015

Since the Buffalo Bills did not have a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, they had to have much preparation done beforehand to ensure they would be able to bolster some areas of opportunity across the team.

Since new head coach Rex Ryan prides himself on having plenty of options at cornerback even if he’s more than stacked at the position, they took the “best player available” approach when it came to their first pick of the draft. When it came their time to make a draft selection at No. 18 in the second round, it was a no-brainer to select cornerback Ronald Darby.

Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

At 5’11 and 193 pounds, Darby excels in man-to-man coverage while being able to turn on the speed at any given moment. With a keen sense at disrupting passes, especially in zone coverage, Darby should be able to shine when he’s given opportunities at cornerback this upcoming season.

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In his college career at Florida State, Darby contributed 79 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He rarely misses tackles and when he hits opposing receivers, he knows how to make his presence known so they think twice before heading in his direction.

Since the Bills will most likely deploy Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore as their starting cornerbacks in 2015, depth is incredibly important to keep rotations fresh and just in case injuries occur. Darby isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination as he has some flaws to work on but the Bills will definitely utilize his speed on specific defensive schemes.

Once he is coached and trained to fix his flaws, especially against the run, Darby will develop nicely over time and into a starting option over the next few years. He’s very coachable and listens to instructions well. The talent is definitely there as it’s just a matter of him being able to transition into the pros without missing a beat.

Defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson, considered to be one of the best at his coaching level, is already having quite the impression on Darby. In an article written by Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com, here is what Darby had to say about Henderson’s coaching style in his first training camp as a rookie in the NFL:

"“He wants to coach. He’s not the type of coach that will sit back and let you do whatever you want to and try to talk to you later. He wants to fix it right there on the spot and give you a lot details. He helps you a lot.”"

Aug 30, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Florida State Seminoles cornerback Ronald Darby (3) in game action against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Florida State beat Oklahoma State 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Needless to say, it’s good to see Darby will be developed with an emphasis on detail. If he is to succeed at the next level, it’s all about what he learns now heading into the regular season that will be the blueprint for his future success. Luckily for him, he’s got everything in his favor to continue honing his craft with Henderson having a watchful eye over him at all times.

Darby has the skill-set to help push the envelope for the Bills come next season. They will do their best to build upon their 9-7 record of last season and be on top of the AFC East.

It won’t be easy as teams across the division have all significantly gotten better but with Darby in the mix as well as the Bills’ established cornerback situation, they will definitely surprise many with a stout defense. Plus with Ryan commanding the pack, there is no telling just how incredible the Bills’ defense will be in 2015.

Next: Buffalo Bills make a mistake by not drafting Bryce Petty

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