Denver Broncos Free Agent Preview: Jonathan Wilhite
by Jezru on Feb 14, 2012 4:00 PM MST
in Strictly My Opinion
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Next up in the free agent preview series is DB Jonathan Wilhite. Coming out of Auburn, Wilhite was taken in the 4th round of the 2008 draft by the New England Patriots. For most of the 2008 season he would play behind, of all people, Deltha O'Neil before assuming the starting role for the last quarter of the season. He would play sporadically over the next couple seasons until the "Turk" knocked on his door at the end of Patriots training camp in 2011. Less than a week later he was a Denver Bronco.
Jonathan is not the first Wilhite to wear the orange and blue. However, there is no relation between him and back-flipping sensation/legend RB Gerald Willhite (note the extra "L" in his name).
2011 Highlights:
Wilhite showed great promise early in the season. In week two against the Cincinnati Bengals and in week three against the Tennessee Titans, he was able to sack the quarterback. In the week four blow-out loss against the Green Bay Packers, Wilhite managed to pick off NFL MVP Aaron Rogers one time.
With those accomplishments aside Wilhite only managed to appear in four more games the rest of the season and was unimpressive otherwise. He made $600,000 in 2011 and with four accrued seasons, his minimum pay would more than likely be $700,000K in 2012 should the Broncos choose to bring him back.
The second half of the 2011 season saw Wilhite amass only three tackles. With production like that, I would be surprised to see this Wilhite back with the Broncos in 2012.
Go Broncos!
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can't wait
for Thompson to be back. he’ll break out more than Bay-Bay did this year. just wait…….
Win or lose, I'll always be a BRONCOS fan! We've had enough of the former the past few years though, so how 'bout some more of the latter.....
by mtnbikinbronc on Feb 14, 2012 8:55 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
I know you didn't put the description under the picture...
But I highly doubt that Wilhite is that big, if he did he would DOOMED at CB.
-Champ Bailey's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Champ Bailey-
-The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese -
Fixed!
I chose a moment from a game that I attended in which Wilhite had a significant impact.
by Sayre Bedinger on Feb 14, 2012 5:56 PM MST up reply actions
Go
We have a logjam at nickel/dime/backup CBs with 3 young players in Harris, Vaughn and Squid. No room for Wilhite.
Was Gerald Willhite a legend?
To me, he personified Dan Reeves’ pig-headedness. Reeves’ was too proud to admit that he’d made a huge personnel mistake with Willhite.
There's no way Khloe's a Kardashian. No frickin' way.
by Agent Jerry Fletcher on Feb 14, 2012 4:50 PM MST reply actions
that seems a bit of an overstatement. While he may not have been a superstar
he was a good football player who was fast, excellent receiver and a very good blocker. Perhaps he isn’t a first round worthy pick but he was a very productive RB. Very productive on 3rd down, just an average runner (too much forward lean and too upright) plus he was part of 2 Bronco teams that went to SBs and was a valuable contributor in those seasons. Glad we had him.
BTW, for all those guys who harp on Tim Tebows passing stats (just had to work TT in here somehow!) looking at the 89 Broncos roster and stats I was reminded that the QB who got us to the SB that year passed for just barely 3000 yds (3051), only had a 53% completion rate, only had 18 touchdowns but did have 18 interceptions that year and finished with a QB rating of 73.7.
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."
by rubincarterrocks on Feb 14, 2012 5:17 PM MST up reply actions
I loved Gerald Wilhite
if for nothing else, #47 is a cool NFL number, not too many wear that, other than John Lynch, I can’t really think of anyone
Brad James
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With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Feb 14, 2012 11:30 PM MST up reply actions
I wouldn't even characterize him as a good football player.
He may have been productive; but only because Reeves refused to give up on him.
I don’t even know what his stats were. But I remember him being a constant source of frustration and that he left a ton of yards on the field. Sounds kind of like Knowshon.
There's no way Khloe's a Kardashian. No frickin' way.
by Agent Jerry Fletcher on Feb 15, 2012 7:21 AM MST up reply actions
Fair enough.
There's no way Khloe's a Kardashian. No frickin' way.
by Agent Jerry Fletcher on Feb 15, 2012 3:50 PM MST up reply actions
He started very well
Making sacks from the slot… But he never showed to deserve being a CB. For me, let him go.
This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².
I’m hoping the plan for next year includes upgrading to the point where Wilhite isn’t considered a viable #4 CB for us.
Yeah, I think we are just fine for #4 & 5 with Thompson, Harris and Vaughn.
What we need is a #2 to groom for Champ’s spot in a couple of years…
"You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding" -Julian Bond
Follow @bfree2bronc
We are just too shallow at DB to dump him
Without anyone else being brought in. Bring him back for camp at least to see if he’s improved, if he has, great, if not, well it didn’t cost much. If this were a deep position, I wouldn’t mind it, but we are severally lacking at DB.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
by Topher Doll on Feb 14, 2012 6:01 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Champ, Goody, Harris, Squid, Vaughn
Assuming all the above are healthy, we have our roster full at CB. Who of them do you dump for Wilhite?
Don't dump anyone
The average NFL team keeps 5 CB’s on staff, some keep a few other general DB players as well. I’m not a big Wilhite fan, and I think we can do better, but after this past season and how injuries have hit Champ, Goodman, Squid, and Vaughn, if we don’t keep another CB around, we are going to be screwed. He’s not a starter, but for a 4th or 5th string player, he’s not expected to be great, he just need to compete at camp and then hold the fort down if there is an injury.
We could end up like the Jags who only had 4 CB’s on the roster at the beginning of the pre-season but lost their 4 CB’s and 1 safety and had to go to the scrap pile and then lost 2 more before finally having to use the very bottom of the FA CB bucket. I’m not saying keep Wilhite because he’s a starter worthy guy, I say keep him because if we keep getting injured at CB like we have these past few seasons, most FA CB’s are worse than Wilhite.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
presently you are right Topher
let’s see if the draft rectifies our lack of depth, as always, I trust EFX until they prove they can no longer be trusted
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Feb 14, 2012 11:38 PM MST up reply actions
Exactly, if we draft a DB
Then I feel a lot better about letting him go.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
Harris and Squid show a lot of potential as nickles
But both are on the small side. Vaughn isnt huge, but bigger than then those two and that helps him. Wilhite is kinda small to.
It's mostly a college issue
There aren’t many large CB’s, and actually larger CB’s are generally seem with some question marks, mostly because taller CB’s usually lack the side-to-side agility and smooth hip movement to play off of quick receivers. With the changes Terrell Owens brought to the WR position, bringing in the age of tall, muscular WR’s, players like Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, and Brandon Marshall have been on the rise. But the CB position hasn’t changed along with these changes, mostly because large WR’s aren’t as common in college. The average height of an NFL receiver is 6’1" while the average height of an NFL CB is only 5’11". Even looking at the CB’s in this draft, there are only 2 players in the top 350 prospects that are over 6’0" while within that same 350, there are 26 WR’s over 6’0".
Sorry about that, some long term football theory tangents I need to work.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
No need to apoligize.
I agree. Its something I have been pondering for a while. Its why the emergence of Brandon Browner is so intriguing to me, its the answer for the big bodied receivers. I also advocated drafting sean smith a few years ago for this very reason. That being said, I think at a legit 6’0, a top flight CB in the league will be okay save for some balls the calvin Johnson. Usually if their that good they have the hops, speed, and technique aka Jonathen Joseph.
we NEVER should have let Brandon Browner go
the Seahawks are glad to have him, their secondary is the answer to the Chargers’ NBA small forwards ERRR receivers. Browner and Kam Chancellor are huge. Browner was a late bloomer but he was a CFL star who excelled in the NFL as well. You can count people like that on one hand, Warren Moon, Doug Flute, Cameron Wake, Jeff Garcia and now Jerome Messam, formerly of the Edmonton Eskimos, who the Dolphins have brought in, smart move by Miami
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Feb 15, 2012 9:04 AM MST up reply actions
The problem is
There just aren’t many CB’s 6’0" or over, at least not ones with the other requirements to be a good corner. If we can find one, grab him up, but they are a rare breed.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
Exactly
smaller guys tend to be quicker. It seems 5’7-5’10 is the range where you see the real fleet footed guys at. Furthermore, like you said, colleges tend to have smaller players at corner for the above mentioned. If your 6’0 and have relatively similar quickness (Its extemely rare to get elite level feet in bigger guys) as some of the smaller guys, then you have a huge advantage, especially if you can use you length. Browner is a guy that uses his length and speed well (he is also pretty smart but most corners have to be). Even at a “real” 5’11, thats not a bad sized CB at all. Then there is a guy like Brandon Flowers who makes up for his lack of height in a big way.
700k is not expensive
bring him in as camp fodder…. if the injury bug strikes again, he’d be useful to have around.
If not… he can meet the turk again.
Bye bye jonathan...Been nice knowing you.
"You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people's lack of understanding" -Julian Bond
Follow @bfree2bronc
Wilhite did well in the Bengals' game
but otherwise, I don’t really know enough about him to make a definitive judgment. I guess we should let him compete in camp and see what happens
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Feb 14, 2012 11:02 PM MST reply actions
I tend to agree
but if we pick a CB high and the draft and wilhite gets cut because of him, I wont lose sleep.
by ShyandObese on Feb 15, 2012 12:54 AM MST up reply actions
Ballhawk
Wouldn’t we be better with a db that could intercept balls?
eh, he was an alright special teamer
if we have the room and we need him on ST’s, then keep him. If we can upgrade, move him, or remove him.
~ "It was nice being young, when players were heroes and the NFL wasn’t such a business." ~ McGeorge
Regarding Jonathan Wilhite and Gerald Willhite,
is there something, other than the extra “L,” which lead you to say that they’re not related?
nice job fellow copy editor!
I have his card 
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Feb 15, 2012 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
I dabble in genealogy
One family of “Lamb” in the 1700’s saw their next generation change the name to “Lamm,” which is the name that they go by to this very day. I’m not saying that it’s the same thing here…just thinking outloud, mostly.
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