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VerHagen
Angemeldet seit:
12.06.2020
Beiträge: 7
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. Cornerback TreDavious White occasionally enjoys parading around the Buffalo Bills facility in goaltending gear while claiming to have been the best hockey player in his native Louisiana history.Itall fiction, including The TreDavious White Goalie Academy, where he supposedly taught Buffalo Sabres starter Carter Hutton all he knows. White, in fact, was unfamiliar with hockey until last year *****, when he became a big fan of Hutton while attending his first NHL game.The outing was filmed by the teampromotional department, and prompted the Pegula-owned Bills and Sabres to produce a mock-umentary in which White proudly says Ive never allowed a goal. All joking aside, White was immediately captivated by Hutton because he can appreciate how a goalierole is no different than his.Ultimately, I dont want to be embarrassed out there. So, when youre the last line of defense, and somebody catches the ball on you, thatall everybodygoing to talk about, right White said. Just like a touchdown or when somebody scores a goal, you want to try to defend the goal, and the team is depending on you to try to save the day.Preferring pigskins over pucks, the third-year player has generated an impressive save percentage for making key stops particularly in the clutch.On Wednesday, with Buffalo preparing to host Philadelphia this weekend, White earned his first AFC defensive player of the week honors.It came after he forced two momentum-changing second-half turnovers, allowing Buffalo to rally from a five-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 31-21 victory over winless Miami last weekend.I feel itjust the first step, said White, who has on several occasions voiced his objective of becoming the NFLtop cornerback. I always felt like those accolades would come if the team wins. And so far were winning and people are paying attention *****. I mean, as long as we win, thatall that matters.Both turnovers led directly to Buffalo touchdowns, starting with Whitediving interception of Ryan Fitzpatrickpass at the Buffalo 2 to end a 16-play third-quarter-opening drive. Two series later, White punched the ball out of receiver Preston Williams hands, with the fumble recovered by teammate Jerry Hughes.Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments, and hea big-time player since he got here, safety Micah Hyde said. Thatjust Tre. Whathe call himself Fourth-quarter Tre Thatwhen he starts playing really well.Of White13 career takeaways *****, 12 have come in the second half.In Week 3, he clinched a 21-17 win over Cincinnati by intercepting Andy Daltonpass that tipped off Hydehands at the Buffalo 10 with 12 seconds remaining.It was no different during his rookie season in 2017.White sealed a 16-10 win at Kansas City by intercepting Alex Smithpass at the Buffalo 27 with 110 remaining. He also forced and recovered Adam Humphries fumble with 228 left to set up Stephen Hauschka30-yard game-deciding field goal in a 30-27 win over Tampa Bay.Itfunny you bring that Tampa game up, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Monday.What he did yesterday was very similar. But weve seen it in his three short years here He finds a way to come up with big plays in some tough moments, Frazier added. Thereno situation too big for him, no circumstance that scares him.According to the NFLNext Gen Stats, quarterbacks have completed 44.8 percent of their attempts thrown in Whitedirection, and he leads the league with a 26.6 defender passer rating based on a minimum 20 targets this season.From Shreveport, Buffalo2017 first-round draft pick honed his skills at LSU, where White practiced against a group of receivers that included Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.White drew on those experiences when picking off Fitzpatrickpass intended for Isaiah Ford, who broke off his route and cut to the right sideline.Just from practicing and being beat on that route so many times, White said. It comes from trial and error, just being in that position so many times, and trusting my feet and trusting my eyes.No different than a goalie.Hutton was impressed by Whiteperformance against Miami, and gets a big laugh out of the hockey-related videos the Bills have produced *****.Hea character for sure, Hutton said. I think itgreat to have personalities. I think itgreat for fans to see the human side of us, too. We like to have fun. Were not just robots.Hutton, off to a 6-0 start this season, winked in saying White hasnt taught him everything about goaltending *****.No, no. He taught me a lot but not everything, he said.Whitenot giving up his day job just yet, though heprepared to pull on his gear in a pinch.If the Sabres need an emergency goalie, Im up for it if coach McDermott will let me, White said.
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