Greer gives Buffalo boost in secondary
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Buffalo's Jabari Greer stepped in for an injured Ashton Youboty at cornerback and made a big impact in the Bills' 17-14 win over the AFC East rival New York Jets Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Photo by Patrick McPartland

The Buffalo Bills could use more guys like Jabari Greer - guys who come off the bench, fill in for an injured starter and make big plays.

And with the laundry list of injuries the Bills have sustained on defense this year - you can add Kevin Harrison to that list - they'd do well to clone the fourth-year defensive back.

Greer, primarily known for special teams play and coming in on nickel and dime defensive packages, got the opportunity to play left-side cornerback in Sunday's 17-14 win over the New York Jets when starter Ashton Youboty went down with an injury in the first quarter. Youboty was starting in place of the injured Jason Webster.

With the chance to prove himself, Greer made a game-changing play with his interception of Chad Pennington in the fourth quarter.

Facing second and nine from his own 21-yard line, Pennington slung the ball out wide to receiver Laveranues Coles, but Greer jumped on the play, stepped in front of Coles and stole the ball. It was his first career interception.

"I said to myself that I broke the curse," Greer said after the game. "I feel like I hadn't had an interception in the regular season in a long time since around college. It was good to go out there and make a play to really benefit the guys."

"It was a risk, because they invented this thing called the pump-and-go, as you all know," Greer added. "I just took a chance and it fortunately went my way."

Greer's interception set up the Bills' offense, and rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, for the second touchdown of the game, a one-yard pass from Edwards to tight end Michael Gaines. That put the Bills on top 17-7 with 6:56 to play and sealed the team's first victory of the season.

"Everybody who was at training camp and everybody who's been around knows how good Jabari is," said cornerback Terrence McGee, who also had an interception in the fourth quarter. "He's a great player. All he needed was an opportunity. He just shows you how good he is and how quick he is. It was good to see him come out and make a play, because we see it every day in practice."

The interception wasn't the only big play Greer made Sunday. In the second quarter, he played perfect defense on a pass to Jerricho Cotchery. Greer leaped in front of the receiver and swatted away the ball with his left hand while avoiding contact with his right.

As a backup player, Greer knows full well his number can get called at any time. He knows the reserves must be ready to enter the game at any time.

"You have to be," he said. "You have to prepare yourself for anything that happens. Unfortunately, Ashton went down, and I just had to go in there and do what I do to the best of my ability."

The Bills' secondary has been one of the most ravaged parts of the team this year, with season ending injuries to Webster (broken arm) and Ko Simpson (broken ankle), as well as lesser injuries to Youboty and McGee.

"Nobody ever foresees injuries like that, but the way things have happened this year, it's unfortunate," Greer said. "But you have to step in and help out the team any way you can."

Greer will most likely start at cornerback this week when the Bills host the Dallas Cowboys Monday night.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com