McKelvin finally breaks through on return
Leodis McKelvin knew a big one was coming. He's come close in recent weeks to take a kickoff back for a touchdown. He had an 85-yarder just last week. But after a couple of near misses, he finally took one the entire distance.
After the Browns took a 23-13 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, McKelvin answered with a 98-yard touchdown. He is the first Bills rookie to score on a kickoff return since Eric Moulds against the New York Jets on Nov. 24, 1996.
"I've been waiting for that chance since Week One," McKelvin said. "If you look at some of the games, I've been one play from scoring. "I was just telling the guys, 'Y'all do a great job of blocking for me, I'll get one.'"
The Bills hope the touchdown is the first of many more for McKelvin, who was one of the most prolific return specialists in college football history at Troy University. He tied an NCAA record with eight return touchdowns (seven punts and one kickoff).
There were some eyebrows raised when the Bills decided to make McKelvin their primary kickoff returner because Terrence McGee is one of the NFL's elite players in that area. The Bills said the move was an effort to keep McGee fresh for his primary role at cornerback.
But like most rookies, McKelvin got off to a slow start. He seemed to have trouble reading and setting up his blocks and wasn't as decisive through the hole. His struggles led to whispers that maybe it was time for McGee to reassume return duties.
You can forget about that now. McKelvin has found his comfort zone and is returning kicks with the same instincts and confidence that he displayed in college.
What he did Monday night was even more impressive when you consider the opponent. The Browns entered the game ranked third in the NFL in kickoff coverage. Bills special teams coach Bobby April said last week that Cleveland had the best combined return and coverage units in the NFL based on his own 22-category formula.
But from the outset, the Browns had no answer for McKelvin. The question is why they insisted on kicking to him.
McKelvin opened the game with a 38-yard return and had a 49-yarder later in the first quarter.
From then on, the Browns used squib kickoffs and short, high pop-ups to make someone other than McKelvin field the ball. As a result, the Bills' average drive start was their 40-yard line.
But after building a 10-point lead, the Browns decided to tempt fate again. Bad move.
Fielding the ball from his 2-yard line, McKelvin headed towards the Bills' sideline and picked up several blocks along the way. Once he cut back up the middle, he easily ran past kicker Phil Dawson and turned on the speed.
The holes were so big, McKelvin was never touched.
"Probably all of us can get through those creases," he said. "I didn't have to make no moves or break speed. The credit goes to the guys blocking. They did a great job."
