SB Nation - Felton Huggins

Defining the Buffalo Bills' roster bubble players

Brian Galliford — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:00:24 -0000

For one last time, at least for another year or so, we're about to talk about the roster bubble. It's pretty difficult to define a roster bubble, particularly if you're nerdy enough - like yours truly - to project an NFL's 53-man roster obsessively until your thoughts are no longer relevant.

Heading into their pre-season finale, the Buffalo Bills (and more particularly, its coaching staff) very likely has their final 53 already selected. For fans, however, speculation rules the day this time of the year. This post is meant to do three things: define Buffalo's list of "bubble" players, force you to pay attention to those bubble players, and serve as one last spot for y'all to formulate your thoughts before tomorrow's "Buffalo Rumblings Roster Projection Contest" begins.

Staying with the team, but they don't count yet (2)
RB Marshawn Lynch (Reserve/Suspended) - Lynch probably won't play tonight, and he begins his three-game suspension on Saturday.
WR James Hardy (Physically Unable to Perform) - Right now, Hardy is on Active PUP, meaning that he counts against the active roster, and that he can be activated at any time. Active PUP ends when the pre-season ends. It's very likely the coaches will give Hardy an extra six weeks to get into football shape and all healed up by placing him on Reserve PUP.

With those two moves in mind, the Bills will have 72 active players. That list, obviously, needs to be whittled down to 53 - so 19 more must go.

Certain cuts (11)
Let's face it - if any of these eleven players make the roster, every single one of us will be floored.

QB Matt Baker, RB Bruce Hall, WR Felton Huggins, WR C.J. Hawthorne, TE Tyson DeVree, OT Nick Hennessey, C Christian Gaddis, DE Ataefiok Etukeren, DT Derrick Jones, DT Corey Mace, LB Ryan Manalac

That list puts us down to 61 players. We've now officially reached the bubble portion of our roster.

THE BUBBLE (15)
I've got 15 players listed as "on the bubble." All of these players have at least something going for them that could keep them on the roster through the weekend. By current math, eight of these players will make the final roster, while seven will try to latch on with other NFL teams.

RB Xavier Omon, FB Corey McIntyre, WR Justin Jenkins, TE Jonathan Stupar, OT Jonathan Scott, OG Brandon Rodd, DE Chris Ellis, DE Copeland Bryan, LB Marcus Buggs, LB Jon Corto, LB Alvin Bowen, LB Ashlee Palmer, CB Cary Harris, FS Ko Simpson, SS John Wendling

Picking eight of these names as keepers may seem easy, but it's made a bit more difficult by potential surprises. We've got four such scenarios below. For every scenario that comes to fruition below (and we're not saying any of them will), pick another name from the above list and toss it onto your final roster.

Surprise cuts/roster decisions (4)
TE Derek Fine - He's dealing with a hamstring issue, and to say the competition at tight end is heavy is an understatement. It wouldn't completely shock us to see him released, even after being a 2008 fourth-round draft pick.

OT Langston Walker - WGR 550 reporter Paul Hamilton is already on the record as saying Walker could be a surprise release. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly given Demetrius Bell's bad back, but Walker's apparent fall from grace seems legitimate. I can't fathom a scenario in which the Bills would be comfortable entering a season with three highly unproven tackles - but in the spirit of "it wouldn't shock me," we'll list Walker anyways.

DE Ryan Denney - The Bills, for the first time in what seems like forever, actually have some depth at the defensive end position. They've got three young ends - two listed on the bubble above - that have proven worthy of roster consideration. It's difficult to imagine the team cutting Denney, but it's not impossible. They could also dangle him in trade talks if they try, as some suspect they might, to swing a deal for veteran linebacker depth.

CB Ashton Youboty - Speaking of veterans that are candidates to be dangled in trade talks, meet Mr. Youboty. 25-year-old corners with some promise aren't exactly easy to come by, but the Bills have solid depth at corner without considering Youboty. (There's also a reason I listed Cary Harris as "on the bubble" above.) Buffalo obviously doesn't feel the need to actively try to trade Youboty, and he certainly won't be released. But if the right offer comes along - particularly if it involves that aforementioned veteran linebacker - the Bills might just pull the trigger.

***

That's it. That's about as ironclad as you can get on a pretty ambiguous topic. I'm off to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take in tonight's game; the open thread will air at 6:00 PM ET, and I'll have a recap up for y'all when I get back from the stadium. Enjoy yourselves this evening.

2009 Bills Training Camp is officially in the books

MattRichWarren — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:45:09 -0000

This morning was the final day of 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford. I was in attendance today - as I was for a dozen practices this year - as the moving vans arrived and the team headed back to Orchard Park for the remainder of the pre-season. Due to the copious amounts of rain yesterday, my phone was not operational for Twitter updates this morning, so I am going to change up and give you a timeline of the typical practice after the jump with my notes from today.

I arrived early thanks to a friend who attends SJF. She gave me her parking pass and I rolled into the parking lot instead of taking the blasted shuttles. That was pretty sweet.

9:30 - 9:40 Special Teams - Punt Team
Bobby April led the punt team through some work on blocking, then on getting off their blocks; meanwhile, the gunners worked at the other end of the field. As has been a continuous trend, Ryan Neill got all first team work with Garrison Sanborn squarely behind him. Working at gunner (in no particular order) were Justin Jenkins, Reggie Corner, Ashton Youboty, Felton Huggins, Jairus Byrd, Shaine Smith, Lydell Sargeant, John Wendling, and Ko Simpson. Easily the most vocal player during this work was Marcus Stroud, standing on the sideline.

9:40 - 9:49 Walk Through vs. Scout Teams
The first team offense was without Terrell Owens again today; Owens has been officially ruled out of Saturday's pre-season contest in Green Bay. Josh Reed took his reps on the outside. Bryan Scott continued to practice following his injury and alternated moving up in the box with Donte Whitner during the exercise.

9:49 - 9:55 Warm up and Stretch
Easily the most boring thing to watch in practice, it's also the best to see who is participating. QB Matt Baker was stretching, but didn't throw a pass all day, instead standing and watching in a ball cap. WR James Hardy joined Owens in the training room, and defensive tackles Corey Mace and Marcus Smith watched from the sidelines. TE Shawn Nelson was late arriving on the field, but eventually joined the team during team work. Everyone else was participating fully.

9:55 - 10:11 Position Work
At this point in the practice, the team broke up into their position groups: DL, LB, DB, OL, TE, WR, RB, QB and ST (kickers, punters and long snappers). Without pads on, the OL and DL were working on footwork and hand techniques on opposite ends of the field. The RB and QB groups started together working on hand-offs before the RB group went to work on footwork and cuts. LBs were working on gap assignments, and DBs were focusing on backpedaling and ball skills. TEs were focusing on blocking and when to move off onto the blitzing linebacker. The WRs were catching passes after breaking off routes, but the most interesting part was that a coach was smacking them with a pad when the ball was in the air. Essentially the guys had to keep their focus even though they were being hit as the ball arrived. Then the WRs and QBs got together and worked on pass routes before the TEs and RBs were mixed in as well.

10:11 - 10:19 7on 7, OL vs. DL
While the offensive and defensive linemen did some one on one work, the first team offense and defense worked in the passing shell. It was around this time that people were figuring out that T.O. was just not going to show up. Many were sad. It would have been nice for him to at least come out and wave or something. Skill players with the first team offense were Lee Evans, Derek Fine, Josh Reed (in for Owens) and Shawn Nelson in the slot. He moved in tight on a couple plays as well before Roscoe Parrish replaced him. Roscoe and Nelson's reps were split pretty evenly as the "third WR" option. Good to see the big guy getting some first team reps. As an aside, it's pretty clear that Derek Schouman and Derek Fine are 1A and 1B and will rotate with Nelson. We officially have a three-headed monster at TE.

Trent Edwards was hitting guys in stride today and not one throw hit the ground during position work or 7 on 7. He was working the ball down the field, hitting Evans and Reed for gains on 15-20 yards. Ryan Fitzpatrick also looked good, completing good passes before throwing a 30+ yard bomb to Justin Jenkins. It was a gorgeous arching pass right over the top of the defender. Even Gibran Hamdan got in on the act, threading the ball between two defenders for a 25-yard pickup to C.J. Hawthorne.

10:19 - 10:31 Special Teams - Kick Return
Bobby April had the front six on one side of the field and his back five on the other. The starters for the front line were George WIlson, Jon Corto, John Wendling, Marcus Buggs and Justin Jenkins (L to R facing the kicker), with Shawn Nelson about ten yards behind Wendling. They were working on picking up their guys based on what the kick team does. The wedge (April used the term) portion was Leodis McKelvin returning with Xavier Omon five yards in front of him, and Spencer Johnson five yards in front of Omon. The Dereks were about five yards further up splitting the field in thirds. When the ball was kicked deep, the Dereks stood about three yards apart and Johnson came between them about two yards back. They also worked on short kicks and getting communication down so they know who is going to catch it.

10:32 - 10:38 11 on 11
The first full-team work of the day again highlighted the offense as they continued to practice without pads. James Hardy made his way onto the field prior to the team work, walking out and talking with teammates. Bryan Scott had a simulated stop in the backfield on a Roscoe reverse, the second of those I witnessed today. Jairus Byrd had a nice pass breakup on a Gibran Hamdan throw working with the third team. Answering some questions, the second team center was Brandon Rodd and Seth McKinney, running second team guard, slid over to the pivot with the third team. Watching more position battles, Chris Ellis is clearly getting more reps than Copeland Bryan, who ran third team today. Ellis has been seeing second team reps while Aaron Maybin continues his holdout.

10:38 - 10:54 Walk Through vs. Coaches
A staple of the end of practice is a walk through against a team of coaches simulating a defense. It's not interesting to watch, but the fans were getting anxious and began chanting. At one point between plays, Eric Wood and Langston Walker raised their arms in the air exhorting the chants to continue and get louder. The first team offense was working against the coaches, but on the other side of the field, it was the second and third team defense getting the reps against the ghost team.

10:54 - 10:58 Stretching and Team Huddle

10:59 Position Meetings and Break
DB, OL, LB, and TE met with their position coaches briefly while the rest of the team made their way towards the locker room for the final time this year. After practice, Fitzpatrick signed autographs and Walker and Butler threw their gloves into the stands.

***

Best Development of the Day
Only one Trent Edwards pass hit the ground all day. It was a yard overthrown to Lee Evans on the sideline about 18 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Worst Development of the Day
The moving vans were moving stuff from the sidelines and locker room during the entire practice. I still have at least one camp story to tell and you should see that later this week, but for now, the only time we'll see the Bills is when they play the Packers this weekend.

Bills getting closer to fielding their full roster

Brian Galliford — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:00:21 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills are getting healthier - and, more importantly, they're getting closer to fielding their full roster for the first time this season. Not only have several players returned to practice - with perhaps a few more to follow shortly - but the Bills are rapidly moving towards signing first-round pick DE Aaron Maybin as well.

Maybin update: signing should happen any time now
We already knew that ESPN's John Clayton on Wednesday night reported his belief that the Bills and Maybin would reach a deal "within 24-48 hours." Last night, Sal Capaccio echoed those sentiments, noting that significant progress had been made in negotiations. Capaccio also reports that when the dust settles, Maybin is expected to sign for a deal that puts him in the ballpark of $26 million with $14-15 million guaranteed over five years.

Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted last night that, after the Packers signed DT B.J. Raji, he anticipated that Jaguars OT Eugene Monroe would be the next to sign, followed closely by Maybin. That tweet was supplemented by another tweet this morning, where Schefter lets us know that a Monroe signing should take place today (Friday). We're at the point now where a Maybin signing could literally happen any moment. Stay tuned.

Owens to return Monday
WR Terrell Owens, who has missed all of this week's practices as he receives treatment on a sprained toe, will not play in this Saturday's pre-season home contest against the Chicago Bears - thus rendering a boring pre-season game all the less exciting. But there is good news - Owens is expected to return to the practice field on Monday. Concerns that Owens' body was getting frail or that the toe injury could really be a turf toe seem, at least for now, to be premature.

PUP players making progress
To this point, WR James Hardy and rookie FS Jairus Byrd have not participated in a single pre-season practice, as each recovers from off-season surgeries. However, both appear close to ready to return to the practice field.

BuffaloBills.com reports this morning that Hardy has been going full-speed in individual drills. There is still no timetable for his return, but his knee is fully healed and Bills trainers are working on getting him ready for the rigors of a season.

Meanwhile, while I was at camp last Thursday and Friday (August 6-7), I was informed that Byrd, at that point in time, was in great shape working out between practices, but was still around 10 days away from returning to the field. By my count, unless there has been a setback - and given that Byrd continues to work out with Hardy between practices, that seems unlikely - Byrd should be on the field by the middle of next week. If our speculation is correct - and I believe it is - Maybin and Byrd may make their pro debuts in the same pre-season game, likely the August 29 tilt in Pittsburgh.

Players returning to practice
Ashton Youboty missed practices late last week and early this week, but returned to the practice field on Thursday night. He'll re-commence his mission for playing time in a crowded Bills defensive backfield. DE Copeland Bryan, who at this point only has a few practices under his belt, returned from a hamstring injury last night as well and was immediately inserted into the second-team defense at left end (bumping Chris Ellis down the depth chart). Xavier Omon also returned to the field.

LB Pat Thomas and FS Ko Simpson did not practice Thursday, but both players' respective injuries are considered minor. WR Steve Johnson continues to deal with a rib issue, but he, too, is expected to return next week along with another injured WR, Felton Huggins.

As it stands right now, the Bills stand to close camp (which is approaching quickly, by the way) with only one semi-serious injury situation. LB Ashlee Palmer sprained his ankle in the Hall of Fame Game, and though Dick Jauron labeled him "week to week," Palmer might be hunkering down to miss a significant chunk of time. Still, considering the seemingly imminent Maybin signing, the return to health of Owens and the PUP players, and the fact that there is only one truly serious injury right now, things are looking a bit brighter in Buffalo this morning.

State of the Bills Roster: Wide Receiver

Brian Galliford — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:00:14 -0000

Now that the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and off-season player acquisition will crawl at a snail's pace, Buffalo Rumblings has begun re-examining the Buffalo Bills' revamped roster. We continue off our 'State of the Roster' series this morning with a look at the wide receiver position. Previous installments: QB, RB, TE, OT, G/C, DE, DT, LB, S.

Terrell Owens. Uh... Terrell Owens. Did I mention Terrell Owens?

Coming off of two consecutive seasons in which the team sported anemic offenses, the Buffalo Bills knew they needed to add a playmaker to the team's receiving corps - not just to free up the constantly-doubled Lee Evans, but to finally give developing QB Trent Edwards a chance to play with real talent around him. That's why the team made an aggressive, early move to try to ink free agent receiver Laveranues Coles, who had just been released by the Jets. That fell through when Coles took more money to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The player the Bills got instead of Coles has caught 95 more touchdown passes than Chad Ochocinco's new running mate. That's quite the consolation prize.

With Owens on board, Buffalo now boasts one of the deepest receiving corps in the entirety of the National Football League. Will it help the Bills turn around their offensive fortunes and finally make a serious playoff push? Time will tell - but, in a phrase that is quickly becoming a mantra of sorts for 2009 Bills football, there are "no more excuses" for this group. There is finally an abundance of talent at this position.

STARTER: Lee Evans
Evans still fancies himself the Bills' top receiver. No receiver benefits more from the presence of Owens than Evans, who won't have to deal with persistent double coverage for sixteen games this year. One of the league's elite deep threats, Evans will be free to do what he's best at provided Owens continues his dominant ways - make big plays. He'll have a shot to make a lot of them.

STARTER: Terrell Owens
There isn't a lot to say that isn't already widely known. He's one of the top two or three touchdown-producing receivers in NFL history, with 139 career scoring receptions to his name. Even if he is dealing with diminishing skills, Owens brings two things to the receiving corps that we haven't seen in a long time: physicality and nearly unparalleled prowess in the red zone. He's a ten-touchdown-per-year player. If that continues in Buffalo, our offense is infinitely better. Case closed.

STARTER: Josh Reed
After years of playing out of position as the Bills' second receiver, Reed will return to the area where he does the most damage - the slot. He's already proven himself to be a reliable chain-moving target, and he's been a go-to guy for Edwards. Now he'll be free to do even more damage underneath. He'll never be an All Pro, but when you're surrounded with two outstanding outside targets, Reed is the type of player that will aggravate defenses to no end in the short areas of the field.

Roscoe Parrish
No one denies that Parrish can be electrifying with the ball in his hands. What can be questioned, however, is whether or not Parrish - a gadget player and elite punt returner and little more - is too luxury for a team like the Bills. Considering the amount of money he's due to be paid and the amount of playing time that's no longer open to him, don't be shocked if the team looks to trade him - there may still be a market for his services.

James Hardy
Indirectly, no one is going to benefit more from Owens' work ethic than James Hardy. Already blessed with rare size for a receiver, Hardy will get to spend at least a year watching Owens. T.O. doesn't need to teach him a thing; in fact, it's probably a little dangerous to ask him to do so. But no one has ever questioned Owens' work ethic or his practice habits. He does everything by the book and more on the field and in the practice setting. It will benefit the developing Hardy immensely to be around a player with Owens' work habits.

Steve Johnson
See: Hardy, James. Subtract the lingering knee injury and add the fact that he's already a fan favorite. The kid's got upside, but if a guy like Parrish isn't moved, he may not get many opportunities to see the field in 2009.

A few more names and a bit more analysis for you after the jump.

Justin Jenkins
He's here because of his value as a special teams player. Even if something happens on the trade front with Parrish, Jenkins isn't seeing the field as a receiver barring catastrophic injuries.

Felton Huggins
Huggins is a two-year practice squad player with no eligibility remaining and a miles-long shot at making the roster. Still, keep your eye on him - he's routinely making plays in the practice setting.

C.J. Hawthorne
The second-year pro spent 2008 on the practice squad, and with solid athleticism and some upside to be tapped into, he seems destined for that role again next season.

P.K. Sam
Sam is essentially Hawthorne, but without the practice squad caveat to keep him around. He won't be in Buffalo very long.

Contract situations: Owens and Reed are free agents after the 2009 season concludes. Evans is locked up long-term, as are last year's rookies (Hardy, Johnson). Parrish is also locked up long-term, but obviously his situation is a bit different.

Bottom Line
See what happens when just one playmaker is added to a position? The area goes from a frustration to a team strength overnight. Buffalo has five to six weapons at this position now that can hurt you in very different and very specific ways. There aren't any more excuses for this position, for QB Trent Edwards or for offensive coordinator Turk Schonert - the ability to harness the skill of this group and turn it into production and points will be the key to winning more games this season, particularly against division rivals.

Bills' depth at WR: a second look

sireric — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:15:07 -0000

Coming off of a 2008 season in which the Buffalo Bills - for what seems like the hundredth year in a row - lacked offensive firepower, the team is still searching for a difference-maker on the offensive side of the ball. Even though the team has some solid young talent in QB Trent Edwards, runners Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson and WR Lee Evans, the team still lacks the one consistent threat to provide the glue to a cohesive, consistent offense.

I've seen some fans here hinting (some more loudly then others) that the Bills should acquire a WR this off-season. Whether through free agency or the draft, the talk of adding a WR to the roster made me think of an article that I wrote up a while back discussing the depth and potential of the Bills' WR corps. Approximately six months after the article was penned, a lot has changed.

Lee Evans
"Lee Evans is Lee Evans, a solid, borderline true blue #1 receiver."

That remains true and despite a hefty raise in the meantime, there are still some questions about whether or not Evans is the #1 WR the Bills need.

Josh Reed
"Josh Reed is an average at best receiver (I'll say at best an average receiver to make Superfan82 happy)."

This remains true, and while I think Reed really showed his importance to the team last year, he is still most valuable when playing in the slot rather than the outside. He should be upgraded - on the outside.

Roscoe Parrish
"Roscoe is a terrific slot receiver."

I'm not as high on Roscoe as I was six months ago. He remains a top notch return man, but I am really uncertain just how much he really helps as a WR. If I'm replacing anybody right now, Parrish is the odd man out.

James Hardy
"The Bills' second round draft choice out of Indiana has the size and ability to be a huge playmaker in the NFL. He could be starting opposite Evans before the year is out, and probably will be sooner than that."

Well, Nostradamus I am not. I still think Hardy can be a player in this league, but his knee injury is a big obstacle to overcome. I'm not counting on getting a whole lot out of him in 2009, but I'm not cutting him either.

Steve Johnson
"The second of the Bills' three seventh round draft picks this year, Johnson displayed good size and hands during the preseason and earned himself a roster spot for his efforts."

Johnson has become somewhat of a fan favorite and right now is showing more upside than Hardy. I think Johnson will have a much bigger role next year due to the Hardy injury and the ineffectiveness of Parrish.

Justin Jenkins
"A special teamer a year ago, Jenkins saw limited time at the end of the year and has distinguished himself as a special teams ace, as well as a guy who can play the position of receiver - something that Aiken could never do."

Having been recently re-signed, Jenkins will be in camp again, but he is going to have to prove that he can be a player on offense, not just special teams, if he wants to make this team again.

Felton Huggins
"I'm writing this under the assumption that Huggins will make the practice squad, given that he was there last year. Huggins looked just as good as Johnson did this pre-season, and if the Bills had chosen to keep Huggins over Johnson I don't think any of us would have been totally shocked."

Krytime recently gave Huggins the "kiss of death", so I'm not really expecting much out of him anymore.

Other notables:

P.K. Sam - Known more as a kick returner than a WR, Sam could push Parrish with a good camp.

C.J. Hawthorne - Hawthorne spent the whole year on the practice squad learning the offense. At 5'11" and weighing 168 pounds, he is another guy who could push Roscoe.

***

So what do we really have? A starter in Evans, a slot receiver in Reed, guys in James Hardy and Steve Johnson who are a bit of question marks, then what? Some practice squad fodder and potential return men. That is it. Maybe adding Kenny Britt isn't that crazy.

State of the Bills Roster: Wide Receivers

Brian Galliford — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:02:28 -0000

Reed's importance displayed in 2008 (buffalobills.com)

The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.

Hey - at least this way, we're doing the job right. Right? Unlike a certain front office we're forced to support.

And now, we continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the situation at Buffalo's wide receiver position.
Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE

Opening Statement
In the NFL, wide receivers unsurprisingly tend to go as quarterbacks go. As a result, Buffalo's receivers as a group were up and down in 2008, largely because quarterback Trent Edwards was up and down. This receiving corps was certainly better in 2008 than they were in 2007, but that isn't exactly saying much. There is talent here, but for now, it's being seriously hampered by its collective youth as well as Edwards' own inexperience.

#83 Lee Evans (starter)
   5'10", 197 pounds
   Age: 28 in March 2009
   Contract status: 4 years remaining (UFA in 2013); owed $20.4 million base salaries and $5 million in roster bonuses over the final 3 years of the deal
- He got his big extension this year, and now the Bills have Evans locked up for the prime of his career. Evans will probably never be considered an "elite" receiver in the NFL, but he's good enough to start for most teams. He needs more help; Buffalo's two rookies did little to take defenders away from Evans, and even a solid season from Josh Reed didn't help. Evans should be devastating once a second threat is found; until then, he'll be hot and cold, just as he has been during his entire Bills career.

#82 Josh Reed (starter)
   5'10", 210 pounds
   Age: 29 in May 2009
   Contract status: 1 year remaining (UFA in 2010); owed $2.025 million in base salaries
- Put together a solid season with 56 grabs and established himself as Edwards' go-to target in clutch situations. People also forget that Reed is barely a year older than Evans; he's got some serious years left in the tank. He is tops in this receiving corps in the most critical area: knowing how to get open. With one year left on his deal, the Bills might - probably won't, but it's debatable as to whether they should - look at extending Reed this off-season.

#11 Roscoe Parrish
   5'9", 171 pounds
   Age: 27 in July 2009
   Contract status: 3 years remaining (UFA in 2012); owed $3.05 million in base salaries, $1.5 million in signing bonuses and $1.5 million in roster bonuses
- He'll never be more than a gadget player in this league, but his modest salary and bonus structure is worth it simply because he's the game's most dangerous punt returner. At this point in his career, however, counting on him to emerge as a viable receiver is a waste of time. He has a role in Buffalo, but it's only prominent on special teams.

#13 Steve Johnson
   6'2", 210 pounds
   Age: 23 in July 2009
   Contract status: Entering second year of undisclosed, multi-year contract.
- Johnson became a viable option for Buffalo at the end of his rookie season, but let's not get starry-eyed; we're talking about a guy who caught 10 passes this season. He's got a load of potential, though, and he's got the goods to be a spot contributor in his second year in the league. To rely on him as anything more as a slot option in spread formations next year is risky business, however.

#81 James Hardy
   6'6", 220 pounds
   Age: 24 in December 2009
   Contract status: Entering second year of undisclosed, multi-year contract.
- Quite possibly Buffalo's biggest disappointment in 2009, Hardy caught just 9 passes as a rookie when the Bills needed much more. That said, he's still got the raw tools to excel in this league, particularly in the red zone. It's far, far too early to give up on Hardy at this point, but just like fellow rookie Johnson, to expect a landmark rise in production next year is unrealistic.

#17 Justin Jenkins
   6'0", 207 pounds
   Age: 29 in December 2009
   Contract status: Restricted Free Agent
- As an RFA, Jenkins' chances of returning next season are about 50/50. He was solid on special teams this past season, but didn't have the impact there that he did in 2007 and found himself inactive on a few Sundays this season.

Other receivers on the roster: Felton Huggins, C.J. Hawthorne (both practice squad)

The Breakdown
Keepers: Evans, Reed, Parrish, Johnson, Hardy. Yep, all five of 'em. As a group, their skills are diverse and there's a nice mix of veteran and youth. I'm not saying that this is a complete receiving corps, but all five have a place on next year's team.

Extendables: None. Almost put Reed here, and certainly wouldn't mind seeing him extended, but we have bigger fish to fry with next year's money.

Expendables: Jenkins, Huggins, Hawthorne. Jenkins is a run-of-the-mill special teams guy, and it's certainly not a necessity that he stay. Hawthorne has practice squad eligibility left, and the skills to contribute at some point; expect him to be stashed again next season.

Goners: None.

What we need: The Bills have five "keeper" receivers in their receiving corps, yet they're still missing a piece. They need that one veteran guy (not named Parrish) that can contribute as a second or third receiver and allow Buffalo's young, talented receivers - Johnson and Hardy - to develop without being pressured to contribute unrealistically. I don't want to name names, but I think it'd be a huge deal to lure a guy like New England's Jabar Gaffney into Buffalo.

That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. Got any tough love for Evans as a "#1" receiver? Want to talk more about what a pleasant surprise Reed has been? Want to gush over Johnson/Hardy's potential some more? Have any names of potential additions you'd like to throw into the ring? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.

Bills/Lions: What to Watch For

Brian Galliford — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:04:31 -0000

QB Edwards a game-time decision (Photo Source)

The Buffalo Bills close out their pre-season schedule tonight in their first real home game, in which they'll take on the (undefeated) Detroit Lions. After playing extensively just four days ago, Buffalo's starters are only expected to play a series or two as the coaching staff allows younger players to compete for final roster spots. The Bills must reduce their roster to 53 players on Saturday.

Your humble narrator will be attending tonight's festivities in person, checking out our newly upgraded seats at good old Ralph Wilson Stadium. I'm excited - and not just because of the seats. I have plenty to keep an eye out for tonight; here, in a more specific manner, is what I'll be watching for:

Trent Edwards? Please?
Look, I'm all for keeping a guy healthy, but since the starters are only going a series or two tonight, I really hope Trent Edwards plays. Buffalo's starting quarterback is a game-time decision with a thigh contusion that held him out of the win over Indianapolis; Tom Brady and Peyton Manning might be able to skip the pre-season and not miss a beat, but I highly doubt Edwards is in the same boat. Even a series or two helps kick off a little more rust before we take on Seattle.

Wright vs. Omon
My guess is that these two guys are going to play the majority of the game, with Bruce Hall getting work at third down back. A roster spot is on the line for Buffalo's two young running backs. So, naturally, I'll be paying attention to their special teams integration as well as how they tote the rock. For the record, I'm pulling for Wright. I think he's got a chance to be a good back. I want to trust him again, and I think the Bills do too.

The Replacements
No, I'm not talking about the crappy Keanu Reeves flick made worse by John Madden's cameo (though Rhys Ifans is excellent in that film). At least one key player (LT Langston Walker) is not expected to play in this game, and other players such as receivers Josh Reed, James Hardy and Roscoe Parrish could miss the game as well (and that's just me speculating - I expect we'll know more later on today). That means young guys like Demetrius Bell, Justin Jenkins and Felton Huggins are going to see time quite early. If they perform well, they'll probably make the team. (Not that two of the three I mentioned here aren't virtual locks already).

Chris Ellis
Let's face it - guys like Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney aren't going to see a ton of time tonight. Chris Ellis, on the other hand, will. I haven't paid as much attention to him this pre-season as I've liked to (though I've enjoyed what I've seen of him thus far), so he'll be my primary focus on defense tonight.

The Cornerback Carousel
I don't expect much to change in terms of the cornerback depth chart based on tonight's game, but this is the last chance for guys like Ashton Youboty and Reggie Corner to make some plays - and with them, a serious attempt at a move up the depth chart. I enjoy watching all of Buffalo's cornerbacks play (save Leodis McKelvin last week), so their play should be charted closely tonight as well.

Special Teams
There isn't a better indicator of who is making a late move up the depth chart than who is playing where on special teams. I'm going to do my best to keep track of coverage units and playmakers on special teams tonight. Bobby April has a lot of pull when it comes to those last few roster spots, so anyone who stands out tonight has a pretty good shot of at least warranting serious roster consideration.

Regrettably, as I'll be at The Ralph, I will be unable to join you in tonight's open game thread. I will be in contact via email at The Ralph, so if you're bored (and if you're in the open thread, you probably won't be), fire me a question and I'll try to get back to you promptly. Tonight's open thread will open at 6, approximately a half-hour before the game is set to kick off.

Just get through tonight, folks. Regular season football is just around the corner.

Bills/Colts: What to Watch For

Brian Galliford — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:20:00 -0000

DT Williams fighting off S. Johnson for starting role (Photo Source)

The Buffalo Bills have made the trip to Indianapolis, where they are set to take on the Colts in tonight's pre-season game at the newly constructed - and absolutely gorgeous - Lucas Oil Stadium. The Bills will be without three key players - QB Trent Edwards, WR James Hardy and WR Roscoe Parrish - for this matchup, and the Colts are missing some starters as well, most prominently QB Peyton Manning.

Despite the starters missing the one pre-season game that's important to a team's growth - especially a team as young as the Bills - there will still be some positional battles and players in unique positions that we'll be keeping an eye on. We sincerely hope that you'll join us for tonight's open thread; here's what we'll be watching for:

Hamdan vs. Baker: It has become excruciatingly obvious that the Bills will be relying on J.P. Losman as a starting option at some point during the 2008 season. With that in mind, it's probably high time to start paying a bit more attention to the battle for the team's third quarterback spot raging between Gibran Hamdan and Matt Baker. One of these guys might actually be our primary backup for stretches during this season. It is prudent, therefore, to know a bit more about these two players.

Dwayne Wright: He's 2/2 this pre-season; unlike in baseball, that's not a good thing - Wright has fumbled in each of this pre-season's two games. Rookie sixth-round pick Xavier Omon is far more than just a challenger to Wright's job as the third back now. Wright has looked good running the ball, but he needs to protect the rock, or he won't be a part of this final roster.

Jenkins, Huggins and Johnson: We can only guess, but we're predicting that Josh Reed - due to the problems he's had with his lower back - won't play as much as the rest of the starters tonight. Lee Evans might not see a huge work load either, though he's expected to play much of the first half. With Hardy and Parrish out, we're going to see a lot of playing time for the three receivers fighting for one to two spots - Justin Jenkins, Felton Huggins and rookie Steve Johnson. The time is now for them to prove that they belong on this team.

Langston Walker: Dwight Freeney is making his first start of the pre-season tonight for Indianapolis, and with that, Walker faces by far his stiffest challenge since his move from right to left tackle. Walker handled Jason Taylor relatively well in Washington, but Freeney steps the challenge up a notch. We're expecting Ron From NM to keep an eye on #68, but we'll be watching closely as well.

Demetrius Bell: See Walker, but substitute Freeney's name for any of a number of the Colts' reserve ends who have ridiculous speed, most prominently rookie Marcus Howard. I'm very intrigued with this kid, as most of you know, and he'll get tested tonight.

Williams vs. Johnson (vs. McCargo?): Apparently, there's a battle raging for the starting tackle spot next to Marcus Stroud, and the two main combatants are Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson. The winner of the battle's title may in reality be only a figurehead position, but we've spent enough time with our eyes glued to Marcus Stroud this pre-season to know he's legit; it's time to get more familiar with his running mates.

Angelo Crowell: Buffalo's starting strong-side linebacker makes his 2008 pre-season debut tonight. Will he look rusty? How does he look in pass coverage? How will he operate next to, in essence, two new teammates in Paul Posluszny and Kawika Mitchell? Well, that's why we're watching him tonight.

Cornerback rotation: The third pre-season game is followed swiftly by initial roster cut-downs and the fourth pre-season game - this coming Thursday against the Lions - so Buffalo's cornerback battle is about to get furiously heated. Ashton Youboty will again get most of our focus, but we're expecting Leodis McKelvin to take a step forward in the competition tonight as well.