Bills Article: Finger Lakes Times

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Bills camp: Optimism abounds opening day

 

By STEPHEN WINKLER

Finger Lakes Times

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2012 11:02 am

 

PITTSFORD — Training camp has started for the 2012 Buffalo Bills.

 

The friendly surroundings of St. John Fisher College welcomed this year’s team with open arms. Banners are hung, signs lined the streets and all for a good reason — optimism runs high for this year’s Bills.

 

With the free agent signing of bookend defensive ends Mario Williams, and Mark Anderson and the commitment to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson, and Stevie Johnson the Bills are looking to end the NFL’s longest playoff drought.

 

Many of last year’s starters will be this year’s backups, a true sign of depth and a good reason for optimism all over Western and Central New York. All the questions are still not answered in some key positions. Who will be the number two wide receiver? Who will be the starting left tackle? And how successful will the depth at linebacker be this year? These are all important questions that will need to be answered as the Bills move through training camp.

 

The number two wide receiver position will be a key decision during camp. Head coach Chan Gailey will need to find a compliment to Johnson, the clear No. 1 target, to help relieve him of double coverage.

 

The number two wideout will be used primarily in the slot and be required to go over the middle but will also need to have speed to extend the defense. David Nelson — a lanky receiver at 6-foot-5 — is a familiar name but may be used primarily off the tackle as a hybrid type tight end. Others in the mix for that No. 2 spot are Donald Jones, Marcus Easley and Derek Hagan. All three have the qualities needed to start: good hands, size, and speed.

 

The Bills will have a new left tackle in 2012, the most important and highly regarded position on the offensive line. Buffalo lost last year’s starter Demetress Bell to free agency. It will need to fill that position with two youngsters. Second-year player Chris Hairston (6-6) started seven games in 2011 in place of the injured Bell. Hairston also spent some time on the injured list himself. Rookie Cordy Glenn, the Bills’ second-round draft pick, should push Hairston for playing time. Glenn is equally as large as Hairston and comes with great potential from the University of Georgia. Whoever earns the left tackle spot will need to be consistent, keep penalties at a minimum and protect quarterback Fitzpatrick’s blind side. The player who does not earn the starting position will have a very important role being a backup for both the left and right tackle positions.

 

Linebacker depth is a very intriguing part of the puzzle. The Bills have two veterans starting in Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison along with the less experienced second-year player Kelvin Sheppard, who started nine games last season. All three are very productive and will need to stay healthy for the Bills to be a force defensively in 2012. Because of their age, Barnett’s and Morrison’s positions will need backup support from a number of young replacements. A number of players should add depth, including Arthur Moats, Danny Batten, Nigel Bradham, Scott McKillop, and Tank Carder.

 

As training camp unfolds in the next three weeks those questions about wide receiver, offensive tackle and linebacker will be answered. The plan that general manager Buddy Nix and Gailey put in place three years ago is taking shape. Position depth is very apparent. All teams go through injuries in this violent game, but playoff teams have the position depth to keep winning.