Leading up to the start of training camp, WGR's Joe Buscaglia will be providing you with a countdown of the Top 10 story lines heading in to July 25th.
Two weeks.
The Buffalo Bills are just two weeks away from starting the 2009 campaign, hoping to put an end to one of the NFL's longest playoff droughts.
Oh yes, training camp is almost here.
Now before the players report to St. John Fisher College on July 24, there are a bevy of questions just begging to be answered. As the players perform and learn the different kinks and quirks of the Bills' playbook, some of those questions will in fact be answered.
And with a team that's gone 7-9 for three consecutive seasons, the pressure to make the playoffs have made those questions paramount as opposed to seasons prior. It's more of a volatile situation this time around, because Buffalo has done something the fans haven't seen since Tom Donahoe was run out of town. The normally ultra-conservative Bills went out and did something unbelievable. They signed perhaps the most well-known player in the NFL.
T.O. and Buffalo. A shocking combination to say the least.
But with the emergence of some young talent at the wide receiver position, the Buffalo Bills now have a full stable of receivers. A stable so full, that perhaps someone that isn't of practice-squad caliber needs to be shown the door.
Who stays? Who goes? Allow me to handicap the race for you.
Ten men enter, and at most seven will make the opening day roster. To spare you some reading time, I won't include Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed in to the discussion. They will absolutely be on the roster come September, so it's down to seven players for maybe four spots. Here's the combatants:
Stevie Johnson, 2nd year, 6'2", 202 lbs.
He's got great size and the coaches love him. He played in a pro-style offense at Kentucky that smoothed his transition from college to the NFL. The one thing Johnson does that is very hard to teach for receivers, is the ability to increase the throwing window for the quarterback by shielding the defender. He's got a very bright future. I've said in the past I think he's got a shot to start for this team after Terrell Owens moves on.
Percent chance of making the team: 95%
Roscoe Parrish, 5th year, 5'9", 171 lbs.
You know exactly what you're getting with Roscoe Parrish. A quality punt-returner, and someone who provides tremendous speed for screens. His size certainly hinders his chance to ever crack the starting lineup, or even as a slot receiver for that matter. The former 2nd round pick has 59 total catches in his career. The word 'gimmick' comes to mind at times.
Percent chance of making the team: 70%
James Hardy, 2nd year, 6'5", 220 lbs.
Size, size, and more size. Hardy is by far the tallest of the second-tier receiver group. He provides a red-zone element that many receivers just can't do. But he's clearly still a work in progress. He doesn't look extremely confident in his hands, and I question his ability to go over the middle. He looked lost at times when he was on the field. Hardy is coming off a serious knee injury, but he was their 2nd round pick last season, and there's no way they abandon Hardy just yet.
Percent chance of making the team: 99%
Justin Jenkins, 3rd year, 6'0", 207 lbs.
A well-traveled receiver that has found his niche in Buffalo. Although Jenkins doesn't have a career reception, Bobby April loves his versatility in the Special Teams game. The Bills responded, giving Jenkins an extension this off-season. He's tremendous on kickoff coverage as well as punt coverage. A very hard-worker as well. Good size.
Percent chance of making the team: 63%
Felton Huggins, 2nd year, 6'2", 186 lbs.
When I watch Felton Huggins play, I usually turn my attention to someone or something else. That's not a knock on him as a player, he's just someone that you don't notice on the practice field. Huggins did make the practice squad last season, but he's got some quality competition for those honors this year. He's a little bit lighter than the coaches would want, and gets pushed around on special teams at times.
Percent chance of making the team: 15%
Practice Squad: 40%
P.K. Sam, 2nd year, 6'3", 217 lbs.
An intriguing player. Originally drafted by the Patriots in the 5th round in 2004 out of Florida State. He spent last season with the Toronto Argonauts before hooking on with the Bills. With a good sized frame, Sam brought in 36 catches for 499 yards with the Argos, and hit the end zone three different times. He could be a sleeper at camp this year.
Percent chance of making the team: 10%
Practice squad: 35%
C.J. Hawthorne, 2nd year, 5'11", 168 lbs.
Got on the football map along with the rest of the Hawaii squad that went undefeated in their regular season with Colt Brennan at the helm. Hawthorne declared for the draft as a junior, and went undrafted. In his junior and final season with the Warriors, he accrued 859 yards on 61 catches and 6 touchdowns. His size will hinder his ability to really make an impact on special teams, unless it's in the return game.
Percent chance of making the team: 5%
Practice Squad: 25%
If I had my say?
Owens, Evans and Reed will clearly be on the roster. Steve Johnson and James Hardy are pretty much shoe-ins in my mind as well. I think Justin Jenkins makes the team again for his special teams ability, which puts the receiver count at six. That leaves Roscoe Parrish, Felton Huggins, P.K. Sam and C.J. Hawthorne.
If the Buffalo Bills can't move Parrish throughout the off-season, I think it might be his time to go. He's got an abnormally high salary for what he contributes to the team, and with the addition of Leodis McKelvin to the return game, it may just make Parrish obsolete. If I'm the Bills, I think it would be a disservice to both the team and Parrish to keep him on the roster.
As for the practice squad? I'll go with my gut and say P.K. Sam makes it over Huggins and Hawthorne.
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