Inside The Bills

Fan Friday 7-2

Hey Bills fans, we’re into the dead period before training camp, but that doesn’t mean that your questions aren’t welcome (AskChris@bills.nfl.net). Have a Happy 4th everybody.
1 - I was wondering with the changing of head coaches where last year there was a surplus of dbs, Do you see a surplus of wide receivers/tes this year with Gailey being offensive minded.
B. Joyce

CB: That’s an interesting question, though it should be mentioned that Chan Gailey’s predecessor, though he was a defensive-minded coach, two of his four years as head coach he kept six receivers. Most of the time he kept three tight ends.

I think under Gailey knowing his priority on running the ball will likely carry four tight ends with an emphasis on blocking ability. An extra tight end on the roster could mean one less receiver actually so there might be just five instead of six. Plus there are enough quality rookie wideouts on the roster right now that you could conceivably practice squad one or two and live with five on the active to start the season.

The roster decisions should be different this year though than years past.

2 - Hi Chris,

In light of injuries, don’t you think the Bills front office should think about more depth ? NT J’Vonne Parker is still available.   He played in Denver along with Andra Davis.  Mr. Davis is sure to have the skinny on him.    Although Ed Wang was not projected to be a starting LT, certainly there must be some concern by the staff considering this critical position.  Do you foresee any developments on the free agent front?

CB: The good news is Ed Wang will be fine for training camp though he did not make a return to the field before the end of mandatory minicamp. I think depth at nose tackle is not their greatest concern. I think where the depth could be an issue is at the interior offensive line positions.

Outside of veteran Kirk Chambers, who played mostly guard in the spring, there is a combined 3 games of NFL experience for the other seven candidates that play guard or center on the roster. To me that’s a scary thought. So if there are any additions made, I anticipate it to be made there.

3 - Hey Chris,

I know everyone has their questions about the new offense under Coach Gailey that is being implemented and I guess my question won’t be any different. However, mine is concerned with the WR position this fall.  With Lee Evans the obvious #1 and James Hardy emerging as the possible  #2, who do you see filling out the rest of the pecking order for this  position with all the talent we have at that position in guys like Parrish, Johnson, Easley, Roosevelt, Huggins, Jones and anyone else? 
Thanks for all the news as always.

Korey
Ashville, NY

CB: I don’t think Hardy has anything locked down by any means and even he would tell you that. He got off to a slow start in the spring coming off an injury and Steve Johnson had arguably the most consistent spring. Marcus Easley showed big play ability and the rookie free agents all showed they’re capable of playing on this level.

I think Roscoe is the top slot guy, but the #2 WR role is wide open going into camp. I personally would narrow it down to Hardy, Johnson and Easley, but Chan Gailey isn’t doing that.

4 - Chris
We have heard very little about Kyle Williams. Will he be our nose tackle? How is he doing? I know he is a great player but is he a fit at nose tackle and if not who is,and then where would Kyle play?

Ron from Greensboro , NC

CB: Kyle is the starting nose tackle. Defensive coordinator George Edwards realizes Williams does not have the prototypical size of a nose, so he’s going to adjust the scheme accordingly, though he won’t say what those adjustments will be. I believe that when all is said and done that Kyle will play about 75 percent of the snaps at the nose with Torell Troup playing 25 percent. Williams will be in for any and all passing down situations, with Troup giving him a break on some obvious run downs.

5 - Hey Chris
 
Just wanted to know what you think on the Torbor signing? Also do you think that he could start at OLB this year or will it be Kelsay and Maybin getting those posiitons? and if Kelsay and Maybin do take the OLBs will Mitchell get ILB with Poz or will Davis take that away?

CB: A lot of questions there. I like Torbor as veteran insurance. He’s a guy that knows the scheme and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s used as a situational player on the outside, like on run downs with Maybin rotating in for passing situations. Kelsay, Ellis and Batten are the candidates for the strong side LB position.

Mitchell is facing stiff competition from Andra Davis. Mitchell is coming off a major injury and Davis has good working knowledge of the 3-4 system. It’ll be one of the best training camp battles this summer.

Whaley has good answer

A lot of Bills fans have had trouble wrapping their head around Buffalo’s top pick of C.J. Spiller. In our interview with Bills Asst. GM Doug Whaley he provided a good answer to the kind of pick Spiller was, even though that wasn’t the nature of the question he was asked.

“You can never have too many good players even at one position,” said Whaley. ”There are injuries, anything can happen. So building through the draft, setting up a solid foundation, and just keep building one step at a time. We’re going to have some tough times, but if you have that solid foundation where everybody believes and there’s work ethic and everybody is saying we went through all these OTAs together and there’s the cohesiveness of a team, and that I can see is starting to build, that’s what you need to consistently compete in this league.”

There’s no question the balance of Buffalo’s roster has fully bought into Chan Gailey’s approach, which runs in concert with what the front office is trying to do to build the roster into a contender. I think everyone has to remember it’s just year one of this thing. So although the Bills current approach under GM Buddy Nix clearly looks to be the right approach, how much positive ground that approach can cover in the first season is tough to measure.

Maybin and retired Bill teaming up

Bills OLB Aaron Maybin and former Bills safety Keion Carpenter have merged their charitable endeavors to co-host the 2nd Annual Commitment for Change football camp in Baltimore, Maryland.

The six-day clinic teaches football and life lessons. The camp runs from July 5th to July 10th. Current Bills Lydell Sargeant and Lonnie Harvey will be joining Maybin and Carpenter as well as former Bills WR Peerless Price.

Here’s more information on the camp.

Spiller to be a grand marshal

Bills top pick C.J. Spiller is going to be serving as a grand marshal Friday night.

Spiller will be the grand marshal at the Daytona Nationwide race. NASCAR Countdown starts at 7:30 pm on ESPN with the race starting at 8 pm. I’ve got to believe he’ll get a little face time before the race, so be sure to keep an eye out for him if you’re tuning in to the race.

Spiller is a northern Florida native. He grew up in Lake Butler.

Florence setting bar high

Bills CB Drayton Florence has already set the bar high for Buffalo’s secondary for the the 2010 campaign.

In one of his latest twitter posts, Florence made the goal for the Bills defensive backfield clear.

DraytonFlorence Countdown to camp has officially started #1secondaryintheleague hands down this year no catches for ocho and sims-walker dats on errthang.

Buffalo’s secondary is coming off a strong season in 2009 when the defense was first in the AFC and second in the league with 28 interceptions. With everyone back and expected to be healthy for 2010, the Bills defensive backfield is also the most experienced group in terms of the starters playing with one another.

“The core group of guys we have back there have been playing together for three some four years,” said safety George Wilson. ”After the season we had last year where we had a lot of injuries and a lot of guys had a lot of opportunities to get playing experience, that just gave us a bigger and better chemistry in the room.”

CFL to test for HGH in 2011

The CFL is taking the lead big time when it comes to testing for performance enhancing drugs. Unless some other major pro sports league leapfrogs them in the next six months, they’ll be the first to institute testing for human growth hormone (HGH).

The move was part of the league’s new four-year labor agreement with its players earlier this week and was reportedly three years in the making per the Toronto Globe and Mail. There will be blood and urine testing year round with only 24 hours notice.

No other pro sports league tests for HGH. Major League Baseball has it listed as an illegal substance, but it doesn’t test for it, partly because there is dispute as to the veracity of some testing.

The big question is whether or not the NFL can get HGH testing included in their new labor agreement with the NFLPA. It’s tough to say whether the CFL’s success in implementing the policy will help the NFL in getting a similar policy, but at least there will be a policy to reference. Got to tip the cap to the CFL and its players on this one.