Inside The Bills

4 non-participants at practice

Here are the non-participants for Tuesday’s practice.

Chris Kelsay, Mark Anderson, Fred Jackson and Aaron Williams.

Bills could use OL, CB

Buffalo moved some hobbled players to their injured reserve list Tuesday in Terrence McGee and Erik Pears. Now they’ll have to find players to replace them.

The Bills now have two vacant roster spots, but both will presumably be filled by a cornerback and an offensive lineman. With McGee now on I-R it has left Buffalo’s secondary very, very young. The Bills secondary now consists of veteran Leodis McKelvin, second-year men Justin Rogers and Aaron Williams (injured) and rookies Stephone Gilmore and Ron Brooks.

With just four healthy corners, knowing Aaron Williams is out a few weeks, Buffalo will need to add a corner, preferably with some NFL years under his belt. The most obvious choice is Stanford Routt, a veteran cornerback, just cut by the Chiefs.

He was the first free agent visitor of Buffalo’s offseason this past spring, so clearly the Bills had an interest then. Routt has two interceptions in his first seven games with Kansas City this season. He was inactive for the Chiefs game last Thursday night against San Diego. Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel said their ”relationship was not progressing” as a reason for the release. 

As for offensive linemen Buffalo has some young prospects on their practice squad. OT Andrew Jackson (6’5″ 299), OT/G Reggie Stephens  (6’3″ 320) and G Keith Williams (6’5″ 330). Buffalo has lost Erik Pears and Chad Rinehart to I-R in less than a week leaving them with just C/G David Snow and G/T Sam Young as their only reserves.

McKelvin set to perform at LCB

Bills CB Aaron Williams is going to be sidelined for a few weeks with a knee injury and that has created a vacancy that veteran Leodis McKelvin will fill at left cornerback.

“Right now Leodis would play that spot,” said head coach Chan Gailey. ”We’ve got Ron Brooks that we just got back and played there in the preseason, but I’m sure he’s rusty and you’ve got Justin Rogers. All three might end up playing there.”

McKelvin, who was unseated as a starting cornerback in training camp from last season, is anxious to go against New England this Sunday.

“I’ve just been waiting on my moment,” he said. ”It’s a time I’ve been waiting on since the beginning of the season. I’ve just stayed focused and done what they tell me to do. No matter what it is I’ve been waiting for my time to come. That’s not to say I’m happy it came this way with the injury and things like that, but it’s time for me to step up.”

A. Williams getting knee checked

Aaron Williams left Sunday’s game with a right knee injury and did not return. According to head coach Chan Gailey, Williams is undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury today.

Making his weekly appearance on Bills flagship WGR Sportsradio 550 Monday, Gailey said they would know more on Williams late in the day.

“They’re checking his knee out today,” he said. ”So they’ve got to do an MRI today and see where he is.”

Gailey addresses the media late this afternoon.

A. Williams has knee injury

Aaron Williams left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, but head coach Chan Gailey had not been briefed on the severity of it prior to his post game press conference.

“I don’t know I didn’t get a report,” said Gailey after Sunday’s game.

Williams was injured when, in wrestling Andre Johnson to the ground after a reception, he brought Johnson’s full body weight down onto his right leg. Williams was helped off and did not put weight on his injured leg. He was later carted to the locker room and did not return.

He’ll be re-evaluated Monday.

Fan Friday 10-19

Here are your questions for this week from AskChris@bills.nfl.net and @ChrisBrownBills.

1 - Hey Chris,

I really want to like our CB’s, but can you explain why they are both getting burned on numerous plays, and at times they look like they’re not sure where they are supposed to be on the field? Specifically I have seen Stephon Gilmore on TD passes nowhere near the receiver. 

Thank you,
Worried Bills D-Fan
Don
Norwalk, CT

CB: I think what you’re seeing are growing pains with the two young cornerbacks. They’re learning on the job. I think the defensive staff also felt going into the season that the pass rush would be more consistent week to week thereby helping the young corners on the back end by hurrying the passer.

Gilmore and Williams have both been fooled more than once this season, but coaches have to have faith that their play will improve as the year moves along. Gilmore had a good outing against Larry Fitzgerald. As we pointed out in our Tuesday feature, in the five times he was matched up on Fitzgerald in last week’s game he gave up one reception for 14 yards.

I think the second half of the schedule you’ll begin to see more consistent play from both of them, and if that’s not the case some changes are likely to be in order.

2 - Hi  Chris

Please advise when we can expect Cordy Glenn, Spencer Johnson, & Kraig Urbik

to return to the lineup? 

Thanks and regards
From
Richard
Boca Raton, FL

CB: Right now Spencer Johnson is expected to play on Sunday against the Titans coming off his ankle injury. The hope is that Kraig Urbik and Cordy Glenn will be ready for the Week 9 game at Houston following the bye week.

3 – Chris,

Do you really understand the frustration from the fans? It’s been 12 years since we sniffed the playoffs. I wonder when they will replace the GM and HC position. Also, this team is not difficult to pick apart. We have no deep threat receiver so we dink and dunk down the field. It’s just a matter of time before we throw a pick because of timed offense. All the defense has to do is slow our run game and have Fitz hold onto the ball because it’s a matter of time before Fitz makes a mistake. Just watching the games it’s like Buffalo is a step or two behind on mentality, confidence, and being aggressive. I still think Buffalo is maybe 3-5 years from becoming great again but I’m not holding my breath.

CB: I do understand your frustration. I’ve been on hand for every one of those games the last 12 years, so I get it. What you can’t deny is Buddy Nix and his personnel staff have improved the talent of this roster and its depth. I know having patience is something that’s difficult to preach, but if you want to blow up the front office again you re-start the process  of building the team because each GM has a different way of doing things when it comes to building a team.

The Bills did admittedly struggle with their mental toughness in the second half of the New England and San Francisco games, but I don’t know of a game where their mental toughness was challenged more often than the Arizona game and they persevered. We’ll if they can build on that moving forward.

Every NFL club has strengths and weaknesses. The collective records in the AFC with seven teams sporting 3-3 records is strong indication of that, one of which is the Bills.

No one is asking you to hold your breath and again the disappointment is understood. But this team has an opportunity this year and we’re about at the midway point of the season. Let’s let it play out.

4 - Is there a chance that we are bringing back lights out for our SLB position that has been rotated by players who couldn’t lock down the job?

Thanks CB!
Dan Figueroa from CA

CB: No, Merriman will re-assume defensive end duties for the Bills. Merriman needs to be up on the line of scrimmage to be at his most effective.

5 - Hey Chris,

I was wondering, do the bills players receive mail from fans and reply to them?  I was wondering because after last year’s win against the Patriots, Byrd threw his gloves into the stands and I was lucky enough to catch one of them.  I took it to training camp this year but was not able to get to him.  Is there any other way I might be able to get his signature?  I have a few pieces of memorabilia that I have been able to get signed and really would like to add this piece to my collection. 
Thanks for all you and your team do for us Bills fans!
Anthony

CB: The best course of action there is to send them by regular mail to One Bills Drive addressed to the player’s attention along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for return postage. The best time is during the regular season when you know they’re here in town.

Here’s the address

One Bills Drive
Orchard Park, NY 14127

Byrd, A. Williams update

Jairus Byrd and Aaron Williams were two players that left the Sunday’s game and did not return. Head coach Chan Gailey provided an update on the two secondary players.

“Aaron Williams will be fine,” said Gailey. ”Byrd will not practice (Wednesday), but we think he’s got a chance to be ready for the game.”

Byrd exited Buffalo’s Week 4 game with a hip pointer, but started this past Sunday only to leave with a chest injury.

A. Williams, Anderson also nicked

Both Aaron Williams and Mark Anderson were nicked up in Sunday’s loss to San Francisco.

Williams is dealing with a hand injury. He exited the game late in the second half. Anderson was tended to by athletic trainers on the field late in the game as well, but his injury was undisclosed. Both players will be re-evaluated on Monday.

Young CBs improving on the fly

Week 1 was a big learning experience for Stephon Gilmore and Aaron Williams with Gilmore taking his share of lumps in the opening week loss to the Jets. Since then however, the two young corners have for the most part tightened up their games and made far fewer mistakes.

“They’ve become a more aggressive group,” said head coach Chan Gailey. ”To me, that’s one of the things that’s been a bright spot, they’ve played more aggressively the last two weeks. I thought they were kind of on their heels in the first game and since that they’ve started to come and play a lot more aggressively. That’s been something we needed.”

Gilmore was beat for a touchdown last Sunday against Cleveland when he got turned around on what looked like a post-corner route, but over the past two games Gilmore and Williams have combined for 13 tackles and 6 pass breakups. They’ll face a much stiffer test this week against New England. Playing more press coverage has been part of the reason for the improvement as we pointed out earlier this week.

Days of playing off coverage over

Too many times under previous defensive coaching staffs, the Bills cornerbacks often played entirely too much ‘off coverage’ giving opposing receivers sometimes a 10-yard cushion. The result was Buffalo getting dinked and dunked all the way down the field for eventual points. That isn’t the case anymore.

Thanks to the film reviewers and stat crunchers at ProFootballFocus, Buffalo’s two starting cornerbacks rank in the top 5 in the NFL in terms of cornerbacks that are in press coverage the most. Here’s the PFF chart.

The only reason Williams numbers are lesser than those of Gilmore is because Williams has rotated in and out of the lineup through the course of games with Terrence McGee. But with an improved pass rush, Buffalo knows opponents will try to get the ball out fast. Putting their corners in press coverage can take away the quick underneath routes and force opposing QBs to hold the ball just a bit longer thereby providing a better chance for the pass rushers to get home.

McKelvin’s INT luck of the draw

Leodis McKelvin might have taken a step back in Buffalo’s depth chart at cornerback, but it hasn’t kept him from making an impact in the last two games. In the Week 2 win his 88-yard punt return for a TD put the game away. This week he turned in a play to all but put the game to bed. The interesting thing was he wasn’t even supposed to be on the field at the time.

McKelvin again contributed on special teams with a couple of quality returns including a 33-yarder on a punt return that led to a touchdown for the Bills. Late in the game, McKelvin also had an interception with 4:29 left when he stepped in front of a Brandon Weeden pass intended for Josh Gordon on a 2nd-and-20 at the Bills 31-yard line to prevent the last threat by Cleveland to get points. But McKelvin wasn’t supposed to be on the field.

“I was on the sideline and Aaron Williams said he had something in his eye and couldn’t see,” McKelvin told Buffalobills.com. “And they were calling for T (Terrence McGee), but after I didn’t see Terrence I just jumped on the field so our defense was ready for the next play.”

McKelvin apparently was as he recorded the sixth interception of his career and first since Week 3 last season against New England.

Hairston to still rotate with Pears

Coming off a persistent groin injury in the preseason, starting RT Erik Pears is still working to get his endurance up to play an entire regular season game. That’s why for the second straight week the plan is to rotate Pears with Chris Hairston at right tackle again Sunday against the Chiefs.

“He’s still working back,” said head coach Chan Gailey of Pears. ”We’re still going to probably alternate those guys.”

Terrence McGee is another player that was rotated in with Aaron Williams at left cornerback. Gailey said earlier in the week that McGee’s reps would increase this week after coming out of last week’s game with no problems.

McGee likely to see reps increase

Bills CB Terrence McGee was rotated in at left cornerback with starter Aaron Williams as he rounds back into top form in Week 1. After coming out of Week 1 with no ill effects it sounds as if his workload will increase.

“Our plan was to play Terrence,” said head coach Chan Gailey. ”Terrence is a veteran player that’s a good player. Our plan was to rotate them every two or three series in the ball game. We’re trying to work Terrence back in slowly, not that we don’t have faith in Aaron. It’s just we want to get Terrence in the ball game. That was the plan all along. It wasn’t anything one way or the other. It wasn’t how we felt about Terrence or Aaron.”

When asked if he could see more time against the Chiefs, Gailey acknowledged it’s likely to happen.

“He got some good reps and came through okay and hopefully we can continue to increase his reps,” said Gailey

Brooks doesn’t make trip

Bills CB Ron Brooks did not make the trip to Detroit for the preseason finale.

Brooks suffered a foot injury according to head coach Chan Gailey, who said Brooks got stepped on in practice. He did leave Tuesday’s practice early. With Terrence McGee also not making the trip for this game, Buffalo is shorthanded at cornerback with only five dressing for tonight’s game and Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore only expected to play 10 plays.

Fan Friday 7-13

Less than two weeks until training camp. Hard to believe it’s almost here. Let’s get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net. And keep sending them in. I usually get to everyone eventually.

1 – Hi Chris:
Do you think the Bills will carry seven wide receivers for the regular season? They are very deep here, and based on competition, I would say that maybe Naaman Roosevelt and Derek Session do not make the final roster. What are your thoughts? 

Tony, Ormond Beach, Fl
CB: I do not think they keep seven wide receivers. As I outlined in our Top 25 Questions until training camp series, I foresee the coaching staff keeping just five with a couple on the practice squad. I don’t dispute that it is a talented group, but in each of the past two years Chan Gailey and his staff have kept just five receivers. The main reason last year being that Brad Smith as the third quarterback can also serve as a wideout. This affords them some wiggle room at the position. Plus with talents like Kamar Aiken, who still has practice squad eligibility they can keep a reputable talent there if needed due to injury.

Six receivers (not counting Smith) is a remote possibility, but seven will never happen.

2 – Chris –

Hoping you might post this “question” (and your response) in your “Fan Friday” blog on bb.com.  I continually find fellow Bills fans bemoaning the presence of DE Chris Kelsay on the roster.  Kelsay has become a lightning rod of sorts — many fans believe he has underperformed, they don’t understand why he was extended by Nix, and they feel as though he should be a roster cut.  I’ve grown tired of defending him myself, so I hoped you could give the perspective of the organization as to why they believe Kelsay is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

Thanks as always for your contributions,

Eric Haase
Durham, NC
Bills Season Ticket Holder since 1990

CB: I think the reason Chris Kelsay doesn’t garner the respect of some Bills fans is because they pigeon-holed him as a pass rusher. Kelsay is not a pass rusher by trade. He’s said it himself. He’s a well-rounded defensive end that when given an opportunity can log some sacks (see Week 16 vs. Denver last season). But his game is predicated on being good at everything. Not elite, but solid. His leadership both in his work ethic and what he says in that locker room carry weight as well.

The fans with whom I’ve spoke over the years that aren’t a big fan of Kelsay’s, almost all of them say he doesn’t get enough sacks. I’m confident the misperception of him as a pass rusher from the time he came to the team in 2003 is where a lot of this disappointment in his game is rooted.

3 - Hi Chris,               

It was fun getting updates on how the players are doing in the OTAs and being excited about the upcoming season.  One player I hadn’t heard anything about is Fendi Onobun.  How is he doing?  I thought it was great when we acquired him as there have been a number of athletic basketball players that have become really productive as tight ends.  Do you see him figuring into the Bill’s plans?  Thanks.

Cliff

CB: Onobun is an athletic talent no question about that. The problem is the game is still very new to him coming from a college basketball background. As a result the nuances of the game do not come naturally to him yet. The coaching staff is eager to work with him and develop him, but I would expect him to reside on the practice squad this fall.

4 - Whats up Chris?

Thanks for the weekly insight, but I have a two part question with us drafting T.J. for the other side for Stevie how is he looking so far? Does look like he will have a chance to start opening day? & last I know Stevie gave Stephon his props & corner was 1 of our weaknesses last yr, so how does Stephon & Aarron look so far & could either have shutdown capabilities?
Thanx Chris          

Draper Jackson Memphis,TN

CB: T.J. has definitely made progress. He made more plays in the passing game as OTAs came to a close and ran into spring minicamp. That being said I want to see how he handles things when the pads go on in training camp. It’s a different game against physical corners when the pads are on and closer to what Graham can expect out there on Sundays.

In fact Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore would out muscle him for the ball in the spring. Now that they’ll have a chance to work normal contact on him within five yards it’ll be interesting to see how he handles all of it. Training camp and preseason will tell us a lot about what to expect.

Williams and Gilmore looked very good in spring practices. I think those two will only benefit when the pads go on knowing both have a physical style to their play on the corner. It wouldn’t shock me if both wound up being the starting outside corners come Week 1.

5 - Chris,

Last season, I felt that the plays called in the Bills wildcat formation were predictable and unimaginative. Now that we have added a more talented QB in Vince Young to the wildcat formation, do you foresee the Bills using this package more often in ’12 and with Young in there do you predict that he will be throwing the ball more from that position as well. I don’t have the numbers but it seemed that Brad Smith’s arm was never utilized in the wildcat thus giving the Bills’ opponents a lame, predictable and ineffective offense. Will Young provide the wildcat offense with more plays throwing the ball. Chan seemed to have no confidence in Brad Smith’s ability to throw the football.

Thanks for your diligent and thorough coverage as we impatiently wait for this anticipated season to begin. 

William
Schenectady, NY

CB: The reason the Bills Wildcat package looked so limited last year was because the Bills could not sign free agents until a week before training camp. It prevented the Bills from fully incorporating Brad Smith’s talents into the offense because without spring practices like OTAs and training camp there was no forum to experiment with plays and effectively evaluate what he can and cannot do. Chan often lamented that fact during training camp.

Now with a full offseason Smith will again be the featured Wildcat QB and it’s my contention that he will throw more. Here’s a quote from quarterbacks coach David Lee for you to chew on regarding what they were trying to get out of OTAs and minicamp with respect to Smith’s capabilities.

“Every day the script for him is at the end of the OTAs determine what he does best,” said Lee. “What are Brad’s four best passes from empty? What are his four best passes with six-man protections? We’re trying to find out what he does best right now.”

Presuming they gathered that information in the spring practices the coaches will now install what they feel gives them the best chance for success in that package during training camp and make use of it with Smith at the right times during the season. Make no mistake, Smith is the Wildcat QB.

Talk now paired with Aaron’s walk

Bills CB Aaron Williams has been more apt to voice his feelings along with his play as he enters year two of his NFL career, and there’s a reason for it.

“Like I always say that first year you want to listen more than you talk,” said Williams. ”When you get used to everybody’s personality and the chemistry of the team the talk starts to come out especially in minicamp and training camp too. It’s all just competing and grinding and getting each other better. The trash talking is just keeping the confidence up. Even when there’s a bad play I’m not going to let you know that you had me on that play. I’m going to keep going.”

One of the offensive players that makes sure he dishes right back to Williams is his fellow native Texan Fred Jackson, who is often the “spokesperson” for the offense during practice. He was warning Williams that they were targeting him frequently.

“We’re coming to you all day,” said Jackson after Williams likely committed a pass interference penalty on a pass to the end zone intended for Derek Hagan.

But Williams turned in three pass breakups on the day and more than held his own.

“Fred is the biggest kid I know whether he’s 30 or 29, but he keeps me humble and keeps me level-headed. He’s my older brother in the locker room always beating me up,” said Williams. ”But he has my back. He took me under his wing when I got here so I’m really blessed to have him.”

Williams is just hoping his performance in training camp can convince the coaching staff that he deserves one of the two starting outside cornerback jobs.

Why Gilmore should excel as a rook

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore has fared well in spring workouts already and his talent should take him a long way in the NFL. But former Bills DB Troy Vincent provides some other reasons why Gilmore should do well in his rookie season.

Appearing on Bills flagship WGR Sportsradio 550, Vincent says the men lining up in front of him should make his life easier.

“Cornerback is the easiest position to learn, but the hardest to play next to the quarterback position in the NFL,” Vincent said. ”When you surround young corners that are inexperienced with a front seven like the one that exists in Buffalo it takes some of the pressure off of those on the back end, who now aren’t going to be asked to cover for four or five seconds. I think a young corner can come in and play because they’re not going to be asked to do a lot knowing the ability of what you have up front.”

Buffalo could very well have two starting outside corners that have a total of nine games of NFL experience should Aaron Williams and Gilmore both win starting jobs coming out of training camp. But with the talent in front of them both will have plenty of help on defense.

A. Williams done for day

It appears Aaron Williams day at practice is over.

Williams stepped out during red zone team work and has not returned.

CB Williams: Pass rush welcome

CB Aaron Williams and the rest of the secondary were not the beneficiaries of consistent pass pressure last season. That figures to change this coming season, which should make life a bit easier for Buffalo’s cover men on the back end.

“One of things that (Secondary coach) George (Catavolos) told me about as long as you’re in leverage you’ll make plays,” said Williams. ”It’s not about always jamming the guy on the line of scrimmage or being in the right speed. It’s all about leverage because you know at the end of the day Mario (Williams), Mark (Anderson), Marcell (Dareus) and Kyle (Williams) and all those guys are going to go after the quarterback and the quarterback’s going to have maybe less than two seconds to get the ball out so it’s going to benefit all of us DB’s.”

Fan Friday 6-1

Let’s get right to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net for the latest edition of Fan Friday.

1 – Chris,

My questions is; What is the latest with Michael Jasper? He was promoted to the 53 man roster last year. What’s his future with the team?

Bob  F.

CB: Jasper was working as a second unit guard this week in OTAs. He appears to have put on some weight, which can happen unfortunately when you’re a big man. Still, he appeared to move well even though it’s far from real football for linemen in this no pads setting.

He’s got an uphill battle. With entrenched starters in Andy Levitre and Kraig Urbik at the guard spots and Chad Rinehart coming off a strong 2011 season as the swing guard, it’s going to be difficult for him to make the roster. Add in sixth-round pick Mark Asper, who can play guard and center and the task is even tougher. We’ll know better once the pads go on.

2 – Chris,
I understand that the Bills are moving back to a 4-3 base alignment this season, but are they still toying with the idea of the hybrid?  I look at Kelsey, Merriman, and Williams along with hybrids like Bryan Scott and I wonder if the Bills may still cling to having the type of people that could run both systems?   – without hardly changing personnel on the field!

An example would be disguising a 3-man front with Kelsey-Dareus-K.Williams-M.Williams with Scott-Sheppard-Barnett this would also allow Merriman to replace Kelsey on obvious passing downs for more pass rush.

With the above Kelsey OR Mario could be Ends or OLBs and Scott could be a LB or SS, it would make it quite difficult for opponents to figure out what the Bills plan to run.  It would make the pre-snap read harder as well, though movement would give away a bit of it.  This flexibility would also lend itself to easing injury problems at either the lineman or linebackers allowing the best seven athletes to be kept on the field from either group.

Lastly I am hoping the Bills take a linebacker in the draft early.  I think Luke Keuchly would make a great choice!  He’s plug and play!

Steven Parker
Holland Patent, NY

CB: I believe we’re looking at predominantly a 4-3 with run and chase linebackers and penetrating D-linemen. If there’s a switch back to the 3-4 it’ll be for a series or two and no more. I can’t see Dave Wannstedt straying from what has worked best for him over the years especially with the influx of pass rush talent.

3 - Hey Chris,
With the Bills playing back-to-back road games on the West Coast (SF, Arizona) do you think they may consider staying on the West coast in between games?

It seemed to work well for SF last year when they did the same thing in between back to back East coast games.

Adam
Los Angeles

CB: I think it will be a consideration yes. While going east to play is harder than traveling west (where you pick up time instead of lose it), doing a pair of cross country trips in a week’s time does not help the body as far as players go.

You’re right San Francisco posted a pair of victories after they stayed on Eastern time and beat two good teams in Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

Buffalo ironically, has San Francisco and Arizona in back to back weeks in Weeks 5 and 6.

4 - Chris,

What’s the latest on Eric Wood’s rehab and what would you predict our starting OL to consist of for the ’2012 opener against The Jets? It is imperative that the Bills start the season with a healthy OL to get off to fast start. I see Wood as the key to our running game which will free up Fitz for the pass action pass. Just look how we nose dived after Wood’s injury.

To a lesser degree, I wonder if Aaron Williams will be ready to go? 

Thanks,
William

CB: The latest I have heard is that Wood remains on schedule to be ready for  training camp. Provided that happens I think the offensive line looks largely the way it did at the start of last season with Levitre at LG, Wood at C, Urbik at RG and Pears at RT. The only question is at left tackle, which appears to be a two-man competition between Chris Hairston and rookie Cordy Glenn. I’d like to see more of Glenn through the spring before making a call on that job.

Aaron Williams looks ready to go. He’s eager to land a starting role and will be pushed the influx of young talent on the roster including Stephon Gilmore, who rotated in and out with Williams at the starting LCB position on Day 1 of OTAs.

5 – Chris,

Thanks for covering the draft and giving insight on the team. I think the number two WR debate is getting a little overblown, since Fitz/Gailey have Stevie, David, Fred, CJ, and Chandler already in the mix. Fred was one of the most targeted players before he got hurt. With only 4-5 penciled in starters (Stevie, Smith, Donald, David, TJ), who do you seen winning the possible remaining spots, since they are in 4-5 sets often? Easley could land on the PS squad. Could Donald play the slot? Or will CJ see more time again at WR?

Thanks
Josh

CB: Your slot suggestion for Donald Jones is very astute. I believe if certain players emerge outside like Easley, who is probably the most physically gifted of the remaining receivers you’re asking about, and Derek Hagan proves capable outside as well it could push Jones inside.

Personally I think Jones could be a more effective receiver inside because he’s a weapon as a blocker in that alignment. He’s a very underrated blocker in my opinion and having a slot guy that could crash down on a linebacker at the second level would help immeasurably in the run game. Plus Jones has the strength to come away passes in tight spaces that are challenged by physical corners.

Aside from the receivers you mentioned above I think Easley and Brad Smith are the next most likely candidates. After that it really is a toss up with special teams abilities potentially the difference maker. Receivers on the roster that have cover teams ability include Ruvell Martin and Kamar Aiken. That could help their cause. Hagan showed a willingness to play special teams too.

Clowney and Roosevelt mostly offer return ability.