We’ve entered the back half of July, folks. This offseason is flying by. With rookies reporting to camp already, we’re only a few days away from the true start of the NFL year. The Buffalo Bills have been discussed all offseason as the favorites to win it all, but that hype is based on what we saw last time they took the field. This is a new year, and changes have been made. Lets discuss different positional battles, and what to watch for in training camp.
Running Back:
Buffalo’s roster is quite deep, but there are still snaps and roster spots to be earned. The running back room is a big point of interest as we make our way into August. It’s crowded, and different skill-sets are on display. The lead back is Devin Singletary, but there are plenty of questions surrounding who might be next in line. Zack Moss is still young, but after a solid rookie season, he hasn’t shown too much. A late season injury that year kept him from taking the next step last season. Can he make a statement this year?
New guys:
Veteran Duke Johnson looked to be a solid pick up back in the spring, but he has gotten older and has actually been more productive as a between-the-tackles runner as of late, whereas the Bills scooped him up needing a receiving threat out of the backfield. That’s where the rookie comes in. James Cook is an intriguing player. With 4.4 speed and great hands, it’s looking like Cook could challenge Singletary for most overall touches.
The Bills tend to keep three running backs, excluding special teams ace Taiwan Jones. With four players vying for three spots, this RB room is sure to be a point of contention during camp. Keep a close eye on Moss and Johnson.
Slot Receiver:
Losing a player like Cole Beasley isn’t easy to overcome. That man was the quintessential slot receiver. A shifty route runner, with a knack for finding the holes in a zone defense and the perfect blend of intelligence and agility used to beat man-to-man. There are three guys in the mix here at slot receiver heading into camp. Jamison Crowder, who signed as a free agent back in March, has had a sneaky good NFL career. He offers more after-the-catch ability than Beasley did, and can act as a similar safety net for Josh Allen. He won’t excite you, as he isn’t incredibly dynamic. But he’s as steady as they come. He enters camp as the favorite to land the starting job.
Don’t sleep on these two:
Two other names to pay attention to are Isaiah McKenzie and rookie, Khalil Shakir. McKenzie has been consistently productive whenever he’s had the touches. Last year, he stepped up big-time in a game against the New England Patriots, recording double digit catches, and triple digit yardage. He’s a threat when put in motion, and he’s proven he can play both inside and outside if necessary.
Shakir, on the other hand, hasn’t proven anything as a 5th round pick in the most recent draft. But, he was incredibly productive in college, and has impressed throughout the offseason with his ability to learn the playbook. Many experts viewed him in the 5th round as a steal for Buffalo, and they’re positive his college production can translate to the NFL. Keep a close eye on these guys pushing Jamison Crowder for more touches.
Returner:
The battle for this role is an interesting one. Last year, the return game, both kick and punt, was on the bottom of the list when it came to things this Bills team was good at. Isaiah McKenzie was given an opportunity and although he started out pretty well, he eventually fell victim to some ball security issues that drive a coach like Sean McDermott mad. Last year’s rookie WR Marquez Stevenson also took some reps back there as the Bills were still trying to find the correct answer. He performed very poorly in a week 17 matchup against Atlanta, and was subsequently benched. I think both of these guys will be given every opportunity in camp to show what they can do, yet again.
The competition:
Two other players who might make a splash here are the aforementioned Khalil Shakir, and veteran WR/KR/PR Tavon Austin. Austin has managed to carve out a career in this league because of what he offers as a return man. However, over the last couple seasons, he has only returned seven punts and seven kicks. He’s not the most productive receiver, and that hurts his chances of cracking this Buffalo roster. However, he’s shown some juice in his short time here this offseason, and he’s an intriguing name as we approach camp.
New addition to the WR room, Tavon Austin (photo via Fansided’s “The Landry Hat”)
Khalil Shakir is a dark horse to win the job. He returned 12 kicks and nine punts over the course of his senior year at Boise State, with three punt returns going for over 20 yards.
Pass Rush:
Yes, Von Miller was the big offseason addition. But I’m looking closely at every other guy on that defensive line. There are high hopes for second-year defensive end Gregory Rousseau, and with Miller on the other side, I’m intrigued by what Rousseau may be able to get done. His intelligence and massive frame excite me, but my hope is that he’s developed some moves. Professional OT’s are tough to push backwards, even if you’re a big man, yourself. Rousseau could be lethal if he develops a combination of both his size and some sudden quickness.
Time to prove it:
Also, it seems to be a make-or-break year for AJ Epenesa. His first two weeks last year were remarkable, and everyone was ready to watch him burst onto the national scene. It didn’t happen. Epenesa is coming into this season with more of an idea of where the Bills need him to be, weight-wise. I think him bulking up a little from last year will serve him well. Boogie Basham, a second-round pick from last year, is in a similar situation. It was hard to tell last year if he was built for a role as a 5-tech player. He looked more like a DT. This offseason has been big for him, and with his slimming down, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact he can have early in the season.
Carlos “Boogie” Basham getting some work in at minicamp, with the new #55 jersey (photo via The Buffalo News)
Buffalo is also returning two guys from earlier in the McDermott era. Shaq Lawson, an edge player, and DT Jordan Phillips. These guys are high-energy players, with both of them playing their best football in previous stints in Bills’ uniforms.
Camp Is Key:
This new Buffalo Bills football season comes with such high expectations, but it’s hard to know exactly what to expect from this roster until we see who wins these jobs. There is plenty to watch for in training camp this August. Keep an eye on these positional battles, and enjoy watching what might come of this defensive line. It’s gonna be a fun ride.