When it comes to wide receivers, Bills head coach Chan Gailey must love the phrase "doing more with less". This team has just two players (Steve Johnson and David Nelson ) that have proven they can play the position in the NFL. Yet according to Profootballfocus.com, the Bills used three or more receivers for a staggering 77 percent of their plays in 2011, leading the league by a huge margin. So even though the rest of the group coming into 2012 is a bunch of almosts, maybes and hurt agains, Chan remains upbeat. "Everyone else has a lot more negative things to say about our wide receiver group than I do. I have a lot of confidence in our receiving corps and what we will do"
Stevie Johnson sure had some leverage on the off season. He is a 1 or 1a receiver in the NFL and by the looks of the team's commercials, has become the face of the franchise. Add into the fact that his production on the field dwarfs every other wide receiver and you know why he got the big check
David Nelson is the kind of player every NFL team wants to have. Nelson has far out performed the expectations when he came aboard as an undrafted free agent from Florida. He has height and runs precise routes. Nelson fits the role as the 3rd wide out and should see plenty of passes this season.
Now to the rest……
Donald Jones. Every evaluation of Jones begins with the phrase…if he can stay healthy. He had two pretty severe ankle injuries last year that either knocked him out of the lineup or reduced his effectiveness
Marcus Easley. Easley makes Donald Jones seem like an iron man. The kid with all the measurables has not been able to dress for a single regular season game in his 2 years on the roster. First it was the knee, then it was the frightening heart ailment that could have ended his career before it even started. If he can actually play the Bills may have found the perfect guy to line up opposite Stevie Johnson
Derek Hagan. Are we to read into his 7 catch for 89 yard performance against the Patriots as a sign of potential or just a solid day for a journeyman wideout who will fight for a roster spot?
TJ Graham- The Bills spent a 3rd round pick on a guy that can fly. Should we see it as a red flag that Chan Gailey has mentioned on several occasions that graham is having some issues picking up the offense?
Chan Gailey isn't going to change the way he plays offense. He will spread them out, use players like CJ Spiller all over the field and try to get as many players involved as possible. But in order for this team to take the next step as an offense and not run into prolonged periods where they can't move the ball, they need player or two to step up. It will be worth plenty of eye time at camp and the preseason to see who emerges as a Fitz favorite
