Buffalo Bills WR2 training camp battle (1 Viewer)

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Just as a heads up, Easley has been passed by both Hagan and Graham on the depth chart right now. Donald Jones is still penciled in as the starter opposite Johnson. Easley may not even make the team at this point.I still think Graham will end up starting in the outside position opposite Stevie at some point this season. He still needs some polish on his routes and to learn more of the playbook, but he's clearly the most explosive and dynamic WR they have. He's consistently made plays in practice and he had a nice preseason game ad well.

Roosevelt?

 

[duaneok66]

Grove, what happened to Easley? Attitude, Difficulty with the playbook? Just curious.

He's just been inconsistent. Too many drops, too many bad routes, and not enough separation on routes. For all the talk about his physical abilities, he doesn't make enough special plays to justify carrying him as a 6th receiver if Fitzpatrick can't trust him.

will they end up keeping six?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Grove, what happened to Easley? Attitude, Difficulty with the playbook? Just curious.

He's just been inconsistent. Too many drops, too many bad routes, and not enough separation on routes. For all the talk about his physical abilities, he doesn't make enough special plays to justify carrying him as a 6th receiver if Fitzpatrick can't trust him.

will they end up keeping six?

they will probably keep at least that many given how often they run 4-WR sets but they can also use Spiller and Brad Smith out wide at times to give them additional depth at the position.too early to write off Easley for some of these journeyman types. I thought he looked fine in the second half with Vince Young.Graham is definitely impressive so far given how many people knocked that pick. They want speed in the lineup and he obviously can bring that. Just needs to round out his game a bit.

 

[OldMilwaukee]

From local beat writer Joe Buscaglia

My link

"The more I watch Marcus Easley struggle in practices, the less shocked I'll be if they elect to cut him when we get to that point of the season. He has not shown the consistency Chan Gailey has looked for, and has been passed on the depth chart by both Derek Hagan and T.J. Graham. For Easley to make this team, he'll have to convince the Bills' coaching staff with solid play that they need to keep six receivers. Don't count out Ruvell Martin or David Clowney for that, either. They're right in that second-tier with Easley. If you had to ask me right now if he makes the team, I'd probably say yes. In no way am I confident in that statement, however. He has much to prove."

 

[Shanahanigans]

I was pleased with Graham's performance in the preseason game. He showed good hands, hip movement, and acceleration. Sleeper alert for sure. More long term though, I wouldn't count on him for this year. I could see 20/350/2 this year with a much larger role in the offense coming in 2013.

 

[EBF]

(Rotoworld) With Bills training camp having reached its conclusion, WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia nominated third-round pick T.J. Graham as the "rookie standout" of camp practices. Analysis: The Bills are transitioning from St. John Fisher College back to their Orchard Park home. Graham, the 69th overall pick in the draft, reportedly showed an ability to make "tough catches" and play with "burst" while garnering more and more first-team reps. The Bills' receivers aside from Stevie Johnson offer little fantasy appeal, but Graham is a player to monitor from that group.

 

[Sabertooth]

(Rotoworld) With Bills training camp having reached its conclusion, WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia nominated third-round pick T.J. Graham as the "rookie standout" of camp practices. Analysis: The Bills are transitioning from St. John Fisher College back to their Orchard Park home. Graham, the 69th overall pick in the draft, reportedly showed an ability to make "tough catches" and play with "burst" while garnering more and more first-team reps. The Bills' receivers aside from Stevie Johnson offer little fantasy appeal, but Graham is a player to monitor from that group.

Interesting. He's on waivers in my superflex league. I am thinking of cutting Tarvaris Jackson for him.

 

[duaneok66]

(Rotoworld) With Bills training camp having reached its conclusion, WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia nominated third-round pick T.J. Graham as the "rookie standout" of camp practices. Analysis: The Bills are transitioning from St. John Fisher College back to their Orchard Park home. Graham, the 69th overall pick in the draft, reportedly showed an ability to make "tough catches" and play with "burst" while garnering more and more first-team reps. The Bills' receivers aside from Stevie Johnson offer little fantasy appeal, but Graham is a player to monitor from that group.

Interesting. He's on waivers in my superflex league. I am thinking of cutting Tarvaris Jackson for him.

Tavaris Jackson? Who's he?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Not much to be seen so far tonight. Both Stevie and Donald Jones running exclusively with the 1's.

FWIW (not much), I was listening to the Bills radio play-by-play of practice the other night while I was working out (aka The John Murphy Show on WGR, where he was announcing practice play-by-play). The passing game seemed extremely in sync and I don't know if I heard a single incompletion in the 25 or so pass plays I heard in 11-on-11 drills. Stevie, Donald Jones, and Derek Hagan were the frequent targets for the 1's. Martin and Roosevelt got a lot of looks with the 2's, and Easley had a target or two. No mention of Graham whatsoever, not sure if he missed practice or the ball just didn't go his way.

 

[Bill Brasky]

really nice catch and run TD by Donald Jones just now.

 

[ShaHBucks]

really nice catch and run TD by Donald Jones just now.

Dude reminds me of Cruz. He might even be better than Stevie

 

[duaneok66]

is the battle over?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Easley with a sweet return on the kickoff from 5 yards deep, brings it out to the 12 yard line and heads off to the sideline.

 

[Steve Tasker]

is the battle over?

I wouldn't say it's over, but I don't see much indicating that anything is really up in the air, so to speak.Stevie and Nelson are two locks to get a ton of playing time. Jones has been lining up outside opposite Stevie for all of camp and looks pretty good. Nelson working out of the slot.In the last 2 plays, the Bills have run 4 WR and 5 WR sets. Hagan is the 4th WR on both plays, and Spiller was split out as the 5th WR in the 5 WR set. I don't think Easley has been on the field so far except on kickoffs. I haven't seen Graham either.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Second string in now - 3 WRs - Ruvell Martin, TJ Graham, and Derek Hagan.

Wow....how far down the depth chart is Easley? Damn.

 

[duaneok66]

Steve:

I am not watching the game (have to wait for the NFLN replay), but last game Chandler seemed to be in on every first team snap. Last year, it seemed he was on the field less than half the time. Is he only on the field more because Nelson is out?? I know Nelson is a WR, but I figured that might be the reason.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Steve: I am not watching the game (have to wait for the NFLN replay), but last game Chandler seemed to be in on every first team snap. Last year, it seemed he was on the field less than half the time. Is he only on the field more because Nelson is out?? I know Nelson is a WR, but I figured that might be the reason.

They're somewhat interchangeable, but Nelson is playing today. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with Chandler today, he was in on his share of the first team snaps, probably like last year.

 

[duaneok66]

thanks.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I know I'm repeating myself, but TJ Graham will be the CLEAR #2 for Buffalo (at least for fantasy purposes) by midseason if not before. Jones will start the season outside opposite Stevie, but Graham is really really good. Nobody on the team can run the way he runs. Gailey won't be able to keep him off the field. Anyone thinking Easley or Jones are more valuable to the Bills or to fantasy players is nuts.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Graham can't block or run reliable routes. He's a WR4 and speed guy this year. Let him develop before anyone has him passing up players with experience.

 

[Tau837]

Graham can't block or run reliable routes. He's a WR4 and speed guy this year. Let him develop before anyone has him passing up players with experience.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Per WGR's Bills reporter Joe Buscaglia this morning on the radio, Donald Jones has earned the #2 WR spot barring an injury. He specifically said that Jones and Hagan have had very impressive camps but that the coaching staff seems to love Jones' potential.

 

[Steve Tasker]

As a Bills fan who closely follows the team and all info coming out of OBD, I would like to share some info...The guy everyone should be looking at to lock in the #2 spot by week one is Marcus Easley.Think T.O. size with 4.3-4.4 speed.Since im sure none of you are actually Buffalo Bills fans, I will tell you some interesting info....As a rookie and Stevie Johnson as a 2nd year player, while TO and Lee Evans were the #1 and #2, Easley was ahead of Stevie Johnson on the depth chart. It wasnt until he had a leg injury that put him on IR. Last season Easley showed up to Fitzpatrick's WR camp at 225 lbs and in excellent shape. Came into camp last year expected to began where he left off the following season but due to a heart condition (which is healed), once again he was placed on IR.Gailey and Nix likes tall WR's. Nix drafted V-Jax in SD, USFA David Nelson, FA Scott Chandler, 4th Rd pick Marcus Easley, USFA Kamar Aiken, and UFA Hagan.If you watch a Bills game of 2011, you will notice the Bills run alot of slants, hitches, bubble screens, or any other route that is less than 15 yrds deep. When Roscoe Parrish went down we lost alot of speed on offense (minus CJ Spiller). Buffalo drafted TJ Graham in the 3rd this year to stretch the defense and safties. Well guys, Easley can run the go route, be physical to go up and "get the ball", and be a red zone target. Easley has the most physical tools of any WR on the Bills roster and that includes Stevie Johnson (who is my favorite player).The coaching staff isnt just going to give the # 2 spot to Easley. They are going to make him earn it and prove he deserves it..But when you look at the Bills offense as a whole, they run alot of 3-5 WR sets so if you are looking to grab a WR or TE, you need to look at who Fitz likes to throw to in the red zone (Johnson, Chandler, Spiller, and Nelson) in that order. If Easley wins the job though, I would place him as the 2nd most dangerous WR target of the group listed above in the red zone and the #2 on Fitz target list outside the red zone.Hope this helps and remember...NO ONE CIRCLES THE WAGONS LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS!

You know whats funny is that all of the Bills "fans" said the same thing about Stevie Johnson before his third year and CJ Spiller before last year.The talent is there in Easley, give the guy some freakin playing time and he will produce. Trust me!Nelson is the solid, big, tall, posession WR we need on 3rd downs. He plays his role well and thats why he will have a long career. Defenses will have to account for Easley on the field. Same goes with Graham after he gets his bearings. Trust the process my friend. Easley is the pick. If he isnt then you know we are drafting a WR early next year or signing a FA like Bowe ect..

 

[duaneok66]

FAIL.

 

[loose circuits]

So is it TJ Graham v Marcus Easley this year? With Nelson and Donald out of the picture should be TJ's time to shine and he could be a quality buy low at this time. Kevin Elliot? Chris Hogan (7-11)?

 

[EBF]

I own TJ Graham in several leagues. Mainly because I got him off waivers for nothing.

Even with my investment in this situation, it's clear to me that Buffalo needs to add a WR in the first three rounds. Johnson is not a true #1 and the other guys they have are sub par. But this is the Bills, so they will probably do something stupid and screw it up.

 

[loose circuits]

I own TJ Graham in several leagues. Mainly because I got him off waivers for nothing. Even with my investment in this situation, it's clear to me that Buffalo needs to add a WR in the first three rounds. Johnson is not a true #1 and the other guys they have are sub par. But this is the Bills, so they will probably do something stupid and screw it up.

Elliot didn't look too bad starting a few games for Jags but was then thrown out. Wasn't Hogan nicknamed 7-11 cause he was always open in Dolphin training camp? Why haven't they signed Mass, DhB, Edelman? Doucet? They must like who they have for now or like you say, have plans in draft. I think you may be able to get Graham for a 3rd at this point and that's a steal, was trying to sell him for a 2nd and got no bites. I wouldn't sell him for a 3. How many of these rooks will clearly beat out TJ? He was just drafted in 3rd a year ago, isn't it too early for them to give up?

 

[EBF]

I own TJ Graham in several leagues. Mainly because I got him off waivers for nothing. Even with my investment in this situation, it's clear to me that Buffalo needs to add a WR in the first three rounds. Johnson is not a true #1 and the other guys they have are sub par. But this is the Bills, so they will probably do something stupid and screw it up.

Elliot didn't look too bad starting a few games for Jags but was then thrown out. Wasn't Hogan nicknamed 7-11 cause he was always open in Dolphin training camp? Why haven't they signed Mass, DhB, Edelman? Doucet? They must like who they have for now or like you say, have plans in draft. I think you may be able to get Graham for a 3rd at this point and that's a steal, was trying to sell him for a 2nd and got no bites. I wouldn't sell him for a 3. How many of these rooks will clearly beat out TJ? He was just drafted in 3rd a year ago, isn't it too early for them to give up?

Hogan and Elliott were both cut by their original teams. Not a death sentence, but certainly not encouraging. The Bills need to keep adding firepower. Even if they like Johnson and Graham, their WR corps is well below average. Johnson is probably better as a #2. I wouldn't want to count on Graham as anything more than a #3. He hasn't shown anything other than speed yet. This is a team that should be looking at receivers in the top 100 picks, but might not have the luxury since they have other holes to fill.