Year End Review: Wide Receivers

During this past off season Buffalo did something it is not really accustom to doing, they made a free agency splash.  With Terrell Owens finally wearing out his welcome in Dallas, Buffalo decided to capitalize and sign the free agent receiver.  The plan was simple, to add the much needed second target for Trent Edwards.  Buffalo had not seen two very good receivers like this since the Flutie era when Peerless Price and Eric Moulds lined up together.  The stage was set for Buffalo t breakout and finally display offensive dominance in the AFC.

Unfortunately that never materialized.  With Terrell Owens coming in, Lee Evans was supposed to have open looks and would no longer need to deal with triple coverage.  Buffalo was right, Evans was now open much more often, and no longer hand to fend off three defenders.  Unfortunately for Buffalo, they no longer had a quarterback who was willing to allow the receiver to make a play.  QB Trent Edwards would instead hold on to the ball too long or pretty much anything else other than allow Lee Evans to make a play on the ball.

Lee Evans is having the worst season in his pro career and Buffalo may be in trouble when it comes time to resign the young receiver.  He has been a consummate professional throughout the entire ordeal and has not made any waves, although none would blame him if he did.  He is one of the premier deep threats, but is never thrown to, he can make 60-80 yard plays seem routine and easy.  But, again, he is just not thrown the ball.  With the very likely departure of Terrell Owens, Buffalo must start focusing on ensuring they have a happy Evans.  The last thing Buffalo needs is for Evans to get fed up and demand a trade.

Terrell Owens came to Buffalo to rebuild his image.  He has done that, but I don’t think in the way he intended.  Owens has shown he still has big play ability, but has also shown that he has lost a step and is no longer a sure bet elite receiver.  It isn’t his production or lack of yards that make me believe this.  It is his routes that he is running and his very routine dropped passes.  As bad as the QB play has been this year, I would wonder what kind of season Buffalo could have had if Owens could have maintained possession of the ball.  Owens is still a good receiver and would be welcomed back to Buffalo.  But, Buffalo should not waste such a high salary on such a marginal contributor this coming off season.  Owens, in turn, will not want to resign in a small market, especially without any chance of making the playoffs.

The Owens experiment in Buffalo was not a failure like many had thought it would be, but it wasn’t a success either.  Owens delivered in a few games but seemed to lose focus and desire several times throughout the season.  He has been on losing teams before, but I would gather not ones in this much uncertainty.  Owens will be gone come season’s end, and it is not a good thing, nor is it a bad thing, which speaks volumes about his contribution to the Bills roster.

The problem with the Buffalo receivers is depth.  Josh Reed is such a good possession receiver, but can’t do much else.  Although plagued early in his career with several dropped passes, Reed has worked hard to become one of the more sure handed receivers in the AFC.  The problem is, reed should not be slotted into the number 2 position once Owens leaves and Evans gets upgraded to number 1.   Reed does not have speed or leaping ability, he will make the much needed third down catch, but he is no way going to stretch the defense, or make the amazing leaping grab in the end-zone.  He is what he is; a workman like receiver, with very little else to offer.

James Hardy was an interesting prospect when he was drafted.  Unfortunately injuries have slowed his development.  It is tough to say what Buffalo has in him and he has only a small sample to draw any conclusions on.  I will say this, James hardy is not the answer at receiver that they thought he was.  Although he is big, he is also slow and plays with a nervous energy.  Although he can move past the nerves, he will not be able to move past the fact that he is slow.  He will make a very good possession type receiver, but it is uncertain what else he can offer this roster.  Hopefully he can develop into a viable option on the Buffalo offense, but it is very unlikely.

The one very pleasant surprise of this season not named Fred Jackson is Shawn Nelson.  This guy is money.  Not since Buffalo drafted Kevin Everett has Buffalo been able to steal a top flight tight end in the draft.  One of the best receiving tight ends coming out of college, Nelson has shown flashes of being able to produce at the NFL level.  Due to the QB play, he has been an afterthought on offense, but it will be interesting to see how Buffalo incorporates him into their offense next season as they begin to rebuild.  Nelson has the size, speed and hands; all he needs now is a coordinator with the confidence to throw to him more often.  Buffalo finally has something they haven’t had in years (more than a decade we are talking here), a pass catching tight end (Robert Royal does not count).  Nelson should do well next year, and for fantasy purposes may be one more year and one more coordinator away from becoming a viable option at tight end.

The last receiver worth mentioning is Roscoe Parrish.  Through the first years of his career he was a great return artist who could make an occasional play on offense.  This year he was terrible on special teams, and saw little use on offense.  Roscoe has size restraints which make it difficult to include him in any offensive packages.  Although one could make the case about Steve Smith and his success, Roscoe is no Steve Smith.  All signs are pointing for Roscoe to be gone at the end of this season as he is in need of a fresh start as is Buffalo.  Roscoe was loved by the fans and will be missed but his impact was only on special teams.  After this season it is painfully obvious that if his special teams ability is taken away, there isn’t much left to use.

Once the season ends, the receiving options will look bleak, but there is room for optimism.  Barring a trade demand from Lee Evans, Buffalo should still have him back for next season along with Shawn Nelson.  Although not conventional, many teams do employ a run first offense with a number two receiver being a tight end.  Buffalo should look into this as they do have the personnel to handle this kind of offense.  With Fred Jackson being able to run effectively and catch out of the back field, Evans and Nelson can be utilized as the primary options in the passing game.

But until that happens we are stuck living in the “now” with this season almost over…  but not.  Buffalo receives a D+ for their work at the receiving level.  Although it is a grade that isn’t based on talent, it is a grade based on production and performance.  Buffalo’s receivers have looked lost and withdrawn, and although not really their faults (poor QB play), it is their responsibility to be better than that.

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Doug Flutie, Eric Moulds, Fred Jackson, James Hardy, Josh Reed, Kevin Everett, Lee Evans, Peerless Price, Robert Royal, Roscoe Parrish, Shawn Nelson, Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, Trent Edwards