Tweet
Bills' Wilson does what it takes to play
One of my dear high school track coaches used to express his philosophy about the sport, which was that every athlete specializing in one discipline should be able to do at least OK in any other. A good 1600-meter runner should be able to complete a decent long jump, just as a discus thrower should put forth a fair showing in the 100-meter dash.
The Buffalo Bills ' George Wilson is living up to the above theory as he attempts to convert from wide receiver to strong safety, trying to hang keep his NFL career alive while proving his own versatility.
The change is personally worth a shot for a guy even the Wilson family would agree hasn't made an impact at pro wideout. He hasn't caught a pass in his three NFL seasons, his first with Detroit and last two as a Bill, and he's actually only been active for three games during that time. Wilson's collegiate career, which saw him catch 144 passes (second most in Arkansas history), obviously didn't guarantee success at the next level, so the Bills are hoping that his prowess is broad enough to allow him to defend passes rather than catch them.
By accounts, this is an experiment to see if Wilson can handle the position's rigors. The Bills' coaching staff recently asked him if he was willing to consider it, and he has been giving it a whirl for a few weeks, studying the defense as well as practicing it on the field during the shoulder pad-less organized team activities.
Attempting to make a living on the other side of the ball after starting his career on offense, Wilson is already a throwback: How many people have named their kid "George" since the second half of the 20th century began? More importantly, as someone who was good at football, baseball, basketball and track in high school, Wilson has wide-ranging athletic skills; they may not be enough to get him on the field regularly on Sundays, but his abilities are at least allowing him a chance to give the safety position a shot.
The Buffalo Bills ' George Wilson is living up to the above theory as he attempts to convert from wide receiver to strong safety, trying to hang keep his NFL career alive while proving his own versatility.
The change is personally worth a shot for a guy even the Wilson family would agree hasn't made an impact at pro wideout. He hasn't caught a pass in his three NFL seasons, his first with Detroit and last two as a Bill, and he's actually only been active for three games during that time. Wilson's collegiate career, which saw him catch 144 passes (second most in Arkansas history), obviously didn't guarantee success at the next level, so the Bills are hoping that his prowess is broad enough to allow him to defend passes rather than catch them.
By accounts, this is an experiment to see if Wilson can handle the position's rigors. The Bills' coaching staff recently asked him if he was willing to consider it, and he has been giving it a whirl for a few weeks, studying the defense as well as practicing it on the field during the shoulder pad-less organized team activities.
Attempting to make a living on the other side of the ball after starting his career on offense, Wilson is already a throwback: How many people have named their kid "George" since the second half of the 20th century began? More importantly, as someone who was good at football, baseball, basketball and track in high school, Wilson has wide-ranging athletic skills; they may not be enough to get him on the field regularly on Sundays, but his abilities are at least allowing him a chance to give the safety position a shot.
