Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

[The Spaz]

Dick Jauron made it plain leading up to the draft that the team needed a big receiver. Someone his quarterback could throw to even if he was covered. He wanted a mismatch receiver similar to the ones other teams had that made plays when it didn't look as though one could be made. Jauron's request was more than answered with the 6'5"-plus James Hardy.

Hardy had off the charts production at Indiana where he scored 36 touchdowns in 33 games. To call him a mismatch in the passing game is an understatement. However, receivers rarely make a giant impact in their first NFL season.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=6223

[DraftBoy]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

I dont think he is starting come week 1

[Ebenezer]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

nothing would surprise me...let's see what the kid has in camp first.

[Al the Bills Fan]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

To start the season - NO

by week 8 - maybe

by end of the season - YES

[Mitchy moo]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

No way we draft a 6'5" WR and sit him on the bench. His job is to take heat away from Lee and get open as a threat. If our opponents have to gameplan for 1 extra weapon, one of our other weapons will be open.

He's on the field day 1 and the first regular season game.

[The Answer]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

He will start, but I don't see him having an impact until midseason.

~The Answer

[justasportsfan]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

Hardy will start. He only needs to point his gun at Dick.

[Al the Bills Fan]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

Hardy will start. He only needs to point his gun at Dick.

If you swap gun & Dick = best post ever!

[mysticsoto]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

He will ABSOLUTELY start! Like The Answer said, he may not start making an impact into midseason, but he will absolutely start! It would be ludicrous to keep a 6'5" athletic WR on the bench in favor of...Reed? Absolutely, NO WAY!!!

[Bill Cody]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

And if he doesn't, who does? Hell yes he starts.

[Goobylal]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

If he doesn't start, nothing will change. There is no real #2 WR on this team outside of him. And if he makes some rookie mistakes, so what? Just have him go out in a pattern and draw coverage away from Evans. If he makes a reception here or there, great!

[yordad]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

He will ABSOLUTELY start! Like The Answer said, he may not start making an impact into midseason, but he will absolutely start! It would be ludicrous to keep a 6'5" athletic WR on the bench in favor of...Reed? Absolutely, NO WAY!!!

Well, I was going to type something.... then I seen this and it said it all.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

To start the season - NO

by week 8 - maybe

by end of the season - YES

Totally agree.

He wont' start week #1, though he could certainly have an impact early. I feel the exact same way about McKelvin.

Those are good signs.

[Pride]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

Start? No... Dick doesnt like to start rookies week 1. But will he get the lions share of the snaps? Yes. My guess is that he is in on the first 3rd down of the game, and doesnt come out the rest of the day.

[mysticsoto]

Re: Question #6: Will James Hardy start?

I don't see how anyone could believe that the disaster of Price not panning out last year, forcing Reed to play #2 WR would be repeated come the start of the year when you have a 6'5" athletic weapon on the roster. What people around here don't seem to understand is that we don't need Hardy to have a 1000 yd season like a #1 WR. He is a #2. His job is ideally to get atleast in the 700s...but more importantly, his job is to free up Evans so that now Evans can get 1000+ yds. Safeties cannot cheat anymore toward Evans when they have this giant 6'5" guy lumbering their way and virtually very few CBs able to present anywhere close to a reasonable matchup on a jump ball. Safeties will HAVE to play Hardy over the top and Evans will get quite a few one on ones from here forward. That is something that Reed cannot bring to the game and that will force Hardy in to start!