LifetimeBillsFan
04-19-2005, 02:48 PM
While the lead of the article is about J.Bannan's switch to OG, I found the comments about how our TEs, M.Campbell and T.Euhus, are recovering and the info on how the Bills view DT L.Sape to be the most interesting parts of this article:
TEs Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus are recovering so well from their reconstructive knee surgeries that the Bills are optimistic both players will be healthy going into training camp. Campbell is the team's most complete tight end. He's an exceptional run blocker and good receiver with good hands and a feel for reading defenses and finding soft spots in coverage. Euhus displayed nice receiving skills and was a better blocker than expected. With Campbell and Euhus sidelined for the offseason minicamps, Ryan Neufeld and Rod Trafford are at the top of the depth chart. Both are versatile athletes, especially Neufeld, who can also line up at fullback. There is a chance the Bills will draft a tight end, but this becomes less of a need area if Campbell and Euhus are 100 percent before the team heads to training camp. . . .
STOCK RISING: The Bills are excited about the development of DT Lauvale Sape. Although he has played in just two games in two years, the team believes he could work his way into the defensive line rotation with a strong spring. Sape (6-1, 296) doesn't have great size, but he is a high-effort player who is strong, physical and tenacious. He has worked hard on improving his technique, getting off the line quickly and using his hands to fight off blockers. The team believes Sape has plenty of upside and will be given a chance to earn a more prominent role on defense.
URL: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3547426
Given their needs at other positions, this may not have much of an impact on how the Bills approach the draft, but, if Campbell and Euhus are likely to be ready to play this season and they like Sape as much as this makes it sound, it could eliminate the need to reach for a TE in what is considered to be a very thin position in this draft and make DT less of an early priority than a lot of people have been projecting. If the Bills feel that Sape is ready to step into their DT rotation, they might wait until later in the draft to pick up someone to develop at that position (with A.Hawthorne falling on a lot of draft boards after testing positive for pot, it is possible that they could pass on him early and still pick him up in Round 3 or 4).
TEs Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus are recovering so well from their reconstructive knee surgeries that the Bills are optimistic both players will be healthy going into training camp. Campbell is the team's most complete tight end. He's an exceptional run blocker and good receiver with good hands and a feel for reading defenses and finding soft spots in coverage. Euhus displayed nice receiving skills and was a better blocker than expected. With Campbell and Euhus sidelined for the offseason minicamps, Ryan Neufeld and Rod Trafford are at the top of the depth chart. Both are versatile athletes, especially Neufeld, who can also line up at fullback. There is a chance the Bills will draft a tight end, but this becomes less of a need area if Campbell and Euhus are 100 percent before the team heads to training camp. . . .
STOCK RISING: The Bills are excited about the development of DT Lauvale Sape. Although he has played in just two games in two years, the team believes he could work his way into the defensive line rotation with a strong spring. Sape (6-1, 296) doesn't have great size, but he is a high-effort player who is strong, physical and tenacious. He has worked hard on improving his technique, getting off the line quickly and using his hands to fight off blockers. The team believes Sape has plenty of upside and will be given a chance to earn a more prominent role on defense.
URL: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3547426
Given their needs at other positions, this may not have much of an impact on how the Bills approach the draft, but, if Campbell and Euhus are likely to be ready to play this season and they like Sape as much as this makes it sound, it could eliminate the need to reach for a TE in what is considered to be a very thin position in this draft and make DT less of an early priority than a lot of people have been projecting. If the Bills feel that Sape is ready to step into their DT rotation, they might wait until later in the draft to pick up someone to develop at that position (with A.Hawthorne falling on a lot of draft boards after testing positive for pot, it is possible that they could pass on him early and still pick him up in Round 3 or 4).