Per ESPN: Marcus Easley beating out Mike Williams

[Mr. Miyagi]

When Williams arrived via trade in April, my first reaction was that he could be a top target in the Bills' offense. I'm less convinced now. Williams didn't stand out in OTAs and seeing him in action, there isn't a particular skill that he brings to the table that is different from the rest of the receiver group. If Watkins and Robert Woods become fixtures on the outside and Chris Hogan can continue to contribute in the slot, Williams starts to slide down the depth chart. The Bills will keep Marquise Goodwin and Marcus Easley on their final roster, so Williams will have to fight Hogan and T.J. Graham for the final spot. He could change my opinion in minicamp or early in training camp, but for right now I wouldn't call his spot on the team a sure bet.

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bill...-ota-practices

[jimmifli]

Easley is a June beast.

[Dr. Lecter]

That statement might be based on him making it on ST play - not WR play

[Pinkerton Security]

Easley is a June beast.

He always does well in OTAs, training camp and preseason and then never does anything otherwise.

[better days]

Seriously? NO player wins a job in OTA's.

Marrone has said as much. He said a player could lose his job in OTA's, but nobody can win a job in OTA's.

[better days]

And that article was written by Mike Rodak.

The IDIOT that also predicted the Bills will go 3-13 this year.

[Mr. Miyagi]

That statement might be based on him making it on ST play - not WR play

Still takes up a WR spot just the same.

[Ed]

Easley was our best ST player last year and Marrone really values him in that role, so he probably makes it again. I don't remember how many WR's they kept last year, but I would guess they'll keep 6 this year. Watkins, Woods, Goodwin, Williams, Hogan, and Easley.

I can't see them cutting Williams. He's our only veteran WR with any proven success or production.

[Dr. Lecter]

Still takes up a WR spot just the same.

No necessarily. Teams generally keep 5 WRs. There a certain number of roster spots that are not for a particular position. It could be a 6th WR, 4th TE or 9th LB (or whatever)

[trapezeus]

nothing but a special teamer. we had injuries on the squad last year, never saw him get onto the field regularly at that time.

the issue is that williams isn't clearly excelling from easley.

all these little stories for OTA are leading to concern that the offense will more or less struggle. obviously we are far away and haven't had training camp, but we thought that williams wasn't necessarily a huge trade other than losing a 6th round pick. and he's not showing any big difference from our ST wr. and normally, i'd just look the other way, but with his off field issues, it becomes a concern that he didn't show and want to impress the new team.

[Skooby]

So EJ's performance isn't something that can be measured in the OTA's yet a WR who's new to the system & hasn't been able to perform better than another player can be judged as so their dropping down the depth chart ? Is this the logic without pads or hitting ?

[trapezeus]

i'd just think a top WR with great numbers (without off field issues), comes in and performs in OTAs ahead of the ST Ace. add that hes got off field issues (quite recently from the actual trade) and you get the sense that he isn't really a solution whatsoever, and he's not going to be a leader to help get the WR to the level you want him at.


i would rather have an expensive stevie who plays through everything than a deliquent like williams. but that's me.

[Night Train]

Rodak is not a good blogger outside his beloved Pats and I've been told pro or con he doesn't do his homework.

He could be right but it's more or a dart throw and it's June for crying out loud. I do know from someone at the workouts that Hogan has indeed made his presence known and thus many are just connecting dots.

[HAMMER]

Takes time to learn systems people, you don't just show up at OTA's and dominate when you haven't been in the offense before. Easley has the benefit of knowing the system.

[swiper]

Just put your money all on Adam Schein then. He seems to be telling you what you want to hear.

[YardRat]

They'll keep six, anything less would just be ignorant, and Williams will be one of them.

If he didn't make the team, it would throw the entire Williams/X-J equilibrium completely out of whack, and then we'd be set back until we found another one.

[DesertFox24]

I will not say anything regarding Mike Rodaks record predicition until we win our 4th game.

That being said the guy is a flat our MORON!!! (Water Boy)

He knows nothing about the team.

Risers and fallers from OTAs is just flat out laughable.

The WRs the coaches other players said the whole point of this is to learn assignments and try and get the footwork down before training camp.

I also loved of his four fallers two were brand new to the team and one does work with the two new wrs.

Additionally Hackett said that new to this year is WRs and QBs having a step count and time count to get to a spot. In other words if EJ does a three step drop and the wr is supposed to do a quick slant but messes up his footwork the fault on the play lies with the WR not EJ. Granted this is something we will never be able to tell from watching the game. Also if EJ is supposed to a five step drop but is slow getting there and misses his primary read the fault lies with him.

These are the things they are working on and I have no problem with them struggling in OTAs, mini camps and early pre season.

By the third or in our case 4th preseason game we want to see these mistakes cleaned up with timing and what not. I dont expect to light the world on fire in the preseason as both sides of the ball will be trying new things and they are not game planning but as long as timing and rythm is better then I will feel better about our chances week 1.

[trapezeus]

i always got the sense that rodak got his dream gig of following the pats and then espn stuck him with the east coverage, and since espn doesnt care about anything other than the pats, they let his shoddy work go.

[Fletch]

I can't see them cutting Williams. He's our only veteran WR with any proven success or production.

I can't either.

Poor planning? Maybe shouldn't have traded Stevie for a 4th?

Whaley sure is the genius.

By the way, anyone read about the other receivers?

Watkins struggling with reading the D, getting properly lined up, and drops.

Chandler looking well beyond his 29 years. That can improve, but it's going to have to be quickly. It's not as if he was a ringer to begin with.

This is the unit that we're relying on to propel us into the playoffs.

[Fletch]

i would rather have an expensive stevie who plays through everything than a deliquent like williams. but that's me.

One of the more logical posts by anyone over the last few days.

- - - Updated - - -

Takes time to learn systems people, you don't just show up at OTA's and dominate when you haven't been in the offense before. Easley has the benefit of knowing the system.

You also don't show up in the regular season with one rookie, two second year guys, and a bunch of WRs that have done even less and expect much more.