The Most Important Rookie Missing from the Buffalo Bills Training Camp

The Buffalo Bills have many questions to answer before the season opener against New England.  Most of the focus has been on the lack of a pass rush and the retooling of the offensive line for the second time in three years.

I can see the importance of getting rookies Eric Wood and Andy Levitre time to work their way into starting roles on the offensive line. I can even understand the need to get a first round talent in Aaron Maybin on to the field as soon as possible.  Fortunately, these three rookies have been in attendance for most of this spring’s minicamps.

I don’t believe that Aaron Maybin has a chance to begin the season as a starter. Instead he will act instead as situational rusher on passing downs, thus him missing some practice time over contract discrepancies doesn’t seem to hurt very much. 

While I eventually expect Wood and Levitre to be exceptional starting linemen, I don’t initially see them playing any better than veterans Seth McKinney and Kirk Chambers, so I really don’t feel like the team would be losing any great production without them in the lineup at this particularly moment.

The one rookie that that needs to be in camp is college ball-hawk Jairus Byrd.

Byrd comes from the University of Oregon where he put up 17 interceptions in three seasons.  He has quick lateral speed, can leap well vertically, and is a great open field tackler. 

As evident from his high interception total, Byrd has great anticipation, soft hands and breaks up many passes too.  He is said to be highly intelligent and studies the game well. All of these attributes will help him make the transition from cornerback to free safety and easy one.

Byrd seemingly makes the perfect candidate to start over all rookies this season, with one obstacle standing in his way: He hasn’t been able to participate as much as the other rookies.

According to Pac-10 rules, their drafted players aren’t allowed to participate in offseason programs until their exam schedule is complete.  These rules left Byrd with much catching up to do compared to his teammates.  He has an even greater challenge in that all of the plays and terminology may be unfamiliar to him because he is an inexperienced rookie.

Byrd not being at camp is the most concerning problem involving rookie signings right now because aside from the possibility of starting, he has the biggest chances of all the team's rookies to make the most significant impact this season. 

The Bills are in desperate need of help at the free safety position.  While I am excited to see what Donte Whitner can do at the spot, I still prefer him at strong safety.

Byrd has the skill set capable of instantly making a difference on the defensive side of the ball, being the take-away artist that the Bills have lacked at the position for ages. 

Buffalo’s defense tied a franchise low at 10 interceptions in 2008, and I feel without new blood at the position you can expect much of the same even if the pass rush happens to improve this year.

While I have faith that Whitner will do just fine at free safety, I don’t necessarily expect him to make the plays that Byrd can possibly make.  Whitner is a stout tackler and does handle coverage well, but has never been considered an interception machine, even in his days at Ohio State where he recorded only three career interceptions.

In contrast Byrd offers the big-play equivalent at free safety as to what the young Leodis McKelvin offers at the cornerback position.  Byrd recorded as many interceptions in just 2008 as Whinter’s entire collegiate and professional careers combined.

If Buffalo wants to see a significant increase in their turnovers this coming season then it is imperative that they sign Jairus Byrd to a contract right way so that he doesn’t lose any more time than he has already lost.

Game-changers can’t change the game if they aren’t on the field.

Luckily, Everette Brown (the pick after Byrd) just signed his four year rookie contract which should certainly help set up some parameters to speed up the negotiating process for the Bills and their talented draft pick.