Buffalo Bills 2015 Training Camp Profile: WR Robert Woods

Robert Woods, 2015 NFL Training Camp, Buffalo Bills
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Over his first two seasons, wide receiver Robert Woods has started 29 games with a fairly prominent role for the Buffalo Bills. After catching 40 passes for 587 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2013, the USC product improved his numbers across the board last year and finished second or tied for second on the team in receptions (65), targets (104), receiving yards  (699) and receiving touchdowns (five).

Even with a new coaching regime in place, Woods is locked into a roster spot heading into training camp. Sammy Watkins is clearly Buffalo’s No. 1 wide receiver, but even with the addition of Percy Harvin Woods has to be a candidate for the other starting spot. Chris Hogan had some good moments in 2014 and Marquise Goodwin clearly has athleticism to burn after competing in the long jump at the Pan Am Games, but I don’t see either guy usurping Woods on the depth chart. The other wide receivers that will be competing for roster spots during camp included Dezmin Lewis, Marcus Easley, Deonte Thompson, Marcus Thigpen and Justin Brown, but it would be surprising to see any of them make a push for a big role.

Woods’ path to a substantial role is all but certain to change this year, with offseason additions (Harvin and tight end Charles Clay) changing the pecking order in the passing game and new offensive coordinator Greg Roman bringing a run-oriented scheme. Fewer opportunities to go around and more weapons in the fold means another 100-plus target campaign is not in the cards for Woods in 2015, but that does not mean he won’t be a useful player.

It would not surprise me if Buffalo’s pass catchers see more action than normal in preseason games, as the team looks to sort out their quarterback situation in the midst of a likely three-man battle for the starting job (EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor). That group of key passing game options would obviously include Woods, even if Watkins, Harvin and Clay carry more name recognition.

Woods may be the forgotten man in Buffalo’s offense this year, but he can absolutely become a reliable target for whoever winds up under center. Training camp would be a good start to that, and I expect Woods to work well with all three signal callers in that setting.

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter. 

 

 

 

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