Reed can play. You’d generate a lot more support if you made this argument but swapped Reed for Parrish.

certainly as good as Reed

There is no way you can actually say that, though. Johnson in the limited time we have seen him has been OK but he has not been Hines Ward good at blocking.

The only reason Reed gets more time is because Jauron is faithfull to his vets and Trent & Josh are friends.

There is something to be said for chemistry in the passing game. He is able to anticipate where Reed is going to be and how he will react.

Plus why do you even care about his first five years? Isn’t this a “what have you done for me lately” league? Shouldn’t we care about what he is doing now?

I voted for the second option because I want to see Johnson on the field. I just think some of the claims you are making are unsubstantiated.

Please post your comments explaining why to think that way, I definitely would like to better understand why you think we are a better team by not letting Johnson get equal reps with Reed.

I have been and still am a big Stevie fan. However I think Reed as of now provides more then Stevie. Early on I wasn’t a big fan of Reed, but he definitely has proven to get the first downs when you need em. And IMHO I think he is our best blocking WR, and I just love that and it only helps our running game and YAC if anyone can break a tackle he can put the stop on the next guy…
Now it is possible that Reed doesn’t get an extension if by the end of the season Stevie really begins to progress…

I voted for the second option.

I want to see Scuba Steve on the field making plays. I really think that he has a bright future.

But Reed isn’t that bad, you said that he isn’t dependable. But I think that his hands are pretty good and furthermore, he doesn’t produce catches, but he produces First Downs, as evidenced in the last game.

But I think regardless of what role Reed plays this year, in the longterm Stevie Johnson will not only replace him, but be a good, if not great WR for the Bills.

Parrish adds nothing to the mix in my opinion…and Johnson would have a better chance of getting open where Edwards likes to throw, as well as being a better blocker.

Totally unacceptable

9 TDs in 8 years isn’t that encouraging.

not quite.

The reason we have Parrish is because he is such a supreme punt returner. Unfortunately because we only dress 4 WRs, it means we need to choose between Reed & Johnson. I cannot see us not dressing Parrish to favor Johnson, because I don’t think Johnson or anyone else on our team is better than Roscoe at returning punts. That brings us to Reed or Johnson, which upsets me because the only way to know is to give Johnson some playing time and he can’t do that while inactive.

So Brian, please explain to me in a rational manner how Johnson can get playing time without benching Reed?

We can’t afford to start 5 WRs and sit another position, only to prove a point?

I think not. I think Parrish has more incremental value in punt returns than the difference between Reed & Johnson. I’d give Johnson a start and sit Reed for the next two games and see what results from it. If Johnson comes up big then it’s an easy decision. And during his first start, I’d give him at least one punt return to gage his value and if he does well, then sit Parrish and start both Reed & Johnson for a few games.

Patience….. Reed has been doing a good job, and has a relationship with Trent. I want to see Scuba Steve on the field too, but it is going to happen slowly. If we are indeed not going to resign Reed, we don’t want to kill his trade value. I think Johnson would be our #2 WR if not for a certain signing. T.O. is as much to blame for Johnson not seeing the field as Reed, IMO. Sure, Johnson can play the slot, but since Hardy has shown us squat…maybe Johnson is T.O.’s replacement on the outside?

I voted #2.

I understand the reason to give him a try. I just see JR cemented as No. 3. The interesting thing will be when Owens leaves. Who takes up No. 2? Hardy? I doubt it.

I like Reed in the slot for sure – but Johnson should be our WR4. Parrish seems to be junk as a WR

I like Johnson and think he has a solid future, but he’s been made into some sort of Pro Bowl receiver by Bills fans. He was ok last year and definitely didn’t prove he was deserving of full time reps this year. He struggled to get open from what I recall, lacks quickness and is still working on his route running. He looks more like an outside receiver than a slot to me.

In no way do I believe Stevie should get Reed’s reps. Reed is very good in the slot, has a good rapport with Trent, is a good blocker and understands the nuances of getting open underneath. I don’t think Johnson is ready to perform those duties as well as Reed. What makes you think he can be such a good slot?

I’d agree with Johnson getting every single Roscoe rep. There’s no reason for Roscoe to be in on O anymore. I’d even give Johnson some of TO and Evans’ reps on the outside and move them around.

I would definitely prefer Johnson active over Palmer or Wendling. That way Roscoe can stay off the field on O.

I agree that Johnson needs some P.T., I mean at least make the guy active. I can only think that OBD wants to get him some time, but at the expense of trading Parrish, which I don’t condone. They need to just sideline Parrish in the exception of PRs, and KR’s if McKelvin is hurt.

I voted for Reed, but would like to see Johnson active on Sundays (they can suit up 5 WRs), playing special teams, on the field when we go four wide and used some in the red zone.

Ok the bills need to try and give Johnson some playing time this week becasue he is a very good player and i think he can beat the
Saints D in the slot.

If the coaching staff would start using some of the plays I mailed in including:

THE SUPER SCREEN- yeah that’s right a super screen. Thats where you put out Trent, Freddie Jackson the O-line, Fine, Stupar, Reed, and Johnson. So much blocking at every level it gets 90 yards a play easily.

The Ultra mega I: Trent, the O-line and in this order lead blocking Kirk Chambers, Johnathan Stupar and Corey McIntyre, opening up the hole for Fred or Marshawn, third and Long more like third and Gone.

The Cluster Bunch: Trent the O-Line and in a bunch formation on the right Steve Johnson, TO, Lynch, Evans, Reed. You can’t pick up that many recievers they proved it in Varsity Blues.

And of Course John Wendling in the air: Yes that’s the play’s name basically it’s like five hundred let toss it high and let John Wendling out jump everyone for the ball. Works in first down situations, third and short or endzone.

I sent these in, in May and have yet to see them. Not cool.

steve johnson is one of my favorite bills, and any playing he gets is a positive because he needs the experience, he could be awesome in the very near future.

I love how we all debate and argue like civilized people and with respect for one another. If you ever go on that site, any disagreement results in total chaos

This year they added a field on the gamebook statistics for receiver stats – TARGETTED

So now we’ll be able to see how many times a receiver was targeted and did not make a reception. I wonder what the criteria is for determining that a receiver was targeted. Because the ball should be catchable otherwise it’s not real fair for the receiver’s stats. But I guess it’s better than not having it, at least it provides an indication as to how many opportunities the receiver actually got. I suspect that TO won’t like this new statistical piece of information.

would it be that hard? just move the total roster to like 55 and then have the active roster to 47. this would solve alot of problems……

Special Teams
K/P/LS=3

Defense (Starter/Reserve):
CB=2+2=4
S=2+3=5
LB=3+3=6
DT=2+2=4
DE=2+2=4
Total:11+12=23

Offense:
QB=1+1=2
RB=1+2=3
WR=2+2=4
TE=2+1=3
OL=5+2=7
Total:11+8=19

Starters: 22
Subs:23
Total: 45

Only 42% of our Roster is for the offense, which in my opinion is not enough. The really funny part is that we used 9 roster spots on defensive backs against a team that is known for running the ball, a team that had no real deep threats with Bryant injured. The only explanation that I can come up with is that they feel that because of the “no huddle”, our defense is potentially on the field longer and we need more guys to rotate in/out. And more specifically, maybe they feel we will be playing with a lead and that we need more DBs as a result… or maybe it’s just because our HC used to be a DB?

IMO, 20 roster spots for offense is not too much to expect. Starting 5WRs should be the norm, especially when your team is based on a “no-huddle”, you need at least 5 active receivers to be able to mix things up. Especially when you consider if TO or Lee goes down, we already know that Reed & Parrish suck at #2, so having Johnson on the active roster at #5 is certainly not a luxury.

is kind of a goofy post. There’s no reason to pull Reed out of his role in the offense because he’s perfect for it. He plays WR like a TE. I’m afraid there’s not much more room for more production with inserting Johnson in there. So why not stick with Reed, who’s always had good chemistry with Trent and he’s pretty reliable. I love Steve Johnson, but at this point there’s no reason to pull Reed unless you’re moving Lee or TO to the slot for a particular look, and put Johnson on the outside, where he is leaps and bounds better than Josh Reed. If anything, as Brian stated, pull Roscoe Parrish because Trent has horrible timing with him…. always has.

because of reed and parrish both being a lil nicked up. so i guess youll get your wish on some level.