FanPost

What about Mr. Parrish?

I'd like a take a short break from our musings about the NFL draft and use my first fanpost to have a brief discussion about Roscoe Parrish. A guy who a couple years ago was considered a dynamic threat in the NFL, only to find himself inactive at a few points last season and completely out of favor with the fan base in Buffalo.



While thinking about our current WR situation, I am optomisitic, (and I pray every day) that Steve Johnson and James Hardy will step up and be productive 2nd and 3rd options this year. Maybe one of them will even become a primary target, since we know Lee Evens is not a force over the middle and likes to stick to what he does best, and that's work the sidelines. But what of Mr. Parrish.

While it is pretty obvious at this point that he struggles with running routs and, despite his quickness, can't get open down field, I can't help but think there still may be a use for him. At the end of the season I was of the mindset that he would never amount to much of a receiver and it was time to move on without him. But now that we are down to 4 WR's and his value on the trade market is at an all-time low, I think we are pretty much stuck with him. Now whether you are of the belief that Juron was a horible coach, or he just had bad luck, there is no question that the offenses under his regime were horrible. It is obvious that our offensive coordinators didn't get the most out of their players. Maybe Parrish was a victim of this.

The more I thought about it, I found it hard to believe that if Roscoe played for a certain evil empire in our division, that Coach Billicheat wouldn't be able to use him as an effective weapon. He would exploit Roscoe's strengths, (quickness and elusiveness) and hide his weaknesses (poor rout running, can't work the sidelines, inability to get open downfield.) It has been said that the Chan is an offensive minded coach who plays to his players strengths and get the most out of what he's got. Lately he was quoted saying he likes the "waterbug" type of backs that are emerging and while I'm not dillusional enough to suggest we line up Roscoe in the backfield as a RB, I do think he fitts the waterbug mold: quick and elusive, (and weak and easy to crush if you do catch him :))

I think Roscoe can be a nice weapon if Chan can find a way to get him the ball in space; either on screens, slants or quickouts. I remeber a game a few years ago when he caught a pass from Losman on a quck slant and he took it to the house before the Jets D knew what him them. Take a look at Reggie Bush. He is not an everydown back, and he lines up as a reciever almost as much as a RB, but he is rediculously dangerous if he gets the ball in space. The Saints say he helps their offense by just being on the field, even if he doesn't get the ball, because defenses are forced to pay attention to him at all times. I think Roscoe is not, and never will be, an every down WR, but if Chan lines him up in the slot and gets him the ball in space a few times where he can hurt defenses, I think it can open things up for the rest of the offense. Defenses will have to pay attention to him. So, share your thoughts:

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.