Chan Gailey: Eric Wood To Center, Brad Smith At Quarterback

by Brian Galliford on Jul 29, 2011 7:24 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills are set to begin full team 2011 training camp practices on Saturday. The vast majority of the team reported for duty on Friday, however, and went through some conditioning drills. The most newsworthy items coming out of St. John Fisher today, however, are words spoken by head coach Chan Gailey.

Per the Twitter feed of WKBW's Jeff Russo, Gailey has made some key decisions about personnel. First and foremost, he confirmed that free agent signee Brad Smith will be listed as both a quarterback and a wide receiver, meaning that the Bills will be able to list him as a third quarterback on game days to free up a roster spot at another position.

More importantly, Gailey confirmed that third-year interior lineman Eric Wood will be practicing at center.

Gailey was quick to point out that incumbent center Geoff Hangartner will also remain at the position. It appears as if the Bills are not quite ready to make a decision on which player will be the team's starting center, so both Wood and Hangartner will be practicing in the pivot for the time being. As y'all are well aware, how that position plays out will have a trickle effect on how the rest of the right side of the line shapes up.

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It will be fun watching smith line up all over.

"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."

by chaucer on Jul 29, 2011 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

I say wood wins center position

"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."

by chaucer on Jul 29, 2011 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

and like i suspected, Brad Smith is for Gailey a QB in the making. He will be used in his first year here like he was with the Jets, but i have no doubt Chan thinks Smith could be in the future for the Bills. Just like he said, the new type of QB.

by Fernando brazil on Jul 29, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I bet Gailey wants to get maximum camp time at RG for all the others competing there (Urbik, Reinhardt, anyone else) to see what they’re really bringing to the table.

Perception is reality; but if your perception is off, you live in your own reality. -- perkispower

by thefourwinds on Jul 29, 2011 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

^this

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." – Abraham Lincoln

by Bogeyman on Jul 29, 2011 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting can not wait to see how camp plays out.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jul 29, 2011 7:37 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

You gotta put wood right in the middle

is that too much?

by NHBillzFan on Jul 29, 2011 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

Just did.

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jul 29, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

validation

as i had posted on another article/blog/whatever… smith is competing for 2nd qb, 3rd qb, and slot WR, and 3rd RB, at least IMO. This is a statement about our roster… and not a good one. I am a B-rad fan… truly. He was a good signing… because we have those needs (aside from WR maybe) but fact is… he is a baller.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

Kevin Burnett

Has signed with the Miami Dolphins for 4 years. They showed interest in him today and he signed today. Buffalo showed interested for a few days and barely made any strides. First Clabo, now Burnett. Bills need to make a move soon, frustration is starting to build.

http://twitter.com/#!/CLoSkills - Sports talk/opinions on Twitter, follow and I'll return the favor.

by CLoSkills on Jul 29, 2011 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

frustration is starting to build.

George is getting frustrated!

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Arthur Moats

I heard they are moving Arthur Moats back to ILB. Awful move, makes me think they are set at ILB then and FA is no longer a route.

http://twitter.com/#!/CLoSkills - Sports talk/opinions on Twitter, follow and I'll return the favor.

by CLoSkills on Jul 29, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

really?

so they must think Sheppard can play the thumper role then with Moats roaming. Best players on the field I guess…?

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

LB's

Merriman – Moats – Sheppard – (GULP) Kelsay

http://twitter.com/#!/CLoSkills - Sports talk/opinions on Twitter, follow and I'll return the favor.

by CLoSkills on Jul 29, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

i prefer

about to get blasted but……..

Maybin (gasp)- Sheppard-Merriman-Moats

i realize merriman is the “pass rusher” but… NOBODY CROSSES THE MOATS. haha. seriously though, let him pass rush from the interior, especially if he lost a step. helps to have the experienced guys in the middle.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

where did you read he signed with miami?

by m_young28 on Jul 29, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

NFLDraftUpdate - Dion Caputi via Twitter

#Dolphins have signed MLB Kevin Burnett to a 4-year contract. Was scheduled to visit #Bills this weekend.

http://twitter.com/#!/CLoSkills - Sports talk/opinions on Twitter, follow and I'll return the favor.

by CLoSkills on Jul 29, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Bills fans don’t learn do they. When it come to free agency don’t expect it till they ink it.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jul 29, 2011 7:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

We will never learn.

http://twitter.com/#!/CLoSkills - Sports talk/opinions on Twitter, follow and I'll return the favor.

by CLoSkills on Jul 29, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

So Moats is an ILB again apparently?

WHY?? The one guy that might actually have some useful pass rush potential has been switched back to a position he looked awful at last year. Oye.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 29, 2011 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

I am losing faith in Nix. Decisions like this make no sense to me. I was really hoping Moats would be the starter and Kelsay would play situationally when we go to 4 down linemen. But, obviously that is not the case. obviously Kelsay is too good of an OLB to sit on the bench (sarcasm).

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions

this isn’t a Nix decision – it’s a Chan, Edwards and wannstedt decision

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree

Nix is the one trying to acquire/keep talent. Chan and co. have to figure out what to do with the talent (or lack thereof) that Nix gives them.

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

from that POV yes – Chan and Co are trying to get the best players on the field – best I can tell at least….

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 29, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

doesn't that prove HIS point?

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

My optimism door has closed

Welp who’s next on the coach and gm board.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jul 29, 2011 7:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

I agree dude, OBD was just atrocious in FA. Moving Moats inside is a move of desperation. Lost Poz, couldn’t sign Burnett or anyone else for that matter, This team is truly at rock bottom. Looking on the bright side you can only go up.

by Coach Bob on Jul 30, 2011 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions

they initially drafted him as an ILB. maybe they still think hes a better fit there athletically. i agree it seems odd (obviously), but at the same time i wont pretend to better understand moats’ skill set than gailey and nix

by boomsauce on Jul 29, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out that they tried him there last year and he didn’t do well. So they moved him outside and he played better and better as the year went on. Now, when we lose Poz, all of a sudden he’s back on the inside? Are we really supposed to believe Moats would be moving back inside if Poz had re-signed? Smells like panic to me.

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

again, maybe they knew it would take way too much time last season for him to learn to play as an ILB and still help us any in 2010. so for the short term they switched him to the outside with the long term plan remaining the same: that they see moats as an inside backer.
again, i generally agree with u that this is highly questionable, but i think i understand their thought process

by boomsauce on Jul 29, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

They already moved Torbor inside

Have Sheppard and White, along with Davis. Guys like Batten or Coleman seem like better fits inside anyhow, since Moats has better pass rush skills. I find this move weird, ridiculous and amusing all at once. It just doesn’t make any sense after what we saw last year, and what we’ve heard/expected all offseason.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 29, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

It just doesn’t make any sense

The sad thing is, you could have stopped right there.

Perception is reality; but if your perception is off, you live in your own reality. -- perkispower

by thefourwinds on Jul 29, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

personally im much more concerned about this headline: "Torbor will be Poz’s replacement ". im gonna pray to the football gods that chris brown is wrong on that

by boomsauce on Jul 29, 2011 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Who else is it going to be? My bet is Crowder will get picked up. Not sure if he’s much better than Torbor.

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

i thought the burnett pickup was still a possibility.,, i dont mind torbor as a backup but him starting at will is kind of alarming

by boomsauce on Jul 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

yes he is

torbor is better as a slower than kelsay LOLB.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

that's wrong.

kelsay is still probably slower. either way.. edwards still needs lbs that know a 3-4

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Hate to be negative but WTF. This regime ( as far as free agency goes) is worse than the Donahoe regime.

by Coach Bob on Jul 30, 2011 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions

whoa whoa whoa

come on now. : )

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 30, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

seriously.

i rather stick coleman in @ ILB.

what happened to batten or white? i realize they are young and unproven, but isn’t our whole roster kinda in that boat?

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Moats to ILB??????

Just saw a twitter that said they are moving him back to ILB. What the hell are they thinking?? This is getting ridiculous. Our most promising rookie from last year, finally started coming around at the end of the year…so let’s move him back to a new position. Genius.

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Long shot here...

but it may just be to cross train him. Know what the guy next to you is going to do and why on any given play would go a long way i am sure.

Harooo

by Robot Nixon on Jul 29, 2011 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

thought they already corss-trained him at ILB last yr for a short while

by dgrid on Jul 29, 2011 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think its worth highlighting that the requirement that they spend up to 89% of the cap doesnt kick in until 2013. Obviously, with this roster, they could spend past the cap and not compete for the SB this year, but the writing is on the wall that this roster isnt going to be filled out with anything other than street fee agents and young players.

by Joe.Bills on Jul 29, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

We just better be bad enough to get one of the big three QBs next year. But I find it hard to believe that we’ll be worse than QB needy teams like the Redskins and Seahawks. So, once again we’ll still continue our search for a franchise QB.

by CBATL32 on Jul 29, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

The Packers

Just cut mark Tauscher. Please give me a OT Nix !!

bills big board
1. patrick peterson
2. aj green
3. marcell dareus

by PrinceAli on Jul 29, 2011 7:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Lets get nick barrnet while we n are at it.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jul 29, 2011 7:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

he gone

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Fat chance. This FO is proving to be pretty inept.

Leslie Michael Jasper - 2013 All-Pro NT.

by Home Run Throw-up on Jul 29, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Just stay healthy, Eric . . .

and try not to get put on roller skates at center . . .

"If You Ain't a Bill I Don't Give a Fxck Bout Ya!! Most Disrespected Team in NFL! I Always feel Disrespected! I'm All In!" -- Steve Johnson

by go_buff on Jul 29, 2011 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

Has this been done before?

That a QB was converted from another position like this?

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on Jul 29, 2011 7:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

He's being listed as a QB

in order to meet the 3rd QB designation without any issues.

He was a QB in college and has taken many snaps there in his career. He’s not being moved there all of a sudden….

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 29, 2011 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

agree w K

and additionally… see: Minnesota Vikings’ Joe Webb. Not unheard of… but yes, he was a very effective qb @ Missouri(?) i wanna say

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Well yeah

I’ve heard of like a QB in college converting to like WR (or safety like whatshisface…) but a WR to QB?

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on Jul 29, 2011 8:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

well, he would be a QB that was converted to WR

and then back to QB.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

QB

Has Smith ever thrown a pass in the NFL? He has the size. Does he have the arm?
I’m sure he’s smart enough to handle the job. We could have a pretty scary offense. Looks like lots of quick routes and throws, which will ease the strain on the OL pass blocking. Wow, we have scat backs and grinder move the pile runners, backs that can catch the ball, slot demons, go long speed demons and possession type receivers that can also block well. We have QBs that can take off and run the ball. We can put a lot of pressure on the LBs and cover men and if a safety tries to blitz we can kill them.

CC Infantino

by lostlasvegan on Jul 29, 2011 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

he threw a td pass against us last year from wildcat

i think. if my memory serves.

by ThaRealTruth on Jul 29, 2011 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on Jul 29, 2011 8:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

4-7 with a TD in his career.

The score dictated they pass

by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 29, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

to have Hargartner at 2nd string center allows other players to develop at Guard, even if he ultimately ends up starting there… he doesn’t need as much practice having played guard in Carolina and being a smart overall player and vet

I'm waitin'..... @killascript on twitter

by killascript on Jul 30, 2011 1:26 AM EDT reply actions