The Buffalo Bills continued to revamp their offense on the second day of the legal tampering period, adding shifty slot receiver Cole Beasley. The transition to smaller, faster receivers is in full swing in Orchard Park. It might be unpleasant to look at thanks to unsightly blue stars, but we’ll peek at the tape to see what Beasley brings with him.
Play 1
Let’s start off with blocking for Cole Beasley. Overall, Beasley takes no issue with blocking and will mix it up with defenders whenever necessary. Beasley is diminutive by NFL standards and sometimes match-ups simply don’t favor the receiver. Here he commits to pushing toward the sideline and gives Dak Prescott some space. Beasley is careful to shove off the shoulder to avoid a block in the back penalty as well. Before he even gets to the block, take a look at him selling the route and that change of direction.
Play 2
Beasley can do this all game if needed. A bit of subtle footwork at the beginning of the play and a quick change of direction leave him open for a chunk of yards. Better ball placement would have allowed good yards after catch. This is where physics favor Beasley. At about 180 lbs and 5’8” tall, he can make cuts of which few defenders are capable.
Play 3
An incredible bend directly behind the defense creates separation across the field early in this play. As it develops, Beasley spots a soft zone and makes another near-collision cut to get open deeper. When it comes to weaving through traffic, Beasley excels.
Play 4
Cole Beasley slips out and his initial route creates plenty of space despite crossing the face of several opponents. His shoulder orientation at the point of catch is highlighted to demonstrate how far he twists his body to turn upfield. Once he’s moving he uses his small frame and a hidden extra gear at the last second to cut between two foes in what’s nearly a Looney Tunes-esque collision.
Play 5
The initial cut to his right creates good separation and a well-timed toss is probably a touchdown. The stop and pivot in the opposite direction is a next-level cut. It creates enough space where Beasley feels like he’s just hanging out waiting for the ball.
Summary
Cole Beasley provides a dependable presence on the field with good wide-receiver skills pretty much all around. His small frame combines with athleticism to allow some fairly preposterous change-of-direction skills. Creative play callers can scheme up some fun stuff for the slot receiver to take advantage of Beasley’s favorable physics.