If you've been hearing the name "Curtis Samuel" a lot during Buffalo Bills training camp, you're not alone. The veteran wide receiver has made a big splash in his first camp with the Buffalo Bills.
His strong showing continued today in the first padded practice, highlighted by a spectacular catch in the end zone.
Curtis Samuel keeps making plays in training camp
Two names at the wide receiver position keep popping up in my feeds from those that are in person at training camp – rookie Keon Coleman , who has mountains of hype and pressure thrown on his shoulders, and Samuel.
Samuel's role in the offense cannot be overstated. No, he isn't the perimeter wide receiver that's going to put up elite production, but he is a versatile, speedy, savvy veteran that can contribute in a variety of ways.
As offensive coordinator Joe Brady confirmed before camp , we're going to see a lot of Samuel.
"He’s an incredible blocker, he can play on the outside, play on the inside, move him around, he’s as fast as can be – just give him the ball and good things happen. Whether he’s playing receiver, or whether he’s playing running back, it doesn’t really matter. Just his versatility will be an asset to the offense.”
Blocking might not fill the stat sheet, but it's a valuable piece of the puzzle that Gabriel Davis left behind when he left in free agency. It will help keep Samuel on the field in. a variety of situations, not just as a gadget player.
Curtis Samuel will be a big part of a revamped offense
There's no denying that Josh Allen will be facing plenty of obstacles this season, between a retooled interior offensive line and losing his top two wide receivers from the year prior.
Without Stefon Diggs and Davis catching passes, the offense will need other playmakers to step up.
The team doesn't have a true No. 1 wide receiver, at least not at this stage. Coleman has looked strong through camp making plays at all levels of the field, but no one receiver should be expected to command a monstrous target share.
Maybe that's not a bad thing.
Coleman is going to line up at the X most of the time, but Brady will have plenty of opportunities to utilize a variety of skillsets all over the formation, putting defenses in a bind while not being able to key in on any one pass catcher. Tight end Dalton Kincaid , who figures to have a big year, is capable of lining up all over the formation. Samuel can do everything from lining up out wide to lining up in the backfield. Khalil Shakir , who is incredibly underrated and came on strong late in the year last season, can do it all as well. The formation possibilities are endless. Just look at this little nugget from camp.
This offense has the potential to give defenses fits while keeping Allen happy, and that's a very good thing.
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