Bills’ Johnson has a name to remember

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, December 24, 2008  |  Comments( 10 )

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The Buffalo Bills may have finally unearthed the tallish receiver they’ve desperately needed for about a century, and all they had to do was scout at a traditional basketball powerhouse. It’s just the player’s identity that’s a surprise: Rookie Steve Johnson, a former Kentucky standout, has displayed some of the skills higher pick James Hardy was supposed to, and the fact that he’s shown anything at all has been a nice bonus for the 7-8 Bills this season.

While it’s unwise to assume that purchasing a number 13 jersey with Christmas money instead of a Marshawn Lynch or Paul Posluszny model will serve as an ultimately prudent investment, Johnson could nonetheless spike in value in 2009, which would be a nice way for the player to keep thanking the team that took a flier on him in 2008.

Touchdowns in each of the last two games combine to serve as the high point of his understandably modest rookie campaign. Particularly, Johnson’s 3-yard, fourth-quarter scoring grab on a parabola of a throw from Trent Edwards against the Denver Broncos was precisely the sort of play the Bills needed in that game and has needed for years.

The end zone reception was more notable for the height covered than the distance, as Johnson fielded a pass that was deliberately sent over and away from himself. That’s been a trend for the wideout, as the San Francisco native has been great at not only getting his hands to most footballs thrown his way but also keeping same hands on them.

Johnson's obvious eagerness to make the most of necessarily scarce opportunities has made him an evermore appealing option, especially considering his relatively obscure pro beginnings. Forget his draft position -- even though Johnson was nabbed 183 spots after Indiana product James Hardy, he possesses the capability to plug a hole in the Bills’ hull that was supposedly patched with the selection of his more prominent teammate.

Unlike Hardy, Johnson didn’t also spend time as a member of his university’s august basketball program in addition to competing at football, but the lower-profile wideout has been the one who’s displayed greater rebounding ability so far. In fact, Johnson will finish the season with more ground accumulated than 87-yard guy Hardy, as he passed his teammate even before the latter was sent to injured reserve.

While neither Johnson’s 10 catches and 102 yards serve as astounding totals, the pertinent detail is that he’s performed quite capably in his role as the fifth and now fourth man in. Officially listed as 6-foot-2, he plays taller, which is one of the reasons why he has provided brief yet promising glimpses of proficiency.

What’s important is that he doesn’t have to evolve into a superstar to become successful; rather, the seventh-rounder only has to thrive as a situational player. It’s simply a matter of him not only continuing to keep vacuuming in receptions in the same way he’s done so far in limited opportunities but also functioning as the first player in approximately 1 million games to draw attention away from Lee Evans. If he can keep growing like this, Johnson could have a bright future as a mid-range specialist who’s particularly valuable near the goal line.

Barring injury or an entirely improbably scenario where he suddenly contracts a case of slackerdom, Johnson has virtually assured himself of a roster spot next season, and his loftier goal of starting in Buffalo’s game this Sunday against the New England Patriots should be to continue to be more like Hardy than Hardy.
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