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PITTSFORD, NY -- When the Buffalo Bills concluded their 2006 training camp around this time last year, the questions surrounding the team were plentiful.
The Bills were coming off a 5-11 season in 2005, coach Dick Jauron had not truly decided on a starting quarterback, and he was breaking in new offensive and defensive coordinators.
The difference between this August and last August is quite simple: Last year the Bills were getting familiarized with the system. This year, they already know it.
So the primary questions entering this camp were more about personnel:
Who will take over the right cornerback position to replace Nate Clements? Who will start at middle linebacker for the departed London Fletcher? And who will play right guard?
The Bills broke training camp Wednesday after four weeks of mostly scorching hot days at St. John Fisher College, and there's a sense that Jauron and his staff are closer to finding definitive answers on those questions than not.
They held one final 90-minute session before packing up all the towels, uniforms, blocking sleds and various truckloads of equipment and heading back to Orchard Park.
They will have one final walkthrough practice this morning in preparation for Friday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Fans on Wednesday lined the stands and hillsides, all seeking autographs or an up-close glimpse of players from a team that spent less time adjusting to a new staff and system than a year ago.
By all accounts, the Bills got plenty accomplished in the Pittsford portion of training camp.
"I can only guess that everybody is a little more comfortable with everybody else," Jauron said. "We know each other. We're at least a year better, so that could be a part of it. Hopefully, they're really optimistic and confident in themselves and the team."
At right cornerback, eight-year veteran Jason Webster, who has 73 career starts, seems to have a lock on the position, ahead of Kiwaukee Thomas, Ashton Youboty and Jabari Greer. But Webster's problem is staying healthy. The Atlanta Falcons signed him to a six-year, $18 million contract in 2004, even though he had missed most of the 2003 season due to knee and chest injuries. In 2004, he missed six games due to injuries to his groin, knee and lung. In 2006, a torn groin and sports hernia ended his season after just eight games. That's why Terrence McGee worked at left and right corner during camp.
"We feel that our corners need to be able to play both sides," Jauron said. "On the right side Terrence is very comfortable. We like him over there, he is comfortable there. He's performed very well on that side. That's the reason he's spent most of his time there."
At middle linebacker, John DiGiorgio and rookie Paul Posluszny have received equal amounts of reps with the first team, but considering Posluszny is a second-round pick, it would be surprising if the former Penn State standout wasn't in the starting lineup come Week 1.
"It will probably go down to the wire," Jauron said. "I think they're both doing well, they're both playing well and they're both progressing."
Injuries have cleared up the picture at right guard, at least somewhat. Duke Preston and Jason Whittle are competing for the job, but an injury to center Melvin Fowler (ankle) forced the staff to move Preston to center while Whittle took over at right guard during camp this week. Fowler practiced only sparingly Wednesday, and his availability for Friday's game has yet to be determined. Jauron would also like to see more of Brad Butler, but he's hampered by a hamstring injury.
"I feel good about all of them, and certainly with Jason and with Duke there's a comfort level there that they both know what's going on," Jauron said. "I think that Langston [Walker] is comfortable with both of them. I'm sure that Melvin is, too. It could go a number of different ways."
Copyright (c) 2007, The Buffalo News, N.Y.