Buffalo Bills hoping Charles Clay makes more of an impact

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills would love for tight end Charles Clay to provide a little more impact in the passing game this season, but that's not to say they were disappointed with his production in 2015, his first year with the team.

Clay signed a five-year $38 million contract as a free agent which made him the fourth-highest paid tight end in the NFL, and he caught 51 passes for 528 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games (he missed the last three with an injury). It was a good season, but they need more from him in 2016.

"I think we definitely need him to be a major factor for us because he's a matchup nightmare," coach Rex Ryan said. "A guy that can run like a receiver, he's got run skills like a running back in a tight end's body. And he'll compete as a blocker.''

Clay said he was happy with his 2015 season because he contributed to the entire offense, including Buffalo's league-leading ground game.

"It depends on what you look at as impactful, because I feel like in the run game, I helped a lot in the run game," Clay said. "So I feel like that impacts the game. If you are talking receiving, I mean that's one thing, but there are other ways you can impact the game. So I do feel like I did in that regard. Our main focus is to do what we can to score more points. When you look at the film everybody has something they can do better, so it's just not all on Tyrod or on this person. There's a lot of things we all could have done."

One way Clay could become more productive in the offense is for quarterback Tyrod Taylor to get more comfortable throwing over the middle, an area where Clay can win one-on-one matchups with linebackers. This was a problem for Taylor last year, but he is working hard in camp to rectify it.

"Most of our (routes) last year were outside the numbers throws, but Tyrod is doing a great job throwing the ball to the middle so that's something we're going to see more of and that will probably include Charles," Ryan said.

--James Wilder Jr. joined the Bills as a free agent in January after two years toiling on the Bengals practice squad. He is hoping to make the roster as a depth running back, though his chances took a hit when the Bills signed free agent Reggie Bush on Monday. Wilder Jr. is the son of former NFL standout running back James Wilder, and if nothing else, Ryan certainly likes the bloodlines.

"I think there is something to it, but you don't expect him to be his dad, that's kind of a given," Ryan said. "If it was that easy we'd be taking everybody's kid. I think it helps, though. He probably has a better idea of what it takes to play in this league than probably a lot of people."

Wilder Jr. is almost the same size as his father, who played 10 years for the Buccaneers from 1981-90 and rushed for more than 6,000 yards. He measures 6 feet 1 and weighs 226 pounds, and the Bills like his power style, similar to that of his former Florida State teammate Karlos Williams.

The comparisons to his father are never-ending, but the son is perfectly fine with it.

"It's cool, it's cool, I'm always James Wilder Jr., the son of James Wilder," he said. "I'll probably never be mentioned without him being mentioned, but that's an honor, that's something I've got to live up to. To be able to have somebody to learn from who played in the league 10-plus years, not a lot of people get that. I'm honored to be able to have him in my life as a father and as a mentor."

--The most interesting camp battle being waged is at wide receiver where several players are trying to earn spots behind starters Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. The player with the least amount of NFL experience among the group, second-year pro Dezmin Lewis, is making a strong bid.

"Yes, Dez has definitely impressed me, I know he has impressed the coaches," quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "He took his offseason and prepared himself to come back stronger. He had a very strong spring and it builds competition in-house and as well as on the field, too. You can tell he took his offseason preparation seriously and I'm excited to see what type of player he can be."

At 6 feet 4, 220 pounds, Lewis is the biggest receiver on the team. It was that size that led the Bills to take a flier on him in the seventh round last season because the old adage in sports is that you can't teach size.

What Lewis needed to do as a rookie was learn how to use that size to his advantage to get open, and as 2015 wore on, you could see the proverbial light bulb turning on.

"I would say midway and then toward the end of the (2015) season, I started really paying attention to technique instead of just hearing the coaches speak," Lewis said. "I started listening to (receivers coach Sanjay Lal) and understanding what he was trying to teach me. This offseason, I could hear him talking in my ear when I was away about route running, nose over toes, depth, all types of stuff that would help me become a better receiver."