PITTSFORD, N.Y. — With Bills training camp taking place on a college campus, it’s fitting that Keon Coleman has been hitting the books.
“I’ve been studying,” Coleman said. “I’ve been studying, it’s as simple as that.”
The book in this case: the playbook.
“I kind of know... I ain’t going to kind of know, I pretty much know what’s going on so I’m confident that I’m going to know what’s going on when I hear the calls, get the calls, and I’m going to line up and do my job,” Coleman said.
Coleman said back in the spring after he was drafted that learning the plays would be toughest part about adapting to the Bills and the NFL.
He’s attacked that part of his growth, focusing not just on his responsibilities, but trying to learn the play book holistically.
“I’m used to playing everything,” Coleman said. “It’s not such thing as an X or Y or Z, you’ve got to get open. You’re called a receiver, not a whatever receiver. You’ve got to be able to get open, and it’s hard to learn the playbook just trying to learn one position because you can easily be on the other side of the field, slot, outside, inside. You can be motioning to it, different things like that, so I learned the playbook (conceptually) so I learned concept by concept and learn every single spot so I can be anywhere.”
That knowledge has allowed the rookie to flash his skillset in the first days of camp at St. John Fisher. From touchdowns in red zone work, to getting downfield in 7 on 7, his frame and big play ability have even caught the eyes of those who line up on the other side of the ball.
“I feel like he’s physical with his routes and his 50/50 catch radius is really good,” said cornerback Taron Johnson. “He’s going to have a chance to catch that ball even if a guy is on him, so I think that’s a huge help for us.”
Those types of plays are sure to only increase the popularity Coleman already has with Bills Mafia.
“I’m grateful,” Coleman said. “I’m grateful to be a fan favorite, and I’m just hoping to come out and put on a show for them and execute and do my job on the field.”
Related Video: