Due to the COVID-19 this offseason, we’ve only gotten a small dose of Bills rookie wide receivers Gabriel Davis and Isaiah Hodgins. Drafted in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively at the 2020 NFL Draft, we weren’t sure what to expect from the fresh faced wideouts amid a pandemic, let alone the depth the team has at the position.
Even with the odds against the duo, they’ve stood out early in the team’s training camp. Both of these big-bodied targets have used their size to their advantage on the field, some would say like a grizzled veteran would know how to do. Davis even has even shined with Tre’Davious White in coverage. Off the field, veteran John Brown turned some heads with a compliment he had of the rookies at the start of training camp. Davis and Hodgins are actually helping the returning players learn this season’s playbook.
In order to make the quick adjustment to the pros, the pair interestingly kept it kind of simple, even with all the recent praise. In fact, kind of grade school simple, even. Following the eighth day of the Bills’ full training camp practices this offseason on Tuesday, both of the rookie receivers spoke via video conference. Davis revealed the awfully simple thing that’s helped the rookies: flash cards.
“For us, again, we were in those Zoom meetings. I did a lot of note cards, Isaiah (Hodgins) and I did a lot of note cards when it came to studying this whole playbook,” Davis said.
Whatever works, right?
Davis did go on to add working with the team’s quarterbacks such as Josh Allen over the offseason, and a helping hand from veteran wide receivers on the team helping bring the young guys along as well. But flash cards? Sounds like 99 cents never went so far for the Bills, considering how well these two have preformed in camp thus far.
Hodgins mentioned that he and Davis immediately connected as well, too. As soon as he was drafted by the Bills, to two got in touch.
“Yeah, that’s my guy, for sure,” Hodgins said. “We got drafted together so we automatically reached out to each other Day 1 and our relationship has continued to grow.”
Often throughout their tenures with the team, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have touted the same things over and over. Process and culture, process and culture.
Flash cards and chatting since Day 1 certainly sounds like… process and culture from the Bills’ rookie wideouts.
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