Parrish in line for a larger role

Maybe this is the year.

From the time wide receiver Roscoe Parrish arrived, Buffalo Bills coaches have talked about getting him more involved on offense. The plan didn’t have a chance to get implemented during his rookie year because a broken wrist robbed him of much of the season.

Parrish has been healthy the last two years, but he’s still waiting for the Bills to maximize his receiving talents.

Is this the year? Parrish hopes so.

“It’s been three years since they’ve been saying they will get me more involved,” he said after Saturday’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. “But I just don’t let that get into my head. I do what I can when I get my opportunities and make the best of them.”

Parrish had limited opportunities Saturday night, but he made them count.

He had three catches for a team-high 50 yards during the Bills’ 17-14 loss. Quarterback Trent Edwards said Parrish was the lone bright spot in an otherwise sputtering offensive performance.

“It was good to get back into a game situation,” Parrish said. “I wish we could have played better as a team, but we’ll get it together and make some things happen.”

Already one of the best punt returners in the NFL, Parrish led the NFL with a team-record 16.3-yard average. But he had just 35 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown. He also ran the ball three times, including a 24-yard touchdown.

Parrish believes he’s ready for a bigger workload at receiver because he is a better player than he was coming out of the University of Miami.

“As a veteran now, I have a better feel for the game and knowing coverages and running routes better,” he said. “My playing ability just steps up a little notch every year and I try to learn something new every time I come to training camp and continue to progress.”

Parrish is quick enough to break in and out of routes without breaking stride. He showed that on his first catch, gaining separation on a defender to haul in an 18-yard pass from Edwards.

Parrish’s 30-yard reception from J. P. Losman in the second quarter was the offensive highlight of the night. The pass was underthrown, but Parrish made an adjustment on the ball and pulled it in while being wrapped up by backup Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook.

“I turned and saw the ball coming before the defensive back did,” Parrish said. “J. P. laid it up there for me, so I had to go get it.”

The Bills have been hesitant to use Parrish too much, concerned that the 5-foot-9, 168-pounder wouldn’t hold up under a heavier workload.

But head coach Dick Jauron acknowledges that Parrish has too much ability to remain off the field.

“He’s such a unique player,” Jauron said. “As we know, he’s very small for our league. But boy, he plays big. He just makes plays. He’s a great competitor and he competes all the time. He competes in practice, competes in the games and competes in the kicking game. I feel happy we have him and we’ve got to keep working with him and give him chances.”

That was music to Parrish’s ears.

“I’m always ready,” he said. “I’d love to get more playing time on offense, but that’s everybody’s goal in the National Football League.”

(buffalonews.com)