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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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Bills rookie Wright has the power, speed
Democrat & Chronicle: Bills
Quote:
There is an old saying that is often repeated by NFL scouts and personnel men: "The tape never lies."
Two weeks into the Buffalo Bills' training camp at St. John Fisher College, it appears that the tape didn't lie about rookie running back Dwayne Wright, but it didn't tell the whole story, either.
"He's a big, powerful guy who can run," Bills' running backs coach Eric Studesville said the other day. "You look at him, at 230 pounds, you think he's kind of a thumper, an inside-the-tackle guy, and that's what I thought after watching him on tape. But he's come out here and he's good in space. He can move a lot better than I had anticipated.
"We thought he would be more of a physical runner, a downhill, punishing runner, but now we see the other things that he can do."
Wright was known as a power runner in college at Fresno State because the Bulldogs utilized a power-running inside style, and that's what attracted the Bills to him. After picking Marshawn Lynch in the first round, they were looking for another back who would give the opposing defense a different look, a guy who could move the pile and convert short-yardage third downs.
At least that was the plan. It turns out that Wright is nearly as fast and shifty as Lynch, and he has shown an ability to catch the ball, something that set Lynch apart from any other back in the draft.
"I think I'm blessed and fortunate that this organization drafted me," said Wright, referring to the fact that the Bills were in need of ball carriers after the trade of Willis McGahee to Baltimore.
"I've always been a guy who's had a lot of moves and speed. A lot of people see that I'm a big guy, but once I'm on the field I play like a smaller back. I still have the power. I'm still going to run over a DB if he's in my way, and I'm still going to break the tackles.
"But I think I have a lot of different abilities, and I think I can have a great career."
Wright, who hails from San Diego and attended the same high school as former NFL stars Marcus Allen and Terrell Davis, has already had a pretty good, though interrupted, career.
Upon graduation from high school, he enrolled at West Hills Junior College in his hometown. He was the team's MVP as he topped 1,000 yards rushing and scored 11 TDs. Then he transferred to Fresno State, where he gained 1,038 yards as a freshman.
Wright, who is married and has a son and daughter, was off to a great start in his sophomore season. But he tore up his left knee in the second game when he was tackled at the end of a 61-yard run, and he missed the rest of 2004 and all of 2005 while rehabbing.
He returned with a vengeance in 2006, and with 15 pounds of muscular bulk added to his frame, he rushed for 1,462 yards — including a school-record 295 against Louisiana Tech — to rank eighth in the country in Division I. He also caught 29 passes for 221 yards.
"I'm very proud of Dwayne," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said shortly before the draft. "His story is a great one. He came here a boy and is leaving a man. He has overcome injuries and has persevered. I know Dwayne will be successful in life."
Personally, Wright is light years ahead of some of his youthful teammates as he provides for wife Jewelyn, daughter Jewelyn, and son Demarion. Professionally, he's making his mark on the Buffalo offense and looks to be a player who will contribute as a rookie.
"I'm coming out here knowing that you have to compete," he said. "It's still a competitive situation, no matter which round they take you in. It doesn't matter. Coach (Dick) Jauron wants us to come out here and work hard and show yourself on the field."
Wright has been doing that every day — except on Tuesday, when he missed practice because he spent 13 hours at Strong Memorial Hospital after an allergic reaction to something he ate at dinner Monday night.
"I'm allergic to tomatoes and avocados, and somehow I must have had something in my food and I had a reaction," explained Wright.
"I was tossing and turning all night, and I was feeling kind of weird. I got up the next morning, and my whole lip and jaw was swollen."
Wright was treated and monitored at the hospital, and he was back to work Wednesday morning when the Bills held a light practice, then again Wednesday night for the regular session.
"Like everybody, but particularly the rookies, their heads are swimming," Jauron said. "There's a lot of stuff we've thrown at them. They had it in OTAs (organized team activities), but they're still not real comfortable with all the information.
"He's doing fine, and he's just going to get better as we move through the camp."
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Bills rookie Wright has the power, speed
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