subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published: August 20, 2007 11:34 pm    print this story  

ROOKIE CARD: Wendling pulls double duty for Bills

By Jay Skurski
Greater Niagara Newspapers

A YouTube search for John Wendling is the easiest way to prove his athleticism.

As of Monday, video of the Buffalo Bills rookie safety jumping a 66-inch hurdle had been viewed 176,311 times. In the grainy, 10-second clip, Wendling takes just a few steps and leaps off both feet to clear the hurdle.

"He’s a freak athletically,” Bills scout Terry Wooden said in an interview with buffalobills.com after Wendling was drafted in April.

A look back at Wendling’s history proves that point. He was a state champion in the long jump in high school and also finished second in the triple jump. He led his high school football team to a state title and was named all-state at three positions (running back, defensive back and return specialist).

There were other qualities the Bills liked, though, when they decided to take Wendling with the 184th overall selection.

“He’s big and he wants to be physical,” defensive backs coach George Catavolos said.

Wendling’s combination of size and strength compliments his football IQ. He scored a 32 on the wonderlic test and had a 4.0 grade-point average in high school.

Still, the mental transition to the NFL can sometimes be just as challenging as the physical.

He just has to be more consistent,” Catavolos said of Wendling. “He has to understand the system and what we’re asking of him in the defense. I think in the first week, he was feeling his way, in the second week he was getting a little bit better. Hopefully he’ll continue to do that.”

Wendling’s education is a bit more complex based on the position he plays. The Bills like their safeties to have familiarity with both positions.

“It’s not so much the pressure [of learning two spots] or anything like that, it’s more how you adapt to it,” Wendling said. “Getting the reps on the field is so important.”

Wendling actually has experience playing both spots, as he served as the free safety for his first three seasons at Wyoming and played as a senior at strong safety.

“I was one of the stronger safeties, so they had me down in the box,” he said.

Despite the extra studying that comes with learning two positions, Wendling saw it as necessary.

“It’s one of those things where you have to know both spots,” he said. “When it comes down to game day, you never going to know where they’re going to need you.”

Contact reporter Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.



John Wendling

• NUMBER: 29

• POSITION: Safety

• HEIGHT: 6-foot-1

• WEIGHT: 222 pounds

• COLLEGE: Wyoming

• HOMETOWN: Cody, Wyo.

• DRAFT: Sixth round, 184th overall

print this story  

Photos


070814 - BILLS1 - DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills No. 29, John Wendling is at Bills camp, at St. John Fisher College, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

FLOOR ASSISTANT
Floor asst. needed for approx. 30-35 hrs/wk in a podiatry office, no exp. nec., will train, call between 12-2:30 pm for ...>MORE

Cook Manager
COOK /Manager full time exp. req. Call for appt. 297-2500 ask for general manager. ...>MORE

Auditor/Accountant
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS
EXAM DATE: 1/9/10
FILING PERIOD:
11/9/09 -11/25/09
Applicants for both exams mu
...>MORE

Facilities Director
Facilities
Director 
Strategically manage commercial and residential portfolios onsite in US and Canada. Exe
...>MORE

Instructors
Join Our Team!
Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport
...>MORE

Driver
Drivers CDLA. Must be able to go to Canada
Good pay, great benefits.
Call 278-2000 Ext. 106
...>MORE

Insulation Installer
Insulation Installers. Exp. preferred but will train the right candidates. Start $8-$10/hr. Earn $15. in less than 30 da...>MORE

RN
RN, Director of Quality / Education: to plan, organize, develop and direct all staff development and CQI programs. North...>MORE

COLLECTORS
Exp. collectors, high hrly., low cash goals, 20% overage, 500 4 hitting, Chuck @ 597-2538...>MORE

Activities Director
Activities Director FT AS Degree and /or or 3-5 yrs exp working in adult home. Send Resume To: Ransomville Manor at 35...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1996 Mazda L3000
MAZDA L3000 pick-up 1996, 6 cyl, runs good, new tires & battery, just inspect., $1500. 284-7529....>MORE

1995 Plymouth Neon
Plymouth ‘95 Neon, 4 cyl, auto, 4 dr, exc in & out, 1 owner, only 56k orig. mi, no rust. $2195. 523-7102 ...>MORE

Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT
25,800 mi, ext. warranty
Exc. Cond, $16,500
297-2199
...>MORE

Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE

2000 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 2000 Caravan, V6, power everything, excellent body, runs great, $2195. Call 754-4608....>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

Buick 2005 LeSabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE

Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer
531-3548 or 297-1526
...>MORE

Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index