|
Published: August 20, 2007 11:34 pm
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
|
|
|
Photos
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE
Private Investigator
Private Investigator Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye...>MORE
Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly Production & Cleaning 1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts Sanborn, Grand Island Amherst & Tona...>MORE
Dietitian
Dietitian with duties to incl. cooking & ability to give direction in a health facility's dietary dept. Benefits incl. 4...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE
DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, know WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE
Dental Reception
Maintenance Supervisor FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13....>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR DEDICATED RUNS No touch freight............Good miles ...>MORE
Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside...>MORE
See all ads |
Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect, low mileage, $895. 716-525-2889...>MORE
Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495. 716-525-2889...>MORE
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
1996 Saturn Sport Coup
SATURN 1996 Sport coup, 4 cyl, auto, exc cond in & out, loaded, CD, no rust, 97k orig. mi, $2195. 523-7102....>MORE
Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|