Published: July 30, 2008 10:27 pm      

BILLS: Walker shifts to the left

PITTSFORD — With close to 370 pounds on his 6-foot-8 frame, Langston Walker is well-suited for his latest role with the Buffalo Bills.

“I’m basically just holding down the spot until Jason Peters’ situation gets worked out,” Walker said Wednesday about being shifted from right to left tackle while Peters continued his holdout for more money.

Peters is three inches shorter and about 30 pounds lighter than Walker, but much more agile, making him a better fit at the important pass-blocking position. Peters played in the Pro Bowl last season and was voted to several all-pro teams.

Walker’s size makes him ideal for the road-grating right tackle role, but with no indication of when Peters plans to begin practicing, the Buffalo coaches shuffled to find their best blocking unit.

“We are preparing for any eventuality as we move along,” coach Dick Jauron said. “What we don’t want to do is get to a point where we think we might not have looked at it because it takes a while. We don’t want to move a guy that has never taken a rep there through the whole training camp. We feel the way we are doing it will give us options.”

Kirk Chambers has been moved from left to right tackle for the time being.

Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert mentioned moving Walker to the left side at the last minicamp, but Jauron indicated he didn’t want to disrupt the line’s continuity by making two players learn unfamiliar positions.

“I haven’t really changed,” Jauron said Wednesday. “I definitely would like to keep Langston at the right and have Jason come into camp.”

Jauron and offensive line coach Sean Kugler said every tackle needs to learn how to play on both sides because only three tackles will be active on game days, and players might get injured.

Walker, who joined the Bills prior to last season after signing a five-year contract worth $25 million, said he has some experience playing left tackle in college and during his first few seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

“I don’t think I have to really change my game at all,” the seven-year veteran said. “I just think that honing my technique is going to be the biggest thing. If I make the right technical moves, then that will take care of it. The rest is all in my head.”

“It helps that he is a veteran,” said Kugler, a Lockport native. “It is a change. It’s like switching your brain from going right to left and all your calls are different, your footwork is different, what you’re looking for is different, and typically, you’re going against their best pass rusher on defense.”

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Backup quarterback J.P. Losman returned to practice Wednesday. He sat out the previous practice after jamming his thumb while following through on a pass attempt Monday.

Safety Ko Simpson also returned after leaving Tuesday’s practice early with a minor ankle injury.

Linebacker Angelo Crowell continued to rest his sore knee, while rookie receiver Steve Johnson didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice because of a knee injury.

Jauron said neither player seems seriously injured.

Defensive end Aaron Schobel was excused from practice because of a death in the family.

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Special teams coach Bobby April has shown some interesting wrinkles so far during training camp.

At the onset of Tuesday’s practice, rookie receiver James Hardy worked on field goal blocking technique, along with starting safety Donte Whitner and special teamer Justin Jenkins.

Later in the practice, the 6-foot-6 Hardy lined up outside to try and block a field goal, though he did not come as close as some of the smaller players also participating in the drill.

On Wednesday, safety George Wilson, a former wide receiver, took reps at holder. Punter Brian Moorman is the team’s No. 1 holder, and third-string quarterback Gibran Hamdan worked at the position Tuesday.

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QUICK HITS: Marcus Stroud led a dominating run defense effort on Tuesday. ... Losman found Hardy on a fade pattern for a touchdown. ... Derek Schouman made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone. ... Terrence McGee intercepted an underthrown red zone pass from Trent Edwards. ... Rookie tight end Derek Fine took some reps with the first team.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.