Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy (94) gets blocked by Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio (71) during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Buffalo defeated Carolina 20-18. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Few highly-regarded rookies had worse 2014 campaigns than Buffalo Bills' second-round pick, Cyrus Kouandjio. He played just three snaps in 2014, all of which came on special teams. His lack of playing time wasn't due to injury, either. It was the result of poor play.
"It's tough," Kouandjio said via the Buffalo News. "This is my profession. This is my job. I love football and I've been doing this forever. And I don't know the last time I sat on the sideline."
Entering the 2015 season, Kouandjio doesn't have a hold on a starting spot, but he's hoping to change that. After an offseason filled with training and working on his game at LeCharles Bentley O-Line Performance in Chandler, Ariz., Kouandjio is feeling good.
"Eating, sleeping, breathing football," Kouandjio said. "It's doing things that are abnormal. You're going against someone who's 250 pounds of solid muscle, who's faster than you and runs a 4-whatever. And he's running forward as you're going backward. A lot of irregular body movements, a lot of mechanics."
Aside from working hard, Kouandjio got off to a good start in minicamp, edging ahead of Seantrel Henderson at right tackle. Head coach Rex Ryan said "the race isn't over by a long shot," but seeing Kouandjio ahead of someone heading into camp is a good sign. He still has time to revive himself after a putrid 2014 season, and it starts with training camp.
(h/t Buffalo News)
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