The Buffalo Bills are looking to collectively rebound from last year's 6-10 campaign, putting into motion the game plan of new head coach Chan Gailey and his staff. While the defense had its highs and lows in 2009, the squad performed well against the pass. The Bills ranked second in yardage allowed (2,948), third in completion percentage against (56.8 %), and third in interceptions (28), led by the nine picks of rookie safety Jairus Byrd. Expectations for this year could soar even higher as a leader in the secondary is working hard to get back to full strength.
Cornerback Terrence McGee dealt with two separate injuries last season. First, it was a knee injury that hampered him in the middle of the season, before a severe shoulder separation, a bicep tear and damage to his rotator cuff and labrum ended his year for good in December. Returning from the physically wearing campaign, McGee is optimistic about his road to recovery thus far.
"I'm not where I want to be or need to be," he said. "But I definitely have come a long way since both of my surgeries. I'm just trying to progress every day."
After missing three games before returning from knee surgery Week 13 against the New York Jets, McGee was knocked out for the remainder of the season as a result of a collision with New England wide receiver Randy Moss in Week 15. He said it was certainly a setback to return to the injured list soon after his knee surgery.
"It definitely hurt to come off of surgery, play a couple games, then be hurt with something else," McGee said. "I'm just trying to get ready and get better for this season."
Throughout offseason OTAs, McGee has been noticeably limited in his participation, with his number of reps varying from day to day. He said that the amount of team work he put in on a given day was never set in stone.
"It's just kind of how it worked out. They (the coaches) are just looking out for me, as far as watching my reps," McGee said. "It's definitely not how I planned it, but at the same time, it's for a good cause, so I can be ready by the start of training camp."
As the Bills transition out of OTAs and minicamps and prepare for the opening of training camp at St. John Fisher on July 29, McGee is hopeful that he will be unlimited in his activity once the practices begin.
"There's no reason to try to rush anything right now," he said. "It will probably be training camp before I am full-go."
A Pro Bowl selection in 2005 for his work in the kick return game, McGee has been known to make dynamic plays throughout his career in Buffalo. Bouncing back at a high level from two major surgeries within the same year, and remaining healthy, are some of McGee's main goals in 2010.
"First off, just be injury-free. It's hard in the football game, but hopefully nothing that is going to hold me out of any games," he said. "Second, just make some plays, and try to contribute to the team to where we can get to the playoffs."
