Buffalo Bills WR Khalil Shakir talks about being the veteran this season

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has found himself as the team’s veteran in the wide receiver room this offseason, and he’s stepping into that role.

“This year, the receivers room is obviously completely different,” Shakir, who may not be the oldest receiver in the room but is certainly the oldest Bill, told the media after the OTAs of Tuesday. “But, I mean, everyone’s vibing.”

When asked how the changes will affect the offense, Shakir, who is in his third season in the NFL – all spent in Buffalo, said it’s all about communication.

“I try to help as much as I can so we can all be on the same page,” he said. “The communication part is just pretty cool.”

When asked if he was ready to increase his number of targets in this new offense, just like the team culture, he said he was ready to do whatever was asked of him.

“Yeah, sure. If these come my way,” he said. “I’ve always been a guy that’s just ‘do my job, do what I’m supposed to do right way’. So if I have to go there and block 50 times, then I’ll go there and block 50 times. I firmly believe that what goes around comes around.

When asked about the team’s offensive coordinator and if this season’s approach is different than in the past, Shakir said the approach is exactly what he would have expected from Joe Brady who is in his first full season at the offensive bar.

“He brings a lot of energy, but he also did when he took over last year,” Shakir said of Brady. “The preparation and the approach we all take is the same thing.”

He went on to say that now that Brady is “running the show,” he is working to make sure the team is working together and on the same page.

“It was great when he took over (in Week 11 last season) and I think we’re just building on that,” Shakir said. “Yards after the catch are always a priority, that was last year too. We’re not in protection right now, but it’s just a mentality that when you catch the ball, work down the field to knowing if the guy marked you right away or not. It’s just putting it in your brain that when you catch the ball, you’re going to make a move.

Shakir said the only change is the lack of urgency in giving a player a specific number of touches.

“When you have a guy like Steph, he’s obviously one of the best receivers in the league,” Shakir addressed the elephant in the room — whether Stefon Diggs needed the ball was a problem. “So yeah, it’s like, let’s try to get him the ball. But I think there’s a certain point where everything has to work together. If we spread the ball correctly, then that gets him open and that gets me open and that gets somebody else open. I wouldn’t say it was like ‘we have to get him the ball.'”

Shakir again talked about doing the job asked of him, whether it’s running a route to clear a teammate or blocking or continuing to work to get open and help the quarterback who may be under pressure .

“If you have to sit there and drive a route 50 times, do it at full speed 50 times. You know the 51st time it might be you running that ball and someone else clearing the ball for you,” Shakir then dropped the new offensive slogan: “In this offense, everyone eat. »