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5 questions facing the Bills in training camp

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

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The Buffalo Bills changed the landscape of the division when they acquired 2013 rushing champion LeSean McCoy in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso.

It was one of several bold moves, in an offseason where Buffalo pushed all its chips forward to make a strong play at snapping the league's longest playoff drought.

Here are five questions facing the Bills in training camp:

Who will emerge as the team's starting quarterback?

This question, more than any other, is of paramount importance, with EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel, and Tyrod Taylor all promised an equal chance at winning the job.

Manuel appears to be the favorite, and his career gained some momentum after Doug Marrone stepped down as head coach. Marrone had clearly given up on the former first-round pick, relegating him to the bench after four inconsistent games. Although he's likely to win the job, Manuel will need to separate himself to gain a safety net entering his third season.

Buffalo acquired Cassel in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, but the early returns have led some to believe he'll be cut imminently if his performance doesn't improve. Though he was ostensibly added to put some pressure on Manuel, Cassel's career may be coming to a crashing halt.

Taylor remains a wildcard in this race, although he's not the most promising prospect. Entering his fifth season, He has delivered 35 career passing attempts, and it will be indicative of failure on the parts of Manuel and Cassel if he wins the starting job.

The role is Manuel's to lose, but it's still eminently possible that he loses it.

Will Rex Ryan shape the club in his image?

Rex Ryan became the Bills head coach on January 12 and immediately made his imprint on the club. Ryan favors a run-oriented offense and employed former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman in the same capacity, presumably due to their like-minded approach to the game.

Buffalo reverted to a 3-4 defense after Ryan took over and it's clear he wants to utilize the team's speed on both sides of the ball. Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman used a three-man front with the Jets to optimize their defensive linemen's athleticism. Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcell Dareus are exceptionally quick for their size, and Thurman ought to be able to work his core concepts well with this group.

How will McCoy, Harvin be deployed?

McCoy won the 2013 rushing championship in large part due to his excellent offensive line. He won't possess that luxury in Buffalo, and will need to make the most of his game-breaking change of pace, and ability to stop on a dime and switch direction. However, he isn't without help.

Fred Jackson and Percy Harvin are viable options in the running game, and the team may opt to use two-running-back sets. With three viable rushing options, they could also deploy a couple of option sets to keep defenses on their toes. Jackson and Harvin are both capable receivers. As a result, Buffalo can and should get creative with the offense to create space for McCoy that the offensive line wouldn't otherwise generate.

McCoy could be deployed as a receiver as well, freeing up space for the Bills' lightning-quick core. How the plan comes together will be something to monitor in camp.

Who will be left out during the switch to a 3-4 base defense?

With the Bills' base defense switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 formation, one of the their core front seven members may be left out.

Jerry Hughes excelled in Mike Pettine's 3-4 scheme two years ago, and is too talented to keep off the field. When Alonso was traded, it opened up a spot for a new inside linebacker to emerge. Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown made themselves indispensable, leaving Randell Johnson, Jarius Wynn, and Manny Lawson to fight for the team's final front seven spot.

It's likely that Lawson will lose out to Johnson or Wynn, because Hughes will be employed as a hybrid defensive end and Lawson will become redundant in the team's scheme. However, it remains a training camp battle to keep an eye on.

Will Incognito, Miller improve team's guard play?

Buffalo trotted out one of the league's worst starting guard combinations last season, and will need serious improvement at the position if they are to reap the full scope of McCoy's talent.

The Bills signed Richie Incognito, who missed the entire 2014 season due to being deemed a character risk. Meant to be a quick fix, Incognito played well in 2013 before being suspended for bullying then-teammate Jonathan Martin, though the inevitable rust after two years off may deter him from becoming a meaningful contributor.

With their third-round pick, the Bills selected John Miller out of Louisville. Miller specializes as a run-blocker and is an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Greg Roman's ground-oriented scheme. Miller will be expected to contribute immediately; whether that's too much for the rookie to handle remains to be seen.

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