Wire enters camp and prepares himself for this season with high expectations.

Coy Wire came into training camp last season with high expectations. He was penciled in as the new starting strong safety in just his second season and his career seemed bright and full of possibilities, but that all changed three days before the start on the season when the Bills signed strong safety Lawyer Milloy away from the New England Patriots.Wire lost his starting job, though he still was prominent on special teams. He trained hard this off-season and worked often with Milloy learning techniques and styles from the seasoned veteran. "Lawyer was a blessing to me because the experience he has in the NFL," Wire said. "He kind of took me under his wing. We're great friends off the field as well, which has meant a lot to me."Wire will now make the move from strong safety to free safety in hopes of getting back to a starting position for the Buffalo Bills.He is expected to face his biggest competition from incumbent starter, Izell Reese. Reese took over the starting job in early October of 2003 from Pierson Prioleau. Prioleau has moved to strong safety, learning a new position and now being the back-up to Milloy. Reese started nine games and had 14 tackles. Reese said he has improvements to make this off-season in order to maintain his starting role. "I know I can run and be physical but I need to improve on the little things," Reese said. "I try to do this by working on hand eye coordination and reading routes and I always want to continue to improve. I don't want to be one dimensional."Reese held onto the starting role until he was placed on injured reserve in December. He's back and healthy now and looking forward to competing. He said he's in great shape and is ready to be more physical."You have to be able to tackle in the free safety spot," Reese said. "If players get behind you, there is nobody there to make tackles. You have to be able to make solo tackles in crucial situations and that is what I try to do."Wire has always been regarded as one of the more physical players on the Bills roster. He is a great form tackler and can deliver crushing blows to opponents. Originally a linebacker in college, Wire said he's easing into this transition as well."The two safety positions are very similar so there won't be much difference other than at free safety you're in the deep middle a bit more than you are at strong," Wire said. "The biggest challenge will be just getting experience being in the deep middle and seeking out opportunities to make big plays and big hits."Wire and Reese play very different styles of football. Both can be dominant on the field and both can be a presence that opposing offenses cannot ignore. This should be a great competition to look forward to at training camp. "I'm very physical and I can make some good hits for this defense," Wire said. "I'm ready to get back into a starting role and being an everyday contributor."Wire will get his chance to show that he can learn a new position and still be a valuable asset to the Buffalo defense.

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