By Jay Skurski and Jonah Bronstein
ORCHARD PARK — Donte Whitner and Ashton Youboty weren't the only Ohio State students counting the days until the end of finals. But they could have been the only ones looking forward to summer school.
NFL rules kept the pair of defensive backs drafted by the Buffalo Bills in April from participating with the team — aside from one post-draft minicamp — until OSU’s spring quarter commenced June 8.
Both were at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Monday for the first of three mandatory minicamp practices.
“It was very frustrating,” said Whitner, who was not enrolled in classes this spring. “But I’m here now and getting caught up.”
The Bills gave Whitner and Youboty DVDs and literature to help them get acquainted with the defense.
“They’ll be behind, there’s no way around that,” Buffalo coach Dick Jauron said. “But they’re both conscientious guys. ... They’ve been working on our information, they just haven’t been on the field with us.”
Whitner said he knows about 90 percent of the playbook after meeting with defensive backs coach George Catavolos over the weekend.
Following the team’s final “voluntary” offseason practice on Thursday, Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said the reps Whitner and Youboty missed were invaluable.
“We gave them homework, but on-the-field experience is the best teacher,” he said.
Whitner said he felt up to speed with the defensive system on Monday, but he doesn’t plan on playing catch up again in future seasons.
“For the next three, four, five, six years,” he said. “I’ll be here for OTA’s.”
• VETERANS EXCUSED: A group of veterans were excused Monday to attend the funeral for London Fletcher’s mother, Jauron said.
Lee Evans, Jeff Posey, Takeo Spikes and Troy Vincent were among those absent. All but Fletcher are expected back today.
“We’ll just wait and see how he feels and what he wants to do,” Jauron said of Fletcher.
• LINE SHUFFLING: While defense was the overwhelming focus of the draft, there will be several changes on offense as well, perhaps most notably along the line.
During 11-on-11 drills Monday, the tackle positions were occupied by the same players as last season — Jason Peters on the right and Mike Gandy on the left.
But the interior of the line looked different. Free-agent signees Tutan Reyes and Melvin Fowler worked at left guard and center, respectively, while second-year man Duke Preston took snaps at right guard.
Last year, Bennie Anderson played left guard, but his contract was terminated last week.
“When we let Bennie go, we felt like that we went out and got Tutan in free agency, we have some young players that have been developing, we’ve spent a lot of time with ... so we wanted to kind of open up a rep situation for those guys so they could develop faster,” Jauron said.
Preston, who played center in college, saw action at right guard last season. Buffalo’s 2005 starter, Chris Villarial, the Bills’ senior member of the line, battled through injuries last season.
Fowler worked at center, which was occupied last season by Trey Teague, who signed as a free agent with the New York Jets this offseason.
• RENAISSANCE MAN: Cornerback Terrence McGee has shown his versatility on the field, becoming a starter at cornerback and making the Pro Bowl as a kick returner.
Now, he’ll show some of his talents off the field.
On Thursday, McGee will launch a line of posters and T-shirts known as the Gameday Collection.
Gameday products feature original artwork designed by McGee. The line of posters and T-shirts will be offered exclusively at The Bills Store at Ralph Wilson Stadium and at the Eastview Mall in Rochester. The first edition of posters and T-shirts feature a piece called “Inside,” which is a reprint of an original McGee portrait drawn with charcoal.
“This is a great opportunity to express my creativity in another way,” McGee said.
To promote the unveiling of the Gameday Collection, McGee will be signing autographs at The Bills Store in the Eastview Mall on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
• TICKET INFORMATION: Group tickets are now on sale for all 2006 home dates.
Groups of 15 or more people are eligible to purchase individual game tickets. Groups also receive special incentives featuring Bills merchandise with their group-ticket purchases.
To order group tickets, call the Bills’ Ticket Office toll free at (877) BB-TICKS or 649-0015, or visit the ticket offices at Ralph Wilson Stadium or The Bills Store in Rochester’s Eastview Mall. Group tickets may not be purchased online.
