Coordinator talks with ESPN, James Hardy cuddles up with new QB

I've gathered up some interesting links on IU football which are definitely worth checking out.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg wrote up a two-part chat with offensive coordinator Matt Canada for his blog.

In part one, Rittenberg and Canada discuss the new no-huddle offense which IU will employ this season came to fruition, what it means for Kellen Lewis, the quarterback conundrum and the loss of James Hardy.

In the second part, Canada (the coordinator, not country -- and I promise this is the last time I make that joke) fields a few wrap-up questions, but discusses Marcus Thigpen and Ben Chappell.

And I noticed this story as I was thumbing through the AP wire. I couldn't find a link to a publication for it, so I've posted it below. Sorry for the length, but I hope you enjoy.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) _ Rookie receiver James Hardy's first objective in an effort to make an immediate impact on the Buffalo Bills offense this season is a simple one: Get close with the guy throwing him the ball, quarterback Trent Edwards.

"I'm trying to be Trent's best friend," the former Indiana receiver said. "Whatever I have to do, if I have to go to his house, I'll be there."

As to whether the offer included him picking up Edwards' laundry or cooking dinner, Hardy paused in thought before saying: "If he needs me to do it, I'll definitely do it -- just this first year."

Whatever it takes, and time limits aside, the Bills second-round pick out of Indiana is eager and keenly aware of the contributions he can make to what was a popgun passing attack last season. Buffalo finished 30th in the NFL in yards passing and the offense scored 20 touchdowns -- a franchise low in a 16-game season.

One problem was a revolving door at quarterback, in which Edwards, in his rookie year, eventually claimed the starting job ahead of J.P. Losman. Another problem was the lack of a secondary threat to draw attention away from starting receiver Lee Evans.

Enter Hardy, who at 6-foot-5, possesses the size, downfield speed and finish -- he scored 36 touchdowns in three years at college -- to potentially keep defenses honest.

"They've got a lot of expectations for me," Hardy said. "I want to make a difference as soon as I can."

He's doing his part to speed the process by spending extra time after practice going over plays and asking advice from both Edwards and Evans. A common sight is Hardy and Evans conducting their post-practice stretching together on the field long after most of their teammates have hit the showers.

Evans is happy to help, and impressed by Hardy's desire.

"A lot of rookies may feel slighted to come up to a veteran and extend themselves like that, but he's said to me, he wants to learn as much as he can," Evans said. "I just want to help push him along to be as good as he can be, because I know he can play."

Hardy spent the first week of training camp working mostly with the second-stringers before he was sidelined Thursday with a minor hamstring injury. Hardy was cleared to take part in individual drills on Friday, and expected to return to action by the start of next week.

Coach Dick Jauron said Hardy was beginning to show signs of making strides before getting hurt.

"I really thought he was starting to play faster, and that's the big thing in our business," Jauron said. "You have to play physical and fast, and he looked like he was starting to get it so hopefully this (injury) won't set him back too far."

As compared to college, much more is asked from a receiver at the NFL level. That includes playing a role in blocking, running more complex routes as well as learning a much larger play book.

The Bills are also experimenting with Hardy running across the middle, something he didn't do much at Indiana, where he spent most of his time running down the sideline and, near the goal-line, using his size to out-jump smaller defenders.

"We want to try to put him in all these positions because we've got to find out what he can do," offensive coordinator Turk Schonert said. "Yeah, we're counting on him making plays for us this year."

Hardy is still adjusting to weaving through traffic and picking up the ball over the middle, but he's happy to build on his repertoire.

"Evidently, they feel I can do something that they didn't see me do in college, and I'm all for it," Hardy said.

Now it's a matter of getting in synch with Edwards, something the receiver encountered some trouble doing last month. Hardy was attempting to call the quarterback not knowing Edwards had changed his phone number.

Edwards laughed about it, noting the hard time he got from Hardy over the mix-up.

That shouldn't be a problem now they're both in training camp.

"He can see me whenever he wants," Edwards said.

Hardy agreed, noting he's got the quarterback's new phone number just in case.