(WECK 1230) — Every year around this time, we’re about a week-and-a-half away from the total letdown that is realizing preseason football is awful.

We’ll drive down to St. John Fisher on Thursday for the open of Bills training camp, meticulously noted completion percentages for the quarterbacks and how many “touchdowns” the receivers haul in. We’ll think one or two amazing plays a defensive back makes will force the Bills to keep him.

This year will feel a little bit different when it comes to the Bills quarterback battle.

Sometime in the next two days, Chan Gailey will announce his training camp depth chart for quarterback. I can’t tell you there’s anything to expect. Traditional NFL parlance would have Trent Edwards atop the depth chart in order to not offend any veteran friends he has on the squad, but Gailey has been anything but ordinary in his open competition approach to pre-camp activities. How many other seventh-round picks are chatted up as possibilities as an Opening Day starter?

All that and more as we explore a Bills strength (secondary) and weakness (quarterbacks) in the fourth and final edition of our training camp preview.

Cornerbacks:  Reggie Corner, John Destin, Drayton Florence, Dominique Harris, Ellis Lankster, Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin, Lydell Sargeant, Ashton Youboty

Youboty and Lankster are in for the roster battles of their lives. Not only are they trying to outperform each other, but be assured the Bills are considering the idea of keeping five safeties because of Bruce DeHaven’s special teams needs. I think Lankster gets the nod for his nose for the ball, while time may have simply run out on Youboty in Buffalo, who has posted just 58 tackles, two sacks and an interception in his injury-riddled time here.

Dominique Harris’ hope may be that Gailey doesn’t like two of the holdover safeties, and keeps him as a project sixth corner/fifth safety. It’s an okay bet they hope he slips to the practice squad.

Safeties: Jairus Byrd, Jon Corto, Cary Harris, Bryan Scott, Donte Whitner, George Wilson

Versatility will be key to whether Corto or Scott will make the squad over a sixth corner. Scott is a legit special teams captain and Corto earned his bones there last year. Provided he makes the adjustment, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both players, with their linebacker experience, in the fold. Also keep in mind that Whitner can theoretically play corner in a pinch.

If my math and understanding of the practice squad situation is correct, Cary Harris re-signed with the team early enough in the season (late November) that he is no longer eligible.

Quarterbacks: Brian Brohm, Levi Brown, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick

Any of these four guys could be gone by September.

I saved this for last because I know the Bills like Levi Brown. The question is whether they see him as someone who will slip through the entire league and onto their practice squad. He has a pretty strong arm and is a smart, well-spoken — not to mention out-spoken — personality. If Brown looks outstanding during his reps in the fourth quarter of games, he could work his way onto the league radar. This could be a reason for the Bills to keep him off the preseason field.

You could see a surprise cut in this camp. If Brian Brohm is No. 2 to Trent Edwards on Gailey’s initial “depth chart,” it could spell a real problem for either Fitzpatrick or Edwards. Placing Brohm at No. 2 would indicate they want him to seize the No. 1 spot and if he does succeed in that competition, the Bills could deem Trent excess due to any perceived loyalty from players in the room. Throw in his contract status, and the Bills may want to away from him.

So how would Fitzpatrick find his way out-of-town? Well, he’s safe. He’s a quiet, reliable player who wouldn’t ruffle any feathers if you hid him inside a duck. The guy is also confident enough to admit to Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News that he had a lot of fun at a Taylor Swift concert with his wife. But if the Bills keep Trent as No. 1 but like Brohm AND fear the loss of Levi… well, Fitzpatrick is the odd man out. All those variables lead me to believe that he’s likely the safest of the quarterbacks.

Which brings us to Brohm, who has a feast or famine look at this roster. I think Brohm is Gailey’s kind of stopgap with a look at being long-term. He had high potential and went from the prospect of being a Top Ten overall pick to being drafted by a Green Bay team with no desire to have a new starter. His confidence was shot there — which raised major caution flags for pressure spots — but it doesn’t change that his pedigree, skill set and moxie are solid. If he has a halfway decent preseason, I would not be surprised to see him as the Bills No. 1 signal caller. In fact, I’m predicting it.

Also, I stopped off at Center Ice Sports Cards on NFB in Tonawanda on the way home from work yesterday and bought myself a vested interest in my prediction. For three dollars, I now own one of 250 rookie jersey pieces of Brohm’s media day jersey in Green Bay. Hey, it totally worked when I bought Trent’s signed rookie card before the 5-1 start.

Special teams: Rian Lindell, Brian Moorman and Garrison Sanborn are the final three roster spots.

Practice squad: Danny Batten, Levi Brown, Rodney Ferguson, Dominique Harris, Lonnie Harvey, Cordaro Howard, Naaman Roosevelt and one non-Bill cut around the league.

Of course, over the next month, two guys will be lost for the year with injury, two free agents will become available via early cuts and Lynch could be traded. Also, the Bills could sign Chester Pitts. The odds of roster upheaval in camp are good, but luckily an offensive coordinator won’t be fired on the eve of the season.

Right?

Email: nickonweck@gmail.com