‘Juan Castillo was fired last week following a season in which the Bills were inept up front, thanks mainly to the sudden retirements of Richie Incognito and Eric Wood. Players such as Vlad Ducasse, John Miller, Ryan Groy, Russell Bodine and Wyatt Teller could not play anywhere near the level of Wood and Incognito and the Bills struggled all year to run the ball, and protect their quarterbacks.’
BillsBeat - January 15, 2019
Report: Bills hire former Panthers assistant coach Heath Farwell to lead special teams
‘The 37-year-old Farwell played linebacker at San Diego State in the early 2000s and then went on to a nine-year NFL career, playing 114 games for the Vikings and Seahawks almost exclusively on special teams. In a backup role on defense, he totaled 156 tackles and made four fumble recoveries.’
Promising rookie class could be group that puts winning foundation in place for Bills
‘“I’m really happy with the production that we’ve gotten out of the first- and second-year players,” Beane said late in the season, lumping in the 2017 draft which McDermott presided over that brought Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano and Zay Jones. “We’ve got to continue, and it starts with adding another draft class. Drafting is number one here.”’
Bills safety duo thinks Buffalo roster as is can contend in 2019
‘“Put the draft picks and the cap space aside, we’re excited for the guys in this locker room and just what they’ve been able to do this season,” Hyde said. “We’ve gone through a lot, whether if it’s been from guys in and out with injuries, battling position-wise. Obviously the record doesn’t indicate it, but we feel like we played tough football.”’
Buffalo Bills hire Colts assistant Bobby Johnson as new offensive line coach
‘Johnson served under Colts head coach Frank Reich and offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo for the one season he spent in Indianapolis. The Colts let DeGuglielmo go this afternoon and many fans believed he would be an immediate candidate for the Bills’ opening. Johnson was announced as the new o-line coach just hours later.’
Former Bills C Eric Wood endorses new Buffalo offensive line coach
‘Bills got a great coach and a great man in Bobby Johnson! He will fit in on this staff extremely well and the guys will learn a lot from him.’
Bills hire Panthers assistant Heath Farwell as new special teams coach (report)
‘Farwell is 37 years old and played in the NFL for 10 seasons as a linebacker and special teams player. He played for the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons and went to his only Pro Bowl in the 2009-10 season as a special teams player. He finished his career with Seattle, playing four more season before transitioning to coaching.’
Buffalo Bills among betting favorites to land Antonio Brown in 2019
‘Buffalo was recently named as a potential landing spot for Brown by Spotrac and now Bet DSI has named the Bills as one of the favorites to trade for the No. 1 wide receiver. According to Bet DSI, Buffalo has the third best odds to land Brown this offseason.’
Bills hire Bobby Johnson, offer special teams job to Farwell
‘Johnson was hired Tuesday after spending the past season as the Colts assistant offensive line coach. His status in Indianapolis became uncertain after offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo was fired following the Colts playoff loss at Kansas City on Saturday.
Bills hire Bobby Johnson as new offensive line coach
‘Colts head coach Frank Reich let go of DeGuglielmo, as DeGuglielmo was a coach that was not brought in by Reich. Josh McDaniels, who famously backed out after accepting the Colts head coaching position last offseason, was the coach who brought in DeGuglielmo and Johnson. With the offensive line coaches dismissed in Indianapolis, Buffalo made the move to bring in Johnson to the staff.’
Report: Bills hiring Heath Farwell as new special teams coordinator
‘Farwell was a coaching assistant for the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, promoted to special teams assistant in 2017, then moved on to Carolina where he served in the same capacity last year.’
2018 Buffalo Bills All-22 in Review: Wide Receiver
‘And after the Bills gave him a wake-up call in the middle of the season, Robert Foster completely turned his rookie season around to earn one of those two ‘building block’ spots heading into 2019.’
Bobby Johnson Added to Bills Staff
‘Last season, Johnson was the assistant offensive line coach for the Colts. Indianapolis allowed a league-low 18 sacks in 2018.’
Bills name Bobby Johnson as offensive line coach
‘If Johnson’s name sounds familiar to Bills fans, there’s a good reason. Johnson began his NFL coaching career with the Bills in 2010 as assistant offensive line coach under renowned line coach Joe D’Alessandris.’
These unheralded Bills hope to make a long-term impact in 2019 and beyond
‘“I think they just brought us in to just help the team,” Buffalo cornerback Levi Wallace said of the contributions that he and his fellow undrafted rookies made throughout the 2018 season. “[The front office] does a great job of drafting here and bringing in undrafted guys.”’
Bills' Dion Dawkins feels he’s on ‘hot seat’ after taking foot off gas pedal
‘“My second season, I feel like that I have put some doubt in my coaches’ eyes, just because I feel like I took the foot off the gas pedal a little bit, which comes with growing as a player. I kind of got comfortable. Well, actually, I did get comfortable. And I shouldn’t have.”’
After a terrible season, what should the Buffalo Bills do with tight end Charles Clay?
‘Clay was undeniably one of the least productive players in the NFL in 2018 based on performance relative to salary, as he earned $9 million for his 21 receptions, 184 yards and no touchdowns. His play was so far below par, coach Sean McDermott deactivated him for the Dec. 23 game in New England and went with Jason Croom and Logan Thomas at tight end.’
Bills’ Lorenzo Alexander says Star Lotulelei ‘earned every bit’ of big contract
‘“Obviously he (doesn’t play) a sexy position, but he allows other people around him to make plays,” Alexander said. “I’ve definitely been able to have a pretty good year this year. A lot of it is contributed to what he’s been able to do as far as keeping guys off me, allowing me to run free.”‘
Buffalo Bills interview Joe Philbin for coaching job (report)
‘Demovsky did not specify which opening Philbin interviewed for with Buffalo, but it’s likely that he interviewed for the team’s offensive line coach vacancy. Between his head coaching job with Miami and his stint in Green Bay, Philbin served as the Indianapolis Colts’ assistant head coach and offensive line coach (2016-2017). He could receive a similar title if he joins the Bills.’
2018 Buffalo Bills All-22 in Review: Safety
‘For the second straight season, the Buffalo Bills saw Jordan Poyer continue to be one of the more underrated safeties in the league.’
Robert Foster relied on tunnel vision and work ethic to deliver a breakout rookie season
‘He was the only NFL rookie with three 100-yard receiving games in 2018, putting him in a group with JuJu Smith-Schuster (3 in 2017), Michael Thomas (3 in 2016) and Amari Cooper (5 in 2015) as the only NFL players since 2015 to record three 100-yard games in their rookie season.’
Bills Today: NFL analyst: Josh Allen the league’s most athletic QB
‘“I think he’s a better athlete than Cam [Newton], than [Mitchell] Trubisky, than Lamar [Jackson], than [Deshaun] Watson, than [Marcus] Mariota,” Baldinger said. “Give me a great athlete at quarterback, I’ll put Josh Allen up against any of those quarterbacks.”’
BillsBeat - January 14, 2019
What’s next for Bills’ coordinators?
‘Rookie quarterback Josh Allen showed solid progress as a passer, but there are those within the NFL who believe he needs to make far bigger strides with his throwing – while becoming less dependent on his running – and the Bills must win more games to make Daboll a more attractive candidate next year.’
Bills lose scout to rival Dolphins
‘The most recent move is a subtraction for the Bills, with national scout Marvin Allen leaving the team to become Miami’s assistant general manager, according to a report Sunday from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.’
Monday's Miami Coverage
Dolphins hire Marvin Allen as team’s assistant general manager (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins hire former Buffalo Bills national scout Marvin Allen as Assistant G.M. (WPEC-TV)
Bills Today: Tre'Davious White a top 5 CB in this stat
‘The success of Buffalo’s secondary can be largely attributed to White’s lockdown-caliber play. According to Pro Football Focus, White allowed just 0.68 yards per coverage snap this season, the fourth-lowest rate amongst all eligible cornerbacks.’
BillsBeat - January 13, 2019
Undrafted rookie Levi Wallace turned plenty of heads for Bills in 2018
‘It’s hard to overstate just how important Levi Wallace’s emergence was for the Buffalo Bills’ defense in 2018.’
Jay Skurski's Bills Mailbag: Should the team bring in Thomas Davis?
‘In general, signing a 35-year-old linebacker in free agency isn’t something I’d usually be that interested in, but Davis still played at a high level last year in his 14th season. He finished 18th in Pro Football Focus’ rankings of 57 linebackers who played at least 50 percent of the defensive snaps, making 79 tackles and six passes defensed. He would provide the Bills veteran depth, but if he’s looking for a starting role, he likely won’t find it in Buffalo, unless Alexander leaves.’
One-on-One Coverage: For Marv Levy, Bills' four Super Bowl losses 'still hurt'
‘There are times when I’m on a plane and I let my mind flow and I keep thinking, what I might have done differently in this situation or that situation. But I’ll remember the good. As much as it hurt at the time, I’m just going to remember the good. And so many of our great fans, too. They are terrific fans in Buffalo, I really believe that.’
Cut him or keep him: What should the Bills do with LeSean McCoy?
‘“He is part of our plan,” Beane said at his New Year’s Eve press conference. “I think if we can improve in other areas, that will help LeSean. Early in the year, our pass game was not very good. You could see it. Teams were focused on, ‘All right, if we stop 25, this team isn’t going to go far.’ While we did improve our pass game, our run game stayed stagnant for a lot of the year. Again, LeSean will come back in 2019 and we’ll go from there. I’m not a believer that LeSean is done.”’
Fan Mailbag: Is Adam Gase to the Jets good for the Bills?
‘I do see it as beneficial to the Bills, just because it’s a new coach starting over in New York. It’s very hard to get all the ducks in a row and win consistently that first season. Now Gase was able to do that in his first season in Miami, when the Dolphins made the playoffs, but things fell apart after that.’
BillsBeat - January 12, 2019
Patrick DiMarco tried to make most of decreased role in 2018
‘“On a personal level, I want to be on the field as much as I possibly can,” DiMarco said. “This year, I was not there as much as I’ve been in the past. I wish I could have been. But whatever my role is, it is what it is. I’m going to go out there and give it all I’ve got, and hopefully I can go out and make some plays.”’
Nine wide receivers the Buffalo Bills could consider signing as free agents
‘No Bills wide receiver has ever led the league in anything with the exception of Elbert Dubenion, who in Buffalo’s 1964 AFL championship season topped the AFL — not the NFL, mind you — in yards per catch at 27.1.’
Bills should ignore drama, try to acquire Steelers' Antonio Brown
‘Brown hasn’t said much other than a few cryptic social media posts and by allegedly unfollowing the official Steelers Twitter account on Friday. He seems OK with the idea of getting traded.’
Buffalo Bills named as landing spot for Antonio Brown as trade appears likely
‘Of course, the most realistic option for the Steelers to pursue is a trade. It just so happens that the Buffalo Bills not only need a No. 1 wide receiver, but they also have the cap space to accommodate a deal for Brown. Could the Bills be a realistic landing spot for the talented wide receiver? Spotrac co-owner and editor Michael Ginnitti named the Bills as one of four potential trade partners with the Steelers.’
Judge orders Feroce to pay $1 million to Buffalo Bills
‘The football team sued Feroce and Benrus, the military-style watch company, over a soured promotional deal with the “official timepiece of the Buffalo Bills.”’
Bills not repeating quarterback mistakes of 2018 offseason
‘That means, provided Barkley, Anderson, and Josh Allen all go to training camp as expected, the team will head to St. John Fisher with a combined 18 years and 71 starts of experience in the NFL among their quarterbacks. That’s a far cry from the trio of Allen, Nathan Peterman, and A.J. McCarron, who had just five years and five starts among them when they opened camp six months ago.’
2018 Buffalo Bills All-22 in Review: Tight End
‘It was quite the story for Jason Croom over the past two years. Formerly an undrafted rookie that the Bills released ahead of the 2017 season, before ultimately bringing him back to the practice squad later in the year. Then, in 2018, he impressed the coaching staff straight away in the spring and summer, to the point that he moved up the depth chart enough to be a lock for the 53-man roster. Croom is a developing player that is at his best when he can chip into the passing game.’
These NFL head coach hires will impact the Bills' 2019 schedule plus 4 things you missed on One Bills Live
‘The league’s new head coaching lineup is not complete yet — the Dolphins and the Bengals have yet to lock down their picks, but the Bills will face five new head coaches when they line-up in 2019.’
BillsBeat - January 11, 2019
Bills could have four new starters on offensive line in 2019
‘“Having a good O-line is a sum of the parts,” Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said. “You can have three or four really good (players), but if they’re not jelled, it doesn’t matter who you’ve got. Our line individually, there’s some guys that have played a lot of snaps and have been on some good O-lines, even here, that have rushed for a lot of yardage. But this year, we weren’t able to jell. We recognize that, and we’ll continue to work on improving that. We’re going to try to bring in competition like we’ll do across the board and we’ll try to improve that. We have to be honest.”’