Archives for August 2010

‘Last year, the Bills’ tight ends – five in all – combined for 42 receptions. In 2008 it was 58, in 2007 it was 56. The last time a Bills’ tight end had at least 50 receptions on his own was Jay Riemersma in 2001.’

‘"Anything that I can do to help this team win, that’s what I’m going to be willing to do," he said. "Anytime a running back can do more, he becomes more dangerous to the team."’

‘About 60 young people attended the third annual event at St. John Fisher College. They toured the campus, learned about different careers, then watched football practice.’

‘"I know we have youth," D’Alessandris said. "But they’re eager. They’re good learners. They’re good workers. So with time, [I see] good development. I see nothing but upside on that end. They’ll grow with experience."’

‘Coach Chan Gailey on the subject: "We work ’em hard in the offseason. We talk about laying a foundation in the offseason. What happens is if a guy doesn’t come in shape, you find out what kind of person you have, whether he’s willing to put in the time to get the job done. You find out about him. I don’t — some people do — I don’t need a test to see if they’re in shape or not, whether they worked those four weeks we were away from each other. You get to find out who wants it and who doesn’t."’

‘Coach Chan Gailey provided few details or specifics of what part of the body Easley hurt, except to say the team will make a final determination on the player’s status within the next day. Gailey said Easley will be out for a long time, and wouldn’t rule out the injury being season-ending.’

‘Overall the offense fared well when it came to making plays in the passing game. In the first 7-on-7 red zone series Trent Edwards had a hot hand going 5-6 passing with three touchdowns passes. The first went to Roscoe Parrish on a corner route. David Nelson and Shawn Nelson also pulled in touchdown receptions during the six-play series.’

‘”He’s a very intelligent football player,” head coach Chan Gailey said last week. “He’s a tough guy, almost a coach on the field.”‘

‘”I am hoping to be more well-rounded in my game,” Byrd said. “Last year my production was masked over by my statistics. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can every day from my coaches and all the veterans.”‘

‘There’s another reason that Gailey is running such a tough camp, the Bills have a brutal schedule to start the season. Home to the Dolphins, at Green Bay, at New England and then back home to the Jets. With his southern drawl and years of experience, Gailey is one of those guys you would love to grab some beers with and sit around and talk football all night. The man has seen and done it all.’

‘"When you lose a guy like Aaron Schobel that definitely means that the rest of the guys in the position room have to definitely step it up another level," Maybin said. "You lose a guy with that kind of productivity, it’s definitely going to be something that has to be made up for. That just means that within the linebacker (group) we all have to step it up. Guys really have to take it upon themselves to put themselves in a position to make plays."’

‘NT Torell Troup is having a very strong camp, particularly in goal-line drills. At this pace, he will earn plenty of playing time backing up veteran Kyle Williams.’

‘To his credit, Edwards turned in a strong offseason and separated himself, if ever so slightly, entering camp. "He just made a lot more plays that we thought were positive plays during the course of the minicamps and OTAs," Gailey explained. "He did a good job of handling the team. He did a good job when he had the threes, as well as when he had the ones. And that was impressive to me, to be able to go out there and work with whoever he was throwing with."’

‘”I know what he expects. I know, usually, how he wants things done. I know how he likes to coach, and what he expects out of his players. He expects us to work hard, come out here and do our best, be focused, and be a team, be together,” Matthews said. “That’s what it’s about. The Bills, we’re grasping on to that, we’re becoming one unit, but it takes time.”‘

‘"What I thought of a 3-4, I thought of the offensive guards being uncovered all the time and linebackers having to take on blocks all the time," he explained. "So far it hasn’t been that way. We are a 3-4 team, but we’re going to do a lot of things with our fronts to switch things up. The coverage schemes and where we fit in the run, it’s very different than a 4-3, but I think we’re picking it up. We have a long way to go, but it has been a solid transition."’