Archives for August 14, 2014

‘”It’s hard,” Suisham said. “By me saying it would be great to have a team in Canada, doesn’t mean I want to see a team leave Buffalo.”‘

‘”It raises the level of intensity and urgency up a notch,” said Tomlin. “Any time you can do that with a football team it helps. So I really don’t compare it to in-stadium work. I compare it to a non-practice against another football team.”‘

‘”I pray they stay in Buffalo,” says DeKoker. “Yeah, I am a little worried. … Maybe God will help us.”‘

‘”To see Big Ben in action, see how he prepares for every practice, how he goes in and out each day is just a huge opportunity for me,” Manuel said. “I’m trying to take advantage of it.”‘

‘”We have not been contacted by any team about C.J. Spiller,” Bills GM Doug Whaley said quite plainly at Saint Vincent College ahead of the first of two joint practices with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “These rumors are news to me.”‘

‘One of the biggest questions heading into the pair of practices in Latrobe is how second-year quarterback EJ Manuel would perform against a team that was so successful in stopping him last year. Even with a solid performance in Carolina under his belt, Manuel showed inaccuracy in the first session with the Steelers more than most his other training camp practices in 2014. His throws were all over the place during team drills, whether they were short, intermediate or deep attempts, the ball just wasn’t being put in the proper place to facilitate a reception all the time.’

‘The Bills linebacker looked very quick off the ball in 1-on-1 pass rush drills against the Steelers’ backs and tight ends during the competition period of practice. He beat backs mainly by using quick, hard fakes without gearing down to do so. Before they knew it he was by them and tapping out the quarterback. He also showed good hand usage against tight ends to get them on the move before ripping past them on the edge.’

‘On the whole the linebackers for both teams won the majority of the battles. The backs for Buffalo who held their ground the best were Boobie Dixon and Frank Summers.’

‘”Man that was great work. Buffalo was a great dance partner,” said Tomlin. “We appreciate Coach (Doug) Marrone and that group and got a lot of things done. Similar work to what we’ve been doing in terms of structure of the practice and drills setup, but obviously a different sense of urgency, some different schematics and some different guys. It was really a productive day for us. In just a brief communication with Coach, I think it was a very productive day for them.’