Archives for August 26, 2015

'Although Ryan said that Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, and EJ Manuel “have performed at a really high level” in the Bills’ two preseason games, none of the three looked all that exceptional as the Bills wrapped up their 16th camp at St. John Fisher College. Taylor had the best day, but that had a bit less to do with exceptional work on his part than it did with Cassel’s struggles to connect with receivers and Manuel’s issues with keeping the ball out of the hands of defenders.'

'"Wherever the coaches want to put me, I'm excited to be on the field and my role being expanded," Lawson said. "I rush the quarterback, cover man to man and drop in the zone. So I've got a full plate."'

'Considering the siege of injuries on the team and around the NFL, I imagine many of the Bills wish that Rex Ryan would call a merciful end to training camp and allow his guys to spend the next 18 days playing video games.'

'“He’s been blessed to have some unique genes,” Bills defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. “There’s things you hear about him, but he comes to work, works hard, and that’s what I love about him.”'

'There's still no clear-cut starting quarterback. LeSean McCoy, the focal point on offense, might not be able to start the regular season. The pass rush should be dangerous again. Sammy Watkins, when a full go, dominated. Corey Graham is the starting safety (not Duke Williams). Sentrel Henderson won his right tackle job back.'

'Rex Ryan insists it's a three-way battle and that he and the rest of the coaches are focused on trying to give each contestant an equal opportunity. But Manuel is the only one of the three working with the scout team and getting minimal chances with the starters.'

'"We definitely expect to be in the playoffs," said Ryan. "We said that from Day One, no qualms about it, we expect to be in there. We realize a lot of things can happen, but we have a good football team. Give me the team that has talent and is committed to what we're doing and all in it together, I think we have a great chance."'

' "The bottom line is that we haven't been good enough collectively as a team to win and make it,'' Williams said. "We've had bad breaks, this and that, that kept us out of it. But good teams make things happen. I think this year we have the guys that can make good things happen.'''

'This was the 16th year for Bills Camp at St. John Fisher. Accounts from other colleges — public universities that are, by definition, more transparent — indicate that whatever is charged is just enough to cover, or not quite cover expenses. The true benefit, cliche as it might sound, is the exposure, the side benefits like internships for students, and exclusive access events for alumni.'

'"I think you've got to live life with no regrets. So however this situation plays out, I'm going to be the best teammate I can be, and just go like that."'

'"Trainers are blown away with Percy's commitment to getting back out there," Rex Ryan said after practice.'

'So Roman devised a plan to change the way Buffalo practices. The first part is to effectively split practice into two practices on separate parts of the field, so that everyone is running a play at all times—and there’s no more standing around.'

'Calling this the best team he's been a part of, the eighth-year player said "without a doubt" that the Bills have a playoffs-or-bust mentality in a bid to end a 15-season playoff drought.'

'Or, he’s right enough. Maybe Revis, one of the best cover corners in history and the best of his era, is technically peerless. But the larger point—that Gilmore is an elite, shutdown artist—will prove to be true. Gilmore is long and strong. He understands angles and timing. He’s fluid and can contort and readjust his body in confined areas. Last season, he was impermeable in both man and zone. That was in a No. 4 ranked Bills defense whose strength was its secondary.'

'“No. Absolutely not,” Bills head coach Rex Ryan told Sportsnet 590 The Fan in an interview that will air Wednesday morning on Dean Blundell & Co.'