Archives for May 2016

'The team's top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, cornerback and second-round selection Ronald Darby, was ranked as the 82nd best player in the NFL by PFF. Among some of the standout statistics according to the website, Darby held the eighth-highest grade in pass coverage, and surrendered only 11.6 yards per reception last season.'

'“At Ohio State I didn’t really have a stance under center because I was never under center,” said Jones, who has a clear respect for Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach and wants the coaching. “I talked to him after practice and he showed me two things I was doing, which was showing up every once in a while. Those things were dropping my elbow and staggering my feet.”'

'“I’m very excited about my camp to just to see the young guys out there participating and having fun, and learning other guy’s names, learning how to play with other players and just giving back—I think that’s the most important part,” said Watkins. “Us athletes here, playing the game and these kids seeing us, we need to give back not only on the field but they need to see our faces and see us interact. Just to see the joy on the kid’s faces, they’re dancing, they’re having fun, they’re joking with me—I mean I get a kick out of it just having fun with the guys.”'

'“We think we’ve added some pieces that will help us get to where we need to go,” said GM Doug Whaley. “Just because of how we see them as football players and what they bring to this team. They love football and they come from winning programs. That an infusion of something that we need.”'

'Remember, the market for cornerbacks has skyrocketed, thanks largely to Josh Norman’s free-agent contract with Washington. And it hasn’t gotten any cheaper to sign quarterbacks, either, thanks largely to the $18-million-per-year deal to which Houston signed Brock Osweiler.'

'The bottom line is that, at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he wasn't built to be the classic, read-option quarterback for whom Ohio State's offense is designed. Jones is built to work from the pocket, and the fact Urban Meyer never could envision him as a good fit for his scheme was the main reason Jones was removed as a starter after the Buckeyes' 7-0 start last season.'

'“It’s one of the lessons that football teaches you, how to get back up off the ground. Right now I’m having to find myself, picking myself off the ground and moving forward.”'

'Second, with Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy and Charles Clay the top three targets for Taylor, and with Karlos Williams a versatile receiving option, the Bills might decide they can't provide enough touches to justify adding another receiver beyond No. 2 wideout Robert Woods.'

'Jones heads into the NFL with only eleven career starts under his belt, which creates quite the dichotomy. He’s accomplished more than almost any of his 2016 QB draft classmates. But he’s also more raw than any of them. '

'These are the three forces of nature Rex Ryan handpicked to reignite his defense. Politically correct, they are not. When Ryan’s defenses in Baltimore and New York were at their punishing best — finishing in the top 10 nine of 10 seasons as a coordinator/head coach — they were driven by such brutal punishers.'

'This has nothing to do with Lawson. What do you want me to say, that he looked fabulous while running around in his first practice with the Bills? Sorry, but Friday wasn’t my first rookie camp. I’m inclined to kick back and watch a season of careers unfold before fawning over the Bills’ draft performance.'

'The Bills can’t afford to extend both Taylor and Gilmore now, and they can’t franchise both next season. They’d like to extend Gilmore, who will make $11 million this year. But he’d rather wait, knowing he can test the waters next summer if the Bills are forced to tag Taylor.'

'"He’s got the physical gifts you look for, there’s no question about that," Ryan said. "You notice the stature and he’s got a big arm and all that, but you also notice that he’s just going through everything, like, it’s spinning right now. He’s throwing behind guys – he doesn’t know where he’s going with it right now. He’s got a long way to go."'

'Instead, Buffalo has to move forward with Jordan Mills, Seantrel Henderson and Cyrus Kouandjio at right tackle. The three will compete for the starting job unless Buffalo manages to add someone else to the mix between now and the start of the season.'

'The Bills have just over $14 million in cap space heading into the 2016. They still need to sign their draft picks and use some of that space to make signings during the season. However, they have some flexibility to sign another free agent or extend the contract of cornerback Stephon Gilmore or quarterback Tyrod Taylor, as both players are entering the final year of their respective contract.'