‘”The important thing with John is the NFL experience,” said Bills coach Sean McDermott. “The D-tackle position alone is a very unselfish position. The people that we have around our organization that have been around John know that that’s really what he’s all about in terms of freeing other people up to make plays. Also, if you go back and study the NFL and training camp in particular, you need depth on both lines. In particular, the interior part of the line because of the way training camp goes and the bumps and bruises that happen inside on the interior line.”‘
Archives for July 2018
Bills receiver Malachi Dupre skips the what-ifs as he eyes a larger role
‘”No matter what group I’m in, whether it’s the ones or threes, I’m just trying to get better each and every play and show coaches that I know what I’m doing.”‘
Bills offensive line has experience, but does it have talent?
‘Experience isn’t the issue the skeptics are raising; it has more to do with the level of talent. Williams is right in that the six aforementioned players all have at least three years of NFL experience, but what has fans and media vexed is whether this group can protect the quarterback, whoever that is, and win up front enough in the run game to give LeSean McCoy a chance, especially when the Bills figure to see plenty of eight-man boxes this season.’
7 things to know about new Buffalo Bills DE Ryan Russell
‘The Dallas Cowboys selected Russell out of Purdue in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Russell was only active for one game as a rookie and was placed on the injured reserve in early December with a strained abdomen. He failed to make the team’s 53-man roster the following season and was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad in September.’
Inside the beautiful new home Bills CB Tre’Davious White bought for his mom
‘”My mom just sacrificed herself. She worked in a hotel (where) she was a supervisor of the custodian(s),” White said. “Growing up, she used to be a card dealer in the casino. She worked at restaurants, and now she don’t do nothing. She just chills. She’s just a great mom to my younger brother and my sister. Now she (doesn’t have to) get out of her bed.”‘
The QB competition heats up early in Bills camp
‘I wasn’t convinced that talent would be enough to overcome lack of experience and put Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott and company at ease with the idea of playing the seventh overall pick in the April draft in Baltimore on opening day. It still might not be enough but what many observers have termed as a very low bar for Allen could also clear his path to the number one job by September 9th. While Allen is still getting the fewest number of reps with the ones, neither McCarron nor Peterman has done anything to improve their chances of winning this competition.’
With new additions, Bills hoping for improved season along the defensive line
‘”I just feel like he’s going to have a terrific season,” Frazier said on Sunday. “At this stage of his career, he kind of knows what to kind of expect of opponents and how people are going to block him and the respect that teams have for him. He’s done a great job this season preparing to have the best season of his career.’
Zay Jones Impacts Grieving Medina Family With Special Gift
‘”It said the condolences for your mother, and how thank you for being a Bills fan,” said Dylan. “It was so cool.”‘
Star Lotulelei: The ‘star maker’
‘”If you look him on paper you’re like ehhhh okay, he’s all right. But, when you watch the film, the guys that he makes better around him is immense,” added Alexander.’
Orchard Park changes rules restricting drones at Bills games
‘A drone can’t take off or land within 2 miles of a stadium event — 4 hours prior to and 4 hours after.’
Family pedigree has Tremaine Edmunds prepared to stand tall in Bills defense
‘“To make history with two brothers taken in the first round of the same draft, it was a really special day for Virginia Tech and the Edmunds family, and it could not have happened to a better group of people,” said Hokies head coach Justin Fuente. “I mean, just from the grandparents on down, just first class all the way. We were really honored to be there and be in the moment with them. It’s pretty special.”’
Bills Today: Defensive backs continue to force turnovers
‘“If someone catches it, he wants us to continue going after the ball,” said White. “That’s what’s most important. You can give up catches and yards, but if you take the ball away, it’s a big deal.’
Bills’ Adolphus Washington looks to make impact at natural position
‘“I like that a lot better,” Washington said. “I played a little out of position last year, but that’s what they needed me to do. … Now, all my focus is on learning as much as I can from Kyle, learning as much as I can from the coaches, watching film and just being the best I can be.”
Rookie Taron Johnson trying to erase Bills’ fourth-round history
‘“Playing the nickel position, you’ve got to be physical and pretty quick, and I think I have all those traits,” Johnson said after Sunday’s practice at St. John Fisher College. “When you put on my film, I’m a tackler. I try to think of myself as a corner who plays safety.”’
Bills swap defensive ends, signing Ryan Russell and releasing Owa Odighizuwa
‘Russell, 27, played in 14 games for Tampa Bay last season, making seven starts. He was originally a fifth-round draft pick of Dallas in 2015, spending one year with the Cowboys before moving on to the Buccaneers in 2016.’
Bills QB Watch Day 4: No first-team work for Josh Allen
‘It was all AJ McCarron getting the starting quarterback reps Sunday for the Buffalo Bills on the fourth day of training camp at St. John Fisher College.’
What We Learned: Notes from Day 4 of Bills training camp
‘A brief, heated skirmish broke out at St. John Fisher College after right tackle Jordan Mills and defensive end Jerry Hughes got into it. Players from both the offense and defense quickly converged, and at least a few punches were thrown from the likes of John Miller and Shaq Lawson, although no damage was done.’
With a day off Monday, here’s a look at the first four days of Bills camp
‘I still don’t see Allen winning the starting job out of camp, but again, it’s way too early to make an educated guess.’
Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Poyer continues to use snubs as motivation
‘”You know to even be in that conversation with the guys that are in there… It’s a blessing in itself,” Poyer told Rome. “I’m not worried about being snubbed or this or that. Just to be able to be in that conversation and kind of be able to go into this offseason understanding what I can do in this league and use it as motivation for next year… I’m not down on it. I’m not anything. It is what it is. There’s great players in this league and they got the opportunity to go play in the Pro Bowl. I’ll just use it as motivation for next year and I just want to continue to work for my team and work for my teammates to keep building this thing.”‘
Buffalo Bills TE Nick O’Leary spotted in walking boot at training camp
‘If O’Leary misses significant time, it will give some of the tight ends fighting for a roster spot a chance to step up. Depth options behind Clay and O’Leary include Logan Thomas, Khari Lee, Jason Croom and Keith Towbridge. Buffalo could also opt to sign a free agent tight end: The team recently worked out Clay Harbor.’
Bills sign DE Ryan Russell, release DE Owa Odighizuwa
‘To make room on the roster, the Bills released defensive end Owa Odighizuwa, who looked good during OTAs and was a sleeper pick by some to make the final roster.’
Buffalo Bills training camp day 4: Not so fast with Vontae Davis (7 observations)
‘With the potential lack of depth past Davis and White, it’ll be interesting to see what happens should Davis show signs he isn’t where he needs to be come the season opener. Taron Johnson, Phillip Gaines, Lafayette Pitts, Breon Borders, Levi Wallace and Ryan Carter are battling behind the two starters.’
Buffalo Bills fan represents BillsMafia tailgaters well with birthday cake
‘Plichta said her boyfriend, Jim Bromley, came up with the idea for the cake. After coming up with the idea, Bromley had to find a bakery in Burbank, California who could bring the cake to life. Half Baked Co., a family owned business specializing in custom cakes and desserts, stepped up and made it happen.’
How Bills QB Josh Allen is trying to fix his short-throw issues
‘Allen, 22, said he stays after practice – as he did Sunday – or comes out onto the practice field as much as 30 minutes early to “just throw those routes.”’
Bills GM: First preseason game could be pivotal for rookie QB Josh Allen
‘“We’ll do that through the first preseason game, and then we’ll adjust from there and decide, Are we going to keep it the same? Are we going to give him more reps? Or are we going to give him less? Everything is earned here.”’
Bills sign defensive end Ryan Russell, release Odighizuwa
‘Injuries have depleted Buffalo’s depth at tight end. Nick O’Leary missed practice Sunday because of an injury to his right foot. Logan Thomas did not return to practice Sunday after hurting his shoulder.’
Bills sign Russell, cut Odighizuwa
‘For an opportunity to see Russell in action, the next practice open to fans will be on Wednesday at 8:45 AM.’
Outside of QB, here’s how the Bills depth chart appears to look after four days
‘The wide receiver group has rotated so much with players playing with all three hits that it’s hard to put together a fair chart. For the most part, though, Kelvin Benjamin and Jeremy Kerley are constants, with plenty of others getting opportunities.’
Joe B: 7 observations from 2018 Buffalo Bills training camp – Day 4
‘Considering what we’ve seen so far from Harrison Phillips at camp — a disruptive force from the interior — I asked Frazier if the Bills would consider giving Phillips some time at the more disruptive three-technique defensive tackle role, rather than his space eating responsibilities as the one-technique. Frazier said that they didn’t want to overload him at this point, so young into his first training camp.’
2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp Depth Chart – Day 4
‘For some of the reasoning behind some of the changes, make sure to read my observations of Day Four.’
Edmunds continues to show maturity, leadership leading Bills defense
‘”He’s doing well. Just in talking with some of his teammates in the huddle, that was one of our concerns was how would he handle this atmosphere,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “This is another part of the transition for him. He’s done very well with that, no problems communicating and he’s on target to do well.”‘
Tremaine Edmunds earns high praise from coaches and teammates
‘”He’s a freak of nature,” smiled veteran Lorenzo Alexander. “His physical attributes. He’s 6’6”. Long. Ripped up. Obviously, his parents blessed him with some great genetics.”‘
First fights break out at camp
‘”I was like, it’s only day four. Single practices and we already having fights. Man, they don’t know what it’s like!” joked Lorenzo Alexander, who’s been in the NFL long enough to remember month long training camps and two-a-day practices.’
Quick Hits: Edmunds looks and acts the part
‘“He’s doing well, talking with his teammates in the huddle,” Frazier told reporters at camp Sunday morning. “That was one of our concerns—how would he handle this atmosphere-this is another part of the transition for him. But he’s doing very well with that. No problems as far as communicating, of taking command. We’ll see how he continues to progress.”’
Top 3 things to know from Day 4 at Bills camp
‘“That was an improvement from yesterday,” Peterman said. “We wanted to be more physical—set the edge and establish the line of scrimmage. I thought the offensive line, fullbacks, running backs, wide receivers blocking safeties –they did a great job of that today.”’
Bills add defensive end Ryan Russell
‘The 6-foot-5, 273-pound defensive end started in six games last season with Tampa Bay, seeing time on both defense and special teams.’
Bills Today: How guard John Miller has impressed Sean McDermott in camp so far
‘“He looks like, since the time he has come back in the spring, he is focused,” said McDermott.’
A knee injury took DE Trent Murphy out. His drive to compete brought him back.
‘“Those weeks on Sunday where you’re not dressed and you’re not getting on the bus,” Murphy said. “You don’t have pads in the locker, you’re watching on TV or go to the stadium. You’re watching everybody prepare in the locker room and you’re just like, ‘Man, what am I doing?’ That’s the toughest when you’ve got nobody to report to, nobody’s checking on you. Nobody knows where you’re at. You’re living in a state you’re not from, and that’s tough.’
Pushed aside last year, John Miller eager to show Bills he’s back
‘“New year, new opportunity, new mindset,” Miller said. “The new mindset for me is having that focus, and that determination every play. The mindset to go out there and dominate each and every day.”’
Bills QB Watch Day 3: Allen makes prettiest throw, has two picks
‘The biggest cheer of the day from the crowd came when Allen hit Kaelin Clay on a wheel route up the left sideline for a 30-yard TD. What was impressive about the play was Allen’s anticipation. The lofted ball was out of his hands just as Clay started to cut up field. Perfect.’