WGR

‘It all starts with Allen, who, in theory, has been surrounded by better personnel as he embarks on Year 2 as a Bill. Allen will look to build on what he was able to do in the second half of last season after returning from an elbow injury. It remains to be seen if 11 starts, in addition to the free agent signings and draft picks, will all add up to a better looking Allen. Hopefully, the Bills will have a better running game beyond their quarterback, who ended up leading the team in rushing in 2018. Having the same offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, back for a second season should be a boost.’

‘In his first installment of Howard Picks the Bills on Wednesday, Howard ended up having the Bills going 9-7.’

‘Asiata, selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Utah, played one game for the Dolphins in his rookie year. He was waived prior to the 2018 regular season, but then signed to the team’s practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in early November, playing one game.’

‘Gaine was reportedly interviewed by the Bills for their open general manager job before it was eventually given to Beane.’

‘“I honestly think we’re at a good number right now,” McDermott said about each team playing four exhibition games. “I say that, part of it is probably habit. As long as I’ve been in the league it’s been four. I think somewhere in that three-to-four range, you should know what you’ve got and how you want to shape it coming out of those three-to-four games.”’

‘Allen brings the possibility of the playoffs if he takes a step or two forward.’

‘Coleman got his career started with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 when he was selected in the seventh round (244th overall) out of Ohio St. University. In four seasons with the Eagles, Coleman appeared in 59 games while making 207 combined tackles, forcing two fumbles and making seven interceptions. In his first year with the Eagles, Coleman got the chance to play under the direction of current Bills head coach Sean McDermott when he was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach in Philadelphia.’

‘”He is the most complete receiver in terms of upside and areas of the field he can attack. John Brown can lift coverage vertically, and that will leave routes open underneath that I know Foster can run well.”‘

‘”I think the two older vets are going to push each other and going to provide a lot of competition to that room. And obviously, Devin’s come in and T.J. and Marcus Murphy. Senorise Perry is still learning the offense as well, but has been a really good special teams player. And then Christian Wade. We have a lot of players there. But I’m not sitting here and saying right now I’m keeping four or five or whatever. We’re going to keep the best ones.”’

‘At the time, the Jets GM was Mike Maccagnan. He was since fired by the club. But that night back in April, eventually, Maccagnan chose Williams himself with the No. 3 overall choice and the Bills grabbed Oliver. Before all that could happen, Beane was basically doing his due diligence and having the types of conversations almost all GMs are having. It may very well have been more about the Jets tying to trade down and looking for a partner to do it with.”‘

‘”Cole Beasley is the perfect way to treat an inaccurate QB. He’ll get open underneath more than most WRs. You’re maximizing the margin of error that Allen can get away with on those shorter players.”‘

‘Between then and now, we’ve had Marrone and Whaley, then Rex and Whaley with Rex’s twin Rob thrown in on a tandem bicycle for good measure. Now here we are, staring down Year 3 of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane.’

‘“We are further along than where we were when we first got here,” he said, reflecting back to when he was hired. “And we talk a lot just in meetings with Terry [Pegula] and Kim [Pegula] both, whatever the topic is – in this case the state of our football team about where we are. What our concerns are for the upcoming season. And so we feel, I’ll say I in this case, I feel that we are a better football team today than the way we ended the season, with a lot of work to do. And so does that mean we’re gonna win one game or X number of games? That remains to be seen. But I feel like we are – this organization is – in a better place now than where it was three or four months ago.”’

‘“Yeah, I mean, it definitely makes sense if your team is there and you’re close to doing it to try and maybe make some moves,” Beane said in an interview after the Bills wrapped up mandatory minicamp. “Especially seeing where some of these quarterback numbers are going because, you know, once you make that investment, some of these guys are making $30-35 million a year, that you are going to have to sacrifice some other positions. So it’s a sensible way to do it.”‘

‘When it comes to my opinion of Allen as we approach Year 2, I’m not far removed from where I was a year ago at this time. I still don’t know exactly what the Buffalo Bills have, and it’s more hope than belief that Allen will be the long sought after answer at that critical position. While there were some positives in Allen’s rookie season, we are far from where the Cleveland Browns are with huge expectations of Baker Mayfield after an impressive rookie showing.’