Astro-Notes: Aug 20 Practice

[Beerball]

Thanks Stro! Like hearing about the play fakes. Too many times QBs go through the motions. While a rough day by the QBs it does seem like both had their moments.

[Charles Romes]

Easley's story is amazing. It's not even his third camp. It's his FOURTH.

[bananathumb]

Thanks, Astrobot. If I ever meet you, beer and wings are on me. How about some "conclusions" about the team, based on what you've seen in camp?

[Chandler#81]

Too many of you stealing my "ranks, rastro!"

 

Guilty, but it's PERFECT!

 

Propers to eball.

[shoretalk]

Thank you so much Astro! I anxiously await reading your reports each day. They provide insight we need (BEN should take a hint) and are superbly detailed!

[zazie]

Easley's story is amazing. It's not even his third camp. It's his FOURTH.

 

yup he is well qualified for an NFL pension essentially without ever having played a down.

[Astrobot]

Thank you sooooo much for these posts.

You put a lot of effort into it, and I want you to know that you kick a$$ for doing so.

 

I'd be interested to hear what you think of Cordy Glenn so far in TC.

I only recall one time when Cordy missed a pass block. Jerry Hughes got around him low outside. But I think we'll see Jerry do that a lot this year!

[Storm Front]

Any word on how FB Drew Smith is doing? He was a man amongst boys in college, and I have been pulling for him to make the team.

[Astrobot]

Thanks Stro! Like hearing about the play fakes. Too many times QBs go through the motions. While a rough day by the QBs it does seem like both had their moments.

It's gonna be a roller coaster, every play will be Master or Disaster LOL!

Kolb has the best play fake. I bet he gives the guys in the video truck some headaches!

 

Any word on how FB Drew Smith is doing? He was a man amongst boys in college, and I have been pulling for him to make the team.

I don't think Drew makes it, I think they Put Gaskins on the PS.

[xsoldier54]

Got there at Period 7 so as to miss the Positional Drills and stretching. There are 3 deep all along the fence will filled grandstand and a perfect night--70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

 

Period 7: FG practice. Dustin Hopkins didn't let his foot off the gas; he put 6 consecutive blasts through the uprights, later adding 6 more in a row. He missed one from 53 and one from 43.

Good news! He hit the videographer one more time and hit the platform 2 more times.

 

Period 8: KR practice. Goodwin was taking turns with BRad Smith. They alternated blocking teams, so Chris Gragg, Blatnick, Summers (team 1?) plus Corbin Bryant, Lee Smith, Jerry Hughes (team 2?) blocked twice each for Goodwin and Brad Smith. The best combo seemed to be the Gragg line with Marquise Goodwin. You have to wonder about Brad Smith. He might still make this team, but if McKelvin returns kicks, maybe they deep-6 him. This is still a slider puzzle until "The Turk" comes.

 

Period 9: Most of the night, when doing 11 on 11, the First String Offense would go up against the Second String Defense, and vice-versa. This is genius. Coaches get to see players going against first string, and the film doesn't lie. Both QBs had a rough time in general.

 

Kolb had his first pass broken up by Kip Edwards, held the ball to long on 2nd down before swinging it out to Spiller (a wonderful outlet to have). Kolb then passed to Stevie J for a short gain, likely a first down between Spiller and Stevie. Kolb's play-fakes are nearly impossible to read from the stands. I thought FJ had the next ball up the middle, but then Kolb's firing it to Stevie for 10 more. A nice 15 yarder to Easley made me relax about Kolb then BAM! Kolb's pass to Goodwin is intercepted, and one to Lee Smith is dropped. So then you get depressed and BAM! Kolb throws a bomb to Easley (our #1 receiver in the preseason tilts) for 60 yards and the TD.

 

Tuel comes in as they work on red zone stuff. Tuel has to throw away the first down; the first-string D has it all covered. Da'Rick Rogers catches Tuel's pass down to the 5 for a first down, but the ball keeps coming back to the 20. A throw to Provo over the middle is dropped (90% Provo's fault, but good coverage too). Summers the FB lines up as a wideout, and Tuel throws to Provo again for the TD. p.s.: Did you know that Gragg's the Bills' best blocking TE according to ProFootballFocus? Tuel overtelegraphs his pass to Rogers, and the defense closes, denying him the catch. Tuel throws a quick slant to Easley for the TD and you think yay, then BAM! Duke Williams tips the pass right to Jerry Hughes, who takes it the other way. Tuel, undaunted, comes right back and BAM! threads the needle (like 3 players) to Easley for the TD.

 

Kolb is in, and hands off to CJ, who shows shiftiness at almost-top end speed, maybe for 10. Kolb comes right back to Spiller for about 5. They go to a 2-back I, with CJ-FJ both picking up blocks as Kolb throws a not-far-enough pass to Goodwin for an incompletion. Then BAM! Kolb hits Stevie Johnson for a 40 yard TD. Kolb looks for about 2 reads in less than 2 seconds, then takes off with it. On the next play, Kolb throws what looked like a too-high pass to FJ on an out pattern, and Freddie leaps for it and pulls it down! That's may Astro Play of the Night. Kolb fakes me out again on a fake to Freddie and a pass for 10. Not a bad series for the 7-year vet.

 

Tuel now has the second string and next week's waivers out there against mainly first string D. He hands off to Zach Brown going to the LG-LT spot and is tackled for a loss. On the next play, KWilliams has Tuel dead to rights in the backfield. then BAM! Tuel fires a pretty one to Gragg for a first down. Kiko Alonso almost intercepts the next pass, ZBrown tries around the left end (not much there), and Da'Rick Rogers almost has a catch but Rolle knocks it out of there and a fight ensues. Later on, FJ is talking to Aaron Williams and Brad Smith is talking to Rolle. You know who the veterans are. This is Rolle's 3rd time when he's lost his composure. Summers has a run up the middle and it's getting pretty testy. Aaron Williams is in the backfield of the offensive players, trying to mix it up with Freddy. Freddy is applauding Aaron in a mocking way. I am actually encouraged that we're seeing attitude from Buffalo Bills players, and I don't care that the O doesn't like the D and vice-versa. Just don't tint your windows.

 

More kicking stuff. Gaskins has a drop, Zach Brown is the other returner. This could be significant. Say McKelvin is the starting CB, then he might not be on the KR team. Maybe all wet on this one.

 

On the other 11 on 11, the highlights were Spiller slicing and dicing for a first down twice, an end-around by TJ, a couple bad throws in a row by Kolb to Stevie, Freddy for 2 nice catches, and Easley going down low to catch one. Tuel made completions to Sampson, Kaufman, and Da'Rick. The defense looked stout with Mario and Dareus teaming up for a sack, Branch and Troup pushing the pocket back twice, and a pass breakup by TintJob. A tip of the hat to Colin Brown and Eric Wood who opened a 20' wide hole for Choice, and to TJ Heath for covering Goodwin ALMOST well enough to not draw a flag. Duke Williams had his trap shut by Chandler's great catch, and Kolb had another 40-yarder to Stevie. Cordy and EWood opened up a huge hole, then Kolb shovel-passed to Spiller, who went a mile.

 

Tuel passed too far on his first pass, then nails Sampson for 25 yards. Then BAM! Crezdon Butler (#1 in thrown at-incompletions% among the CBs) INT Tuel's next pass for a pick 6. Tuel then has a completion to Kaufman, then Gaskins (likely 25 yds with a Kiko Alonso defensive interference call). Da'Rick is again victimized by a double-team with Aaron Williams underneath and Duke Williams over the top. The night ends with a Troup sack (assisted by Lawson-Bryant) and a Hogan reception for 5.

 

Astro

For those of us that live too far away to get to SJF, your posts have been a Godsend. Thanks for sharing your insights thus far and I look forward to reading more.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Guy from Rumblings sitting behind me asked who my six are for WR.

I told him Stevie, TJ, Woods, Goodwin, Easley, and a tall guy, with Hogan and Sampson on the PS.

 

The tall guy is either going to be Kaufman, Dickerson, or Rogers, because we have the fast guys, the great route guy, the unorthodox route guy, and the most productive guy. Of the tall guys, Kaufman has the highest % receptions, and Dorin and Da'Rick have the TD. The 6th WR is going to be determined in Saturday's game.

 

By the way, Rumbling Guy thinks TJ will be a surprise cut or trade, and Da'Rick and Hogan make it.

 

Whether Da'Rick makes it depends on what he does in practice and games, all-in all the time prior to the Turk might do it.

 

I'm wondering about TJ myself, esp. if he shows enough to intrigue in the last 2 PS games

 

Thanks again for the camp posts - great work

[Fan in Chicago]

Guy from Rumblings sitting behind me asked who my six are for WR.

 

By the way, Rumbling Guy thinks TJ will be a surprise cut or trade, and Da'Rick and Hogan make it.

 

I will be surprised if TJ is cut unless there are some issues we are unaware of. The earlier camp reports said he was having a great camp and has likely taken the next step. Also, we are woefully light on NFL experience at the WR position. Besides Stevie, Brad Smith is the only one with much to speak of. Then there is TJ. On talent and potential, IMHO, TJ gets another year at least.

Having said that, if the coaches think highly of the remaining WRs and if a trade nets us a good LB or OL, I will support a trade.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Fan in Chicago

[Astrobot]

Thanks, Astrobot. If I ever meet you, beer and wings are on me. How about some "conclusions" about the team, based on what you've seen in camp?

1- We are young, and could be even younger after the cuts.

2-The Bills could keep Brad Smith for a veteran presence, but they won't keep him for WR or backup QB. He was returning some kicks last night but that was because McKelvin wasn't out there with Goodwin. I'm going to say he's the 8th or 9th on the WR totem pole.

3-We may want to be a running team, but we don't generate enough push from our line yet, particularly on the L side. The OL has been working on blocking schemes and Wood and Cordy looked great last night.

4-Our number 4, 5, and maybe 6 WRs are better than some teams' 2 and 3. We may keep 7 WRs to arrange a trade, or put 2 or more WR on the practice squad. Based on production in preseason games, the order was Easley, Sampson, Hogan, and based on camp 7:7 and 11:11, the order was Easley, Hogan, Kaufman, Sampson. DaRick Rogers showed less output than any of these guys, but his move on the CB for his TD score in the game was the most NFL-ready move I've seen. He could be the redzone threat.

5-Kiko Alonso is the real deal. His diagnostic skills are spot on and quick, then he closes very quickly. He has confidence in his pass defending. I hope he sees a superstar WR sooner than later.

6-Having Byrd back solidifies the S position. I think Aaron Williams and Byrd start vs the Pats. Duke Williams might be the PS guy, I. Still think Searcy brings it.

7-Backup CB is Crezdon Butler. McKelvin should be nervous as Butler is improving fast. Butler has the lowest thrown at/caught percentage on our team. Including Gilmore. Of course, Gilmore covers the opponent's number one WR.

8- Branch is no more than a space clogger, and if you run the play away from him, he cant run after you. Troup, Bryant, Carrington, Ross, KWilliams have better pursuit when in there.

9-Tuel was better against the ones by the end of camp, but I would take Kolb's experience against Belichick. He beat Belichick last year, he has the good play fake, and had a couple 40-yard pass plays last night. The pace, plus Spiller, plus our speed, will help whoever is in there. While I hope to see EJ in Game One, we haven't automatically lost the game if Kolb is the starter. Tuel will be very good in the long term, but needs seasoning.

10. I love where I live and I like to write, so that I can provide those of you who can't be here a chance to experience each practice. Thank you for all the thank you's. I hope you will all continue to express opinions about Positional Needs for DraftTek throughout the season.

 

I plan to be at camp today.

Go Bills!

Edited August 21, 2013 by Astrobot

[chris heff]

Too many of you stealing my "ranks, rastro!"

Really not yours, belongs to Hanna-Barbera.

[ChevyVanMiller]

BAM! Thanks for the great read, Astro. (I think I'm going to say "BAM!" out loud after every big play this season).

[The Poojer]

not to be a broken record, but thanks for the reports!

[Matt in KC]

not to be a broken record, but thanks for the reports! Ranks rastro! (Props to eball)

Edited August 21, 2013 by Matt in KC

[Lt. Dan's Revenge]

And there ya have it, the Bills are back. BAM!

[bananathumb]

Thanks for the conclusions, Astro.

[Cereal]

THANKS Astro, these really have been amazing. A few questions:

1. Jerry Hughes was playing on the second string D?
   
2. Gragg was second string O? Any insight on Chandler these days (is he on the sidelines)?
   
3. It seems the QB’s were “gunslinging” a bit more than we’ve seen in the two preseason games so far. Is this accurate, and is there anything to imply from this? (I don’t know enough about practice structure, myself).
   

BAM!