The most encouraging rookie camp observation that I saw

[TigerJ]

From the Syracuse Post Standard on offensive line coach, Bobby Johnson:

 

4. Bobby Johnson looks like significant upgrade at OL coach

Juan Castillo wasn't a bad coach by any stretch but he wasn't very noticeable. Not all great coaches are animated or loud, but the good ones are engaged and energetic. Bobby Johnson's first practice as Bills offensive line coach was impressive. He seemed to connect with players and brought some juice. That's going to be important for a group that dramatically underperformed in 2018.

http://expo.newyorkupstate.com/sports/g66l-2019/05/ec59a0212c4c4/buffalo-bills-rookie-camp-2019-7-observations-on-ed-oliver-cody-ford-and-more.html

 

If you add better players, which the Bills did, you should get better offensive line play.  If you add a better coach, which the Bills apparently did, you should get improved offensive line play.  If you add both, maybe we have something really good about to happen.

 

 

[ganesh]

5 minutes ago, TigerJ said:

From the Syracuse Post Standard on offensive line coach, Bobby Johnson:

 

 

If you add better players, which the Bills did, you should get better offensive line play.  If you add a better coach, which the Bills apparently did, you should get improved offensive line play.  If you add both, maybe we have something really good about to happen.

 

 

Now it is up to Allen and McCoy to show up on game day against a better OL.  We simply cannot run an offense when your QB has the most rushing yards in the season

[JESSEFEFFER]

It seemed most every Josh Allen scramble started with the Bills failing to block a line stunt.  It's not like it was a slow process either.  Blocks were beaten right at the snap.   I wonder what the analytics say about that.  Communication and attitude, I hope the new OL coach brings that to the group and maybe Mitch Morse can be the Kent Hull like leader they need. 

[Jpsredemption]

The Castillo hire underwhelming along with a lot McDermotts initial staff. 

[BuffaloBill]

If the Bills don’t improve on o-line then Bean is a failure at GM as is McDermott as a coach. They have done a lot to address the situation. 

[oldmanfan]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

If the Bills don’t improve on o-line then Bean is a failure at GM as is McDermott as a coach. They have done a lot to address the situation. 

I presume if the opposite occurs you would agree both are successes?   Or maybe not.

[US Egg]

The most encouraging rookie camp observation.....

 

.....full participation and no injuries ?

[aceman_16]

45 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Now it is up to Allen and McCoy to show up on game day against a better OL.

WTH.....McBeane is moving them to DL?!? Fire them all with this gross mismanagement!!!!!

 

26 minutes ago, Jpsredemption said:

The Castillo hire underwhelming along with a lot McDermotts initial staff. 

A lot? Please elaborate.

Edited May 11, 2019 by aceman_16

[hondo in seattle]

47 minutes ago, TigerJ said:

From the Syracuse Post Standard on offensive line coach, Bobby Johnson:

 

4. Bobby Johnson looks like significant upgrade at OL coach

Juan Castillo wasn't a bad coach by any stretch but he wasn't very noticeable. Not all great coaches are animated or loud, but the good ones are engaged and energetic. Bobby Johnson's first practice as Bills offensive line coach was impressive. He seemed to connect with players and brought some juice. That's going to be important for a group that dramatically underperformed in 2018.

http://expo.newyorkupstate.com/sports/g66l-2019/05/ec59a0212c4c4/buffalo-bills-rookie-camp-2019-7-observations-on-ed-oliver-cody-ford-and-more.html

 

If you add better players, which the Bills did, you should get better offensive line play.  If you add a better coach, which the Bills apparently did, you should get improved offensive line play.  If you add both, maybe we have something really good about to happen.

 

 

 

I saw this too and was encouraged.  Our OL looked physically overmatched at times last year.  But other times they simply looked unprepared.  

 

I'll say this for Greg Roman - the running plays were well-designed and the offensive linemen, while not road graders, were typically in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.  And that created running lanes.  Unlike last season.  

 

The article says Bobby Johnson was  "engaged and energetic."  I'm guessing this is in contrast to Castillo who was what?  Disengaged and lethargic?  

 

Games are won and lost in the trenches, as they say, and this will be a better year.

[Dopey]

50 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Now it is up to Allen and McCoy to show up on game day against a better OL.  We simply cannot run an offense when your QB has the most rushing yards in the season

Hopefully McCoy has a good year, but I think Frank Gore will be a 1st down getting machine. 2nd and 3 or 3rd and 2, Gore get's the ball behind that line and it's a 1st down all the time.

[Bangarang]

56 minutes ago, aceman_16 said:

A lot? Please elaborate.

 

His initial coaching staff on offense was Dennison as OC, Castillo as o-line coach, Culley as QB coach and McGeoghan as WR coach. 

Edited May 11, 2019 by Bangarang

[NewEra]

12 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

 

His initial coaching staff on offense was Dennison as OC, Castillo as o-line coach, Culley as QB coach and McGeophan as WR coach. 

This.  And it would’ve cost him his job if he didn’t let them go.  I was sad when each of them were hired.  I’m happy 2 years later.  

[Happy]

1 hour ago, Jpsredemption said:

The Castillo hire underwhelming along with a lot McDermotts initial staff. 

 

Completely agree.  I think Leslie Frazier may be the only initial staff still with the team, and he too underwhelms.

Edited May 11, 2019 by Happy Gilmore

[The Wiz]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

I presume if the opposite occurs you would agree both are successes?   Or maybe not.

No that just means they are doing what they should have been doing all along. Nothing positive can be said about doing your job. Or so I've heard anyways. 

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

This.  And it would’ve cost him his job if he didn’t let them go.  I was sad when each of them were hired.  I’m happy 2 years later.  

 

As you probably know, no HC hires his dream staff his first year in the saddle.  The best coordinators and position coaches are typically employed and under contract.   When he came to the Bills, McD hired the best unwanted castoffs that were available.

 

Over time, he'll continue to build his staff.   This season, it sure feels like we have upgrades at the QB and OL coaching positions.  

[aceman_16]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

 

His initial coaching staff on offense was Dennison as OC, Castillo as o-line coach, Culley as QB coach and McGeoghan as WR coach. 

So four out of 27. Okay I was just curious how many "a lot" was to some people to fit narratives.

[Shaw66]

Tiger -

 

thanks for the post and the link.  there's lots of good stuff in that article.

 

the picture of Singletary, Oliver and Ford together is interesting.  Ford is a giant!

[NewEra]

5 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

As you probably know, no HC hires his dream staff his first year in the saddle.  The best coordinators and position coaches are typically employed and under contract.   When he came to the Bills, McD hired the best unwanted castoffs that were available.

 

Over time, he'll continue to build his staff.   This season, it sure feels like we have upgrades at the QB and OL coaching positions.  

For sure. The Castillo hiring was the only hiring that I opening loathed and challenged.  His work as OL and run game coordinator was awful.  As run game coordinator for the ravens in 2013, they averaged a league low 3.1 per attempt, ranked around the middle of the pack in attempts while finishing with the 3rd lowest rushing yards.  His OL in Baltimore had way more talent than we did imo.  It was inevitable that he would either be fired or McD would lose his job because he kept him.  

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

2 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

The most encouraging rookie camp observation.....

 

.....full participation and no injuries ?

 

....and no one declared a "bust" yet on TBD??....somethin' ain't passin' the smell test........

[billieve420]

The one thing I will give McDermott he is always looking to improve. From players to coaches if they are not cutting it they will be gone.

Edited May 11, 2019 by billieve420

[hondo in seattle]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

For sure. The Castillo hiring was the only hiring that I opening loathed and challenged.  His work as OL and run game coordinator was awful.  As run game coordinator for the ravens in 2013, they averaged a league low 3.1 per attempt, ranked around the middle of the pack in attempts while finishing with the 3rd lowest rushing yards.  His OL in Baltimore had way more talent than we did imo.  It was inevitable that he would either be fired or McD would lose his job because he kept him.  

 

I'll confess I didn't realize how bad Castillo was until we hired him.  In fact, I remember Castillo getting positive reviews as the OL coach in Philly until they bizarrely made him the DC - apparently thinking at the time that he'd be an upgrade over our very own Sean McDermott!   I was oblivious to his struggles in Baltimore.  

[Alaska Darin]

2 hours ago, Jpsredemption said:

The Castillo hire underwhelming along with a lot McDermotts initial staff. 

Which should have been expected given how the organization was perceived around the league at that time.  Competent professionals don't want to work in an environment with a lame duck GM. 

 

Juan Castillo could have been Jim Hanifan (he isn't) but there wasn't much to work with last season.  The BILLS are very fortunate that Josh Allen didn't get completely wrecked behind that Oline with that group of wide receivers.  It had David Carr/Tim Couch written all over it.

[Kemp]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

If the Bills don’t improve on o-line then Bean is a failure at GM as is McDermott as a coach. They have done a lot to address the situation. 

 

The success or failure of Josh Allen will determine whether Beane is a success or failure.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

Just now, Kemp said:

 

The success or failure of Josh Allen will determine whether Beane is a success or failure.

 

...and the OTHER 52 get a free pass I suppose.....now there's an intuitive comment...SMH.....

[Kemp]

1 minute ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

...and the OTHER 52 get a free pass I suppose.....now there's an intuitive comment...SMH.....

 

If you don't think this is how it will play out, then perception history of every franchise must be wrong.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

3 minutes ago, Kemp said:

 

If you don't think this is how it will play out, then perception history of every franchise must be wrong.

 

..so then EVERY GM who selected a QB in 2018 draft as well as 2019 for that matter should know their azz is on the line for ONE pick....if you say so.....SMH....

[Kemp]

Just now, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

..so then EVERY GM who selected a QB in 2018 draft as well as 2019 for that matter should know their azz is on the line for ONE pick....if you say so.....SMH....

 

Name all of the GMs since the NFL became a passing league who have been considered great without a stellar QB, and the reverse.

Whether any of us think it's a fair way to evaluate a GM, that is almost always how it plays out. I'm surprised anyone wouldn't believe that.

If Josh Allen becomes a legit stud at QB, almost everyone here will think Beane has done a good job.

If Allen fails, most people here will want Beane gone. Again, it may or may not be fair, but it's reality. 

[BuffaloBill]

3 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

I presume if the opposite occurs you would agree both are successes?   Or maybe not.

 

No, that is your logic and assumption. Just because a caterpillar can turn into a butterfly does not mean the opposite is the case. 

[Da webster guy]

28 minutes ago, Kemp said:

 

Name all of the GMs since the NFL became a passing league who have been considered great without a stellar QB, and the reverse.

Whether any of us think it's a fair way to evaluate a GM, that is almost always how it plays out. I'm surprised anyone wouldn't believe that.

If Josh Allen becomes a legit stud at QB, almost everyone here will think Beane has done a good job.

If Allen fails, most people here will want Beane gone. Again, it may or may not be fair, but it's reality. 

 

Yeah I agree.   Elway is a good example of someone who has made some decent moves but if he doesn't finally land a stellar qb in the next few years he's getting replaced.

[TigerJ]

3 hours ago, Jpsredemption said:

The Castillo hire underwhelming along with a lot McDermotts initial staff. 

I remember reading some good things about Castillo.  I wonder if he's just getting tired of the grind.  Coaching is a grind to be sure.  McDermott has shifted in his assistant hires from targeting experience to youth, enthusiasm, and a hands on style for his position coaches.  I think the point of hiring experience was to feel a little more secure as a new head coach hire.  Now, having a little experience of his own he's developing a taste for what he likes in his position coaches.

[Bangarang]

1 hour ago, aceman_16 said:

So four out of 27. Okay I was just curious how many "a lot" was to some people to fit narratives.

 

I don’t recall saying a lot but you asked for him to elaborate so I threw some names out there off the top of my head.

 

I couldn’t tell you how many coaches from McD’s initial staff are still on the team or even still coaching for that matter.

 

Regardless, his initial offensive staff was largely a big pile of ? 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Tiger -

 

thanks for the post and the link.  there's lots of good stuff in that article.

 

 the picture of Singletary, Oliver and Ford together is interesting.  Ford is a giant!

 

....and Singletary....is not. 

 

In teresting (and encouraging) to hear him called the best player on the field. I know, that doesn’t mean anything on day one of rookie camp in May, but it still makes me want to get a look at him in a game. 

[3rdand12]

3 hours ago, Happy Gilmore said:

 

Completely agree.  I think Leslie Frazier may be the only initial staff still with the team, and he too underwhelms.

I once felt that way about Leslie

 I no longer do.
He is executing the design nicely.
Full court press to address the Offense this year gets my thumbs up.

1 hour ago, TigerJ said:

I remember reading some good things about Castillo.  I wonder if he's just getting tired of the grind.  Coaching is a grind to be sure.  McDermott has shifted in his assistant hires from targeting experience to youth, enthusiasm, and a hands on style for his position coaches.  I think the point of hiring experience was to feel a little more secure as a new head coach hire.  Now, having a little experience of his own he's developing a taste for what he likes in his position coaches.

nailed it !

[Chandler#81]

2 hours ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

....and no one declared a "bust" yet on TBD??....somethin' ain't passin' the smell test........

 

well, Knox bobbled and dropped his 1st catch attempt, so...

 BUST! 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

14 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

 

well, Knox bobbled and dropped his 1st catch attempt, so...

 BUST! 

... goner now...call the leader in "gettin' outta town".....

 

[Happy]

30 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

I once felt that way about Leslie

 I no longer do.
He is executing the design nicely.
Full court press to address the Offense this year gets my thumbs up.

 

 

I''ll admit this, after the bye week (week 11), things got a lot better as far as the defense goes.  It is still kind of concerning how the defense let the Dolphins score 21 and the Jets 27 or Dec 2 and 9, respectively.  I'll give Frazier this year, as well as McDermott, before I get too critical on both.  For the attention that was paid to the defense in 2017 and 2018 by the FO, it should have been better than it was.  But we'll see...

 

Offense was in desperate need to be addressed, so that was good to see.  i still think we're short a DE/edge; and please don't count on Trent Murphy since that is setting up for disappointment.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

5 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

The most encouraging rookie camp observation.....

 

.....full participation and no injuries ?

Shhh!

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Different people have different teaching styles. As long as the coach can get his point across and the players improve, it doesn't much make a difference how. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

6 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

I presume if the opposite occurs you would agree both are successes?   Or maybe not.

 

Just Win, baby

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...FIFTY in attendance...pretty damn impressive......will hang up now and wait for multiple TBD "camp fodder" yips to ring in.....