Archives for June 2014

‘Six of the 13 players not participating in practice were not in the team’s facilities whatsoever. Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, defensive end Manny Lawson, defensive tackle Alan Branch, guard Chris Williams, guard/center Doug Legursky and tight end Mike Caussin all were absent from Thursday’s session.’

‘”The coaches have been stressing over-communicating,” Williams said. “Calling things out you may not normally call in-season, so you’re trying to get to the point when you do get to the season, you’re only making adjustment type calls.”‘

‘”I feel things are going well. I understand the defense. It’s coming better and better every day,” he said. “I’m getting acclimated with being back out on the field and realizing where my teammates are going to be and just getting camaraderie with the guys and just playing with the guys.”‘

‘At this stage of the game Schwartz is still mixing and matching some lineup combinations on defense, particularly at the positions where there are new pieces like linebacker and safety. He insists jobs are not being won in OTAs, but it is aiding the defensive coordinator and his staff in finding the right fits for certain roles.’

‘”I think when you’re good against the run, it affects all other areas of your defense. If you’re good against the run, you’re going to generally be better on third down, because they’re going to have longer third-down distances to get. You’re good in the red zone. The best teams in the red zone every year are the teams that can run the ball and stop the run,” he said. “If you can make a team one-dimensional, you can set up turnovers – and this defense was very good at creating turnovers last year.”‘

‘”If it’s a modification of the existing stadium, great, because we’re already going down that road. If they say, ‘We won’t stay unless there’s a new stadium,’ then we’re going to have to probe that discussion,” Cuomo told reporters. “Then it’s about the money … and who’s going to pay?”‘

‘The most important thing they have to ascertain is what it really will take for Dareus to turn his life back in a proper direction. If he thinks about the road that got him to the NFL in the first place, he’ll see it’s not such a tough pivot to make.’

‘”I was there. I was involved in it,” said Hughes following practice Wednesday.’

‘Although he did not take part in any team drills throughout the day, Williams was back in uniform going through the paces during the positional portion of practice. He had a procedure on his hip during the offseason that has slowed him down at the start of OTAs.’

‘For three straight practices, it seemed as though the offense was getting the better of the defense in taking advantages of miscues down the field during team drills. Based on what was seen on Wednesday, the offense couldn’t make it four days in a row.’

‘Facilities are open to fans one hour before practice begins. Tickets are required for all night practices.’

‘”Today with the red zone with it being the first red zone (work), typically it’s a completely different package and that’s why guys were thinking a little bit and they were trying to get everything worked out,” said offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. “It’s a lot different than the field. It happens so fast down there whether it’s pads or no pads. Everything is quicker down in that red zone. We’ve talked to the guys all the time. So we have to be able to execute that.”‘

‘”This is the first time I’ve come to a team and getting a fresh start in a 4-3,” he said. “In the 3-4, as the 5-technique, you’re holding up blocks and pretty much having the linebackers make the plays. Here we’re getting upfield, penetrating, breaking glass, trying to make plays.”‘

‘He is charged with Reckless endangerment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, Reckless driving and participating in an illegal speed contest, both unclassified misdemeanors as well as traffic violations. He appeared in Town Court with counsel for arraignment yesterday where he was released on his own recognizance. Dareus is due back in court June 17th, at 10:00 a.m.’

‘The Bills should have cut Dareus on Saturday and been done with him. Marrone said at the draft that he believes in second chances. How many does this make? Five? Dareus is an embarrassment to his head coach, and an insult to the memory of Ralph Wilson.’