Archives for July 17, 2014

‘Sylvester entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. The 6-foot-2, 231 pound Utah product appeared in 50 games during his four seasons with Pittsburgh. He was almost exclusively a special teams player his first three years. He played a little less than 10 percent of the snaps on defense last season.’

‘What the Bills have gained in run defense this offseason they have lost in coverage. Spikes and Rivers haven’t shown the same ability to stick with tight ends in coverage that Alonso showed in just his first season in the league. Make no mistake, Alonso will be missed in this area.’

‘”Nowadays a lot of people beat [cancer],” Kelly told ESPN on Wednesday. I hope I’m going to be one of those. I will find out more come next month.”‘

‘Toronto is much easier. That group, which includes rocker Jon Bon Jovi, and MLS&E owners Larry Tanenbaum and the Rogers family, could rebuild BMO Field. There is much more corporate advertising and premium seating money in Toronto than Buffalo. A Toronto group would likely pay $1.2 billion for the Bills. How could Wilson’s trust turn that down?’

‘McKelvin and linebacker Randell Johnson were placed on the active/physically unable to perform list. McKelvin had hip surgery this offseason and practiced on a limited basis during the team’s spring minicamps. Starting left tackle Cordy Glenn and defensive tackle Alan Branch were placed on the active/non-football illness list. The Bills did not specify Glenn and Branch’s illnesses.’

‘Sylvester (6-foot-2, 231 pounds) played the last four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers mainly on special teams. The former fifth-round pick in 2010 has appeared in 50 games in his NFL career and has lined up at both inside and outside linebacker. He was a three-time Mountain West Conference honoree in college playing at Utah.’

‘The important thing to note at this time of year is that any of these players can be taken off their respective lists if given clearance by the team’s medical staff. Alonso will likely miss the remainder of the year due to tearing his ACL earlier this month. Glenn missed some time at the mandatory minicamp due to an illness, but it isn’t clear if the same illness is what is keeping him out to start camp.’

‘The past tense was used in the last sentence because, of course, Alonso’s season is over before it even got started. The linebacker suffered a torn ACL working out in Oregon and will likely miss the entirety of the 2014 campaign. It’s a big blow to the Bills because they lose one of their most explosive players on defense, and there is a clear gap between him and whoever his replacement will be this season. He was also set to play at weakside linebacker, which would have suited his skill set and body best, but he will likely no longer have that chance. Nowadays professional athletes bounce back from the torn ACL injury quite well, and the Bills will have to hold on to hope that Alonso can be one of the increasing trend.’

‘Switching back to the 4-3 defensive scheme, there isn’t much of a change for Williams despite the move. In 2013, Williams basically played the role of a defensive end rushing from the left side of the defensive line. This season, he’ll be doing the same in a scheme that will ask the defensive ends to win their matchups to get pressure on the quarterback. In Mike Pettine’s scheme last year, blitzes were brought from all over the place which led to enhanced opportunities for the men on the defensive line. While blitzing won’t be completely eradicated, there will be more straight-up four-man rushes from the defensive line this year than last. Williams is always one of the most fascinating to watch on film, because he has perhaps more raw ability than anyone on the team, and it’s always a matter of if he capitalizes on it from week to week.’

‘Derek Brim, Jajuan Harley – Harley made some plays in the offseason workouts, but he’ll have to work his way up past both Broomfield and Ladler to have a shot at cracking the top five – if there is even a top five to be cracked (they could keep only four players). Brim is a great local story, being a native to Buffalo, a Canisius High School graduate and also a graduate of the University at Buffalo, but that’s likely where the story will end. Brim is perhaps the biggest longshot of all the safeties to crack the 53-man roster.’

‘The Bills addressed their linebacker position Wednesday, signing free agent Stevenson Sylvester. The free agent worked out for the club Wednesday morning and was signed in the afternoon.’

‘Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said standing behind the play in practice he can tell right away if Manuel sees what he’s supposed to recognize in the defensive coverage. Through the spring he felt Manuel was making good identification of the defense.’