Archives for July 2014

‘Dareus was scheduled to return to camp in time for practice Tuesday morning. But the team says his flight was canceled by bad weather in North Carolina. He is scheduled to arrive at camp in suburban Rochester, New York, later in the day.’

‘”It’s never just what you see. You always have to have a basis,” said Manuel. “We’re a progression-based offense and you always are going to go through your progressions someway, somehow. So if nobody is open, do a realistic thing, throw it away or take off and run.”‘

‘To put it bluntly, the Bills’ offense had their worst day of training camp to this point.’

‘Any time Tuel’s name was brought up and the Bills were asked what they would like to see from him, some variation of the words ‘he needs to get stronger,’ was used. The second-year quarterback took it to heart, nailed down a program with the training staff to get leaner in the offseason and has come back to the Bills with a new physique.’

‘Adding another layer to the story, Dareus also hasn’t been able to take the field for the team after a failed conditioning test on Saturday. The team said they’ll continue to evaluate him and determine when they believe he’ll be ready to take the test again. No timetable has been given, but the Bills remained confident that he’ll get back on the field.’

‘Cornerback Brandon Smith and linebacker Darrin Kitchens, each who were injured during Monday afternoon’s practice, have suffered what head coach Doug Marrone termed a “lower body injury.”‘

‘”Luckily we have a lot of familiar faces back” Wood said. “We have Chris Williams at left guard, that’s our only new addition once Cordy gets back. We have pretty good chemistry or should have with that starting five. The good thing is we have a lot of talented back ups now and they’re competing for starting jobs. If they can beat out one of the starters that will mean they’re playing pretty good ball.”‘

‘”Luckily we have a lot of familiar faces back” Wood said. “We have Chris Williams at left guard, that’s our only new addition once Cordy gets back. We have pretty good chemistry or should have with that starting five. The good thing is we have a lot of talented back ups now and they’re competing for starting jobs. If they can beat out one of the starters that will mean they’re playing pretty good ball.”‘

‘”The offensive line can block and get some contact once they put the pads and they were definitely opening up some holes for us,” said Fred Jackson. “We notice it and it’s always the best part for us running backs when we can put the pads on and feel some contact out there.”‘

‘Boyd entered the league earlier this year as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-2, 243 pound Western Kentucky product lead the Hilltoppers in tackles with 103, tackles for loss with (15.5), sacks with (8.5) and had one forced fumble during the 2013 season. Boyd is 23 years old and a native of St. Petersburg, FL.’

‘Just because we did some good things last year doesn’t mean we’re necessarily going to be able to do that again. We still have to come in and commit to working hard and trying to establish that. It’s a new year, if you think you’re just going to roll out there and run the ball well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every year you have to go back out and build a foundation, and it’s going to take a while. Today was the first day in pads, and this is something that will develop as we go along in camp.’

‘I thought we did lean on the passing game. It just so happened that we ran the ball very good. Anytime you’re second in the league (in rushing) and 28th or 29th in passing, obviously you’re going to think it’s a true imbalance. But I think the way Coach (Nathaniel) Hackett calls plays is very balanced. Obviously, just when we have opportunities to connect, that’s when we need to execute it. I don’t think it’s him calling different plays or the balance was off as far as his play calling. I think it’s more so us executing the passing game better.’

‘Start with the fact that Buffalo’s first-round draft pick, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is the real deal.’

‘The Florida State product is in a very different situation than he was last summer. A year ago, Manuel was learning a new offense from a new coaching staff, adjusting to new teammates and battling for the starting quarterback position with veteran Kevin Kolb. This year, coaches named Manuel the starter before practices began and he appears to be more comfortable around his teammates and the media.’

‘Williams appears to have found his happy place after a sometimes tumultuous first two years with the Bills. While his on-the-field play has mostly lived up to what the team hoped for when it signed him to a contract worth up to $96 million in 2012, Williams made reference to the off-the-field issues he’s gone through.’