Archives for June 2015

'"I see myself fitting in the same kind of role I had last year," said Hogan, who enjoyed a breakout 2014 when he was Buffalo's third receiver and caught 41 passes for 426 yards and 4 touchdowns. "I'm a guy that can play inside or outside. It's really going to come down to who does what the best and that's what we're trying to get to in these OTAs and mini-camps. For me, I'm going to try to do everything good and hopefully that carries into training camp and from there, I hope I can find my way onto the field."'

'"Do I feel like I'm changed?" Incognito asked Wednesday at the Bills' mandatory minicamp. "You know, it's six one way, half dozen the other. I've definitely grown, definitely matured. I definitely did take some steps forward. But you know I think what this whole thing was, it really just shook me down to my core values, and really just kind of (made me think about) the kind of man I am."'

'While some of that can be chalked up to solid defensive play, it's not ideal for the offense to take that kind of step back, particularly after a day when they showed some progress. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman isn't ready to judge the team until training camp. Still, it's obvious a break could do them some good.'

'Coach Rex Ryan didn't meet with the media Wednesday, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman didn't provide much of an explanation other than to say Henderson was a day behind after missing practice Tuesday because of a travel issues. The Bills did not make Henderson available to the media.'

'In a pair of 11-on-11 sessions, quarterbacks Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Tyrod Taylor (who, by mini-camp rotation, took his Wednesday reps with first-teamers) and Matt Simms saw nearly all of their passes bounce, or klunk off receivers’ hands, or sail high over their heads, or get broken up, or get intercepted. One after another.'

'“I think the goal is really just kind of assimilate to the team as fast as possible,” he said after Wednesday’s mandatory-minicamp practice, the second of three. “It’s been a nice spring: just come up here and really concentrate on football. Really, just get back into it, and get back into a good rhythm.'

'Wayne Hunter hasn't played in the NFL since 2012. That Ryan would give him a tryout now speaks to Ryan's loyalty to those who have played and worked for him. But it also speaks to Ryan's rather noticeable insistence on transforming the Bills into a replica of the Jets teams he coached from 2009 to 2014.'

'"At the beginning, I didn't know if I wanted the disease to be a tool," Kelly said. "I didn't want to share it with anybody. But my wife said, 'We need as many people praying for you as possible.' As time went on, that kept me going."'

'The suspicion here is that the problems for quarterbacks will likely be the same. Opponents are going to have to get the ball out fast, and do it against a scheme that won't have to gamble at the line of scrimmage and should have creative coverage opportunities in the back end. Buffalo also should have the flexibility that Chicago didn't – namely the personnel to move in and out of the 4-3 and 3-4, and a variety of sub-packages. Basically, this roster will be a toy store for Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman.'

'“The power running is something I’ve molded myself into being able to do,” Jackson told reporters this week. “They also ask us to run some routes out of the backfield, and I feel like I’m a guy that can get that done anytime you ask him to.”'

'Watkins is trying to get used to three other quarterbacks and of course he knows EJ Manuel. He said it’s difficult to get to know all three, “It is and that’s where training camp will come in, you get more time with the starter and the backups, so you just have to find your way where you fit in and get as much work as you can.” Watkins added, “That’s why we having training camp and I think for the most part, the coach has an idea who the starter will be and that’s who will probably get the most reps with, but we’ll have to do it quick.”'

'Screens were the theme early and often during the second of a three-day mandatory minicamp at One Bills Drive. Screens to the wide receivers. Screens to the tight ends. Screens to the running backs. Even screens to the H-Back/fullback. You name it, they ran it, especially in the offensive portion of practice before going live against the defense. The screen game was almost non-existent in last year's offense, whether due to unwillingness by the coaching staff or inability by the offensive line.'

'“I have a lot to give back to the game and I had a feeling I wanted to do something after I was done playing,” Reed told the media after the team’s first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday. “Even before that, but my kids were too small and I think as they are older now I can devote more time to it if I want too.”'

'This disclaimer should always be used around this time of the year when it comes to player performance: it's only June. However, this was not a banner day for the Bills offense.'

'The safety combinations have varied somewhat week to week. On Wednesday the starting tandem was again Duke Williams and Bacarri Rambo as was the case Tuesday. The other pairing was Corey Graham and Jonathan Meeks. Kenny Ladler rotated in and out for Graham for a snap here and there.'