Archives for July 28, 2015

'“I knew they were serious about it once they told me they wanted me to play safety only,” he said. “I knew it was real then. It’s been fun, to be honest with you. I’m looking forward to it. It’s like starting all over again, learning a new position, the nuances of it and all that. It’s like I’m a rookie all over again. So I’m excited about it. I want to see where it can take me.”'

'Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Harvin are presumably locks. Beyond them, who knows?'

'In recent months, Brandon had become increasingly involved with the Sabres’ business operations. Other members of the Bills’ front office, such as senior vice president of media and content Marc Honan, have already been doing Sabres-related work in addition to their Bills responsibilities.'

'Another source close to the situation said Brandon's ability to "combine assets more effectively, leverage combined assets and create a consistent message" made him a natural to become president of both teams.'

'The more time Kim Pegula spent with the Bills, the more evident it became that their front office was much stronger than the Sabres’ operation. Not only did the owners look to the top for what worked for the Bills, they also looked to the top for changes that needed to be made with the Sabres. They weren’t just streamlining operations. '

'And Bills fans seem to be just fine with that: No Doug Marrone? No problem.'

'With so much talent at the skill positions with LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay and Jerome Felton joining Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Chris Hogan and Fred Jackson, the Bills could make some serious noise this year if their quarterback can simply not screw things up and just distribute the ball to everyone with some semblance of consistency. Of course, with a depth chart of — in no particular order — Cassel, Manuel, Taylor, and Simms, that might be asking too much.'

'Ever since his introductory press conference, Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman has emphasized how important the tight end position will be in Buffalo's offense. The Bills supported that by making Clay one of the highest paid tight ends in the NFL. If organized team activities and minicamp were any indication, Clay will be targeted early and often in this offense. He mentioned earlier this offseason that the Bills don't want him coming off the field. That bodes well for his production.'

'While Brandon has gotten heat from fans for some football decisions, he will be relied on for his business ability in his new role. Brandon navigated the Bills through the sale of the franchise following Ralph Wilson Jr.'s death and is a big reason the franchise stayed in Western New York.'

'Michelle Giarardi Zumwalt, who produced the film for NFL Network, explained the reasoning for Marrone's exclusion.'

'They're sky high. Ryan's brash approach, combined with McCoy's acquisition to lead "ground-and-pound" running attack and talent-laden, attacking defense that returns mostly intact puts Buffalo in position to improve on 2014 win total. Playoff contender? It'll be clearer after opening month that features games against Indianapolis, New England, Miami and Giants.'

'"It doesn't fire me up," Manuel said of his many doubters. "If I continue to focus on what I need to do to get better, I think that's what matters for me. I really don't buy into the extra stuff being said. I just focus on what I need to focus on."'

'It’s generally considered and accepted that the Bills will once again have one of the top defenses in the National Football League. And why not? It’s a unit that returns ten of eleven starters after finishing fourth overall in both yards and points allowed per game, and third in yards per play allowed last season. And even though they lost the man many view mostly responsible for harnessing that talent, Jim Schwartz, they’re now going to be coached by Rex Ryan, considered one of the best defensive minds in the game over the past decade.'

'In the upcoming season, Watkins will once again be the top wide receiver on the roster — even if the quarterback play can't take full advantage of him. Watkins will make highlight reel-worthy plays throughout the season, even if his stats won't indicate an elite level receiver. The next step for him is to be moved all over the field, rather than just playing at one spot like he did in 2014. Unfortunately, he goes as the quarterbacks go, which is why he only placed at number three this year.'

'The decline in ability hasn't happened yet for Williams, and the Bills are certainly hoping it doesn't happen in 2015 — a year that they believe is the best chance to get to the postseason in quite some time. Williams will be paired with Marcell Dareus to form one of the best defensive tackle duos in all the NFL. They work very well with one another, and will certainly set the tone for the defense as they have done for the past several years.'