Archives for August 2016

'During his time with the Bills, Williams has accumulated 470 total tackles, 35.5 sacks and one interception. He's been a first-team All-Pro once and he's been named to four Pro Bowl teams in his career. Williams has been one of Buffalo's most reliable players over the last 10 years, so it's no surprise that Pro Football Focus named him as Buffalo's best player over the past decade.'

'Socha says his role with the team will include scouting future opponents, breaking down film and working on special projects. In practice, Socha has primarily been assisting with the running backs. During games, he will sit in the booth charting plays and noting opponent tendencies.'

'"I feel pretty good about the guys that I sat, obviously, and I don't think we can afford to get them hurt," Ryan said. "It's as simple as that, and I don't care about the criticism."'

'Buffalo quarterback E.J. Manuel drove the Bills from their own 34 to a first-and-goal at the Washington seven inside the final minute, but a touchdown pass to Greg Little was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty on Little.'

'Buffalo jumped out to the 6-0 lead on the strength of two Dan Carpenter field goals, the second of which came from 52 yards out. Cousins struggled early on, completing just 3 of 10 at one point, before catching fire against the Bills' defensive backups.'

'"I think [as a team we made] amazing strides, and I think as an offense we made strides," Taylor said on Wednesday following practice. "I'm excited to see what this team can do next year. I have a real good feeling about the players we have out there. We just have to stay healthy as a unit on both sides of the ball."'

'Running back Jonathan Williams continued his dominant preseason, racing 37 yards for his second touchdown of the preseason to pull Buffalo within 21-16. However, his night ended late in the third quarter after being body slammed and suffering a rib injury.'

'The Bills sat seven total starters, and for those that actually did play, the veteran players were in for only two series. I can’t stress enough how smart of a move that was for Rex and the Bills, considering the tumultuous offseason they’ve had up to this point in time. The age old expectation is that the third preseason game is the ‘dress rehearsal’ for the regular season… but why?'

'The Bills put together a field goal drive at the end of the half led by EJ Manuel and Jonathan Williams ran for a 37-yard touchdown to cut the lead to five in the third quarter. But that’s as close as Buffalo would get in a 21-16 final.'

'“It felt pretty good. I think I needed it. It’s something I wanted to do,” said Watkins. “I knew I needed it. Things were moving a little faster than I had seen in practice. It was live and that’s the type of reps that you need coming off an injury or not playing as much.”'

'Ryan was referring to Washington safety De’Angelo Hall. Flagged for unnecessary roughness on the previous series for a late hit on a run play, Hall submarined Gragg on a 3rd-and-13 play when the tight end caught a short pass over the middle. The tight end was pinwheeled by Hall’s hit and sustained the ACL knee injury.'

'“It’s a much different year for us injury-wise and other things that have factored in,” said Ryan. “I see how we play every day. Our team has done well to this point in the preseason. At this point it’s most important for us to get to the opening game healthy. We have to be smart about it.”'

'“Every year we have high hopes going into the season, and they kind of break our heart in a way,” Vossler said in the Allegany-based restaurant he owns with his wife. “This is kind of standard. There’s always issues and stuff."'

'The debut of Sammy Watkins. Ryan said the Bills No. 1 receiver will play for the first time in the preseason. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor explained why that will be valuable for the offense. If Taylor and Watkins can pick up where they left off at the end of 2015, it will be a very good thing for the offense.'

'"A hell of a lot further along than we were last year," Ryan said. "I mean, that goes without saying, but I think it’s pretty obvious. Just every day in practice, that’s a different defense than it was last year, thank goodness.'