Archives for August 17, 2017

'Who steps up at right cornerback? Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier declared it an "open competition" for Ronald Darby's vacated spot in the secondary. With veteran Leonard Johnson looking locked in as the slot cornerback and rookie first-round draft pick Tre'Davious White on the left side, that leaves Kevon Seymour, veteran Shareece Wright and newcomer E.J. Gaines as the most likely candidates to replace Darby. Seymour is questionable for the game with a foot injury, but will surely be campaigning to play. He doesn't want to risk falling behind if the other two turn in good performances.'

'Rumor has the Bills looking to find their franchise quarterback during the 2018 NFL Draft. But hold up, Nathan Peterman is currently rising up the depth charts. The fifth-round rookie has taken second-team reps following a strong performance against the Minnesota Vikings last week. Peterman nearly completed a 14-point comeback but a dropped pass buried that. Peterman hasn’t been completely consistent during practices, but veteran TJ Yates, who Peterman passed on the depth chart, has not looked consistent either. But against Minnesota, Yates simply did not look good. Will the rookie lock down QB2 or is there some life left in the vet? … Oh yeah, Tyrod Taylor will start too… but we knew that, people.'

'"You guys are getting to know me well enough now that I’m more focused on our team," McDermott said to reporters Tuesday, the Bills' final day of camp. "I want us to go out and perform the way I expect us to perform."'

'Peterman was mostly impressive through training camp and in last week's preseason-opener against the Minnesota Vikings. But entering the Vikings' game as a third-stringer, he was able to take advantage of mostly bottom-of-the-roster defenders. Things will be drastically different against the Eagles, whose second-string defenders (and perhaps even some starters) will provide a greater challenge.'

'Yarbrough spent the majority of the practices in the offensive backfield. He was ultra-quick off the ball and showed excellent moves and superb use of his hands. Yarbrough took full advantage of the opportunity he had to work with the ones while starting end Shaq Lawson was injured. There seems little doubt he has secured a spot on the roster, as well as a regular spot in pass-rush packages.'

'Johnson fails to mention that he was perhaps the most frequently sacked QB in NFL history. I dare you to find a QB who took sacks more often than Rob's 17 per 100 passes. That's why Wade Phillips kicked a field goal on first down in the Music City Miracle, leaving time for a kickoff. He was afraid Rob would get sacked.'

'"The Sean McDermott Show" will be simulcast at 11 a.m. Sunday on WKBW-TV (Channel 7) and MSG WNY.'

'Sure, his wife and two children, his parents, and his brother and his family will be at the game, but outside of some hugs and kisses and small talk, this is a business trip for McDermott and the mission is crystal clear.'

'“We’ve got some depth at that position, which is nice to have and critical to have at that position," said McDermott. "Dion would potentially move over if we got that far. At this point and time, we’re not going to do that; we want him to get comfortable at the right (tackle) position. But we do need to have a contingency plan in place and we feel like the reps that Dion has built up over the spring should serve him well if needed."'

'Montgomery only coached Jones for his final season at ECU, but he saw enough to know Jones should hit the ground running in the NFL. Jones learned five wide receiver positions as a senior for the Pirates. It was a necessity for ECU given their shortcomings at the position, but Montgomery also considered it necessary for Jones to transition to the NFL. He needed to play more than just the slot, so he had him learn both outside positions in the offense. Then the other two slot positions.'

'"Four things that I require from an intangible standpoint: Accountability, work ethic, discipline and spirit," Connors said. "Zay's always been at the highest level of all four of those categories. I believe those are the things that get you to the next level. Those are the things scouts have asked me about for 25 years. Always accountable. Never late, never missed anything. Always 100 percent effort. Not 98. No matter what you do, he always knew one speed.'

'The players expected to be the Bills' No. 1 wide receiver and top cornerback in 2017 are gone after two trades last week. Will the losses of Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby affect the team's play on offense and defense? Watkins was targeted early and often against the Vikings and the team may be rolling out a few players across from Tre'Davious White. How the team responds in their first game since the trades is something to watch on Thursday night.'

'"Hand-picked by Rex Ryan, Ragland was identified as an ideal fit for the ex-Buffalo coach's 3-4 scheme. In Sean McDermott's 4-3 operation, though, the hard-hitting Alabama star has failed to click, riding with the third-team defense in recent days. Ragland's rookie season was washed away by a knee injury, but the 2016 second-rounder is filled with promise as an old-school, aggressive defender who fearlessly seeks out ball carriers. I'd love to see him grow in Kansas City, where the team could use an understudy to Derrick Johnson, who turns 35 this November. Few teams do a better job of developing young defenders — the kind of attention Ragland desperately needs."'

'It would be more notable if Matthews was playing. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is Matthews’ close friend who drove the wide receiver to the airport Friday to catch a flight to Buffalo. He said after the trade that it’s “going to be really weird” and “is not going to be fun” to see Matthews come out of the visitors’ tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field. Matthews’ injury means Wentz won’t see him in a different jersey.'

'"It’s an aggressive defense," Bradham said. "[Schwartz] is all about being aggressive up front and using your speed, and focus in on getting the ball out, creating turnovers. Pretty much being physical and having a lot of aggression. As a defensive player, he’s pretty much just telling you, ‘Go!’ and that’s what we’re doing."'