Olean Times Herald

‘Quick quiz … how many players remain on the Buffalo Bills roster from when coach Sean McDermott was hired in January of 2017? If you guessed 12, your name will be added to a drawing for an autographed Kyle Orton bobblehead.’

‘Clearly, the uncertainty at quarterback – especially with veteran free agent A.J. McCarron having been traded to Oakland – is no small concern. And the substandard performance of the starting offensive line during the preseason certainly raised major questions. Then, too, the situation at wide receiver is hardly encouraging with former Panther Kelvin Benjamin the only legitimate starter, surrounded only by journeymen and projects.’

‘Allen, of course, is a rookie without experience and there is no third QB, meaning Buffalo is one injury from complete disaster.’

‘“He’s done a great job coming in here and really challenging us,” Peterman said. “Back in OTAs, we were challenged a lot with how much he put in. (But) it’s paying dividends right now because I think guys feel very comfortable with what we’re doing. You’ve seen it in preseason; it’s successful when we run it right and we just need to focus on executing.’

‘Clearly, McCarron, slowed by a shoulder injury suffered against Cleveland, wasn’t going to win the starting job … a job now reserved for either Peterman (the most likely) or Allen. Trading the veteran free agent from Cincinnati while he had some immediate value wasn’t a bad move … unless, of course, the Bills don’t sign another warm-body QB before the season opener seven days from now in Baltimore.’

‘In a game where he was set up to succeed, McCarron was nothing short of awful until the game seemed well lost.’

‘Oh, it wasn’t just Allen who was lousy in the first half of yesterday afternoon’s 26-13 preseason defeat by the Bengals at New Era Field … this was a “team effort” in every sense of the word.’

‘When Dalton and company emerge from the tunnel and onto the sideline, and approach midfield for the coin toss, it’s a safe bet that they will be cheered heavily. Replays of the touchdown may be shown on the scoreboard and most assuredly will be featured on the nationally-televised FOX broadcast. It’s a certainty that Bills fans will show their deep gratitude and appreciation for both Dalton and Boyd.’

‘But, for the second straight game, it was Nate Peterman, last year’s fifth-round draft choice. who sparkled.’

‘“(At) halftime we were about 256 yards (total offense, 257 specifically),” McDermott said. “Those are some pretty big numbers. That’s a start. You want points and there was a turnover in there. That’s kind of the game within the game that we try and teach, (the idea that) we go in the locker room at 20 (points) potentially if we pick up at least a field goal (on the drive) where we had the turnover, maybe 24 if we pick up seven.”‘

‘As for starting Peterman, McDermott allowed, “It seemed like the right thing to do,” presumably basing that decision on his performance in training camp. But he also wouldn’t commit to starting McCarron next Friday in Cleveland.’

‘One of the main topics was the health – mental and physical – of wide receiver Zay Jones, last year’s second-round draft choice, who had off-season shoulder and knee surgery and a bizarre incident in a Los Angeles high-rise when his brother reportedly stopped his threat to jump from the 30th floor.’

‘Would he be dumb enough to enlist a friend or hanger-on to forcibly recover pricey jewelry from a former girlfriend?’

‘“We’ll take a few weeks off; the guys get a chance to get away and catch up with their families and do a bit of traveling, but also really just refresh their minds. That’s an important part of this, making sure that everything’s squared away and everything’s buttoned up before we head back to training camp.”’

‘Indeed, Buffalo’s training camp has been shrinking in length in recent years, as evidenced by the 2018 schedule which was released Wednesday.’