Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“For me it’s easy,” Johnson said after practice at St. John Fisher College the other day. “All I have to do is watch and they’re going to tell me who should win the jobs and who shouldn’t. It’s not going to be me; they’re going to do it. No coach ever cuts a player, a player cuts a player. No coach ever wins a job, the player wins the job. I’m teaching them the tools they need to be successful and watching who responds and who doesn’t.”’

‘After two days of helmets and shells, the Bills got after it in their full gear and there was even a brief skirmish when rookie tight end Dawson Knox was handled rather roughly as he was heading out of bounds after making a catch.’

‘“This is how I support my family; this is the way I take care of her and my kids,” he said. “But to be honest, she’s the one that told me to get back out here, she told me not to miss. As a husband and a man, it’s my obligation to be there for my family so it is crazy that I’m here, but it’s her, she wouldn’t want it any other way.”’

‘“I’d say with all our wide receivers, they’re like Smurfs,’’ said McDermott, referring to the popular cartoon of small blue people which was also the nickname given the Redskins’ trio of Alvin Garrett, Virgil Seay and yes, a real person named Charlie Brown. “If you ever watch them, they live in like a small village, so they can separate in small spaces. All of our receivers are like this tall.’’’

‘“Kurt is a guy who is familiar with both of us,” said Beane. “He’s started more than 80 games, so he’ll bring a lot of veteran savvy. He’s a hard-nosed player who is very smart and a great fit for our team and this defense.”’

‘“When Sean and (offensive coordinator) Brian Daboll roll the ball out, LeSean is going to be the first running back to touch the ball,” Beane said before the Bills took the field at Fisher for their first training camp practice under a brilliant sunny sky. “That’s the way we see it.”’

‘Morse is now second-year quarterback Josh Allen’s new best friend. Allen’s personal 6-6, 305-pound shaved-headed bodyguard who, with left tackle Dion Dawkins, are the only surefire starters among 16 offensive linemen in camp.’

‘The only thing we know for certain is that as long as Morse is healthy, he’s a starter. Beyond him, it’s a guessing game as to what the final puzzle will look like come opening day in New York.’

‘Last season provided some fodder regarding the overall importance of special teams. Longtime NFL writer Rick Gosselin, who has been ranking special teams units for more than two decades with his own widely respected system, ranked the Jets No. 1 in overall special teams plays last season, with the Dolphins fourth and the Cardinals fifth. None of those teams came close to making the playoffs.’

‘Specifically, the Bills need to be better against the run (16th) and in points allowed (18th), but taking it a step further, Pro Football Focus sees loads of room for improvement. In their advanced metrics, PFF graded the Bills as the 13th-best overall defense in the league (a far cry from second based on yards only), but had them 23rd against the run and 29th in tackling. Against the pass, PFF ranked Buffalo 10th in pass rush efficiency and ninth in coverage efficiency.’

‘“The more you can rep together, the more chemistry you’re going to have,” said Daboll. “There are going to be plenty of times in the year when we are going to have to use a different personnel group or do something else so it’s not good for anybody to get hurt during this time, but you go ahead, you work with what you got and put the guys out there because it’s going to happen. Long way to go, but we feel good about the guys we have and we’re looking forward to getting out there.”’

‘Still, Allen accrued some valuable experience, and now in his second year in Brian Daboll’s offense, being mentored by a true QB coach in Ken Dorsey, and surrounded by a much stronger supporting cast, the expectations are soaring for Allen. It’s on him to respond in a positive way which means being better in several areas, most obviously his accuracy and decision-making.’

‘With the Buffalo Bills set to return to St. John Fisher College on Thursday for the start of training camp, here are a few helpful tips and pointers for veteran and first-time attendees to maximize their experience…’.

‘Coleman is a player coach Sean McDermott is familiar with. He played his first four years in Philadelphia, and his rookie season of 2010 overlapped with McDermott’s last year as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator.’

‘Unless you think LeSean McCoy is a mortal lock to be the starting running back, the only position that isn’t completely up for grabs on offense is quarterback, where Josh Allen is the unchallenged starter.’