Training Camp practice 7/25

[eball]

1 hour ago, CapeBreton said:

McCloud and Lewis are having a solid camp, I wonder if one of them could be traded since we likely can't keep both on the roster. Would hate to see them get plucked from the practice squad.

 

TWO days in.  Let the overreactions commence!

 

[Alphadawg7]

Couple of thoughts after 2 days:

 

1.  McKenzie hype is a bit overstated right now.  Him starting camp as the starting slot is not news or a sign of things to come…it’s just a default and not worth over analyzing at this time. The three guys legitimately competing for time at slot with McKenzie are all brand new to the team and were not walking into camp just handed a starting spot without knowing the offense, being familiar with Josh, terminology, etc.  I like McKenzie, but he does not have a strangle hold on the starting slot WR spot.  There is a reason we signed Crowder and drafted Shakir after we extended McKenzie for 2 years.  I think he is more likely in store for more of the same, a role player and gadget specialist.  Again, I like McKenzie, not crapping on him, just talking about how I think roles will shake out.  
 

2.  Elam is getting thrown into the fire covering probably the best foot work WR in the NFL which is Diggs.  If he was succeeding already against Diggs I would actually be worried what’s wrong with Diggs.  I fully expect a rookie to get smoked by Diggs regularly 2 days into camp as he does it to the best DBs in the NFL weekly.  But I can’t think of a better school for him than having to cover the best and learn from that.
 

3.  Allen and the offense inconsistency the first 2 days is 100% to be expected and pretty much what always happens.  First, the defense almost always comes out sharper to start camp because the offense is highly dependent on timing and it takes a little time to find that rhythm.  And adding to that we are installing new offense with a new OC.  It’s so nice not having to worry one bit about your QB if he has a rough day because you know come week 1 he is an elite QB.  
 

4.  I think we will extend Poyer.  Him participating only helps his cause and with Drew there at camp and Beanes mastery of handling these situations, I am optimistic a deal gets done that keeps him in Buffalo for as long as Hyde.  
 

5.  Tre looks promising, but still cautious given the real test is in cutting and putting that kind of extreme force into his movement.  Lot of times people can do what Tre is doing now and still be multiple months away from full contact clearance.  Until we get a more substantive update, I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic for a week 1 return.

 

6.  Shakir is the real deal, but I thought

that on draft night anyway.  Probably my favorite pick of the draft, and not only do I think he will be starting slot WR entering next season, but I think he’s going to contribute this year similar to how Davis did as a rookie.  
 

7.  Not buying the Haack praise, that dude can hit some great punts then shank the next two.  He isn’t a good in game punter, don’t care how he looks in fist couple days of camp.  Punt God is going to win the job IMHO.
 

8.  Cook is already showing he is going to be a receiving weapon this year and I think he will easily catch 50+ passes this year while splitting time with Devin.

9.  Crowder, McKenzie, Shakir, Tavon - That’s a lot of slot WRs to keep on a roster.  It could happen, but not sold they keep all 4.  This will be an interesting position battle to watch, especially given the one WR that has lowest chance of getting cut is probably Shakir. 
 

10.  I said it when he was signed, but I think Tim Settle is going to end up being one of those very sneaky excellent signings that people have been over looking a bit thus far.

Edited July 25, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[78thealltimegreat]

2 hours ago, The Wiz said:

Thad has always been hyper critical of Allen but I don't doubt he's the same with his burgers.

Yeh Thad has really strong dislike of Allen he’s always been that way. Don’t know why he even covers the Bills guys a diehard Jets fan he should try to get a job with them one of these days. But it’s nice the defense looks good early. 

[SCBills]

51 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

Kumerow is going to get cut.

 

I hope so.. would love for Stevenson to take WR7 and be that outside speed depth.  

 

In order, my hopes for WR6/7 go Stevenson then Austin then Kumerow... but I'll believe Kumerow isn't on the 53 when I see it. 

 

Sounds like Shakir has really impressed through the first two days of camp and seems to show the ability to play outside as well.  

 

Edited July 25, 2022 by SCBills

[eball]

6 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

McKenzie hype is a bit overstated right now.  Him starting camp as the starting slot is not news or a sign of things to come…it’s just a default and not worth over analyzing at this time

 

It is a moderately significant development that McKenzie was not doing special teams work.

[Roundybout]

Quote

7.  Not buying the Haack praise, that dude can hit some great punts then shank the next two.  He isn’t a good in game punter, don’t care how he looks in fist couple days of camp.  Punt God is going to win the job IMHO.

 

Haack praise? From who? People who lived under a rock the last season? Dude's atrocious. 

 

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, eball said:

 

It is a moderately significant development that McKenzie was not doing special teams work.

 

Yea. It isn't just coincidence IMO. McKenzie certainly does not have the job won or anything two days into camp, but anyone who presumed that competition was some sort of formality for Crowder is going to be disappointed. That is a real competition and as I have said previously - I can even see a situation where they are a job share. More Crowder vs zone schemes and more McKenzie vs man schemes. I look in our division for instance and see two teams - New England and the Dolphins - who play heavy doses of man coverage. That is four games a year where I can see a lot of McKenzie usage. 

[Warcodered]

 

[Alphadawg7]

11 minutes ago, eball said:

 

It is a moderately significant development that McKenzie was not doing special teams work.

I don’t see it that way really.  I mean, McKenzie took pretty much all the first team reps at slot to open camp.  Not a surprise he didn’t also have a lot of ST work on top of that during first 2 days of camp.  Especially since even last year when McKenzie wasn’t seeing a lot of snaps at WR they seemed like they wanted to find someone else to return kicks than him for what ever reason.  
 

So I think it’s more about the fact they ideally don’t want McKenzie as a returner regardless of his role on the team and getting the other guys looks there right now.  They know what they have in McKenzie, and if push comes to shove he can return kicks if the final roster cut downs call for it.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

47 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

That WR room is pretty darn tight. If McKenzie isn't even being considered for a ST role, and they have Diggs, Davis, Crowder, Shakir...that puts him, best case 6th on the depth chart? It's not unbelievable that he's a goner.

7th because either Stephenson or Austin is your 6th WR for returns. 

[ColoradoBills]

I'm getting a feeling that the Bills O under Ken Dorsey may see a departure from the typical X, Z, slot and TE traditional roles.

Beane has a group of "potential" pass catching personnel in camp that may be a sign of a change in strategy.

Maybe even something not previously seen in the NFL.

 

I'm not saying that it will be an instant change with regards to alignments this year but something different seems to be in the works.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea. It isn't just coincidence IMO. McKenzie certainly does not have the job won or anything two days into camp, but anyone who presumed that competition was some sort of formality for Crowder is going to be disappointed. That is a real competition and as I have said previously - I can even see a situation where they are a job share. More Crowder vs zone schemes and more McKenzie vs man schemes. I look in our division for instance and see two teams - New England and the Dolphins - who play heavy doses of man coverage. That is four games a year where I can see a lot of McKenzie usage. 

Good post. McKenzie has had some of his better games against the Pats and Dolphins.

One concern though, is he has never played well in the playoffs. Pretty much a non-factor three seasons in a row.

 

Feels nice to write three playoff seasons in a row. Thank you Josh for rescuing the franchise!

[Ethan in Cleveland]

2 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

I'm getting a feeling that the Bills O under Ken Dorsey may see a departure from the typical X, Z, slot and TE traditional roles.

Beane has a group of "potential" pass catching personnel in camp that may be a sign of a change in strategy.

Maybe even something not previously seen in the NFL.

 

I'm not saying that it will be an instant change with regards to alignments this year but something different seems to be in the works.

Hoping for more two TE sets. Ideally that is their base offense like Pats ran with Gronk and Hernandez, only with a better group of WRs.  

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Ethan in Portland said:

Good post. McKenzie has had some of his better games against the Pats and Dolphins.

One concern though, is he has never played well in the playoffs. Pretty much a non-factor three seasons in a row.

 

Feels nice to write three playoff seasons in a row. Thank you Josh for rescuing the franchise!

 

In 2020 they barely used him in the playoffs. He got nicked up in that week 17 Miami game and I am not sure he was healthy. Last year he had 4 targets and 4 catches. Can't do much more than catch the ones thrown your way.

[Andrew Son]

From a fantasy perspective it's going to be real interesting to see how these skill positions work themselves out.

 

With Josh and the offensive production that we are going to have, projecting the breakdown of those stats- beyond Diggs- is going to be a challenge but also create some value if you guess right.

[ColoradoBills]

2 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Hoping for more two TE sets. Ideally that is their base offense like Pats ran with Gronk and Hernandez, only with a better group of WRs.  

 

I think they will.  But with other possibilities than say what the Pats* did.  Guys like Shakir who may be able to line up anywhere and moving

a guy like Cook all along the offense.  I think we may see some exotic alignments starting this year.

[CapeBreton]

3 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

From a fantasy perspective it's going to be real interesting to see how these skill positions work themselves out.

 

With Josh and the offensive production that we are going to have, projecting the breakdown of those stats- beyond Diggs- is going to be a challenge but also create some value if you guess right.

I’ll be drafting James Cook in every league, he’s going to catch a lot of balls. 

[Coach Tuesday]

26 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Especially since even last year when McKenzie wasn’t seeing a lot of snaps at WR they seemed like they wanted to find someone else to return kicks than him for what ever reason. 

 

[Warcodered]

https://buffalofambase.com/2022/07/25/astronotes-2-july-25-2022/

[Albany,n.y.]

43 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

 

Haack praise? From who? People who lived under a rock the last season? Dude's atrocious. 

 

From today's BN on yesterday's practice:

5. Round 1: Haack
The battle at punter is the most
intense “starting” competition on
the roster. Give round one of many
to veteran Matt Haack. The Bills’
incumbent punter had a very good
day with a string of punts that had
outstanding hang times. (Anything
better than 4.5 is excellent).
Haack’s best punts went, unofficially,
for 4.97, 4.92, 4.87, 4.85 and

4.64 seconds.
Rookie Matt Araiza, the sixthround
draft pick from San Diego
State, got off to a slow start, with a
string of four consecutive early punts
that were less than 4.0 hang time.
Then Araiza got it going. He hit four
straight puts that went 65 yards,
although none with as big a hang
time. One appeared to go 70 yards
with a 4.44 hang time. Haack was
the holder for Tyler Bass on day one.