SB Nation - C.J. Hawthorne

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/25

MattRichWarren — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:33 -0000

27 days ago: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs for second-quarter yardage as Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson moves into make the tackle during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Wilson making mark at strong safety | BuffaloBills.com
In six starts this season Wilson stands third on the team in tackles, is tied for second in forced fumbles, fourth in sacks and fifth in pass breakups. He also caught his third interception of the season last week.

Bills' Johnson lending a hand on D-line : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Spencer Johnson's (pictured above) name may not jump off the stat sheet from Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his impact was certainly felt by interim Bills coach Perry Fewell.

Give The Ball To Brohm : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran suggests that Brian Brohm is the only potential franchise QB on the roster so he should get some playing time down the stretch this year.

Team in Transition
Bill Cowher Snubs Bills, Would Not Snub Bears Or Texans - SB Nation
Apparently Bill Cowher would be "excited" to coach the Bears or Texans. Guys - welcome to the QB quandry.

Schottenheimer says he's not a coaching candidate | ProFootballTalk.com
"I'll be very candid with you and say it's nice to think that people would consider you," Schottenheimer said, "but the reality of it is is that after 30 great years I'm really not going to go back down that road again."

Cowher isn’t shuffling off to Buffalo | National Football Post
Robert Boland says Bill Cowher may or may not be interested in Buffalo but he is not going to give away the leverage he has over the Bills and other teams. He also doesn't want the Bills to pit Shanahan against Cowher.

Schottie addresses Bills coaching rumors – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown laments the disinterest of Marty Schottenheimer because of his great coaching record.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora joins THSS
"It's more just a sort of extension of where Coach Cowher is coming from in terms of having a commitment to honor right now at CBS," LaCanfora said. "He doesn't want to become a part of a coaching search while guys like Perry Fewell are trying to make a statement."

Shanahan stays on Buffalo Bills wish list | Democrat and Chronicle
A person familiar with the Bills' search told The Associated Press that the team has contacted the former Denver Broncos' coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Bills owner Wilson willing to write the check, but who'll cash it?
Mike Holmgren has rejected an overture from the Bills as well, presumably because he has his eye on one or more other opportunities that would likely involve him taking only a front-office position.

NFL Videos: Around the League
Will Bill Cowher coach in Buffalo next season? Get the latest on that story and more from Jascon La Caforna.

News and Notes
Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions - The Phinsider
Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings joins the Phinsider to discuss the Bills as we look towards Sunday's Dolphins/Bills game.

Blogger's Blitz: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham analyzes the state of the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins

Even in defeat, Fewell rouses Bills fans - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Fewell, the Buffalo Bills' interim head coach, lost his first game as Jauron's placement but as of Tuesday night was pulling down a 65 percent in SportsNation's weekly NFL head coach approval ratings.

Week 13 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Tim Graham lists the AFC East teams best wins, worst losses, and close calls. The Bills-Patriots game is both teams' close call game and the Bills win over the Jets is their worst loss.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills offensive line stock is falling - and let's face it how could it not be - and Terrell Owens stock is rising.

Buffalo City Mission's Photos | Facebook
Chris Draft, Terrell Owens, Bryan Scott, and C.J. Hawthorne helped out at the Buffalo City Mission yesterday.

Bills bring cheer to kids | BuffaloBills.com
Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, linebacker Jon Corto, kicker Rian Lindell, and safety John Wendling visited with children and their families from the Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo on November 23rd.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Small errors keep killing Bills
Tim Schmitt looks back at the Bills loss to the Jaguars to give his thoughts.

Buffalo Bills' QB situation among the worst in the NFL | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews ranks the Bills QB situation 29th in the NFL.

Bills Tweets
Kawika Mitchell
rehab is goin good. Healin up and storin up energy

Aaron Maybin
just got done serving dinner to over 300 kids and their families in downtown buffalo. Great time!

Adam Caplan
Source said they brought in a young guard today, no name guy.RT @mdschmidt: @caplannfl Any word on other OLs Buffalo might be pursuing?

Donte Whitner
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength.when u go through hardship and decide not to surrenderthat strenth

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/19

MattRichWarren — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:13:53 -0000

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Report: Brohm signs
Prolific college passer and Green Bay practice squad quarterback Brian Brohm is now a member of the Buffalo Bills active roster, according to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.

Brandon is conspicuous by his absence : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Brandon still hasn't spoken publicly about Jauron's overdue ouster, or what might lie ahead for the Great Dysfunctional Family at One Bills Drive.

Diner morning news: No magic wand for Fewell | National Football Post
Michael Lombardi says Perry Fewell is walking into a difficult situation because the Bills don't lack passion or drive, they lack talent and that's something Fewell can't inspire.

Coaching Changes
11.18 Adam Schefter w/ Schopp + Bulldog on WGR 550
ESPN's Adam Schefter is all over the Bills search for a new Head Coach.

PFTV looks at the Jauron firing | ProFootballTalk.com
Here's the first of the five new segments, regarding the termination of Coach Jauron and whatever else we talked about but that I can't currently remember. Oh an Florio pronounces PF's name wrong.

Stroud on Jauron: "We let him down" | ProFootballTalk.com
"I feel like we let him down a little bit," Marcus Stroud said on Sirius XM radio, per Sean Leahy of USA Today, "as far as us not being able to produce and do the things we should have done to help the coach keep his job."

NFL.com Blogs " Blog Archive Shanahan likely to meet with Bills officials next week "
"This is his (Wilson’s) last coach and (he) is going to do everything it takes to get it right," the source said of the 91-year-old owner.

Most Bills surprised by Jauron dismissal – Inside The Bills
Lee Evans, Aaron Maybin, Kyle Williams, Jairus Byrd, Terrell Owens, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Marshawn Lynch and Andy Levitre weigh in on their coach's dismissal.

BillBoard: Let's not get carried away
Mark Gaughan throws some water on the Mike Shanahan news.

BillBoard: Bills coaching search
They also already have told interim head coach Perry Fewell that the remainder of the season amounts to a seven-week interview for him, and he will be assured of getting a formal interview with the Bills after the season ends. It’s expected any other assistant coach on the current staff who wants an interview will get one, as well.

Big names are in play for Bills' coaching search : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Among the many personnel men who get mentioned as front-office candidates include former Raiders and Tampa Bay executive Bruce Allen, Chicago college scouting chief Greg Gabriel, former New Orleans executive Rick Mueller, former Redskins and Texans GM Charley Casserly and former Titans GM Floyd Reese.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - What they're saying...
Nick Mendola compiles national football voices into one column discussing the state of the Bills. It ain't pretty.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Jim Kelly gives his opinion on the Bills
Jim Kelly had some very good things to say as he joined Schopp and the Bulldog the other day.

Democrat and Chronicle | Sports Exchange Blog
Bob Matthews writes Jim Haslett might be a good choice to replace Dick Jauron.

Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN.com's John Clayton takes a spin around the AFC East to discuss the Dick Jauron firing, Ronnie Brown's injury, the fallout from Bill Belichick's fourth-down decision and a change on the Jets' coaching staff.

Star ex-pupil praises Fewell as a leader - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Perry Fewell's greatest pupil, Aeneas Willaims, was pleased to receive news the Buffalo Bills had promoted Fewell to be their interim head coach.

Melted Faces and Freezing Lakes | The Goose's Roost
Ryan at TGR is frustrated because the Jauron firing, like so many other decisions at OBD, has come too late in his opinion.

NFL Videos: Wednesday's Around the League
Steve Wyche and Jason La Canfora report on the Bills' coaching search and more.

Marv Levy Reacts to Jauron Firing | wgrz.com
Marv Levy uses his gift for linguistics to discuss his hire, Dick Jauron.

Ex-Jaguar Fewell becomes foe as Bills' head coach | Jacksonville.com
Bills' new coach making debut vs. former team.

Bills a mess even without Dick Jauron | detnews.com | The Detroit News
"You knew [Dick Jauron was cooked], quite frankly, because history says former Lions coaches -- even an interim one like Jauron that might've deserved a longer look here -- don't become coaches elsewhere. "

A first step for Bills - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
"Firing Jauron isn’t a cure for all of the team’s problems. The list of problems goes well beyond the coaching staff ."

Other Bills News
Fewell: Ryan gives Bills best opportunity to win - AFC East Blog - ESPN
David Amber delves into new coach Perry Fewell's decision to start Ryan Fitzpatrick instead of Trent Edwards.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- Bills interim coach Perry Fewell displayed his sense of humor when asked about how to get rid of false start penalties. "We worked on that today. I started to cut the guy’s finger off when he jumped offsides," he said with a laugh. "But (head trainer) Bud (Carpenter) told me I shouldn’t do that."
- Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick on inteirm coach Perry Fewell. "He addressed the team this morning, real straight-forward, going to tell you how it is. He’s here to kind of break us out of our little funk and I think he’s a good guy to do it. He’s got some fire in him."

Woodson Is Honored; Allen Is Released; Brohm In Buffalo - Acme Packing Company
Brian Brohm declined the Packers offer of a spot on the active roster to join the Bills.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 11: Hanging On to the Top for Dear Life -- NFL FanHouse
The Bills sit at 26, moving down one spot from 25.

OchoCinco News Network Poll
Who most deserves his first Pro Bowl in 09'? Vote for Jairus Byrd.

Bills know jobs on the line – Inside The Bills
When a head coach is dismissed during the season it’s an obvious indication that more change is soon to follow at the conclusion of the season.

Drafting a QB an improving possibility – Inside The Bills
"[Trent Edwards] has one year remaining on his contract in Buffalo, but with the way things are going the likelihood that the Bills draft a quarterback high next April is improving every day."

Bills notebook: Fewell adds fire to practice : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Perry Fewell set a hard-working tone Wednesday in his first practice as interim head coach with the Buffalo Bills complete with full pads.

Fewell adds his own fire to Buffalo Bills | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Leo Roth and other local sportswriters are really impressed with coach Fewell's approach of having them practice outside and in pads.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Fewell makes impression on first day as Bills coach
The players and media are still abuzz over Perry Fewell's more animated approach.

Quiet Gaddis Signing Prelude to Levitire at LT? : Buffalo Sports Daily
Wednesday morning the Bills signed interior linemen Christian Gaddis to the practice squad (his third stint there) and released C.J. Hawthorne.

Do Not Trust These Men: Week 11 | National Football Post
Ray Gustini pokes fun at Ralph Wilson.

Jaguars notebook: CB Mathis to miss Buffalo game | Jacksonville.com
Coach Jack Del Rio ruled Mathis out because of a groin injury the cornerback suffered last week in the fourth quarter against the Jets.

Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd would gladly trade interceptions for victories | NFL and Seattle Seahawks - OregonLive.com
Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian interviews former Oregon Duck cornerback Jairus Byrd about his interceptions and the Buffalo Bills.

Bills-Jaguars Preview - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Here's your first look ahead to the game this Sunday.

Defining the Buffalo Bills' roster bubble players

Brian Galliford — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:00:24 -0000

For one last time, at least for another year or so, we're about to talk about the roster bubble. It's pretty difficult to define a roster bubble, particularly if you're nerdy enough - like yours truly - to project an NFL's 53-man roster obsessively until your thoughts are no longer relevant.

Heading into their pre-season finale, the Buffalo Bills (and more particularly, its coaching staff) very likely has their final 53 already selected. For fans, however, speculation rules the day this time of the year. This post is meant to do three things: define Buffalo's list of "bubble" players, force you to pay attention to those bubble players, and serve as one last spot for y'all to formulate your thoughts before tomorrow's "Buffalo Rumblings Roster Projection Contest" begins.

Staying with the team, but they don't count yet (2)
RB Marshawn Lynch (Reserve/Suspended) - Lynch probably won't play tonight, and he begins his three-game suspension on Saturday.
WR James Hardy (Physically Unable to Perform) - Right now, Hardy is on Active PUP, meaning that he counts against the active roster, and that he can be activated at any time. Active PUP ends when the pre-season ends. It's very likely the coaches will give Hardy an extra six weeks to get into football shape and all healed up by placing him on Reserve PUP.

With those two moves in mind, the Bills will have 72 active players. That list, obviously, needs to be whittled down to 53 - so 19 more must go.

Certain cuts (11)
Let's face it - if any of these eleven players make the roster, every single one of us will be floored.

QB Matt Baker, RB Bruce Hall, WR Felton Huggins, WR C.J. Hawthorne, TE Tyson DeVree, OT Nick Hennessey, C Christian Gaddis, DE Ataefiok Etukeren, DT Derrick Jones, DT Corey Mace, LB Ryan Manalac

That list puts us down to 61 players. We've now officially reached the bubble portion of our roster.

THE BUBBLE (15)
I've got 15 players listed as "on the bubble." All of these players have at least something going for them that could keep them on the roster through the weekend. By current math, eight of these players will make the final roster, while seven will try to latch on with other NFL teams.

RB Xavier Omon, FB Corey McIntyre, WR Justin Jenkins, TE Jonathan Stupar, OT Jonathan Scott, OG Brandon Rodd, DE Chris Ellis, DE Copeland Bryan, LB Marcus Buggs, LB Jon Corto, LB Alvin Bowen, LB Ashlee Palmer, CB Cary Harris, FS Ko Simpson, SS John Wendling

Picking eight of these names as keepers may seem easy, but it's made a bit more difficult by potential surprises. We've got four such scenarios below. For every scenario that comes to fruition below (and we're not saying any of them will), pick another name from the above list and toss it onto your final roster.

Surprise cuts/roster decisions (4)
TE Derek Fine - He's dealing with a hamstring issue, and to say the competition at tight end is heavy is an understatement. It wouldn't completely shock us to see him released, even after being a 2008 fourth-round draft pick.

OT Langston Walker - WGR 550 reporter Paul Hamilton is already on the record as saying Walker could be a surprise release. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly given Demetrius Bell's bad back, but Walker's apparent fall from grace seems legitimate. I can't fathom a scenario in which the Bills would be comfortable entering a season with three highly unproven tackles - but in the spirit of "it wouldn't shock me," we'll list Walker anyways.

DE Ryan Denney - The Bills, for the first time in what seems like forever, actually have some depth at the defensive end position. They've got three young ends - two listed on the bubble above - that have proven worthy of roster consideration. It's difficult to imagine the team cutting Denney, but it's not impossible. They could also dangle him in trade talks if they try, as some suspect they might, to swing a deal for veteran linebacker depth.

CB Ashton Youboty - Speaking of veterans that are candidates to be dangled in trade talks, meet Mr. Youboty. 25-year-old corners with some promise aren't exactly easy to come by, but the Bills have solid depth at corner without considering Youboty. (There's also a reason I listed Cary Harris as "on the bubble" above.) Buffalo obviously doesn't feel the need to actively try to trade Youboty, and he certainly won't be released. But if the right offer comes along - particularly if it involves that aforementioned veteran linebacker - the Bills might just pull the trigger.

***

That's it. That's about as ironclad as you can get on a pretty ambiguous topic. I'm off to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take in tonight's game; the open thread will air at 6:00 PM ET, and I'll have a recap up for y'all when I get back from the stadium. Enjoy yourselves this evening.

2009 Bills Training Camp is officially in the books

MattRichWarren — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:45:09 -0000

This morning was the final day of 2009 Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford. I was in attendance today - as I was for a dozen practices this year - as the moving vans arrived and the team headed back to Orchard Park for the remainder of the pre-season. Due to the copious amounts of rain yesterday, my phone was not operational for Twitter updates this morning, so I am going to change up and give you a timeline of the typical practice after the jump with my notes from today.

I arrived early thanks to a friend who attends SJF. She gave me her parking pass and I rolled into the parking lot instead of taking the blasted shuttles. That was pretty sweet.

9:30 - 9:40 Special Teams - Punt Team
Bobby April led the punt team through some work on blocking, then on getting off their blocks; meanwhile, the gunners worked at the other end of the field. As has been a continuous trend, Ryan Neill got all first team work with Garrison Sanborn squarely behind him. Working at gunner (in no particular order) were Justin Jenkins, Reggie Corner, Ashton Youboty, Felton Huggins, Jairus Byrd, Shaine Smith, Lydell Sargeant, John Wendling, and Ko Simpson. Easily the most vocal player during this work was Marcus Stroud, standing on the sideline.

9:40 - 9:49 Walk Through vs. Scout Teams
The first team offense was without Terrell Owens again today; Owens has been officially ruled out of Saturday's pre-season contest in Green Bay. Josh Reed took his reps on the outside. Bryan Scott continued to practice following his injury and alternated moving up in the box with Donte Whitner during the exercise.

9:49 - 9:55 Warm up and Stretch
Easily the most boring thing to watch in practice, it's also the best to see who is participating. QB Matt Baker was stretching, but didn't throw a pass all day, instead standing and watching in a ball cap. WR James Hardy joined Owens in the training room, and defensive tackles Corey Mace and Marcus Smith watched from the sidelines. TE Shawn Nelson was late arriving on the field, but eventually joined the team during team work. Everyone else was participating fully.

9:55 - 10:11 Position Work
At this point in the practice, the team broke up into their position groups: DL, LB, DB, OL, TE, WR, RB, QB and ST (kickers, punters and long snappers). Without pads on, the OL and DL were working on footwork and hand techniques on opposite ends of the field. The RB and QB groups started together working on hand-offs before the RB group went to work on footwork and cuts. LBs were working on gap assignments, and DBs were focusing on backpedaling and ball skills. TEs were focusing on blocking and when to move off onto the blitzing linebacker. The WRs were catching passes after breaking off routes, but the most interesting part was that a coach was smacking them with a pad when the ball was in the air. Essentially the guys had to keep their focus even though they were being hit as the ball arrived. Then the WRs and QBs got together and worked on pass routes before the TEs and RBs were mixed in as well.

10:11 - 10:19 7on 7, OL vs. DL
While the offensive and defensive linemen did some one on one work, the first team offense and defense worked in the passing shell. It was around this time that people were figuring out that T.O. was just not going to show up. Many were sad. It would have been nice for him to at least come out and wave or something. Skill players with the first team offense were Lee Evans, Derek Fine, Josh Reed (in for Owens) and Shawn Nelson in the slot. He moved in tight on a couple plays as well before Roscoe Parrish replaced him. Roscoe and Nelson's reps were split pretty evenly as the "third WR" option. Good to see the big guy getting some first team reps. As an aside, it's pretty clear that Derek Schouman and Derek Fine are 1A and 1B and will rotate with Nelson. We officially have a three-headed monster at TE.

Trent Edwards was hitting guys in stride today and not one throw hit the ground during position work or 7 on 7. He was working the ball down the field, hitting Evans and Reed for gains on 15-20 yards. Ryan Fitzpatrick also looked good, completing good passes before throwing a 30+ yard bomb to Justin Jenkins. It was a gorgeous arching pass right over the top of the defender. Even Gibran Hamdan got in on the act, threading the ball between two defenders for a 25-yard pickup to C.J. Hawthorne.

10:19 - 10:31 Special Teams - Kick Return
Bobby April had the front six on one side of the field and his back five on the other. The starters for the front line were George WIlson, Jon Corto, John Wendling, Marcus Buggs and Justin Jenkins (L to R facing the kicker), with Shawn Nelson about ten yards behind Wendling. They were working on picking up their guys based on what the kick team does. The wedge (April used the term) portion was Leodis McKelvin returning with Xavier Omon five yards in front of him, and Spencer Johnson five yards in front of Omon. The Dereks were about five yards further up splitting the field in thirds. When the ball was kicked deep, the Dereks stood about three yards apart and Johnson came between them about two yards back. They also worked on short kicks and getting communication down so they know who is going to catch it.

10:32 - 10:38 11 on 11
The first full-team work of the day again highlighted the offense as they continued to practice without pads. James Hardy made his way onto the field prior to the team work, walking out and talking with teammates. Bryan Scott had a simulated stop in the backfield on a Roscoe reverse, the second of those I witnessed today. Jairus Byrd had a nice pass breakup on a Gibran Hamdan throw working with the third team. Answering some questions, the second team center was Brandon Rodd and Seth McKinney, running second team guard, slid over to the pivot with the third team. Watching more position battles, Chris Ellis is clearly getting more reps than Copeland Bryan, who ran third team today. Ellis has been seeing second team reps while Aaron Maybin continues his holdout.

10:38 - 10:54 Walk Through vs. Coaches
A staple of the end of practice is a walk through against a team of coaches simulating a defense. It's not interesting to watch, but the fans were getting anxious and began chanting. At one point between plays, Eric Wood and Langston Walker raised their arms in the air exhorting the chants to continue and get louder. The first team offense was working against the coaches, but on the other side of the field, it was the second and third team defense getting the reps against the ghost team.

10:54 - 10:58 Stretching and Team Huddle

10:59 Position Meetings and Break
DB, OL, LB, and TE met with their position coaches briefly while the rest of the team made their way towards the locker room for the final time this year. After practice, Fitzpatrick signed autographs and Walker and Butler threw their gloves into the stands.

***

Best Development of the Day
Only one Trent Edwards pass hit the ground all day. It was a yard overthrown to Lee Evans on the sideline about 18 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Worst Development of the Day
The moving vans were moving stuff from the sidelines and locker room during the entire practice. I still have at least one camp story to tell and you should see that later this week, but for now, the only time we'll see the Bills is when they play the Packers this weekend.

Veterans rest as Bills complete first week of camp

Brian Galliford — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:15:08 -0000

If you traveled to St. John Fisher College on Friday afternoon to get your first glimpse of the 2009 Buffalo Bills and their biggest stars, you likely left Growney Stadium sorely disappointed. After nearly a full week of practice, select veterans were padless spectators; QB Trent Edwards, WR Lee Evans, WR Terrell Owens and CB Terrence McGee were all "healthy scratches," for lack of a better term.

Even with some of the big names resting, there were some interesting notes we jotted down that are worth mentioning - mostly to do with lineup shifting. Our day seven recap is after the jump.

Keeping track of the O-Line
Not an awful lot to report here. Most of the veterans saw lighter workloads, so some of the Bills' younger players were able to get more significant reps. Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, for example, saw an increased amount of reps with the first unit offensive line at right and left guard, respectively. Demetrius Bell also took reps with the first team at right tackle.

We don't suggest reading too much into Bell's apparent ascent up the depth chart, but it's worth noting. The guy gets better and better every day. The Bills may have serious questions along the line, but don't be surprised if Bell answers one of those questions sooner rather than later.

The Bills once again worked on some screen plays, and Eric Wood was asked to be out in front as a lead blocker. As our de facto camp reporter, MattRichWarren, aptly put it, that's a scary proposition for a defensive back.

More Wildcat action
For what we believe was the first time, the Bills worked out of a Wildcat offensive set that featured all three of the team's capable running backs on the field at the same time - Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson and Dominic Rhodes. Jackson was the "quarterback" in those situations. When Rhodes was signed earlier this off-season, we openly wondered how the team would keep him happy with his touches once Lynch returned to the lineup. This may be a (small) part of the answer.

Lineup notes
With so much emphasis on situational work and on looking at younger, less proven players, it was a pretty uneventful practice. Rather than bore you with the "Ashlee Palmer tipped a pass" updates, we focused more on where players were lining up.

Obviously, Ryan Fitzpatrick filled in for Edwards with the first unit offense. Peter King's claim that Fitzpatrick has a cannon for an arm is confirmed; he doesn't throw a great ball, but when one flies right, it flies for a while. He had a better day than he normally does. The same can be said for Gibran Hamdan, who took Fitzpatrick's usual spot.

With Owens and Evans on the sideline (along with Steve Johnson and James Hardy), Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish were the first-team receivers. Reed recorded a pretty touchdown reception on the day. Derek Schouman also had a nice touchdown catch in traffic.

Ryan Denney filled in for Aaron Schobel with the first unit defensive ends; color us disappointed - it would have been quite intriguing indeed to see Chris Ellis get a few snaps there. Ellis worked with Jermaine McGhee - the only other end healthy on the day - with the second unit.

At linebacker, the second unit was once again shaken up. Marcus Buggs held down the fort at middle linebacker, with Ashlee Palmer on the weak side and Nic Harris on the strong side. Pat Thomas, Alvin Bowen and Jon Corto were the third-unit 'backers. Nowhere else on the team is competition more wide open than at linebacker behind the starting trio of Paul Posluszny, Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison. Pick any three names, and we will show you an utter lack of surprise if they make the team.

Cary Harris update
Much has been made about the success that seventh-round pick Ellis Lankster has had early in his first NFL training camp. Another corner was selected a round prior to Lankster, and he comes with a USC pedigree - Cary Harris. Noting that we'd heard virtually nothing about him up until today, we watched dejectedly as street free agent receiver Shaine Smith torched Harris for a scoring play in 7-on-7 work. Harris is one of the last corners to rotate through in every drill. His chances of making the roster are virtually naught, though it's likely that if he doesn't, he'll be stashed on the practice squad.

Injury Update
Joining the resting veterans on the sidelines were WR Steve Johnson, WR James Hardy, TE Shawn Nelson, DE Copeland Bryan, DT John McCargo, DT Marcus Smith, DT Ventrell Jenkins and DB Dustin Fox. WR C.J. Hawthorne was elevated from the Active PUP and practiced for the first time today.

The Bills have a morning practice on Saturday; the practice starts at 10 AM. Once it's completed, the Bills will have a long weekend, as they have Sunday off. Then "preparations" begin for next weekend's opening pre-season game, the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio against the Tennessee Titans.

Bills OG Wood has strong training camp debut

Brian Galliford — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:11:16 -0000

Thursday's evening practice at St. John Fisher College was an eventful one for the Buffalo Bills, rookie guard Eric Wood, and the fans on hand to witness the unveiling of the team's (GORGEOUS) new throwback uniforms.

While the new jerseys are, rightfully so, the big news of the day, some solid back-and-forth playmaking between the offense and defense tonight was the big story on the field - aside from Wood's debut, of course. MattRichWarren took a night off from camp coverage, but thatguy34 pulled his best Frank Reich impression and filled Matt's large shoes rather comfortably.

Highlights, trends, stories and injury updates from tonight's practice are after the jump.

Keeping track of the O-Line
Eric Wood donned his No. 70 jersey for the first time at training camp on Thursday night, and as expected, he was immediately thrown into the fray at right guard, splitting first-team reps with veteran Seth McKinney. He had a solid night - much like fellow rookie Andy Levitre, he was a little rough around the edges, but he also teamed up with right tackle Brad Butler to open some gaping holes in the run game. If that's the launching point for Wood's career, he's off to a great start.

We're all pretty much fully aware that the left tackle (Langston Walker), center (Geoff Hangartner) and right tackle (Butler) positions are locked and loaded. Four guards are currently fighting for starting jobs, and all of them are seeing relatively equal first-team reps. Expect that to continue for a little while - but the sooner a starting line is decided upon, the better.

Offense and defense making plays
We described tonight's on-field action as back-and-forth; if the offense made a play, the defense came right back and made one of their own (or vice versa) pretty much all night. Some examples:

- Terrell Owens dropped three straight passes in one-on-one drills. He then promptly caught a long touchdown pass from Trent Edwards in 7-on-7 work. On the next play, Edwards threw a poor pass that was broken up by Leodis McKelvin - who'd been beaten on the previous scoring play by Owens.

- Roscoe Parrish ran the Wildcat set several times, but the run defense stuffed those plays rather easily. Not to be outdone, the line opened up a big running lane for Fred Jackson soon thereafter; as Jackson hit the secondary, he was popped by safety John Wendling. Bryan Scott intercepted a tipped pass and returned it for a score.

- In one-on-one blitz pickup drills, Xavier Omon was schooled by Kawika Mitchell. Paul Posluszny and Marshawn Lynch battled to a draw. Omon later redeemed himself with several solid blocks against various linebackers. Derek Fine was beaten cleanly by Aaron Schobel and Ryan Denney, but later stonewalled each player. Derek Schouman and Jonathan Stupar also performed admirably in blocking drills.

In all, plays were made by both sides. That's not the least encouraging thing you can hear this time of year.

Lineup tweaking continues
Buffalo's coaching staff continues to rotate players in an effort to look at various personnel groupings. We've discussed that trend at guard; the other spot it's happening is at linebacker.

The second-unit linebacker corps consisted of Pat Thomas on the inside, flanked by Alvin Bowen (weak side) and Jon Corto (strong side). If you recall, on the first day of camp, it was Marcus Buggs flanked by Ashlee Palmer and Nic Harris. Clearly, Matt Sheldon and Perry Fewell are trying to work these guys everywhere in an effort to get a firm grasp of their skill sets; expect a lot more lineup shuffling at this position.

Some curious notes to keep in mind in the secondary as well: in nickel packages, the first unit consists of Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence, with Florence manning the slot position. The second unit consists of Reggie Corner, Ellis Lankster and Ashton Youboty, with Youboty taking slot duties. This changes seemingly every night as well. Corner, Youboty, Florence and Lankster all have the ability to play the slot. Clearly, Lankster is still the sixth corner, but he's getting second-unit work, which speaks to the impression he's made thus far. Right now, however, it appears pretty certain that Florence will open the season as the nickel corner.

Injury Update
Eight players sat out practice: WR Steve Johnson, TE Shawn Nelson, DE Copeland Bryan, DT John McCargo, DT Marcus Smith, DT Ventrell Jenkins, S Dustin Fox and S Jairus Byrd. Two more - receivers James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne - remain sidelined and on the PUP list.

The Bills hit the field tomorrow at 2:15 for a mid-afternoon workout. Be sure to give big ups to thatguy34 for tonight's camp updates, because his time is up - MattRichWarren will be back at Fisher tomorrow covering camp live in the afternoon.

Bills open training camp as expected: rusty

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:06:31 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

The Buffalo Bills opened 2009 training camp with two practices, some roster moves, and a few instant talking points. Head on in past the jump to get into the discussions - and if it's pictures of camp you're looking for, click that picture of QB Trent Edwards above for a full set of AP photos from today's practices.

Before the Bills even hit the practice field on Monday, they were short three players after waiving LB John DiGiorgio (failed physical) and placing receivers James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne on the active PUP list. Hardy and Hawthorne are eligible to return to the active roster at any point (and both are expected to be cleared to practice soon), but if DiGiorgio's Bills career is to continue, he'll have to clear waivers. Either way, he won't be playing again until 2010 after undergoing a second procedure on his surgically repaired knee.

Once the Bills hit the field, the team performed just as you'd expect a team to perform after not playing football for six weeks - they were rusty and streaky. This was particularly true at the quarterback position.

Our very own MattRichWarren was at both practices today, noting that starting QB Trent Edwards was "off" throughout the day, making some good throws but missing several receivers as well. Backups Ryan Fitzpatrick, Gibran Hamdan and Matt Baker didn't fare much better, as all four tossed interceptions on the day.

There was some good news, however - Edwards and WR Terrell Owens appeared to have a bit of chemistry, as most of Edwards' throws to Owens were for productive gains. (S Donte Whitner did intercept an Edwards pass intended for Owens, however.) The trend with training camp is that the offense usually starts out slow, particularly with a young quarterback and some new personnel. Rust was expected; it's nowhere near time to panic yet.

Keeping track of the offensive line
We'll have this little section in each practice recap that we put together; today's "installment" will be rather boring, however, as two projected starters on Buffalo's line have yet to report to camp in rookie guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. Kirk Chambers filled in at left guard between Langston Walker and Geoff Hangartner; the line was completed by veteran Seth McKinney at right guard and Brad Butler at right tackle. No surprises.

Four rookies still unsigned
Due to some logistical (i.e. travel) issues, rookie TE Shawn Nelson was not able to make the morning session, as he had not yet signed the contract that was finalized on Friday night. He signed today and practiced this afternoon. Buffalo's top four rookies - the aforementioned Wood and Levitre, as well as DE Aaron Maybin and S Jairus Byrd - remain unsigned. Our very own krytime spoke briefly with Byrd today, who was "bummed" about not being on the field, and hopeful something would get done soon. (Feel free to ask kry about his general impressions of Byrd in the comments section.)

Tracking positional battles
TE: Derek Schouman was the first to rotate through with the first team, but he and Derek Fine split reps pretty equally throughout the day. Schouman has a slight edge at the moment, but there's a lot of camp left, and Fine is universally considered slightly more talented.

SLB: Keith Ellison ran with the ones, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Nic Harris ran with the twos at SAM, with undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer running on the weak side. Jon Corto was the third-team SAM linebacker, with Alvin Bowen weak on the same unit. It's quickly turning into a two-horse battle between Ellison and Harris (as expected), but we don't think Ellison is going anywhere. (Keep your eyes on Palmer, too - he had a good day, as did Buffalo's linebacker unit as a whole.)

Nickel CB: Reggie Corner ran through first. Ashton Youboty ran through second. Drayton Florence got most of his reps on the outside, but that's likely to change as he gets a firmer grasp on the defense. Corner has a much better shot at holding onto this job than most give him credit for, but my money is still in Florence in the long run.

Injuries
We've mentioned Hardy and Hawthorne; DE Ryan Denney got poked in the eye, but returned quickly, and DT Marcus Stroud tweaked a hamstring, eventually getting pulled from practice. There's a good chance he'll be held out for a day or two just to make sure he's completely healthy.

Y'all can read highlights elsewhere, but honestly, don't put much stock in them. It's nice to see some defenders making plays, particularly Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner and Leodis McKelvin. We're going to need those guys to deliver. Right now, however, if you're looking for a little optimism, the team practiced with good energy and good pacing. Steady improvement is the name of the game now.

Buffalo has two more practices tomorrow, which will bring their two-a-day sessions to an end.

2009 Schedule Preview: Week 3 @ the Buffalo Bills

Saintsational — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:21 -0000

The Saints follow up their game in Philadelphia with another trip to the Northeast to take on Buffalo in a week three late game. The Bills finished 2008 with a less-than-mediocre 7-9 record and hope to get over that .500 hump this season. It's been a while, four years to be precise, since these two teams last met in the regular season. The Saints have the misfortune of playing in frigid Buffalo but the fortune to have it scheduled during the mild-weather month of September when it shouldn't be an issue. Let's take a look at what fans can expect against the Saints first AFC East opponent of the year.

Bills Offense

Buffalo has had a pretty action-packed off-season this year and much of that excitement has been on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, the signing of wide receiver Terrell Owens has contributed most to that excitement. Owens is a game changer and inevitable Hall of Famer who always seems to play well in his first year with a new team. T.O. will play opposite wideout Lee Evans, teaming up to create a formidable aerial threat. With former Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman now out of the picture, it will be the responsibility of Trent Edwards to get Evans and Owens the ball, making sure to keep the latter happy on the field. Ryan Fitzpatrick was brought in this year to provide a little competition in camp but the job is Edwards' to lose.

The other big story of the Bills off-season was the trade of offensive tackle Jason Peters to the Eagles. It is that loss of Peters as well as guard Derrick Dockery combined with a lot of other offensive line tinkering that has Bills fans worried about the state of their quarterback protection. Last years team ranked poorly in sacks per pass attempt and this year, things could get worse before they get better.

On the ground the Bills remain strong. Marshawn Lynch continues his duties as the number one back with Fred Jackson and newly acquired Dominic Rhodes taking on backup roles.

This could be a good, early test. If Gregg Williams does suceed in building that blitzing, attack-style defense we've all been promised then they should have no problem exploiting Buffalo's weak offensive line and rattling unproven quarterback Edwards. Allowing him time to throw to Owens and Evans could be damaging to our secondary. Advantage: Saints.

Bills Defense

First round draft pick Aaron Maybin has been tapped to hopefully play alongside veteran Aaron Schobel and be the defensive end of the future, adding talent and depth to a pass rush that has been lacking. Getting the most out of this unit will be a deciding factor in the overall success of the Bills defense for 2009. In the linebacking department, Keith Ellison, Pat Thomas and John DiGiorgio were all signed in the off-season with the hopes of shoring up the middle of the field and offsetting the loss of several players.

One of the bigger hits to the Bills defense this off-season was the loss of cornerback Jabari Greer to our very own New Orleans Saints. Decent against the pass last year, the Bills should still have a solid secondary with Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence as well as newly drafted and versatile Jairus Byrd. The secondary is rounded out by aptly named Reggie Corner.

Though the Bills may match up well against Saints receivers, their lack of a pass rush should give Brees time to find the right guy. This will also be a good game to establish a ground attack.

Bills 2008 Season

7-9 Record

Last Meeting

October 2, 2005

Week 4	1	2	3	4	OT	Final
Bills	7	0	0	0	--	7
Saints	0	13	0	6	--	19

Why the Saints Can Win

Brees should have all day to do his damage.

Why the Saints Can Lose

T.O. or Evans could have a great game.

Prediction

Saints 27 - Bills 17

Newly Acquired

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB Dominic Rhodes

WR Terrell Owens

G Seth McKinney

C Geoff Hangartner

ILB Pat Thomas

CB Drayton Florence

CB Ellis Lankster

CB Cary Harris

RB Bruce Hall

LB Keith Ellison

OL Kirk Chambers

FB Corey McIntyre

CB Dustin Fox

DE Marcus Smith

LB John DiGiorgio

WR Justin Jenkins

WR Felton Higgins

OL Chris Denman

WR C.J. Hawthorne

2009 Draft Picks

DE Aaron Maybin

C Eric Wood

CB/S Jairus Byrd

G Andy Levitre

TE Shawn Nelson

SS/OLB Nic Harris

CB Cary Harris

CB Ellis Lankster

Key Losses

QB J.P. Losman

TE Robert Royal

G Derrick Dockery

G Jason Whittle

C Duke Preston

C Melvin Fowler

OLB Angelo Crowell

OLB Blake Costanzo

ILB Teddy Lehman

CB Jabari Greer

OT Jason Peters

Linkage

Buffalo Rumblings

SB Nation Bills Coverage

Saints @ Bills Coverage

Buffalo Bills Roster

Buffalo Bills Depth Chart

Buffalo Bills Transactions

Poll

Do you consider the Saints game against the Bills to be an easy victory?

Sure thing.

34 votes

There's no such thing as an easy victory.

167 votes

I do but I would never admit it.

20 votes

The Bills definitely present a challenge.

97 votes

318 votes | Poll has closed

State of the Bills Roster: Wide Receiver

Brian Galliford — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:00:14 -0000

Now that the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and off-season player acquisition will crawl at a snail's pace, Buffalo Rumblings has begun re-examining the Buffalo Bills' revamped roster. We continue off our 'State of the Roster' series this morning with a look at the wide receiver position. Previous installments: QB, RB, TE, OT, G/C, DE, DT, LB, S.

Terrell Owens. Uh... Terrell Owens. Did I mention Terrell Owens?

Coming off of two consecutive seasons in which the team sported anemic offenses, the Buffalo Bills knew they needed to add a playmaker to the team's receiving corps - not just to free up the constantly-doubled Lee Evans, but to finally give developing QB Trent Edwards a chance to play with real talent around him. That's why the team made an aggressive, early move to try to ink free agent receiver Laveranues Coles, who had just been released by the Jets. That fell through when Coles took more money to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The player the Bills got instead of Coles has caught 95 more touchdown passes than Chad Ochocinco's new running mate. That's quite the consolation prize.

With Owens on board, Buffalo now boasts one of the deepest receiving corps in the entirety of the National Football League. Will it help the Bills turn around their offensive fortunes and finally make a serious playoff push? Time will tell - but, in a phrase that is quickly becoming a mantra of sorts for 2009 Bills football, there are "no more excuses" for this group. There is finally an abundance of talent at this position.

STARTER: Lee Evans
Evans still fancies himself the Bills' top receiver. No receiver benefits more from the presence of Owens than Evans, who won't have to deal with persistent double coverage for sixteen games this year. One of the league's elite deep threats, Evans will be free to do what he's best at provided Owens continues his dominant ways - make big plays. He'll have a shot to make a lot of them.

STARTER: Terrell Owens
There isn't a lot to say that isn't already widely known. He's one of the top two or three touchdown-producing receivers in NFL history, with 139 career scoring receptions to his name. Even if he is dealing with diminishing skills, Owens brings two things to the receiving corps that we haven't seen in a long time: physicality and nearly unparalleled prowess in the red zone. He's a ten-touchdown-per-year player. If that continues in Buffalo, our offense is infinitely better. Case closed.

STARTER: Josh Reed
After years of playing out of position as the Bills' second receiver, Reed will return to the area where he does the most damage - the slot. He's already proven himself to be a reliable chain-moving target, and he's been a go-to guy for Edwards. Now he'll be free to do even more damage underneath. He'll never be an All Pro, but when you're surrounded with two outstanding outside targets, Reed is the type of player that will aggravate defenses to no end in the short areas of the field.

Roscoe Parrish
No one denies that Parrish can be electrifying with the ball in his hands. What can be questioned, however, is whether or not Parrish - a gadget player and elite punt returner and little more - is too luxury for a team like the Bills. Considering the amount of money he's due to be paid and the amount of playing time that's no longer open to him, don't be shocked if the team looks to trade him - there may still be a market for his services.

James Hardy
Indirectly, no one is going to benefit more from Owens' work ethic than James Hardy. Already blessed with rare size for a receiver, Hardy will get to spend at least a year watching Owens. T.O. doesn't need to teach him a thing; in fact, it's probably a little dangerous to ask him to do so. But no one has ever questioned Owens' work ethic or his practice habits. He does everything by the book and more on the field and in the practice setting. It will benefit the developing Hardy immensely to be around a player with Owens' work habits.

Steve Johnson
See: Hardy, James. Subtract the lingering knee injury and add the fact that he's already a fan favorite. The kid's got upside, but if a guy like Parrish isn't moved, he may not get many opportunities to see the field in 2009.

A few more names and a bit more analysis for you after the jump.

Justin Jenkins
He's here because of his value as a special teams player. Even if something happens on the trade front with Parrish, Jenkins isn't seeing the field as a receiver barring catastrophic injuries.

Felton Huggins
Huggins is a two-year practice squad player with no eligibility remaining and a miles-long shot at making the roster. Still, keep your eye on him - he's routinely making plays in the practice setting.

C.J. Hawthorne
The second-year pro spent 2008 on the practice squad, and with solid athleticism and some upside to be tapped into, he seems destined for that role again next season.

P.K. Sam
Sam is essentially Hawthorne, but without the practice squad caveat to keep him around. He won't be in Buffalo very long.

Contract situations: Owens and Reed are free agents after the 2009 season concludes. Evans is locked up long-term, as are last year's rookies (Hardy, Johnson). Parrish is also locked up long-term, but obviously his situation is a bit different.

Bottom Line
See what happens when just one playmaker is added to a position? The area goes from a frustration to a team strength overnight. Buffalo has five to six weapons at this position now that can hurt you in very different and very specific ways. There aren't any more excuses for this position, for QB Trent Edwards or for offensive coordinator Turk Schonert - the ability to harness the skill of this group and turn it into production and points will be the key to winning more games this season, particularly against division rivals.

Bills' depth at WR: a second look

sireric — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:15:07 -0000

Coming off of a 2008 season in which the Buffalo Bills - for what seems like the hundredth year in a row - lacked offensive firepower, the team is still searching for a difference-maker on the offensive side of the ball. Even though the team has some solid young talent in QB Trent Edwards, runners Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson and WR Lee Evans, the team still lacks the one consistent threat to provide the glue to a cohesive, consistent offense.

I've seen some fans here hinting (some more loudly then others) that the Bills should acquire a WR this off-season. Whether through free agency or the draft, the talk of adding a WR to the roster made me think of an article that I wrote up a while back discussing the depth and potential of the Bills' WR corps. Approximately six months after the article was penned, a lot has changed.

Lee Evans
"Lee Evans is Lee Evans, a solid, borderline true blue #1 receiver."

That remains true and despite a hefty raise in the meantime, there are still some questions about whether or not Evans is the #1 WR the Bills need.

Josh Reed
"Josh Reed is an average at best receiver (I'll say at best an average receiver to make Superfan82 happy)."

This remains true, and while I think Reed really showed his importance to the team last year, he is still most valuable when playing in the slot rather than the outside. He should be upgraded - on the outside.

Roscoe Parrish
"Roscoe is a terrific slot receiver."

I'm not as high on Roscoe as I was six months ago. He remains a top notch return man, but I am really uncertain just how much he really helps as a WR. If I'm replacing anybody right now, Parrish is the odd man out.

James Hardy
"The Bills' second round draft choice out of Indiana has the size and ability to be a huge playmaker in the NFL. He could be starting opposite Evans before the year is out, and probably will be sooner than that."

Well, Nostradamus I am not. I still think Hardy can be a player in this league, but his knee injury is a big obstacle to overcome. I'm not counting on getting a whole lot out of him in 2009, but I'm not cutting him either.

Steve Johnson
"The second of the Bills' three seventh round draft picks this year, Johnson displayed good size and hands during the preseason and earned himself a roster spot for his efforts."

Johnson has become somewhat of a fan favorite and right now is showing more upside than Hardy. I think Johnson will have a much bigger role next year due to the Hardy injury and the ineffectiveness of Parrish.

Justin Jenkins
"A special teamer a year ago, Jenkins saw limited time at the end of the year and has distinguished himself as a special teams ace, as well as a guy who can play the position of receiver - something that Aiken could never do."

Having been recently re-signed, Jenkins will be in camp again, but he is going to have to prove that he can be a player on offense, not just special teams, if he wants to make this team again.

Felton Huggins
"I'm writing this under the assumption that Huggins will make the practice squad, given that he was there last year. Huggins looked just as good as Johnson did this pre-season, and if the Bills had chosen to keep Huggins over Johnson I don't think any of us would have been totally shocked."

Krytime recently gave Huggins the "kiss of death", so I'm not really expecting much out of him anymore.

Other notables:

P.K. Sam - Known more as a kick returner than a WR, Sam could push Parrish with a good camp.

C.J. Hawthorne - Hawthorne spent the whole year on the practice squad learning the offense. At 5'11" and weighing 168 pounds, he is another guy who could push Roscoe.

***

So what do we really have? A starter in Evans, a slot receiver in Reed, guys in James Hardy and Steve Johnson who are a bit of question marks, then what? Some practice squad fodder and potential return men. That is it. Maybe adding Kenny Britt isn't that crazy.