1 – Broadcast teams announced for Bills first four games
With the regular season quickly approaching, CBS Sports recently released a number of broadcast assignments for games across the league. Included in these listings, were the broadcast teams for the first four weeks of Bills games. NFL fans are familiar with the multitude of broadcasters they observe on Sunday afternoons, and most keep an eye on which broadcasters will be in the booth for their favorite team's games.
For Buffalo's season opener in Baltimore, CBS staple Kevin Harlan will be on the call with former Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon and Bills legend Steve Tasker. Tasker has been with CBS since 1998, and the 2018 season will mark his 20th season as a broadcaster.
One of the newest CBS play-by-play broadcasters, Tom McCarthy will have the call alongside former NFL journeyman Steve Beuerlein for Buffalo's home opener against the Chargers on September 16th. McCarthy first started calling NFL games for CBS in 2014, while Beuerlein has been an analyst with them since 2004.
As the Bills hit the road for a Week 3 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, CBS' newest combination of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson will have the call from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Romo joined CBS prior to the 2017 season, and his broadcast style was applauded by many fans. His style is anything but traditional, but his recent retirement from the game has allowed him to diagnose plays with relative ease in the booth.
Finally, the Week 4 group of Ian Eagle, Chargers legend Dan Fouts, and Evan Washburn will call the Bills matchup with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Eagle joined CBS with Steve Tasker in 1998, while Fouts ended his playing career after the 1987 NFL season and started at CBS the following season.
2 – Daboll seeing progress from Jones and Coleman
Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is entering his first season in Buffalo, making him an ideal candidate to help second-year receiver Zay Jones and recent addition Corey Coleman. Jones is looking to bounce back from an up and down rookie season, and Coleman is attempting to overcome the labels that were placed on him after being selected in the first-round in 2016 by Cleveland. In his limited time with Jones, Daboll has been struck by his intelligence on and off the field.
"He is a smart player," said Jones. "He understands things very well, he can see the big picture, he runs crisps routes, and he is a good young player to work with."
Jones has maintained a laser-like focus throughout his second camp and preseason in the NFL, and he says that he has set his mind on continually improving.
"I think whenever you have another season under your belt in this type of league, everything goes up to another level," said Jones. "You have a better understanding of the flow of the game and you know what to expect on and off the field."
Although his father, Robert, played in the NFL, and his older brother Cayleb is currently playing with the Minnesota Vikings; Jones says that he must carve his own path in the league.
"I always take with me the things that they have shared with me, but in this league, you have to be your own man," he said. "You have to find your own way, you have to become your own person, and that is what I am trying to do."
As far as Corey Coleman goes, Daboll says that he and the team are moving past the storylines generated in Cleveland. He also noted that Coleman has displayed a tremendous work ethic since the day he arrived.
"It is a tough deal when you come in new and you haven't been in here, but that is life in the NFL," said Daboll. "That first week, he was playing the team that he just got traded from. We are kind of past that now. He is moving on, he is growing in the system, he is getting more reps, and he is learning some different roles, so we will just keep building him."
3 – Bills safety excited to contribute
A fifth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, Siran Neal is attempting to carve out a role for himself with the Bills in 2018. At Jacksonville State, Neal was known for his versatility on the field, spending time at safety, cornerback, and linebacker. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to playing so many positions in such a short period of time is the inability to focus solely on one responsibility throughout the season. Neal says that his versatility will eventually show in the NFL, but that he is focused on contributing in any way possible at the moment.
"For me right now, I am in a learning stage," said Neal. "Safeties play a big role on defense, so I am trying to learn everything on the back end."
Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has made it a point to narrow Neal's focus.
"He played a bunch of different positions in college, so we've tried to narrow it down to one position and let him learn that and give him as much time on task as we can and let him develop," Frazier said. "He's made good progress. We just have to keep putting him out there in situations. That sack he had in that ball game displays some of his athletic ability. It was pretty impressive."
Although he is focusing on learning the safety position, Neal says that his contributions on special teams will allow him to contribute with his athleticism early.
"I know they are going to develop me into a guy who will play multiple positions, but for now we have to get this stuff down," he said. "They want me to use my speed and physicality on special teams to make plays."
Neal says that his coaches at Jacksonville State were extremely responsible, but he notes that Sean McDermott has stayed on him throughout camp. McDermott has made it a point to bring young players along with a sense of urgency, and he seems to have had a positive impact on the rookie safety.
"Coach [Sean] McDermott has stayed on me about being more vocal," said Neal. "He wants this whole team to be fundamentally sound."
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