1 - O'Brien calls Tre'Davious White is a 'very good corner"
Tre'Davious White entered the 2018 season with something to prove.
White played at an elite level in his rookie campaign, standing out as a superstar in a Buffalo secondary that was one of the league's best. White finished the 2017 season with 69 tackles, 18 pass deflections, and four interceptions.
Proving himself as a lockdown cornerback is something that White wanted to do in his sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, he hasn't really been able to do so through five games, as opposing quarterbacks are well aware of his talent level.
Shadowing the opposition's top receivers, White hasn't been targeted all that often this season. Opposing quarterbacks have only thrown at White 20 times thus far, and he has only allowed seven receptions. Quarterbacks have a rating of just 53.1 when targeting the second-year corner.
White will be asked to match up against another talented wideout on Sunday, as he'll likely shadow Deandre Hopkins in Buffalo's Week 6 contest with the Houston Texans. Houston head coach Bill O'Brien knows that going up against White and the rest of the Bills' secondary won't be an easy task.
"He's a very, very physical corner, a very good corner," O'Brien said. "Very instinctive, and they have a good secondary. They play hard. They've done a good job of taking the ball away, they've been a very opportunistic secondary. It's going to be a big challenge for us on Sunday."
2 - Clowney calls Josh Allen 'the heart and soul' of the Bills
After the Bills selected Josh Allen with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, general manager Brandon Beane described the quarterback as a player who perfectly represents the city of Buffalo.
Through the first five games of his professional career, Allen has started to live up to that endorsement.
Allen has constructed a 2-2 record as a starter, completing 53.3 percent of his passes for 748 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for 135 yards and three scores.
His biggest impact on Buffalo's offense has perhaps been the energy that he has infused into the unit. The quarterback seemingly never gives up on a play, a trait he showcased when he hurdled linebacker Anthony Barr in the Bills' Week 3 win over the Vikings. After that game, LeSean McCoy dubbed Allen his "favorite player."
Allen is a player that the entire Bills' locker room really rallies around. Texans defender Jadeveon Clowney has noticed this.
"[Allen] doesn't give up," Clowney said, per Nick Wojton of USA Today's BillsWire. "He doesn't quit on a play, he tries to make a play on every play. He's the heart and soul of that team right now. When he goes, they go."
Texans coach Bill O'Brien also feels as though Allen has brought new energy to Buffalo's offense.
"Very strong arm, very smart guy, he's got great enthusiasm about him," O'Brien said, per Wojton. "He's really good with his feet, just because he's a big guy doesn't mean he can't move. He can move. He's making a lot of plays with his feet, as well as his arm, can make all the throws."
3 - Opponents avoiding Jordan Poyer on third down
When an offense is facing a third-down situation, they typically call a play that they're incredibly confident in. Through the first five weeks of the 2018 season, opposing offenses haven't liked their chances against Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer.
According to Pro Football Focus, Poyer has not been targeted on third down once this season. The outlet pointed the stat out in their Bills-Texans Week 6 preview.
Jordan Poyer has not been targeted once on 59 third down cover snaps this season. Through five weeks, Poyer has a coverage grade of 70.7, which ranks 32nd out of 89 qualifying safeties.
Poyer, who is coming off his first full season as an NFL starter, has carried his strong play over into the 2018 season. Through five games, Poyer leads Buffalo's defensive backs in tackles with 28. He has also recorded one pass deflection and one interception.
The safety has developed a ball-hawking reputation throughout his time with the Bills. In 2017, he totaled a career-high five interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks know that Poyer will likely come down with the ball if they give him the opportunity to do so, and thus, they've avoided targeting him in must-convert situations.
