1. Tremaine Edmunds and the Bills defense have this goal for 2019
Eyes will be glued to the offense at training camp this year but that doesn't mean the defense can be complacent in its preparation for the season. The Buffalo Bills defense was ranked second best last season. Now in 2019 they want to claim that top spot.
"Yeah that doesn't matter," Tremaine Edmunds said. "It's a new year with new goals. We want to be the number one defense. We just have to come out every day and get better. Nothing that we did last year will carry over so it's going about us going to work this year and being the best we can be."
In order to be number one, you have to get creative in practice. The Bills defense practiced with oven mitts on during red zone drills on Thursday. It was an idea that defensive backs coach John Butler had during OTAs and decided to implement the first day of training camp.
Butler hopes to limit future pass interference calls by taking away players' ability to grab opponents.
Tre'Davious White toldESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacquesit was "difficult to do, but something that will help us in the long run."
2. Josh Allen on entering his second NFL training camp: "It's extremely different"
Being supplanted into the number one quarterback role during your first career NFL game isn't an easy adjustment to make. Josh Allen made the transition and had a rookie season filled with ups and downs but by the end he felt he was just getting into his groove.
In his second training camp, repetitions will be different. Allen is firmly planted as the top quarterback on the team with the weight of the offense on his back.
"Yeah I mean it's extremely different knowing that I'm getting the number one reps," Allen said. "Whenever the ones are out there, those are my reps. Going back to last year I was going with a couple threes, or two and maybe switched into the one for a player. Getting those top reps for a quarterback are extremely crucial."
Allen knows he still needs to work hard and refine his game. Allen didn't go into specifics but stated that he's "learning the game" and he's "going to work his tail off" until he feels like he's at the point where he can help the Bills win games.
Allen also credited offensive coordinator Brian Daboll with listening to the players on which plays they feel like work the best.
"He always wants to learn, always wants to take something from somebody else, he's eager to get better as a play caller and he wants this offense to run as smoothly as possible," Allen said.
3. CBS Sports analyst believes Bills are playoff bound
"The Buffalo Bills are going to make the playoffs," CBS Sports' Adam Schein said.
Schein is a believer in the Bills this season after a "tremendous" offseason and adding key pieces in the draft that he sees as immediate starters.
"Josh Allen's going to be great, he's going to be Carson Wentz," Schein said. "The Bills offseason was tremendous. They are better at wide receiver, on defense, better on the offensive line. I still can't believe that Ed Oliver was there. Brandon Beane just scooped him up as a perfect fit in Sean McDermott's defense and they got Cody Ford who should have been a first rounder who will play on the offensive line right away. They improved in every single phase."
Schein thinks that McDermott is a "heck of a coach" and doesn't understand the people who hated on Josh Allen's rookie season. Schein feels the talent around him is better all around and urges people not to sleep on the Buffalo Bills.
