1. Tyrel Dodson aims to make an impact off the field in Buffalo
Last Friday, linebacker Tyrel Dodson partnered with La Nova Pizzeria and stopped by the Salvation Army in downtown Buffalo to hang out with the kids for few hours. Dodson played basketball with the kids, signed autographs for them and everyone at the center was treated with free pizza and wings. Dodson enjoyed the time he spent there and was happy to give back to the City of Buffalo.
"It means a lot to me," Dodson said. "Buffalo has been there for me through the ups and the downs of my career. I just wanted to pay it forward and pay it back to the ones that have supported me through my trials and tribulation."
Dodson talked to the kids about making the right choices even when it's not easy to do so. He wishes that he had those role models growing up and is glad he can be that person of influence in someone else's life.
"My main goal was wisdom and fun," Dodson added. "I'm just trying to provide them different information that they can use. They're all at a young age and I don't expect them to make rational decisions at this point in their life. But this was something they can hang their hat on and something they can build their foundation around, and I think I did a good job with that."
2. PFF ranked Sean McDermott here in its 2021 head coach rankings
Sean McDermott has been influential to the culture change surrounding the Buffalo Bills. As head coach of the Bills, he has a 38-26 record – which is the ninth-most wins by a team since 2017 – and coached the team to their first AFC Championship game since 1993. Pro Football Focus ranked the NFL head coaches heading into the season and thinks McDermott belongs in the top five.
#4. SEAN MCDERMOTT, BUFFALO BILLS
I wrote about McDermott when the Bills extended him last year, and everything I said then is true now. ... [Josh]Allen became one of the league's best passers, as all of the work put into extracting additional edges were exponentiated by great quarterback play. One negative on the Bills' ledger in 2020 was that they were conservative on fourth downs, going for it in advantageous situations just 36% of the time, which ranked near the bottom of the league. However, this is more than made up for in their run-to-pass ratio and overall approach to the running game on both sides of the ball.
3. Harrison Phillips is proud of the work AJ Epenesa has put in this offseason
Bills 2020 second-round pick AJ Epenesa is experiencing his first taste of in-person OTAs after an all-virtual offseason last year. Epenesa saw his snap count go up throughout his rookie season and after adding muscle to his frame this offseason, he is ready for what year two will bring. Teammate Harrison Phillips had nothing but good things to say about the young defensive end and is encouraged by the progress Epenesa has made this offseason.
"Football is such interesting sport where the weight room matters so much more than other professional sports, in my opinion," Phillips said after Tuesday's practice. "So, if you're 10% stronger, it doesn't mean you're going to be a 10% better football player, but there is a give and take. So, to see guys in the offseason, like AJ [Epenesa] and some of these other rookies going from year one to year two or year two to year three really take advantage of the offseason and really take advantage of still being young. Having less snaps than somebody else so you're a little fresher for the offseason. I think his jump has been amazing and I mean everything I've seen from you guys. You are already on that trail that he's been doing fantastic this offseason as well. So, again super, super happy with him."
3. Harrison Phillips is proud of the work AJ Epenesa has put in this offseason
Bills 2020 second-round pick AJ Epenesa is experiencing his first taste of in-person OTAs after an all-virtual offseason last year. Epenesa saw his snap count go up throughout his rookie season and after adding muscle to his frame this offseason, he is ready for what year two will bring. Teammate Harrison Phillips had nothing but good things to say about the young defensive end and is encouraged by the progress Epenesa has made this offseason.
"Football is such interesting sport where the weight room matters so much more than other professional sports, in my opinion," Phillips said after Tuesday's practice. "So, if you're 10% stronger, it doesn't mean you're going to be a 10% better football player, but there is a give and take. So, to see guys in the offseason, like AJ [Epenesa] and some of these other rookies going from year one to year two or year two to year three really take advantage of the offseason and really take advantage of still being young. Having less snaps than somebody else so you're a little fresher for the offseason. I think his jump has been amazing and I mean everything I've seen from you guys. You are already on that trail that he's been doing fantastic this offseason as well. So, again super, super happy with him."
