1. What is the biggest reason for optimism heading into training camp?
Training camp begins in two days. As players report and get adjusted to their temporary homes at St. John Fisher there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic for the Bills this season and throughout training camp. Bleacher Report identified the biggest one.
The Bills have a "stacked running back group" says B/R.
The Buffalo Bills should be looking for quarterback Josh Allen to take a sophomore leap and feed a revamped wide receiver corps that now includes John Brown and Cole Beasley in addition to Zay Jones and Robert Foster. But the front office also loaded the backfield, which gives this team a chance to win games with a physical, downhill approach.
This year's ground game will feature an attack of LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, T.J. Yeldon and rookie Devin Singletary.
Buffalo has a varied group of backs that will hopefully lead to Josh Allen not leading the team in rushing yards again. Last year, Allen had 89 carries for 631 yards.
The young signal-caller can also boost his completion percentage with short throws to his tailbacks, who can do the heavy lifting by racking up yards after the catch.
The Bills use of screens, high-percentage throws to the flats and a strong ground attack should be able to carry the Bills when the passing attack struggles, write B/R.
2. Which Bills landed in CBS Sports' top-100 players?
CBS Sports released its annual list of the top-100 NFL players and two Bills ended up making it. Cornerback Tre'Davious White is No. 91 and defensive end Jerry Hughes made it at No. 97.
White allowed 357 passing yards all season as a sophomore, along with a 75.6 passer rating that was nearly as good as the mark he allowed as a rookie. Buffalo has a lockdown corner under contract for years to come.
Hughes has not quite reached the heights of his 2013 and 2014 seasons (10 sacks each) in the time since then (22 sacks in four years), but he is a consistently above-average rushing presence on the edge of the Bills' defense. He had seven sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 54 hurries last season.
White and Hughes are key cogs to the Bills defense. White isn't afraid to bounce around and follow opposing teams' No. 1 receivers throughout the whole game and Hughes has remained productive despite consistently facing double teams.
It's not a surprise the Bills offense didn't land a player after a rough season in 2018 but with Josh Allen at quarterback and other young players with the opportunity to grow this season it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bills end up with a greater number on next year's list.
3. The GIF Josh Allen sent Brandon Beane
Josh Allen, No. 1 quarterback and avid GIF sender, revealed the one he sent general manager Brandon Beane this offseason on season two of Buffalo Bills: Embedded. Buffalo Bills: Embedded is a series that provides an inside look at the Bills and is posted on the team YouTube channel.
In the episode "Agents of Change," Allen was at dinner with fellow teammates Micah Hyde, Matt Barkley and Steven Hauschka. Barkley asked Allen what he sent.
"The little kid with the Jeter hat," Allen said. "Respect. I was pretty happy."
The GIF was in response to Beane's multitude of move early in free agency. Beane alluded to the GIF in a press conference but only said it was "good" and "clean."
"He was appreciative of the moves we were making," Beane said.
Allen was consistently reported as the first player to reach out to his new teammates. Now at training camp he has an opportunity to see them with pads on for the first time.
