McKelvin has arrived
Posted By: Chris Brown 10:25 PM ET
MCKELVIN ARRIVES AT CAMP: Bills top pick Leodis McKelvin arrived at camp at 9pm this evening and Buffalobills.com was there to greet him and see how he's doing now that he's signed and ready to work. Here's our exclusive interview with #28.
Tight end situation
Posted By: Chris Brown 7:04 PM ET
TIGHT END SITUATION: Right now at tight end Derek Schouman is getting the lion's share of the starter reps. I asked Dick Jauron if that was because they want to ease Robert Royal in coming off knee surgery, but coach said that wasn't the case and there aren't any restrictions on Royal.
In Royal's defense he's still getting his legs up under him after doing no football related work in the spring since he was still rehabbing. But Schouman has looked good in the passing game making plays every practice. And as I said earlier in the offseason when the pads go on he won't disappoint. He likes the physical nature of the game.
But Royal is second in the rotation followed by Courtney Anderson who has made a couple of good receptions. Then it's Tim Massaquoi and Derek Fine working with the second and third units.
Receiver update
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:59 PM ET
RECEIVER UPDATE: Saturday was the first day there was more three-wide plays sprinkled in with the offense as installation moves along steadily. Roscoe Parrish was the first player utilized in the slot, but it should be noted it's only one day of three-wide work. Josh Reed has been a busy man running routes and making plays in the passing game.
As for some of the receivers a little lower on the depth chart, Steve Johnson has made plays. He had a big one today that can be seen on Bills Roundup in the multimedia section as he got behind Ashton Youboty.
Hardy has done fairly well all things considered and has made plays every practice, although Turk got on him for one play where he didn't recognize it was a zone coverage and ran the route as if it was man coverage. Part of the learning process.
Felton Huggins and Justin Jenkins haven't made as many plays thus far. Scott Mayle has made a couple here and there. Jason Jones hasn't seen too many reps.
Evans has shined.
What looks different in Turk's offense
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:54 PM ET
WHAT LOOKS DIFFERENT IN TURK'S OFFENSE: Through the first four practices of camp there are some definite changes that have been made to Buffalo's offense in the passing game.
First there are some west coast staples like timing throws for example. The backs are a lot more involved in the passing game with swing passes and as leak out options from the backfield.
There also seem to be a lot more crossing patterns run by the wideouts which Trent confirmed for me when I asked him about it Friday. There are also more frequent underneath routes with greater use of the tight ends.
Wendling update
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:51 PM ET
WENDLING UPDATE: Since there's a definitive group of Bills fans (Wyoming based) that want to know what their favorite safety is up to, John Wendling is currently running with the third team defense at strong safety. Right now veteran Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner are ahead of him on the depth chart.
Wendling is also one of the main gunners on punt coverage where he excelled last year in helping the team finish as the number one ranked punt coverage unit in the league.
Having talked to John a few times he hopes to get on the field defensively this season, but he's got a tough row to hoe there with Whitner and a wily vet in front of him.
Wright vs. Omon
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:48 PM ET
WRIGHT VS. OMON: To update you on this position battle Dwayne Wright is getting second team reps and Xavier Omon is running with the third team.
The reason Wright is getting snaps with the second unit is because Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are splitting first team reps. Lynch gets most of the carries, but both have seen time with the first unit.
Wright has looked very quick through the hole and very agile out in the flat on swing passes and such. I think because he's 231 pounds he's often thought of strictly as a power back, but this guy has some wiggle to his game and the athleticism to make plays out of the backfield.
I told everybody not to sleep on him.
Poz-DiGiorgio situation
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:46 PM ET
POZ-DIGIORGIO SITUATION: Noticed a lot of fans are asking about how things are shaping up at MLB. Poz is running with the first team and DiGiorgio has been running at MLB with the second team.
I know there were some fans who thought that DiGiorgio might be tried at one of the outside linebacker positions since he is so fast and athletic, but to this point he's strictly been the 'mike' linebacker.
Poz is also running with Angelo Crowell in the first team nickel, while DiGiorgio and Mitchell are the second team MLBs.
Whose reps could suffer with McKelvin signed
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:36 PM ET
WHOSE REPS COULD SUFFER WITH MCKELVIN SIGNED: With Leodis McKelvin now signed the player whose reps could suffer the most is Ashton Youboty. Youboty has been running with the second team defense at left cornerback while Will James has been on the right side.
During spring workouts McKelvin was primarily getting the second team reps at left cornerback along with James. Knowing the coaching staff is going to want to get McKelvin as many reps as possible after missing the first three practices, Youboty may find himself running with the third string unit.
McKelvin using website during contract negotiations
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:32 PM ET
MCKELVIN USING WEBSITE DURING CONTRACT TALKS: Just spoke to Leodis by phone and asked him how he kept himself busy while he was waiting for his deal to get done so he could get to camp.
"I was staying in the hotel (in Buffalo) and just waiting to get on the field," said McKelvin. "I was checking out the team website just to see how everybody was doing. So I'm just ready to go out there and start competing and get ready to play."
Checking up on his teammates on Buffalobills.com. I knew I liked this guy!
More first rounders signed
Posted By: Chris Brown 1:17 PM ET
MORE FIRST ROUNDERS SIGNED: Dallas signed both of their first round picks which includes CB Mike Jenkins. They also signed RB Felix Jones. And Carolina signed RB Jonathan Stewart who was the 13th overall pick. Tennessee also signed Chris Johnson, leaving just four first rounders unsigned including the Bills Leodis McKelvin.
Drum line event at the Ralph
Posted By: Chris Brown 1:16 PM ET
DRUM LINE EVENT AT THE RALPH: A pretty cool competition is taking place at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Aug. 3. Drums Along the Waterfront will start at 6:30 p.m. in Orchard Park. There will be more than 1,000 of the best musical athletes competing in the world class competition.
If you ever saw the movie Drum Line this is a lot like it. The musical athletes are all aged 16-21. Each corps has about 150 members playing brass and percussion instruments as well as color guard dancers.
Tickets for this year's event are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Ralph Wilson Stadium Box Office, Ticketmaster Outlets or online at ticketmaster.com. Bills fans can save $4 off adult tickets by mentioning "JKelly" as the promo code. More information is also available at www.drumsalongthewaterfront.org.
First pads practice
Posted By: Chris Brown 1:01 PM ET
FIRST PADS PRACTICE: Thus far at training camp it's been helmets and shorts for the players. But if you're a Bills fan coming out to camp on Monday you're in luck as it will be the first pads practice of camp.
McKelvin's time missed a concern
Posted By: Chris Brown 12:56 PM ET
MCKELVIN'S TIME MISSED A CONCERN: Though it's only been three practices, Bills head coach Dick Jauron is concerned about the time Leodis McKelvin has missed as he is still unsigned.
"Yesterday (it was a concern)," said Jauron. "You just want them all here right on time so they don't miss anything. But it will happen. I know we're working hard at it."
The big concern is making up what McKelvin has missed thus far. With each passing day the list of things he's missed gets longer and longer.
"It's hard to catch up and hopefully he'll be in as soon as he's able to be here," said Jauron. "A lot of people are working hard at it, but every practice is significant and it's just hard to make it up. We can spend extra time with him, extra time after practice, but reps just keep going by."
Edwards update on Evans visitPosted By: Chris Brown 11:32 AM ET
EDWARDS UPDATE ON EVANS VISIT: At the end of June minicamp Trent Edwards said he planned to fly east from California to visit Lee Evans down in south Florida to throw with him for a few days.
True to his word Edwards did just that this summer and updated the media on how it went.
"I spent some time with Lee and Roscoe and Justin (Jenkins) in Florida," said Edwards. "With Lee not being with us fully in the OTAs I needed to be on the same page with him and throw with him and make sure come time to be at training camp in Rochester it wouldn't be the first time I was throwing with him."
"I was happy I could get out there and spend some time with him and getting to know each other a little better and that's all part of becoming a better football team."
Former Bill helping current ones
Posted By: Chris Brown 11:28 AM ET
FORMER BILL HELPING CURRENT ONES: Former Bills first-round pick and cornerback/return man Jeff Burris is one of Buffalo's minority coaching fellowship coaches in training camp this summer. It's a coaching internship of sorts.
Burris is assisting defensive backs coach George Catavolos who coached Burris in Indianapolis and is also helping the return men on special teams.
Even veteran Will James is taking some pointers from Burris. Burris is helping James with his play in the slot, having played in the slot a lot himself while with Indy.
"He played the nickel position, which I'm playing right now, so he's just telling me some different tips and tendencies that I should watch out for and leverage position. Little things that people take for granted, but can make a big difference in a big game."
Kyle Williams reports to camp
Posted By: Chris Brown 8:42 AM ET
KYLE WILLIAMS ARRIVES: Bills DT Kyle Williams is on the field this morning for practice. He arrived last night following an excused absence for day one of training camp due to the birth of his second child.
Gaddis lining up at LG
Posted By: Chris Brown 7:31 AM ET
GADDIS LINING UP AT LG: Christian Gaddis is getting some work at a different position. The second-year center was lined up at left guard for both practices Friday with the second unit. While he did take snaps at center with the third string, this is some of the first work he's seen at guard.
In all likelihood the Bills staff wants to see just how well he can perform there as they value reserve linemen that can serve at more than one position. If he can prove to be a capable guard as well as center he'll be Duke Preston's stiffest competition for one of the final offensive line roster spots.
Preston was working primarily at center Friday with the second unit alongside Gaddis.
Contract numbers of picks around McKelvin
Posted By: Chris Brown 7:22 AM ET
CONTRACT NUMBERS OF PICKS AROUND MCKELVIN: The contract figures are out for both Jerod Mayo (10th overall pick) and Ryan Clady (12th overall pick), both of whom were selected before and after Leodis McKelvin.
Mayo got a five-year deal worth $18.9M with $13.8M guaranteed.
Clady got a five-year deal worth $17.5M with $11.5M guaranteed.
Look for McKelvin to be somewhere in between in both total value and guaranteed money.
Peters agent still working on Jackson
Posted By: Chris Brown 7:16 AM ET
PETERS AGENT STILL WORKING ON JACKSON: Sounds as if the agent for Jason Peters is still working on getting a contract for Rams RB Steven Jackson, who was still holding out as of early Friday morning. Eugene Parker represents both Peters and Jackson. According to the AP a contract offer from the Rams Friday afternoon was rejected by Jackson and his agent.
Interestingly enough, the Rams say they're no longer negotiating as long as Jackson is a holdout.
"We will not be negotiating while he's out of camp," said Rams President of Football Operations Jay Zygmunt.
Coy Wire signs with Atlanta
Posted By: Chris Brown 6:24 AM ET
COY WIRE SIGNS WITH ATLANTA: It looks like former Bills LB Coy Wire is going to try to resurrect his career with the Falcons. He signed with Atlanta late Friday. Coming off of neck fusion surgery is not an easy thing to do especially at a contact position like linebacker, or even as a coverage player on special teams.
You've got to give Wire credit for having the courage to do that. He's a team guy all the way.
