1. Rookies stand out on Day 2
Day 2 of padded practices featured plenty of competition, especially between position battles. Here's a rundown of highlights you should know about.
GOLD STARS:
- Hello Micah Hyde. The safety picked off a Josh Allen pass intended for receiver Stefon Diggs and ran it in for a touchdown during 7 v. 7 drills.
- Diggs plays taller than his listed 6-0 height listing. He showed size is just a number by pulling in a catch he had to reach up for heading towards the sidelines. The wide receiver perfectly high-pointed the football looking like a 6-3 receiver.
- Defensive end Mario Addison is the real deal. Addison put his strength on display today rushing the passer for what looked like at least one sack during practice.
- Cornerback Levi Wallace was back at practice today after missing yesterday due to his back. Wallace created a turnover when he knocked out a ball caught by tight end Dawson Knox. It was recovered by safety Jordan Poyer.
- The wide receiver battle is HEATING UP. The attention was on rookie receiver Isaiah Hodgins as he made a number of nice catches. Based on his size, Hodgins looks like a tight end but has the speed of a quick receiver.
- Right after one of Hodgins' grabs, receiver Duke Williams showed off his hands by hauling in a catch as he hit the ground being tightly covered by corner Ike Brown.
- Running back Zack Moss showcased his pass-catching ability pulling in a reception near the sidelines from Allen. The rookie also helped the offense drive in for a touchdown. Moss displayed his versatility today showed that he can be used in many different packages with his quickness and ability to break tackles.
- Safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre'Davious White had a pass breakup against Diggs.
- In one of the first plays of the team period, rookie fullback Reggie Gilliam looked like a receiver making about a 20-yard grab close to the sideline against veteran linebacker A.J. Klein. The rookie played tight end and fullback at Toledo.
FAVORITE PLAY:
I love to watch players showcase their versatility. My favorite play today was watching Gilliam, an undrafted rookie, run down the sideline making a catch against a vet.
HUSTLE AWARD:
This could have easily been my favorite play too. The Bills safeties are alive and well. Watching Micah Hyde display his range as he intercepted one of Allen's passes just further shows why the Bills have one of the best safety combinations in the league.
BOTTOM LINE:
Receiver Cole Beasley said the offense had an inconsistent day. Allen did have some misses today, whether it was on him or his receivers is unknown. All this to say, even though the offense was up and down, several players shined.
"We're executing well, but we're inconsistent right now," Beasley said. "So we just have to build that consistency, get on the same page at times. Other than that it's a good start. And you can see it, what our offense can be at times. We just have to be more consistent with how we execute."
WHO WAS BACK: CB Levi Wallace, OT Ty Nsekhe
WHO WAS OUT: WR Gabriel Davis (leg contusion), WR Robert Foster (concussion protocol), FB Patrick DiMarco (neck soreness), DT Ed Oliver (hip), TE Tommy Sweeney (foot), OG Jon Feliciano (chest).
WR Isaiah Hodgins and LB Vosean Joseph wore red no contact jerseys.
2. Beasley wants to see more consistency out of offense
Wide receiver Cole Beasley spoke to the media after practice. The wide receiver made a few catches today and spoke to how dynamic the offense can be in 2020. Beasley explained with the addition of Diggs and attention he will garner from defenses, defensive players won't be able to key in on every offensive player.
"They can't take away everybody," Beasley explained. "John Brown did a great job last year of taking advantage of one-on-one opportunities, and then when he started drawing attention, then I could a little bit. Now when there's three guys that you can't really cover one-on-one, it might cause some problems for the defense. You have guys like Knox, Singletary and Kroft. We have a lot of weapons on our offense that we can utilize. We just have to know there's only one ball and guys just have to be patient and wait for their time to make a play and be ready to make a play."
Beasley also said he has seen Allen already taking strides forward in his third year. The wide receiver says it has to do with his confidence.
"Josh, he finally got a full year under his belt last year so he's playing more confident than ever," Beasley said. "He's making throws that he wouldn't even have tried to attempt last year and he's starting to throw guys open a little bit.
"Just his confidence on the field, his leadership and pushing us to be the best offensive group that we can be. And then Diggs, obviously the big piece, he's had a lot of success in the NFL. He's been a stud for a few years, so anytime you add a talent like that to your team it's only going to make the offense better and make guys around him better as well because they're going to have to pay attention to him a little bit."
3. K Stephen Hauschka competes on Day 2
We watched rookie kicker Tyler Bass make six out of nine field goals on Monday. His longest make was from approximately 54 yards.
On Tuesday, it was veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka's day to compete. After a team period, the group broke for Hauschka to kick seven field goals. Hauschka made six of seven. His longest make was from about 53 yards.
Watching the two rotate from Day 1 in pads to Day 2, special teams coordinator Heath Farwell said the two will get better from competing with each other.
"I think they both have gotten better because of it," Farwell said. "The competition brings out the best in both of them. Stephen [Hauschka] has done it for years where he's had competition and he beats them out. He loves the competition, so it's no different for him."
