The Bills devoted a sizable portion of their third training camp practice to 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work. As a result, we got plenty of action on the field before the team gets their first off day tomorrow.
Here's what we learned Friday:
Practice Observations: Allen cooking early, defense gets takeaways late
Quarterback Josh Allen had a sizzling start to practice during the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. The Bills QB displayed great chemistry with his receivers right from the jump, throwing two touchdowns during the 7-on-7 period.
Allen started the series with a beautifully thrown back shoulder pass to TE Dalton Kincaid for a big gain.
The QB followed that up on the next play with his best throw of the period, a lofted ball down the right sideline to WR Keon Coleman who had a step on CB Rasul Douglas and caught it instride for the score. After practice, Coleman broke down how the play unfolded.
"I had a slot fade and pretty much just do my job, get to the bottom of the numbers," he shared. "It just so happened Rasul was midpoint, I got to his blind spot and he didn't know where I was, so it was just wide open."
Coleman has now found the end zone in two out of the first three camp practices, and he has earned praise from many of his teammates who have pointed out the rookie's large frame and strong hands.
"He's physical with his routes and his 50/50 catch radius is really good," CB Taron Johnson observed. "He's gonna have a chance to catch that ball, even if a guy is on him."
Allen finished up the period with another perfectly placed ball to WR Khalil Shakir down the right sideline for a touchdown.
During 11-on-11 periods, the Bills defensive line was able to generate pressure multiple times. DE Greg Rousseau batted two balls down at the line of scrimmage and later on was able to flush Allen out of the pocket and force an errant throw knocked down by DT Ed Oliver.
Rousseau, who had his fifth-year option picked up by the Bills this offseason, has caught the attention of Buffalo DC Bobby Babich through the early part of camp.
"I'm gonna keep saying it, Greg Rousseau first off is a great person who wants to be the elite of the elite. That's what he wants. So he's willing to put in the work," Babich said.
Babich rotated in several younger players with the top defensive unit throughout the day and saw favorable results. LB Dorian Williams got a few first-team reps to give Matt Milano a breather and was able to generate pressure on one of those plays during 11-on-11.
Rookie safety Cole Bishop began the day working with the first-team and mainly slotted in playing next to Taylor Rapp. CB Kaiir Elam continued to rotate between the first and second team just like the first two days.
The Bills secondary won the final 11-on-11 period, intercepting Allen a total of three times. Christian Benford, Rapp and Elam all were able to pick off their QB; Elam had the most noteworthy play of the bunch, taking his INT all the way back for a pick-six.
Buffalo closed out the day with a special appearance from Kim Pegula, who joined the field with Terry Pegula to help break down the team huddle.
DC Bobby Babich on adjusting at camp and the safety competition
Bobby Babich is entering his first full season as Buffalo's defensive coordinator after previously working with the linebackers for the past two seasons, and the defensive backs and safeties before that.
He, just like many first-year players, is adjusting to his new role at camp.
"It's hard for me," he said. "…I love being in the mud with these guys. I love individual… But I think the routine of when we're not on the field, because I'm usually in meetings… Where there's a little bit more planning time and those type of things and I'm like, 'Okay, alright, what do I got next here? Okay, what can I do to help our staff and help our players to be the best versions of themselves.' That's what I want to do."
Much like the wide receiver competition, the defense also features a competition at the safety position. The Bills brought back Taylor Rapp on a new contract, return Damar Hamlin, added free agents Mike Edwards and Dee Delaney and drafted Cole Bishop in the second round of the NFL Draft.
When asked what he is looking for in the safety competition, Babich said that he's looking for the ability to take control of the defense, confidence and having players feel great about their communication, and to make plays.
"You make the plays or you don't," Babich said. "And so when it comes down to it, you got to be able to make plays to help the Bills win. That's the most important thing is our team and helping our team win. So as coaches we got to put guys on the field that are going to put this team in position by being able to make plays so those are the two things I'd say, the people in front of them being comfortable with what they're telling them to do, and that execution piece plus the playmaking piece."
Over the first three days of practice there has been a rotation of players working with the first-team unit, including veterans Damar Hamlin and Mike Edwards, and rookie Cole Bishop. Bishop spent time rotating in with the first-team for part of the team portion today. Babich said of Bishop that the biggest challenge is staying in a day-by-day mentality.
"You can't think too far ahead," Babich said. "You literally have to take it, I tell these guys all the time, you got to take it drill by drill, rep by rep, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, meeting by meeting. That's how you have to go about your day in this league. Otherwise, it is such a long season it'll chew you up and spit you out. Cole is extremely talented as I said, there's a reason we took them where we took them. I think the biggest thing like I said is he's a rookie and he needs to grow up fast and the ball's in his court to be able to do that."
Curtis Samuel likes what Bills have at WR + chemistry with Josh Allen
The wide receiver competition has been playing out during practice with a rotation of players seeing reps with the first-team unit.
Curtis Samuel echoed the sentiments of Khalil Shakir that this wide receiver room has a wide variety of skill sets that can be utilized.
"I like the guys in our room," Samuel said. "I feel like everyone compliments each other so well. I feel like everybody has a skill set that we utilize the best to our ability and we're gonna make things happen. You can't key on nobody, we're gonna go out there and play ball."
From his time with the Panthers and the Commanders, Samuel has been known to be used in a variety of places as well, whether he's in the backfield or at receiver. Through three practices as a Bill, that theme appears to be continuing as Buffalo has lined him up both in the backfield and out wide. Samuel loves the versatility in the way that he has been used.
"It's fun," Samuel said. "Anytime I get the ball in my hands, I'm excited. That's why I don't limit myself to just playing outside, whatever the case may be. Inside, outside, in the backfield, I don't limit myself."
Samuel and Josh Allen have had an early connection shown throughout camp. He said the time that they have spent off the field helped their relationship grow early.
"We've had time outside before camp," Samuel said. "We got together with a group of guys, and we just went out there and just threw the ball around. But it's just really about building that relationship with each other. It's not too serious with us all the time. That guy, he makes a lot of jokes, and I make jokes as well, so it's like we got a comfortable relationship where we can just rely on each other, have fun."
The more experienced receivers such as Samuel have been impressed with the way Keon Coleman has carried himself so far and how he's been able to acclimate to his first training camp. The rookie has been exuding confidence, according to Samuel.
"Keon is locked in," Samuel said. "He be focused, he be in his playbook."
Coleman's radius is what impresses Samuel the most.
"The thing is he got good speed," Samuel said. "He could get past you, he got great moves at the line of scrimmage, it's the fact that you could throw him a ball anywhere around and he could get the ball. That's what makes it scary for DBs because when you got a guy that can catch the ball anywhere, it makes it tough, they don't know what to do."
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