Bills OG Wood has strong training camp debut

Great news about Wood. I’m delighted that the coaches are throwing him into the fire, even if he is currently splitting reps with McKinney. For some reason I’m reminded of the UFC where they set up some third tier guy to take a beating from some new star who is coming in to the Octagon for the first time.

those uniforms RULE!!!

Now that I’m not restricted to 140 characters, a few additional thoughts:

1) Like Brian said, pretty back and forth practice. Offense had a few nice, big plays. The run D was pretty solid for the most part – Williams and Stroud knocked McKinney and Chambers into the backfield on a couple plays.

2) Trent was pretty good, though based off MRW’s posts, I don’t think he was quite as good as he has been in previous practices. He had a couple high balls (one that tipped off Schouman’s hands and was picked by Scott), but for the most part he was going through his progression nicely and actually threw quite a few passes deep.

3) Hamdan was his usual unspectacular self. But Fitzpatrick was almost difficult to watch at times. He had no velocity on any of his passes, threw almost every one behind his intended target, didn’t set his feet (which probably was the reason behind the negative velocity), and was slow to go through his progressions. There were times during 7 on 7 when he would sit back there for 5 or 6 seconds before ultimately deciding to run or dump it off in the flats. There’s still 5 weeks till the season so I’m not TOO worried, but yeesh, he’s got a long way to go.

4) I know the coaching staff claims they’re only using the wildcat to prep the D for it, but they seem to be spending a lot of time on it with specific players.

5) Schouman was quite impressive in both blocking and route running.

6) I don’t know where Nic Harris was? He must’ve changed numbers because I didn’t catch him at all.

7) Still no huddle on offense and a lot of different formations and personnel groupings. TO lined up in the slot on a number of plays with either Reed or Freddie Jackson outside of him.

8) That particular play where Butler and Wood blew out the entire right side of the defense was a thing of beauty.

9) The offense seemed to specifically pick on Leo regardless of who he was covering. This training camp is either gonna turn him into a stud or a complete mess of confidence.

He blew up Stroud and Poz on back to back run plays. He looked good..really good. The new white uni’s are so sweet! They need to be there permanent uni’s!

I am curious though… how is Rhodes looking in practice? I haven’t really heard much about him. From what I have seen of him in Indy he is pretty good in the red zone, have the Bills used him much there in practice?

How does this make any sense?:

Paul Posluszny and Marshawn Lynch battled to a draw.

It would seem to me if it was a “draw” then Lynch did his job of preventing Poz from getting to the QB on the blitz….

Some curious notes to keep in mind in the secondary as well: in nickel packages, the first unit consists of Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence, with Florence manning the slot position. The second unit consists of Reggie Corner, Ellis Lankster and Ashton Youboty, with Youboty taking slot duties. This changes seemingly every night as well. Corner, Youboty, Florence and Lankster all have the ability to play the slot. Clearly, Lankster is still the sixth corner, but he’s getting second-unit work, which speaks to the impression he’s made thus far.

Or it just means he’s the 6th CB and there’s no one better! Of course, he has been playing well so that’s not to take anything away from him.

It sounds like Corner might be sitting third on the nickel back depth chart then. Florence, then Youboty then Corner. That’s fine and that’s how I’d expect them to continue. I just hope Youboty sees a good amount of playing time because he simply makes plays.

Right now, however, it appears pretty certain that Florence will open the season as the nickel corner.

Just like we expected all along!

thanks a ton. Way to step up.

Can anyone answer me this: Why is Drayton Florence apparently being handed the nickle job while Youboty is being relegated to dime work or worse?

I thought after his great start to 2008 it was understood he was going to get every chance to prove himself the nickle after Greer left. Is the coaching staff expected another injury and so going with Florence out of reliability? I don’t get it. I have no problem if Florence wins it fair and square over Youboty but from everything MRW and thatguy have written, it seems like Florence is getting all the first team reps. Any answers?

HA!!! Best line ever. I am Jim freakin’ Kelly.

thatguy34 pulled his best Frank Reich impression and filled Matt’s large shoes rather comfortably.

You have got to be proud of the depth we have at the rumbler’s site. So much insight and analaysis. Not to mention history and comparison’s.