I was at camp today and had an exceptional view of the practice. However, I also was preoccupied for sizeable chunks of practice so I didn't see everything. I did see enough that was impressionable to me that I felt compelled to write something up quickly.
My thoughts are very non technical and I didn't have an opportunity to take any notes.
1)
Healthy or not, Cordy Glenn really impressed me. I was sitting about 4 feet from him while he was doing some drills and he moves very quickly fluidly for a guy of his size. I would put my money on him in a plus sized salsa competition.
2)
Mario Williams is really scary. I don't remember what player he was against during some one on ones but he convincingly bullrushed through them like they weren't even there. He is also (at least to me) far and away in the best shape of any player on the bills.
3)
EJ looked good to me. He didn't look exceptional but he looked pretty decisive and did a good job hitting his receivers in stride. He didn't always do that though. Two completions that stood out to me were to Hogan where he threw a little behind him. They would have been 10/15 yard completions but could have been a lot more if he had been a split second earlier with the throw or led him a little more. One of those plays was in 11-11's, one was probably a little earlier in the practice. This was particularly clear because I was behind the end zone (and directly behind Manuel) as he read the field and made the throw.
Manuel did look to me to be decisively the best quarterback on the field. He got picked off twice but I saw a lot more good than bad and a bit more aggression than I remember seeing last year.
4)
Marcell looks like a really happy guy on the football field.
5)
I thought TJ Graham looked like poop every time I watched him for most of the practice but his catch going down the sideline during the 2 minute drill was a thing of beauty. The guy has talent but I'm not sure he can make the team with a few flashes of greatness combined with several flashes of standing out poorly. I walked away tonight feeling like I understand why TJ is the scapegoat but also saw a player that can be dangerous if the lightbulb goes off.
6)
Mike Williams and Robert Woods are good at football.
7)
Freddy is also really really good at football.
8)
There were two plays that weren't too good and stood out were incomplete passes to Marcus Easey. I remember him from the last few pre-seasons and loving his game but he was not very impressive tonight at least as a WR. There were two plays where the ball went to him but he didn't get separation very well and didn't really contest the ball as it went over him. It may have been because the balls were poorly thrown but it looks to me like he could have done more. I remember him being very tenacious and physical in both his route running and going up for the ball and saw little of that. It's very possible that that's because it's training camp but still :-(
That said the guy (if he makes the roster) is as like a 5th/6th WR and primarily a special teams player. I just remember seeing more out of him before as a WR than I saw tonight because he's one of my favorite players (I've been on the bandwagon since 2011) and I watch him intently whenever he gets into games.
9)
I noticed the right side of the line today. I did not really notice the left. You don't want to get noticed.
10a)
I was also right behind the end zone and very close to the huddle when Marrone called the offensive and defensive lineman in after the 2nd fight. He first told the two lineman coaches to stay out of it and pulled the players over together quickly and he had some very loud and very choiced words for them before it got too quiet for me to hear. If I was the one being yelled at I would have pooped my pants.
10b)
On the same note I loved seeing the offensive and defense start getting angsty with each other. Brandon Spikes and Mario Williams, although they didn't fight, were the two most verbally involved players after their reps were done. I liked seeing them stick up for their teamates, especially because the common belief with Mario is that he's not much of a leader and just does his job. We already know Spikes is sassy.