Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills News, 8/1

Bills Roundup: Tuesday News and Highlights - BuffaloBills.com
"While the weather may have forced the Bills indoors for the end of practice, the team was still able to work on the run game, and had several nice plays before the rain came."

Bills' backup QBs struggle - The Buffalo News
"The battle for the Buffalo Bills' No. 2 quarterback job is off to a slow start at St. John Fisher College. Vince Young, the favorite to be the top backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, needs time to get comfortable in a new offense. Tyler Thigpen, Fitzpatrick's No. 2 last season, is fighting to demonstrate more accuracy in coach Chan Gailey's rhythm-passing attack. It's likely to be late in preseason before fans have a better sense of how much security the Bills have behind their starting quarterback."

Ryan Fitzpatrick Tuesday Press Conference - BuffaloBills.com
"The Bills quarterback talks about working with TJ Graham, his impressions of Stephon Gilmore, and how his mechanics are coming along in camp."

Chan Gailey Tuesday Press Conference - BuffaloBills.com
"The Bills head coach talks about the weather forcing practice indoors, how the battle for playing time is shaking out, and how they intend to bring the injured players back slowly."

Practice Notes - Day 5 - Weather forces Bills indoors - BuffaloBills.com
"Yeah, it is tough," said Mario Williams. "We do not have a bubble here, so what can you do. We just come in and take the physical out of it. But you have to be mentally prepared and on top of your game. It is actually a good way to come in, actually see things a little bit slower."

Transcript: Chan Gailey & Mario Williams - BuffaloBills.com
The two big names spoke with the media after practice.

Fitz walking receivers through the paces - BuffaloBills.com
"Newly added to the team’s practice regimen this summer, Ryan Fitzpatrick during the first 20 minutes of scheduled walk-through sessions gets with the entire receiving corps as well as quarterbacks coach David Lee and receivers coach Bob Bicknell and lays out any and all specifics with respect to the passing game."

Inside The Bills | Pears very limited
"He only did individual position drills."

Inside The Bills | Test for Fitz’s mechanics to come
"At this point I feel like it is easy to have better mechanics, but it is when you get into the games that it is really going to be the test for me," he said. "And not just Week 1 through Week 5, it is going to be the whole season. Staying consistent. Staying on top of footwork and different things."

Inside The Bills | RDE-LT observation
"Knowing Anderson is the more accomplished pass rusher and Kelsay more of an all-around player, one could argue that Hairston has had a bit more of a challenge in the passing game work. However, Glenn has had his hands full with Kelsay."

Weather sends Bills practice indoors - The Buffalo News
"At least we've got something (the gym) that we can go in and get the last 30 snaps and get a feel for it and get communication," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "And that's about what it's for, communication."

Bryan Scott's position: Where should we start? - The Buffalo News
Tim Graham talks to Bryan Scott about his multitude of positions which include defensive end, linebacker, and every position in the secondary.

David Lee says Fitzpatrick off to good start - The Buffalo News
"I thought he had two really good practices the first two days out," Lee said today. "Then we put the pads on (Saturday) and the defensive line disrupted all our timing, disrupted everything we’ve been working on and kind of had to regroup and start again in practice No. 4."

Rain cuts short Bills session - The Buffalo News
"Pittsford's Oak Hill Country Club is almost directly across the street from camp. When Oak Hill's lightning siren goes off, the Bills get off the field."

Bills rated 19th in new AP poll: How they voted - The Buffalo News
"The Buffalo Bills rated 19th in the preseason poll. They were 10th among AFC teams and third in the division behind the No. 2 New England Patriots and No. 17 New York Jets. The Miami Dolphins, in case you were wondering, came in at No. 27." Highest was 12, lowest was 25 (because the Bills apparently got worse Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune).

WGR 550 - Johnson Not The Only Bills' WR Allowed To Freelance Routes
"A lot of offenses in the NFL, you have to run your route a certain way each time -- a certain depth each time. In this offense we have to be at the right depth, but we can get there however we get there," Jones told Howard Simon and Jeremy White. "Chan's philosophy is to just beat the man and don't fool the quarterback. So however you get to the spot, you get there on time, you're good. That's basically a freedom. You can take whatever release you want to do. In most offenses, you can't do that."

WGR 550 - Bills' Gilmore Threw Fitzpatrick For A Loop On Draft Day
"Well I can tell you my opinion of him has changed since draft day, when I saw him get drafted and have no emotion or expression on his face. Now I understand why, knowing him," Fitzpatrick explained. "It wasn't that he was upset to be in Buffalo, he just has a quiet confidence about him. He's genuinely a great guy, and he wants to get better each and every day. I can do nothing but respect that -- the way that he works out here and how he's trying to get better in asking questions and doing all that."

WGR 550 - Training Camp Notebook: Day 5
"Without a full set of team drills to chew on, there weren't a bevy of plays to substantiate the notebook on. However, there were some highlights and lowlights for a few of the players. Here are just some brief notes from Tuesday:"

WGR 550 - Lightning Moves Tuesday's Bills Practice Indoors
Joe Buscaglia gives his rundown of practice on Tuesday.

WGR 550 - SCHOPP: Meet The Countrified Bills
"The Bills speak with a drawl now. Their coach and general manager are both capable of a "dadgum". I'm guessing more than a few of these guys in the organization have the head of a dead animal mounted in their dens."

WGR 550 - SIMON: Morrison Is New, "Old Guy"
Kirk Morrison talks about his expanded role and how the rest of the players are doing.

Bills training camp notes - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Bills coach Chan Gailey had a message for the team after practice. He wants his team to said, "Be the best we can be every day." Gailey acknowledged to his team that Buffalo has the talent. But hard work is what will set teams apart."

Gailey not worried about Bills' No. 2 WR - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"I don’t worry about No. 2," Gailey explained. "We’re so much of a three- and four-wide receiver team that it’s hard to get bent out of shape about who’s No. 2. We need a great group of receivers, and we need our guys to compliment Steve [Johnson]."

Bills considered scrimmaging other teams - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Gailey said the Bills reached out in the spring to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns -- teams nearby -- to see if they were interested. Ultimately, Gailey put the idea on hold because he felt it was more productive to use the practice time installing their new 4-3 defense."

The Bills hope size matters - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"We needed to get bigger. We were a small team; our linebackers were small and we got knocked around a lot," Bills general manager Buddy Nix said Tuesday. "My philosophy is it's a big-man's game and you got to get bigger. You win and lose consistently with those guys up front. That's our thinking."

49ers' Whitner still getting attention for his big hit - The Reporter
"Such a cerebral approach suits Whitner, which might explain why the 5-10, 208-pounder thrived in the 49ers system last season after five seasons with the Buffalo Bills. A safety in numbers: 10 (passes defensed), 3 (fumble recoveries) and 2 (interceptions) -- all career highs."

Bills bank on Fitzpatrick - Times Union
"Ryan Fitzpatrick is the first to acknowledge he still faces questions about his consistency and mechanics. The rest of the qualities it takes to being a successful quarterback — poise, toughness and confidence — the Buffalo Bills starter appears to have down pat."

Bills' Carder tries to beat the odds again – USATODAY.com
"Rookie linebacker out of Texas Christian overcame horrific childhood accident to become fifth-round pick." This profile by Sal Maiorana from Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle is well-told and full of Carder's great story.

Battle for the "Blind Side" - MPNnow
"I think we have two talented players," said Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills quarterback. "I think we have two young guys who are going to kind of grow and learn as this thing goes on. But whoever the front five are up there I am going to be very confident in that and we are just going to go out there and play."

Lang on Bills: Bills looking for 'Fitzmagic' - sportsnet.ca
"Our experience together, now going on year three, is something that is irreplaceable. You can't substitute that for classroom work. When you're on the play field playing together you gain so much valuable experience."

Training camp is different for veterans and undrafted rookies - MPNnow
"(As a rookie) you’re trying to make a play so they recognize you, that’s the No. 1 thing you’re doing," Jackson said. "Especially being undrafted, you’ve got to make a splash. As a veteran, you try to come in and make sure everybody is on the same page and help those younger guys that are supposed to make a splash themselves."

Terrence McGee's future with Buffalo Bills unclear - NFL.com
"That's one of my worries right now, and it was one of my worries in OTAs; will I have enough time to get in here and get right and compete for a job?" McGee said. "I can't control it right now, all I can do is go out there and work hard and improve on something."