With much of the focus on Bills camp over the last 24 hours on players who won’t be suiting up for Week 1 (or who might not be), it was nice to read a bit about those who will. The day was filled with two minute work, up and down play from the quarterbacks, some great play in the secondary, and a scuffle. Here are the main points of discussion:
- Wood rips Powell a new one: In two-minute work, Walt Powell lined up with the first team. After a strong preseason effort on Saturday, which included some great routes like this one (and a long grab in the fourth quarter to set up the eventual touchdown), Powell’s star has been trending up. Today, he blocked Ronald Darby in a way that caused the second year corner to take offense. After Darby attacked Powell, earning himself a penalty, Powell continued the fight, shoving back until Eric Wood broke it up. Wood was not pleased, and he let the young receiver know about it.
- Stephon Gilmore dominates: Gilmore intercepted his fourth pass in 14 days of training camp. No matter who his mark, he has been incredibly effective all throughout camp. He also had another near-interception that he was unable to corral. In an offseason dominated by negative attention, especially on defense, it’s certainly encouraging to hear that the Bills’ top pick from 2011 is continuing to develop into a true lockdown corner.
- Offense struggles to score...: Mike Rodak tallied one particularly brutal stretch (the link is one of those redirects to ESPN, FYI) where Bills quarterbacks threw 15 passes, had 6 balls dropped, overthrew 2, and were intercepted on one (Kevon Seymour). He did not note who the quarterbacks were for each play, however. Marquise Goodwin closed the 11-on-11 with a drop on a pass from Tyrod Taylor. Goodwin was wide open, according to Rodak.
- ...but there was some good, too!: Taylor was sharp at times, throwing touchdowns to Greg Little and Goodwin in red zone work. Vic Carucci notes that Taylor was a little up and down, however. Sal Capaccio noted that the running game has looked excellent, and has improved as camp has gone on.
- News on the injury and participation fronts: Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito each worked out on the side, although neither practiced. Nickell Robey-Coleman was out of his walking boot, but did not practice. Seymour again ran with the ones in the slot in his place. Sammy Watkins had a rest day today. Reggie Bush returned to the team and subbed in with the first team, as did Dezmin Lewis. Sterling Moore was shaken up after defending a pass, but he returned to practice. Cardale Jones ran a two minute drill with the second unit, which Rodak described as a “disaster” (Delay of game, false start on 4th and 5, then sack on 4th and 10). EJ Manuel ran with the twos thereafter.