The Buffalo Bills finished their second week of OTAs on Thursday. Next week will be the final week of OTA’s and the Bills along with the rest of the league will get into heavier offseason practices leading up to the season.
Here are some observations circling the Bills last practice of the week:
AJ McCarron has been the most consistent QB for the Bills
McCarron is received the majority of the first-team reps for the Bills this week, followed by Nathan Peterman and Josh Allen. (It was Peterman first last week.) He was consistent in the two-minute drill, and though it didn't end up in a touchdown he led the team into the red zone.
Josh Allen had an up-and-down day
Allen had two shots at the two-minute drill today after his first chance ended in an early interception by cornerback Breon Borders. His second chance turned into a touchdown to undrafted rookie receiver Cam Phillips. Allen has been working with the third-team offense during OTAs and that didn't change for his opportunity in the two-minute drill.
The offensive line isn't shuffling around
For the second straight week, the starting offensive live has been Dion Dawkins, Vladimir Ducasse, Russell Bodine, John Miller and Jordan Mills from left to right. Ryan Groy and rookie fifth-round pick Wyatt Teller worked mostly with the second unit. Although the coaches had said there will be shuffling along the line, we may not see any of that until minicamp or training camp.
Tremaine Edmunds is taking his role by storm
Bills’ Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier raved about Edmunds on Thursday and compared his ability to learn and digest information to second-year cornerback, Tre’Davious White, which only sounds like good news. Here is what Frazier had to say:
“Tremaine has done a really good job up to this point, said Frazier. “There are going to be some rookie mistakes along the way, but his ability to gather information and then transfer it to the field has been very similar to what we saw with Tre’Davious. So, you don’t have some of the concerns that you ordinarily would have with most rookies because of it.”
“It’s a challenge coming in as a rookie for sure, and then being a middle linebacker, to lead, you’re in a leadership role. If you’re a middle linebacker, you’re calling the defense, you’re setting the front, you’re doing a lot of things that are required to leading an entire group, and that’s asking a lot of a rookie, “ Frazier said. “But up to this point, he’s handled it extremely well, so I don’t really see any indication that he won’t continue. We’ll just keep putting a little more on his plate as he goes.”
Kyle Williams veteran leaderships shows
While the Bills defensive line group was going through calls and stunts they'll use, Williams was coaching the rest of the defensive line and answering questions that were asked. As if there was any need to question Williams’ love for the game of football and the type of person he is, things like that solidify his persona.
Shaq Lawson is on a mission to be in the best physical shape he has ever been in
For a former first-round pick, Lawson has had two straight disappointing seasons and the bust label was starting to follow him around. He has gone through the offseason with a new attitude and goal for himself as the season approaches. Lawson said he usually plays around 275 pound and he wants to be lighter. He said he is around 263 pounds and by the start of the season he wants to be 260 pounds at the heaviest with 15 percent body fat. Lawson’s new approach has him fighting to earn a starting role on the defensive line.