madness
07-30-2007, 02:54 PM
Pads Practice Ratchets Up Intensity
The first full pads practice got underway late Monday morning and there was some spirited play throughout the session. Heach coach Dick Jauronhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and his coaching staff, however, had to push a little at times to maintain the tempo under a blazing sun. "It was a hot one and they struggled through it," said Jauron. "That first day in pads is a little bit different. It's our seventh practice so they were a little weary-legged to start with so it wasn't as crisp as we would've liked. It was about what we expected. We had to push them a little bit to get them through it, but they worked hard. All in all it was a good day's work."
Line play
Things got started with a spirited 9-on-7 segment where the running game is the focus.
On the first play Chris Kelsayhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) stripped Anthony Thomashttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) from behind after he got through to the second level and was praised by defensive coordinator Perry Fewellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"Nice job, nice job," shouted Fewell who gave Kelsay a smack on the back.
Thomas on the next rush bent his run outside as Ashton Youbotyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) appeared to be a bit too eager and lost outside leverage on the A-Train.
Jason Petershttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and Derrick Dockeryhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) looked great on a double team of Larry Trippletthttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) on the back side of a run play. Tripplett was five yards behind the line of scrimmage when the play neared its end.
Brad Butlerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) running as the second team right guard effectively neutralized John McCargohttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) on a running play standing him up at the line. On the very next play however, McCargo forced the running back inside by penetrating enough to cut off the outside rush lane while working against Aaron Merzhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
At right guard Duke Prestonhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) got the first three reps before Jason Whittlehttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) rotated in. And that's how it went the rest of practice. Each of them got three reps before rotating out for the other.
During Whittle's first series he and Langston Walkerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) effectively collapsed the left side of the defensive line allowing Marshawn Lynchhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) to scoot by untouched until he reached the second level. Aside from two negative plays Whittle looked pretty sharp. He admitted he let his emotions get the best of him.
"The first day of pads you're a little bit hyped up and your steps aren't always exactly right," said Whittle. "You can let your adrenaline take over too much. The offensive line is much more controlled and trying to anticipate stuff and knowing what's going to happen. If you get too aggressive you'll wind up on your face which I did on the very first play."
Preston also fared well for the most part. He had just one subpar play when Larry Tripplett was able to get inside of him and at the quarterback.
Peters and Dockery successfully flattened out and separated the defensive line creating running lanes to choose from for Fred Jacksonhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"It felt good," said Dockery of their work in the run game. "We gave the running backs some holes to run through. It wasn't perfect, but as long as you come off that ball and fly, hopefully you hit somebody. We've got some great backs so as long as we get in the way we can let them do their thing."
Dockery's best block came in 11-on-11 when he stoned John DiGiorgiohttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) who was trying to fill the gap.
Brad Cieslakhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) had a good seal block on Paul Posluszny, although the linebacker did fill the hole well on another play.
Eric Powellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) shed the block from right tackle Kirk Chambershttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) well to stop Josh Scobeyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) at the line of scrimmage. And Jason Websterhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) showed his aggressiveness filling the hole despite the fact that 230-pound Dwayne Wrighthttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) had a full head of steam. Webster only slowed Wright down momentarily, but Webster wasn't shy about getting his nose dirty.
Langston Walker performed well in his first live action, with only an inside move by Chris Kelsay getting the best of him on the day. One play later Walker smoothly handled a tackle-end stunt by stopping Ryan Denneyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and channeling him inside to where Walker had help from Whittle.
In one-on-one and two-on-two pass rush drills between the offensive and defensive linemen, Walker worked fairly well with both Preston and Whittle. In passing players off Walker really knocks defensive ends off balance when he gets his hands on them, but seemed to handle working with two different guards without any major problems.
"We have to function together and there are certain things that we slowly have to learn about each other," said Walker of Whittle and Preston. "They're both great players."
The big matchup was when Aaron Schobelhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) faced Jason Peters. During a two-on-two drill when Schobel was teamed with Larry Tripplett, Schobel knifed inside and got under Peters' shoulder. On the next play Schobel tried to go to a spin move, but Peters immediately neutralized him with a stiff hand punch that got him praise from assistant offensive line coach Sean Kuglerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"In the segments that I saw they won their share and lost their share," said Jauron of the offensive line. "There was give and take on both sides. It was good. We're just getting started."
The first full pads practice got underway late Monday morning and there was some spirited play throughout the session. Heach coach Dick Jauronhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and his coaching staff, however, had to push a little at times to maintain the tempo under a blazing sun. "It was a hot one and they struggled through it," said Jauron. "That first day in pads is a little bit different. It's our seventh practice so they were a little weary-legged to start with so it wasn't as crisp as we would've liked. It was about what we expected. We had to push them a little bit to get them through it, but they worked hard. All in all it was a good day's work."
Line play
Things got started with a spirited 9-on-7 segment where the running game is the focus.
On the first play Chris Kelsayhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) stripped Anthony Thomashttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) from behind after he got through to the second level and was praised by defensive coordinator Perry Fewellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"Nice job, nice job," shouted Fewell who gave Kelsay a smack on the back.
Thomas on the next rush bent his run outside as Ashton Youbotyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) appeared to be a bit too eager and lost outside leverage on the A-Train.
Jason Petershttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and Derrick Dockeryhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) looked great on a double team of Larry Trippletthttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) on the back side of a run play. Tripplett was five yards behind the line of scrimmage when the play neared its end.
Brad Butlerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) running as the second team right guard effectively neutralized John McCargohttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) on a running play standing him up at the line. On the very next play however, McCargo forced the running back inside by penetrating enough to cut off the outside rush lane while working against Aaron Merzhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
At right guard Duke Prestonhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) got the first three reps before Jason Whittlehttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) rotated in. And that's how it went the rest of practice. Each of them got three reps before rotating out for the other.
During Whittle's first series he and Langston Walkerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) effectively collapsed the left side of the defensive line allowing Marshawn Lynchhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) to scoot by untouched until he reached the second level. Aside from two negative plays Whittle looked pretty sharp. He admitted he let his emotions get the best of him.
"The first day of pads you're a little bit hyped up and your steps aren't always exactly right," said Whittle. "You can let your adrenaline take over too much. The offensive line is much more controlled and trying to anticipate stuff and knowing what's going to happen. If you get too aggressive you'll wind up on your face which I did on the very first play."
Preston also fared well for the most part. He had just one subpar play when Larry Tripplett was able to get inside of him and at the quarterback.
Peters and Dockery successfully flattened out and separated the defensive line creating running lanes to choose from for Fred Jacksonhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"It felt good," said Dockery of their work in the run game. "We gave the running backs some holes to run through. It wasn't perfect, but as long as you come off that ball and fly, hopefully you hit somebody. We've got some great backs so as long as we get in the way we can let them do their thing."
Dockery's best block came in 11-on-11 when he stoned John DiGiorgiohttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) who was trying to fill the gap.
Brad Cieslakhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) had a good seal block on Paul Posluszny, although the linebacker did fill the hole well on another play.
Eric Powellhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) shed the block from right tackle Kirk Chambershttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) well to stop Josh Scobeyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) at the line of scrimmage. And Jason Websterhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) showed his aggressiveness filling the hole despite the fact that 230-pound Dwayne Wrighthttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) had a full head of steam. Webster only slowed Wright down momentarily, but Webster wasn't shy about getting his nose dirty.
Langston Walker performed well in his first live action, with only an inside move by Chris Kelsay getting the best of him on the day. One play later Walker smoothly handled a tackle-end stunt by stopping Ryan Denneyhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) and channeling him inside to where Walker had help from Whittle.
In one-on-one and two-on-two pass rush drills between the offensive and defensive linemen, Walker worked fairly well with both Preston and Whittle. In passing players off Walker really knocks defensive ends off balance when he gets his hands on them, but seemed to handle working with two different guards without any major problems.
"We have to function together and there are certain things that we slowly have to learn about each other," said Walker of Whittle and Preston. "They're both great players."
The big matchup was when Aaron Schobelhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#) faced Jason Peters. During a two-on-two drill when Schobel was teamed with Larry Tripplett, Schobel knifed inside and got under Peters' shoulder. On the next play Schobel tried to go to a spin move, but Peters immediately neutralized him with a stiff hand punch that got him praise from assistant offensive line coach Sean Kuglerhttp://buffalobills.com/images/relatedicon.gif (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4999#).
"In the segments that I saw they won their share and lost their share," said Jauron of the offensive line. "There was give and take on both sides. It was good. We're just getting started."