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Overall:
Conditioning really showed up. They looked quick and ready to play all game. They played solid technical football; no sign of sloppy play really. A few dumb penalties but overall good in that area. It really looks like they are well coached and ready to play; that the changed approach to the preseason is doing it's job. All eyes are on EJ and he had a decent but unspectacular start. Came out slow with some bad accuracy but picked it up with an efficient 2 minute scoring drive. Kolb could get the start next week where Marrone isn't fully sold yet on EJ and wants to get a real good look at Kolb before making the call. The media can call it over but I think it's still a competition. Spiller was the star even in his few carries. The sky's the limit with him. The up-tempo offense showed signs of catching a defense off guard. The Defense played quick and strong but lacked the pressure we would expect.
Offense- Pass game was blah in the 1st qtr. Spiller was elusive, quick, and looks to be nasty. O-line blocked well all game; EJ had plenty of time. Tuel had a fumble on a pass attempt but no sacks given up (I think). Colin Brown played well all game. F Jax was slow and looks old. Zach Brown was unimpressive. I didn't see good vision, speed, quicks, or patience from him. Gaskins, on the other hand, showed nice vision, patience, and good size. Many young wide receivers produced; Woods, Goodwin, Rogers, Kaufman, Easley, and Sampson. It will be a tough call on who makes the team at wide receiver. I think it could be Stevie, Graham, Woods, Goodwin, and either Easley or Rogers. Gragg and Dickerson made some plays.
Defense- Where's the pressure? Mario sack was a gimme since Costanzo never moved. Hughes with a pass block, a few late sacks. But, the first team pass rush get held at the line way too much. However, they flew to the ball and hit hard. No big gimmes except for Brooks on one play. Alonso is a play-maker but may not be much of a slobber knocker with big stuffs at the line. Lawson looks to be productive and disruptive. Troup was basically non-existant as was the hyped Alex Carrington. Corbin Bryant and Jarron Gilbert made some plays. Blatnick and Dowtin had a few decent moments where they looked solid. Aaron Williams impressed me as did Crezdon Butler and Nickell Robey. Duke Williams and Johnathan Meeks were unimpressive.
Special Teams- Played great all game. They gave up one decent return but Goodwin with 2 kick returns for 106 yards and a TD? Disgusting. Robey was shifty as a punt returner. Lot's of real good open field tackles.
Noteworthy plays:
Alonso punching the ball out in the endzone
Lawson tip for a Crez Butler INT
Brooks beaten badly
Brooks hard hit to cause a fumble that Searcy picked up
Brooks stupid taunting penalty
Brooks awesome tackle as a gunner on ST
A Williams huge hit
Hughes jumps early
Hughes nice pass blocked at the line
EJ slow start
EJ big run
EJ very efficient and solid 2 minute scoring drive
EJ bad hand off leads to a fumble to CJ
Hopkins and Powell kicked well
Hopkins with the inexcusable out of bounds kick
Goodwin big return followed by 107 yard TD return
Colin Brown blocked well all day
Mario sack when Costanzo missed the snap and didn't move
Where's the first team D pressure... seemed to get stuck on blocks a lot
Robey shifty in punt returns
Robey great open field ST tackle
Butler with a nice pass break-up on 3rd and 6
Butler nice open field tackle
So glad Shepp is gone
Easley with a bunch of back to back pass catches
K Edwards sack
Welch two penalties... can't wait for Hairston to get back
Kaufman a few catches and a nice TD reception
Gilbert with a nice chop on Harnish
Gaskins has F Jax like vision
F Jax looks slow and unproductive... 3.7 mill cap savings?... He's a cut candidate
Brown really didn't impress
Tuel poised, confident, and effecient
Sampson with a nice set of catches
Sinkfield with a nice gunner ST tackle
Rolle with a pick 6
Chris White drills the kick returner on ST
At this point:
Locks to make the team:
Woods
Goodwin
Graham
Colin Brown
Tuel
As good as gone:
Troup
Chris White
Sampson
Back from the dead:
Easley
On the bubble:
Da'Rick Rogers
Kaufman
Legursky
Welch
Crez Butler
Meeks
Duke Williams
Lindell
F-Jax
Moats
Overall, I came away impressed not by the scoring, big defensive plays, or first team production; I think we were average in those areas. But, more because they looked well coached, very well conditioned, hungry, and ready to play. I like what that may mean for a huge tone setting opener against New England. New England is a juggernaut at playing solid football and they find a way to win more often than not. The Bills will need to be solid if not in mid-season form to go toe to toe with them. But, this team could be very solid if they can keep it up and stay healthy. Still, it's the preseason and there's lot's of it left.
Conditioning really showed up. They looked quick and ready to play all game. They played solid technical football; no sign of sloppy play really. A few dumb penalties but overall good in that area. It really looks like they are well coached and ready to play; that the changed approach to the preseason is doing it's job. All eyes are on EJ and he had a decent but unspectacular start. Came out slow with some bad accuracy but picked it up with an efficient 2 minute scoring drive. Kolb could get the start next week where Marrone isn't fully sold yet on EJ and wants to get a real good look at Kolb before making the call. The media can call it over but I think it's still a competition. Spiller was the star even in his few carries. The sky's the limit with him. The up-tempo offense showed signs of catching a defense off guard. The Defense played quick and strong but lacked the pressure we would expect.
Offense- Pass game was blah in the 1st qtr. Spiller was elusive, quick, and looks to be nasty. O-line blocked well all game; EJ had plenty of time. Tuel had a fumble on a pass attempt but no sacks given up (I think). Colin Brown played well all game. F Jax was slow and looks old. Zach Brown was unimpressive. I didn't see good vision, speed, quicks, or patience from him. Gaskins, on the other hand, showed nice vision, patience, and good size. Many young wide receivers produced; Woods, Goodwin, Rogers, Kaufman, Easley, and Sampson. It will be a tough call on who makes the team at wide receiver. I think it could be Stevie, Graham, Woods, Goodwin, and either Easley or Rogers. Gragg and Dickerson made some plays.
Defense- Where's the pressure? Mario sack was a gimme since Costanzo never moved. Hughes with a pass block, a few late sacks. But, the first team pass rush get held at the line way too much. However, they flew to the ball and hit hard. No big gimmes except for Brooks on one play. Alonso is a play-maker but may not be much of a slobber knocker with big stuffs at the line. Lawson looks to be productive and disruptive. Troup was basically non-existant as was the hyped Alex Carrington. Corbin Bryant and Jarron Gilbert made some plays. Blatnick and Dowtin had a few decent moments where they looked solid. Aaron Williams impressed me as did Crezdon Butler and Nickell Robey. Duke Williams and Johnathan Meeks were unimpressive.
Special Teams- Played great all game. They gave up one decent return but Goodwin with 2 kick returns for 106 yards and a TD? Disgusting. Robey was shifty as a punt returner. Lot's of real good open field tackles.
Noteworthy plays:
Alonso punching the ball out in the endzone
Lawson tip for a Crez Butler INT
Brooks beaten badly
Brooks hard hit to cause a fumble that Searcy picked up
Brooks stupid taunting penalty
Brooks awesome tackle as a gunner on ST
A Williams huge hit
Hughes jumps early
Hughes nice pass blocked at the line
EJ slow start
EJ big run
EJ very efficient and solid 2 minute scoring drive
EJ bad hand off leads to a fumble to CJ
Hopkins and Powell kicked well
Hopkins with the inexcusable out of bounds kick
Goodwin big return followed by 107 yard TD return
Colin Brown blocked well all day
Mario sack when Costanzo missed the snap and didn't move
Where's the first team D pressure... seemed to get stuck on blocks a lot
Robey shifty in punt returns
Robey great open field ST tackle
Butler with a nice pass break-up on 3rd and 6
Butler nice open field tackle
So glad Shepp is gone
Easley with a bunch of back to back pass catches
K Edwards sack
Welch two penalties... can't wait for Hairston to get back
Kaufman a few catches and a nice TD reception
Gilbert with a nice chop on Harnish
Gaskins has F Jax like vision
F Jax looks slow and unproductive... 3.7 mill cap savings?... He's a cut candidate
Brown really didn't impress
Tuel poised, confident, and effecient
Sampson with a nice set of catches
Sinkfield with a nice gunner ST tackle
Rolle with a pick 6
Chris White drills the kick returner on ST
At this point:
Locks to make the team:
Woods
Goodwin
Graham
Colin Brown
Tuel
As good as gone:
Troup
Chris White
Sampson
Back from the dead:
Easley
On the bubble:
Da'Rick Rogers
Kaufman
Legursky
Welch
Crez Butler
Meeks
Duke Williams
Lindell
F-Jax
Moats
Overall, I came away impressed not by the scoring, big defensive plays, or first team production; I think we were average in those areas. But, more because they looked well coached, very well conditioned, hungry, and ready to play. I like what that may mean for a huge tone setting opener against New England. New England is a juggernaut at playing solid football and they find a way to win more often than not. The Bills will need to be solid if not in mid-season form to go toe to toe with them. But, this team could be very solid if they can keep it up and stay healthy. Still, it's the preseason and there's lot's of it left.
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