After Tuesday’s practice, coach Doug Marrone announced that 2013 Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will not attend the remainder of OTA’s after his arrest on Friday in Hamburg, NY.
Dareus was charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, participation in an illegal speed racing contest as well as traffic violations (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). This was the second time Dareus had been arrested in the month of May, the first for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after being pulled over for speeding in Alabama.
“Obviously, we all know and are well aware that Marcell has made some poor decisions lately. The one thing is I’ve been working with him and he’s dealing with a lot of personal issues too,” Marrone said in his opening statement to the media. “I spoke with him at length and we spent a lot of time together talking about a lot of things. As of now, he’s not going to be attending the OTA’s, but he’ll be attending the mandatory minicamp when we come back. I just want to make sure I’m clear everyone understands I believe in Marcell and I will do everything I can to make sure we can get him on the right track.”
Marrone said that what Dareus will do the next two weeks between now and the mandatory minicamp is “between myself, him and other people close to him.”
“That is personal, but he’ll be ready to go when he comes back here,” said Marrone. “That’s being evaluated and I’m watching him.”
When asked if he had seen any positive growth from Dareus, Marrone said “Yes I have.” Quarterback E.J. Manuel echoed those sentiments, saying there’s “no (doubt) at all” Dareus would get his act together.
“Marcell is a very smart person,” said Manuel. “Marcell is his own man and he’s a grown man so he’s going to make the decisions he wants to make. That’s only one incident, he had something else prior to that, but he’s still young. We’re all young and we all make mistakes and I’m just thankful he didn’t get hurt to the point where he couldn’t redeem himself. I have more than enough confidence that he’ll be back and ready to go for us.”
Manuel said he is “happy Dareus is healthy, and the two talked yesterday. Manuel spent Tuesday’s practice continuing to develop a rapport with rookie receiver Sammy Watkins and the rest of the young receiving corps.
“Sammy is a great route runner,” said Manuel. “He always gives you the true route, so as long as you’re on point with your drop and your footwork and everything, just throw it to a spot and he’ll catch it. It’s not just Sammy. I think all of those guys do a great job as far as not counting the steps, but being step oriented in their routes.”
“I know that is something (offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett) and (wide receiver coach Rob Moore) have really implemented for those guys and they coached the routes like that. They’re all buying in to it and for us quarterbacks it’s easy to just throw it to that spot and it’s on them to get there.”
The Bills began Tuesday’s practice with a full 90 man roster of the signing of former Syracuse center Macky MacPherson, who played for Doug Marrone for the Orangemen from 2010-2012. Marrone was complimentary of MacPherson, a 2013 second-team All-ACC selection who is the grandson of former Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson.
“I thought he was a better option for us to upgrade that position,” said Marrone. “He is familiar with the system, but he’s a tough kid who is going to give us everything he has and he has an opportunity. He is also a long snapper and short snapper. So we’ll see where it goes.”
In terms of what he sees from the the other side of the ball, which is being coached by new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Marrone said “I like our defense.”
“I like what we’re installing and I like what we’re doing,” said Marrone. “I like the coaches and I like how they’re coaching. I like how they’re on the field with the players and I like how the players are responding. I still think we have a long way to go, but I do like the direction we’re heading.”
While Schwartz’s defensive schemes are different than the ones current Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine used for the Bills last season, Marrone doesn’t necessarily think there is a big adjustment for every player.
“It’s interesting, but it all depends. I think when you talk from coach to coach on what we’re asking them to do, for someone being in a three point stance to a two point stance, it’s the same responsibilities. That’s what we’re talking about quite a bit. We can still stand those guys up to do those responsibilities. So, from that standpoint it’s just a matter of really who you’re talking to. The thing about our defense was we might have had an under defensive tackle, but the same sense don’t make the mistake; we weren’t 3-4 last year.”
