The Buffalo Bills coaches got their first chance to see what the rookies drafted and signed last month can do on the field today with the start of rookie camp at the teams facility in Orchard Park, NY. Coach Chan Gailey lead the team through a ninety-minute practice that started slow but built to a spirited batch of seven on seven drills.
The highlight of the first practice was an interception during the seven on seven drills by first-round draft pick Stephon Gilmore. New defensive coordinator, Dave Wannstedt was coaching up Gilmore from the bringing of practice until the end reminding the corner to, “get your hands up.”
The Bills had all of their draft picks and undrafted free-agents on the field as well as a group of about 25 players in camp on a try-out basis. YouTube sensation Alex Tanney, a QB from Monmouth College is a long shot to make the final roster but said after practice he was grateful that the Bills are giving him a chance to compete.
More news and notes from the first day of practice:
- Bills third-round pick T.J. Graham was the fastest player on the field but showed some inexperience in his route running and dropped a couple of passes. Graham met with the media after practice and said that his main goal this weekend is to work on technique and to learn as much of the playbook as he can. Graham talked about his speed and said that sometimes he has to slow himself down when running zone routes to avoid running past the quarterbacks read.
- Cody Glenn might have been the most under spoken rookie that met with the media after practice. Glenn spent his time on the field practicing at the left tackle position but disregarded a question after practice as to where he expects to compete when the veteran players are in the mix. Glenn was one of 26 players on hand at Radio City Music Hall for the draft but went home after he wasn’t selected in round one. He was the only player of the 26 that didn’t walk across the stage and greet NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
- Bills GM Buddy Nix spoke with the media about the Bills decision to sign quarterback Vince Young. Nix made it very clear that Young is being brought in to compete for the backup quarterback position and will only play in the regular season if Ryan Fitzpatrick is injured. When asked if Young might create a controversy if Fitzpatrick gets off to a cold start he dismissed the question saying, “Don’t even start that.”
- Stephon Gilmore was the last player to address the media and like most of the rookies before him stressed that the weekend is about learning the technique needed to compete in the NFL and studying the playbook. Gilmore talked about coach Wannstedt coaching him up and reminding him to use his hands, “In college I was able to use my speed and turn and run with the receivers. In the NFL you need to use your hands off the line of scrimmage or they will blow right by you.”
- Among the players on hand for a tryout are two Buffalo, NY natives who played college football at the University at Buffalo. Domonic Cook (DB) and Byron Mulkey (DB) will try to grab the attention of the coaches this weekend and earn an invitation to the Bills training camp in Pittsford, NY this summer.
