in his first training camp with Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills continue training camp as the team prepare for its first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. Late last week practice was a normal one until star wide receiver Stevie Johnson came up limping from what seemed to be a hamstring injury. Johnson is the leader of a very young wide receiving core and it is unknown what the severity of his injury is. Coach Doug Marrone addressed the media after practice saying “He’s going to get evaluated and it’s always tough when those situations happen for the players.”
More will be known about the injury in the coming days but overall Marrone was pleased with the practice. “I was happy. I think coming back off an off day, I think you worry when you’re a coach, getting them kind of back in. They came back in today and stepped it up a bit. I told them that. It was kind of a challenge for them to do that. We asked them to do it and they responded. That’s one thing that you’re looking for, now we just have to keep building on that.”
One of the biggest story lines of Bills training camp is the quarterback battle between Kevin Kolb and rookie EJ Manuel. The competition is heating up and it is the hope of the coaching staff to be able to name a starter 10 days before the season begins. Manuel has had some “wow” moments so far this camp, connecting on several long touchdown passes to TJ Graham and fellow rookie Marquise Goodwin. Kolb has been solid this camp but has been rattled by the different blitz packages that the 1st team defense has sent his way. Marrone has been satisfied with Manuel’s progression to this point saying “We’re very, very pleased. As far as the pass attempts, Kevin (Kolb) has maybe 20 or 30 more at this time, so we’ve been monitoring that and keeping that close. I was happy. Came in with a bad play late and then made a big play at the end. You just see it. You see the little things that he has to work on.”
Manuel has impressed so far but as his head coach said he has things to work on. Manuel ended practice on Friday with a 4th down touchdown pass to Goodwin. Goodwin and Manuel have developed good chemistry early in camp and all the work they have put in together showed on the final play of practice. “I gave Marquise (Goodwin) an opportunity to go down and make a catch” said Manuel. “It was a two-minute drill. I think it was 4th and 8. Marquise did a good job stare, stacking the DB, gave himself a chance to catch the ball and score a touchdown.”
It was an electrifying play that got everyone including offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett excited. Hackett ran down the field and jumped up and down with excitement. He has been Marrone’s offensive coordinator for the last four years while at Syracuse University. Hackett, 33, is a relatively young coach and his fire and energy have certainly been noticeable at training camp and have started to rub off on his players. “When you talk to players about passion and excitement and you don’t do that yourself and you’re not a good example of that” Marrone said of Hackett’s emotion. “I think it’s very difficult to get that out of the players. We’ve talked to our coaches and we’ve talked to our team about when something good happens, to be excited and to make sure that we don’t want poor body language when things go against us.”
coordinator at Syracuse University
Hackett’s age is benefitting him with the younger players as well, including Manuel. “There’s still that respect that he’s your coach, your offensive coordinator but like you said he is younger so he is a little more hip to things that a guy my age might know about, like the music or current events. But other than that he’s still my coach and I still give him that respect.”
The rookie quarterback loved the emotion his offensive coordinator shows and it helps create a positive buzz on offense.
Defensively the Bills are a little father along then their offensive counterparts. It is to be expected that the
defense be ahead of the curve early in the year. Offense takes timing and rhythm whereas defense is more reactive to what the offense is trying to execute. The Bills have switched to a 3-4 scheme on defense and have shown so far in camp that they will bring pressure from all over the field in many different ways.
Kolb has had trouble with the blitz packages and Manuel is being slowly introduced to the same types of looks as well. As a head coach it can be hard to tell if the offense is struggling or if the defense is playing outstanding and Coach Marrone isn’t afraid to side with either his offense or his defense depending on the outcome. “I love to win, so whatever side wins, I pick that side as the side I’m coaching. That’s the one thing about being a head coach. But no I think you look for that type of balance. When you’re in this type of setting, it’s always one period or you just don’t want to make it a day. You want to make it a continuous period where one side of the ball is dominating the other. The back and forth is great because that really simulates more of what happens sometimes in a game.”
job behind center for the Bills this season
Defensively the Bills were once again without defensive end Mario Williams who has been out with a sore foot injury. Marrone assured the media that the Bills highest paid player is getting closer to being full strength and that the doctors need to release him before he can fully return.
The Bills have a little over a week before their first preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Colts. They will have a live scrimmage on Monday and it will be the first time going live tackling so that will be a revealing day for Marrone and the coaching staff for sure. It is unsure whether or not Mario Williams or Stevie Johnson will play in that scrimmage Monday but it is the hope of the coaching staff that they will return to action soon. Competition at every position is heating up heading into the weekend. The scrimmage Monday should help determine who is ahead in each position battle.
