Training Camp Notes: Wednesday, July 24

What a beautiful morning for the Opening Day of Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher! The logistics went very smoothly for me, but as always, arriving early makes the experience easier.

So many new faces! From my catbird’s seat I got my first look at 15 or 16 new Buffalo Bills that I expect to make the 53. Call it transition if you want, but I prefer the term reloading or even upgrading.

I’ll keep these brief..today’s session was barely 90 minutes, including stretching and a generous water break. The best news of all was a 100% healthy roster; not a single exercise bicycle was spotted. Work in positional groups was limited. As usual, we enjoy having Rob Boras and the TEs in front of us. Red zone passing drills and our first look at the radically new kick return rules comprised most of Wednesday’s action.

Watching the kick return drills, an old school football fan can’t help but start dreaming up ways of adapting to the new rules, and raise questions of rules enforcement that will no doubt spoil someone’s day sometime. Where to place the kick? Trajectory? Type of returners? Profile for coverage players? Fans will love it. Today’s participants in the KR derby: Ty Johnson, Daequan Hardy, Ray Davis, Frank Gore Jr, Darrynton Evans, Andy Isabella, and Keni-H Lovely. Maybe Ty Johnson is the favorite, but Hardy and Davis looked very good back there today.

Photo by Joe Reagan.

One thing that was nice to watch, and to hear Josh talk about after practice, was the Bills practicing exuberance! The longest throw of the day belonged to Justin Shorter after a nifty TD catch. He turned and went Kyle Brandt first pitch, hurling the pigskin halfway to Penfield. Mr. Shorter knows he’s is an battle to make this roster, and his passion was duly noted.

It’s only one practice, but this diversified set of weapons and the concept of “Point Guard Josh” may well be the permanent cure for “Hero Ball Josh”. He really spread it around…pretty sure nearly every WR on the roster had at least one nice TD grab, as well as Dalton and Dawson.

It’s only one practice, but this is the deepest and most diverse set of weapons I’ve ever seen at Fisher.

Some quick impressions from Wednesday:

Shakir: lined up at slot..still waiting to see if he gets outside reps.

Samuel: It looked like he and Josh had played together for years.

Photo by Joe Reagan.

Coleman: It would be really easy to gush, but let’s be understated and say Keon had a great first day. I go back 50 years plus with the Bills; very few athletes better than Coleman have ever lined up at WR in Buffalo. Merch sales second that emotion.

Photo of ‘Barefoot Jesus’ by Joe Reagan.

Hollins: I have to learn more about this guy. The look and the bare feet are fascinating. He also looks like the best blocker of the WRs, which added to his special teams skills makes him a near lock to make the 53.

Hamler: Today’s Offensive Winner of the “Who is that guy?” award. He looks like what the Bills hoped Deonte Harty could be.

Kincaid and Knox: 12 personnel in the Red Zone is a no brainer. Kincaid looks unstoppable over the middle, and Knox is going to get his share of TDs as the “forgotten” man. 15 combined TDs might not be out of the question.

The field: It might be Claypool, Valdes-Scantling, and Justin Shorter for one spot if Hamler stays healthy. Shorter might have had the best day of the three. Shavers is still a live longshot.

Not much to share on defense. The Defensive “Who Is that Guy?” award winner was Dawuane Smoot. I like his chances to stick. Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp were the #1s safety tandem, and Hamlin had a standout session.

I am happy to share that Dean Kindig @TCBILLS_Astro and his #AstroNotes will be in the house tomorrow.

Editor’s babble: We’re just grateful for either of you but better BOTH to attend each camp practice. Remember, if you have any extra tickets, please contact Dean Kindig @TCBILLS_Astro or Joe Reagan (@joer869) on Xwitter.