4 Takeaways: Bills Practice Harmony in Opening OTAs

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — As cranes hovered over excavators, graders, loaders and others to build Buffalo’s new football stadium on Abbot Road, the Bills got to work rebuilding their championship window after having tightened up the talent roster this offseason.

Entering the second phase of organized team activities this week, the Bills opened the first of three voluntary minicamps. Each OTA consists of three unpadded practices with helmets and shorts. Here are four takeaways from Tuesday’s practice.

Allen welcomes new weapons

Josh Allen gets to know a number of new receivers, including first-round draft pick Keon Coleman, as well as free agent acquisitions Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Valdes-Scantling, the most recent addition, entered the league catching passes from MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and won two Super Bowls playing with Patrick Mahomes, and he made sure to wish his new quarterback a happy 28th birthday on tuesday.

“It’s MVS,” Allen said. “Which guy.”

Valdes-Scantling said Allen invited him to his house for dinner during his free agent visit, and their bond helped in his decision to sign with the Bills.

“It’s my second day here, but I can say he’s a great leader,” the veteran said. “Obviously he can spread the ball, and that’s the most important thing. But he also cares about his teammates. I think it’s something the two guys I had before did too. Obviously you care about winning and you want to go out and win the Super Bowl. But caring about the people you go to war with every day, that’s something I can see Josh and those other two guys having.

Reclamation project

Claypool, the former Dolphins receiver who was a first-round draft pick of the Steelers, has impressed coach Sean McDermott with his determination to return to the form he showed during a stellar rookie season.

“I applaud Chase for coming here to see where things are going,” McDermott said. “And so he’s very focused, he works extremely hard day in and day out. And accepting not only the wide receiver role he could play for us, but also the special teams role he could play for us.

“You don’t find a lot of things in the NFL,” the coach continued, “where a player has reached a certain level and then is on a mission to get back to what he once was in that regard. And those are my words , maybe not fair to Chase, respectfully But I’ll just say he’s very impressed with his daily approach, a true pro, high character, smart player, and he’s been a good addition to our team.

With the Bills at wide receiver after trading Stefon Diggs and losing Gabe Davis in free agency, Allen welcomes the new personalities and determines what they can bring to Buffalo’s passing game.

“I think it’s opportunity number one,” Allen said. “A chance to grow as a leader, grow as a teammate and rely on other guys who maybe haven’t been there but have a lot of NFL experience. Bringing in guys like Mack Hollins and MVS and leaning on the guys they’ve been around and just listening to what they have to say, bringing in younger guys and getting to know new guys. It’s a time in the offseason where you get to know guys on a deeper level and know where they’re coming from and what motivates them. So it’s always a fun experience.

Crucial exchange

While getting to know his new receivers, Allen also has to adjust to a new starting center for the first time in his career. Connor McGovern moved from guard to replace Pro Bowler Mitch Morse.

“Well we get here, we’re two of the first guys here,” Allen said. “And we’re sitting in the training room, laying around, hanging out next to each other for 45 (minutes) to about an hour. I think that’s part of the problem, just understanding each other off the field and developing a constant line of communication, because the middle quarterback position is a lot, understanding how we talk, who we talk to , who we pick up on, how we can also communicate sometimes non-verbally within a room.

“So I think, again, off-field activities pay dividends on the field. And when we’re here, we get extra reps and we make sure we discuss things after the play. So that’s kind of what we’re doing now.

List of participants

Cornerback Rasul Douglas and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones are not present for the Volunteer camp, but overall the Bills have had excellent participation in the offseason program, McDermott said. And there’s a notable lack of disgruntled holdouts, compared to last spring, when Diggs’ extended absence from OTAs signaled a disagreement with Allen and the Bills.

“We had great attendance throughout the offseason,” McDermott said. “A few guys are missing here and there.”

As for injured players, senior linebacker Matt Milano remains at least a month away from being able to practice after breaking his leg last season. Starting right tackle Spencer Brown is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and new safety Mike Edwards also did not participate in team drills due to a back illness. ‘shoulder.