What a difference a day makes. After standing in the pouring rain the night before, the football gods were smiling down on St John Fisher College with a day of warm weather and glorious sunshine.
During the 10 am walk through I witnessed something I have never seen in my 12 years of covering the CFL. Bills special team coordinator Bob April was literally miked up for the kick off coverage drill. Wearing a wireless mic, April's voice was fed through the stadium PA system so everyone on the field could understand every nuance of the Bills kick off coverage team. I love the CFL, but the NFL takes football to a completely new level of sophistication.
After the walk I had a chance to interview quarterback Trent Edwards with out anyone else around me for a good five minutes. At 24 and in only his second season in the NFL, Edwards is mature beyond his years. He understands the pressure he's under yet he's savvy enough to not let it show. He already carries himself like a pro and his more experienced teammates have bought into the idea that he's the "man" in Buffalo.
Dick Jauron played his college football at Yale, so the man is no fool. Jauron knows that because Edwards is only a second-year quarterback mistakes are going to happen. To protect him, the Bills have an offence that is built more around running the football and short and safe passes. Every now and then Edwards will light it up and go deep, but safer is better in Jauron's world of football. A safe, mistake free offence will act as a nice complement to the Bills revamped defence and their solid special teams. It won't be as sexy as Tom Brady flinging long bombs to Randy Moss, but then again, the Bills are more about substance than style.
Steeler fans will all be very familiar with the hyperactive Bobby April. One of the NFL's most respected special teams coaches, it seems like he's in constant motion and never stops talking to his players.
Jauron himself doesn't say much in practice; he just watches, takes notes and let's his assistants do most of the talking.
Thanks to the awesome weather, the Bills afternoon practice was quick paced and intense. If you ever get a chance to watch an NFL team practise during training camp you quickly notice that every single second of their two-hour workout is accounted for. When Trent Edwards to JP Losman were running the offence, Turk Schonert and the offensive assistants were constantly yelling "pace", "pace". Meaning they want everything done at top speed.
The practice is a verbal assault on the senses of different position coaches yelling out players names or coaching tips.
"McCargo, watch your gap". "Under, under, under!"
The second a cornerback makes a play on a ball the entire defensive secondary swarms him and starts jumping up and down and yelling. Standing on the sideline you could literally feel the energy coming off the field. Again, another sizeable crowd was on hand to watch the Wednesday afternoon work-out. Afterwards, Robert Royal, Donte Whitner, Paul Posluszny and dozens of Bills players patiently signed autographs before taking off their equipment.
I will always contend that CFL players are the best athletes I have ever dealt with. Having said that, the 2008 Buffalo Bails are not too far off.
I can't wait to see them bashing heads with the Steelers next Thursday at Rogers Centre.
Fans who like tough, physical football should keep an eye on a few new players.
Linebacker Kawika Mitchell and Defensive Tackle Marcus Stroud are at the top of the list. Among offensive lineman in the NFL Stroud would be referred to as someone who is a "beast" to play against.
