Minicamp Wrap Up
The Buffalo Bills 2024 mandatory minicamp is over, with full participation aside from Christian Benford’s excused absence. Over the last three days, the Bills came together for the last time before they report to St John Fisher at the end of July for the start of Training Camp. Here are some notable takeaways and some questions heading into the summer break.
Matt Milano's return to the practice field was positive news. Before last season's injury, he was on the verge of what appeared to be another All-Pro season. Seeing him back on the field before training camp should hopefully mean he is ready to start the season, barring any setbacks.
No drama. Seeing full participation (Benford excused) was great after all the controversy surrounding Diggs/McDermott during last year's mandatory camp. Hopefully, this will help with the chemistry and the players hitting training camp at full speed.
What's wrong with Tyler Bass? Was his poor 2023 season an aberration, or is this the new norm? Bass struggled from the short to the intermediate range this week. It wouldn't be as concerning if last season ended differently. Will the Bills bring in training camp competition as an insurance policy?
Keon Coleman is under contract and developing chemistry with Josh Allen. Coleman has looked the part in the videos coming out of camp. He is athletic and shows good hands. I look forward to what he does once the pads come on.
Kaiir Elam may have benefited the most from Christian Benford's excused absence. He was one of the best defenders during the three-day camp, making big plays over multiple sessions. Earlier this year, I mentioned Elam as a potential breakout candidate, and he is heading in that direction.
The wide receivers were working on their handshakes and developing chemistry with Allen, which will be necessary with a completely revamped group. Chase Claypool and Andy Isabella sound like players stepping up to take one of the final roster spots in a crowded room.
Injuries. While a few players did miss sessions due to injuries, it's important to note that these were mostly precautionary moves to ensure their health and prevent any further complications before the summer break. Shakir’s injury scare, for instance, was not severe, and he was held out of the final practices as a precaution. The team's focus is on starting training camp healthy this year.
Josh Allen worked on tweaking his mechanics this off-season after admittedly developing a “compensation” due to a shoulder injury. It’s reassuring to hear Allen is working on an issue that led to some of the inaccuracies we saw last year. It is also important to note that just because you don’t see it on social media doesn’t mean that players aren’t putting in the work in the offseason.
Von Miller is healthy. What Von Miller will we see in 2024? It's encouraging that he is practicing without a knee brace and is feeling 100%. Will he be similar to what we saw in 2022, or should we expect a mentor who shows flashes in a game or two this season?
Position Battles to Watch In Training Camp
RB2 and CB2: It’s not safe to assume Ty Johnson and Benford have these spots locked. I expect Ray Davis and Kaiir Elam to make strong pushes for the 2nd spot.
Safety: Mike Edward's absence due to injury allowed Damar Hamlin to get more reps, which he took advantage of. Hamlin is a fringe roster player but could sneak in as the fourth safety if this continues. Will Cole Bishop continue to impress the coaches enough to line up with Taylor Rapp?
WR Room: Claypool and Isabella made impressions this week. The last two to three spots at WR will be tightly contested in camp. Who will take advantage of the opportunity?
OL: Will Van Pran Granger be trusted to start at center as a rookie, or will the plan to move McGovern to the pivot continue?
