After an off season of retooling, what should fans focus on as we get closer to kickoff?
Photo: ESPN
BUFFALO, N.Y. (7-24-2024) - The Buffalo Bills have begun their countdown to the 2024 NFL season, opening training camp at St. John Fisher University Wednesday.
The team will hold 11 practices open to the public before their first official preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, Aug. 10. This is a significant training camp in the McBeane era as the roster undergone significant changes. This includes parting ways with key players of the past five seasons.
This year, training camp will be a big leap of faith for the Bills and here are some storylines to follow as we head closer to the home opener against Arizona.
New offensive identity
General manager Brandon Beane made a crucial change last season, switching from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady as the offensive play caller. Brady's offense helped the team fight back from a 5-6 record to ultimately take their fourth-consecutive AFC East title.
He also made changes in the off season, trading star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Houston and trading out of the first round. This opened the door for arguments of whether Josh Allen can succeed without a number one target. However, Brady introduced a new offensive way to take pressure off of Allen.
Allen had a career year in interceptions with 18, and many complained it was because he tried too much to play hero ball. The final five games of the season, Allen utilized his rushing ability more, collecting 182 yards, 6 touchdowns and averaged 3.71 per attempt.
With Diggs and Gabirel Davis out of Buffalo, Allen has a chance to rely less on one guy and give spread out roles to guys like James Cook, Kahlil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid. That also goes to some of the new additions like Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel. Speaking of which.
2. Keon Coleman's journey to the NFL.
The rookie receiver from FSU stood out on the first day of training camp, showing fans how he can be an effective route runner and red zone threat, collecting a touchdown during drills.
Coleman had shown he can be effective with his feet, running a 20.5 mph gauntlet drill at the Scouting Combine in February. He also has a 6-foot-4 build and could be more of a physical threat in the one on one routes.
When the pads come on, that will be a real test. Some fans believe Coleman can't create any separation due to his speed. But his route running and physicality could make up for that as he is playing with Allen, who has been one of the best red zone QBs in recent memory.
3. Will Gable Steveson make the roster?
If the decision to draft Coleman wasn't shocking enough, fans were even more shocked when the Bills signed former amateur wrestler Gable Steveson who had no football experience.
Steveson actually has an impressive resume in the wrestling world, winning two NCAA Division I national championships and an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. Now the NFL is no stranger to other sportsmen or even olympians. Bullet Bob Hayes from the Dallas Cowboys is the only athlete in history to win a gold medal and a Super Bowl.
According to WGRZ TV, McDermott had experience wrestling himself. It's possible he can help Steveson utilize his athleticism with some football IQ and make him an effective defensive tackle.
Steveson also took time to learn from one of the league's all-time defensive greats. He met recently retired Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald while doing a workout at his alma mater Minnesota. He also worked with the school's defensive line coach, Winston DeLattiboudere III.
Whether or not Steveson makes the 53-man roster, it will be interesting to see how he develops. But if he doesn't fit with the Bills, he could attract other teams who could take him through the next level of football.
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