There was a stretch during team work where the defense had four sacks in a span of eight plays. Practice even ended with a sack, but as we’ve heard before it’s typical to see the defense ahead of the offense at this point in time.

“It is a bit easier for the defense knowing they just have to react,” said center Eric Wood. “That being said we’ve had some missed assignments that have been pretty brutal but that’s going to happen when you install a new offense. Missed guys, missed blitzers, that just completely blows up the play, and then you watch the film and two guys were open on the back end and if one guy maybe picks up a block or makes his assignment then it’s a great play. You’ve kind of got to take the good with the bad in these early stages of an offense and understand that on the back end we’re going to come out all right.”

Chandler not only tied for second on the team in receptions with 43, but he was also second behind just Stevie Johnson in receiving yards (571) and was tied with Johnson for most receiving touchdowns with six.

Knowing Buffalo will be plugging in new players to replace the likes of Donald Jones and David Nelson at wideout, having Chandler to pair with Johnson from the very start of the season will offer the new offense two valuable building blocks instead of just one.

As it stands right now Chandler is likely to be a participant in practice right from the start of training camp.

LB Nigel Bradham will be making an appearance on the Howard Simon show Thursday morning at 7:30 AM ET on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550. You can listen online.

Manuel and Goodwin decided to room together in a local apartment complex, and take the time to work the playbook together.

“When I’m not here, Marquise and I are usually at home trying to go over everything and just reviewing what we over in our notes and things like that,” said Manuel.

“We’ve got a great relationship. We room together down the road,” said Goodwin. ”We just try to build on that, talk to each other every day and studying together. We just do about everything together.”

For Goodwin the time spent around Manuel off the field should benefit him on the field knowing the quarterback is the one that pulls the trigger. But Goodwin in a new city without anyone he knows is also looking to form friendships with teammates, Manuel among them.

“I feel like it’s very important to build some camaraderie with him more so off the field really,” said Goodwin. ”It’s important in life to build a good relationship with him and have another friend, somebody I can lean on, somebody I can trust, somebody I can talk to. And on the field too. He’s the quarterback. He knows every position on the field as far as the offense goes so he can tell me everything I need to know if I have any questions and with him being my roommate he’s right there.”

“I like what I’ve seen out there. They say it’s kind of fast right now, but as far as terminology, which is pretty much the hardest part, they say they’ve got it down,” said Johnson. ”So now it’s just about going out there and playing and they’ve made plays and there are some that have been left out there, but overall I like what I’ve seen.”

Eight of the 11 receivers currently on Buffalo’s roster are 24-years old or younger. Only Johnson (26), Brad Smith (29) and Dorin Dickerson (25) are over 24 years of age.

“He was a good dude. When I met him he introduced himself and he wasn’t a veteran that tried to overpower rookies,” said Anderson. ”He taught me a lot about being a professional with work ethic and I commend him for that. He’s a great guy.”

When it comes to Hall of Fame discussion, Anderson sees Urlacher as a shoo-in.

“From what I saw I think he’s got to be a first ballot (Hall of Famer),” Anderson said. ”He’s been in the league for 13 years and playing at a high level. He basically controlled that whole defense. Whatever he said is what we did. He was like a coach out there.”

Anderson felt that Urlacher, among the current Bears, was most revered by the Chicago fans.

“Urlacher, he was Chicago,” said Anderson. “If you ask me personally they should retire his jersey. He meant so much to the whole city. But when I think of Urlacher I think of a hard worker and somebody that I would like to model my game after. I was just glad I had the privilege to play with him and I wish him the best.”

“He’s doing a nice job, and that’s a difficult thing,” said defensive coordinator Mike Pettine of Williams. ”You could make the argument, he’s a DB and he’s staying at DB. But the safety world is very different from the corner world. He’s very intelligent. He’s soaking it all in. Every day is a challenge for him as far as new concepts in the play book. I think he’s done a real nice job buying in and really getting quickly to the graduate level details of it.”

That quality is versatility, something that Pettine explained in greater detail this week.

“I think a cornerstone of the system is flexibility,” said Pettine. ”You have to have the ability to have guys play multiple positions and play multiple jobs. If you want to confuse an offense, you have to have guys who can be a defensive end and an outside linebacker-a safety and an outside linebacker. A nickel, an outside corner, a safety. A big part of the NFL is identifying guys pre-snap. We want to limit the amount of pre snap information we put out to an offense. That’s why we look for guys that have that type of versatility. And then at the same time, you’re cross training guys to play other positions.

“Injuries are part of the game, and we’re always as a coaching staff in the business of putting our best eleven out there
and we want to be in a position to do that. When you have guys that know multiple jobs, that makes it a lot easier.”

That according to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who has a very young receiving corps in need of some veteran leadership.

“I think the good thing is Stevie has done a great job being out there and supporting everybody,” said Hackett. ”He’s obviously had to have some growing pains in the new system so he’s been able to get a lot of mental reps. I think being out there helping those guys has been critical for all of them. His presence has been out there the whole time it’s just nice to see him in a helmet from our standpoint.”

Hackett also pointed to Brad Smith as a veteran wideout that helps with the younger receivers.

“It’s a credit to his preparation. He came in and did a good job in the rookie camp,” said Pettine. ”Now, we’re still in the process of rolling guys through, we’ve been alternating.  This is his week to get with the ones so it’s still a work in progress. There’s been no commitment made there. But he’s done a nice job. He stepped in that huddle and he’s not out of place.”

Alonso has primarily lined up as a ’mike’ linebacker on defense this spring.

Johnson participated in individual position drills, but did not do any team work.

When asked if he’ll do more in the practices to come, Johnson said they will play it by ear.

“My philosophy is going to be to try to get outside as much as possible, whether it’s hot, cold or windy,” said Marrone. ”As much as I have that ability I’d like to be outside.”

Marrone likely understands his team has to make playing in the elements that exist in Buffalo come November and December an advantage. A team does that by practicing in that weather during the week.

Manuel, who is acquaintances with Miami QB Ryan Tannehill, Seattle QB Russell Wilson and Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck, admits that their success as rookie signal callers in the NFL has him encouraged about what he might be capable of early in his career with the Bills.

“Seeing Colin Kaepernick, RG III, Russell Wilson, who is a good friend of mine, Ryan Tannehill, who is also a good friend and seeing those guys go out and have great seasons as a rookie, Andrew Luck as well, who is a good friend, he came out of high school with me at the same time. Knowing those guys can go out and do it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward,” said Manuel.

Bills top cornerback Stephon Gilmore will be appearing on the Howard Simon show Tuesday morning at 7:30.

Bills receiver T.J. Graham will be on The Fan 1270 AM Tuesday at 1:30 pm

“I think it would be very simple for me,” said Marrone. ”When I was brought into the process, Doug (Whaley) was part of the process of my interviews. Doug was part of the process with the draft and everything that we’ve done. He’s been there step for step with myself and Buddy (Nix) and Russ (Brandon) at the time. So it’s really been a fine transition.

“I’ve talked to him every day over this past weekend. He’s headed down to BLESTO meetings and we’ll talk every day after the practices and we’ll ship him the tapes and I’ll give him my opinion on how we did for the day and we’ll discuss. There hasn’t been any issue and I think it’s because it’s internal. Had it been someone from the outside you’d have to work through some things that might be tougher. But Doug has been there from day one, the first time I’ve ever been introduced to the Bills organization. He’s been there every step.”

Though the Bills remain an option for Owens, the free agent left One Bills Drive this afternoon as he intends to explore other potential opportunities in the league. The 29-year old was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars just last Thursday.

He is a former two-time Pro Bowl special teamer.

“You can add depth at the running back position and really be a core special teams player for you. I announced it to the team. They knew this coming in. I’m big on communicating and I try to give them the business of the day and he’s here on a visit,” said Marrone. ”I have not had the chance to sit down and speak with him yet and I’ll do that this afternoon to see where the situation is.”

Some players are rehabbing offseason surgeries or injuries. Others are not in attendance.

Stevie Johnson
Brandon Kaufman
Jordan Dangerfield
Keith Williams
Marcus Easley
Scott Chandler
Alan Branch
Manny Lawson
Kyle Williams
Marcell Dareus

USC products Robert Woods and undrafted CB Nickell Robey were both back practicing after missing last week’s OTAs.

Cal’s Aaron Tipoti was also back at practice after missing last week.