Inside The Bills

Gilmore won’t lose sleep tonight

The first night in the dorms can be a bit restless for rookies who are full of energy and perhaps some nerves waiting to hit the field in their first NFL training camp. That however is not the case for the quietly confident Stephon Gilmore.

“I think I might get eight hours of sleep,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll lose sleep. As long as I come out here and work hard I don’t worry about anything. I do what I do on the field.”

Players are reporting to camp at St. John Fisher today.

Fan Friday 7-13

Less than two weeks until training camp. Hard to believe it’s almost here. Let’s get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net. And keep sending them in. I usually get to everyone eventually.

1 – Hi Chris:
Do you think the Bills will carry seven wide receivers for the regular season? They are very deep here, and based on competition, I would say that maybe Naaman Roosevelt and Derek Session do not make the final roster. What are your thoughts? 

Tony, Ormond Beach, Fl
CB: I do not think they keep seven wide receivers. As I outlined in our Top 25 Questions until training camp series, I foresee the coaching staff keeping just five with a couple on the practice squad. I don’t dispute that it is a talented group, but in each of the past two years Chan Gailey and his staff have kept just five receivers. The main reason last year being that Brad Smith as the third quarterback can also serve as a wideout. This affords them some wiggle room at the position. Plus with talents like Kamar Aiken, who still has practice squad eligibility they can keep a reputable talent there if needed due to injury.

Six receivers (not counting Smith) is a remote possibility, but seven will never happen.

2 – Chris –

Hoping you might post this “question” (and your response) in your “Fan Friday” blog on bb.com.  I continually find fellow Bills fans bemoaning the presence of DE Chris Kelsay on the roster.  Kelsay has become a lightning rod of sorts — many fans believe he has underperformed, they don’t understand why he was extended by Nix, and they feel as though he should be a roster cut.  I’ve grown tired of defending him myself, so I hoped you could give the perspective of the organization as to why they believe Kelsay is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

Thanks as always for your contributions,

Eric Haase
Durham, NC
Bills Season Ticket Holder since 1990

CB: I think the reason Chris Kelsay doesn’t garner the respect of some Bills fans is because they pigeon-holed him as a pass rusher. Kelsay is not a pass rusher by trade. He’s said it himself. He’s a well-rounded defensive end that when given an opportunity can log some sacks (see Week 16 vs. Denver last season). But his game is predicated on being good at everything. Not elite, but solid. His leadership both in his work ethic and what he says in that locker room carry weight as well.

The fans with whom I’ve spoke over the years that aren’t a big fan of Kelsay’s, almost all of them say he doesn’t get enough sacks. I’m confident the misperception of him as a pass rusher from the time he came to the team in 2003 is where a lot of this disappointment in his game is rooted.

3 - Hi Chris,               

It was fun getting updates on how the players are doing in the OTAs and being excited about the upcoming season.  One player I hadn’t heard anything about is Fendi Onobun.  How is he doing?  I thought it was great when we acquired him as there have been a number of athletic basketball players that have become really productive as tight ends.  Do you see him figuring into the Bill’s plans?  Thanks.

Cliff

CB: Onobun is an athletic talent no question about that. The problem is the game is still very new to him coming from a college basketball background. As a result the nuances of the game do not come naturally to him yet. The coaching staff is eager to work with him and develop him, but I would expect him to reside on the practice squad this fall.

4 - Whats up Chris?

Thanks for the weekly insight, but I have a two part question with us drafting T.J. for the other side for Stevie how is he looking so far? Does look like he will have a chance to start opening day? & last I know Stevie gave Stephon his props & corner was 1 of our weaknesses last yr, so how does Stephon & Aarron look so far & could either have shutdown capabilities?
Thanx Chris          

Draper Jackson Memphis,TN

CB: T.J. has definitely made progress. He made more plays in the passing game as OTAs came to a close and ran into spring minicamp. That being said I want to see how he handles things when the pads go on in training camp. It’s a different game against physical corners when the pads are on and closer to what Graham can expect out there on Sundays.

In fact Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore would out muscle him for the ball in the spring. Now that they’ll have a chance to work normal contact on him within five yards it’ll be interesting to see how he handles all of it. Training camp and preseason will tell us a lot about what to expect.

Williams and Gilmore looked very good in spring practices. I think those two will only benefit when the pads go on knowing both have a physical style to their play on the corner. It wouldn’t shock me if both wound up being the starting outside corners come Week 1.

5 - Chris,

Last season, I felt that the plays called in the Bills wildcat formation were predictable and unimaginative. Now that we have added a more talented QB in Vince Young to the wildcat formation, do you foresee the Bills using this package more often in ’12 and with Young in there do you predict that he will be throwing the ball more from that position as well. I don’t have the numbers but it seemed that Brad Smith’s arm was never utilized in the wildcat thus giving the Bills’ opponents a lame, predictable and ineffective offense. Will Young provide the wildcat offense with more plays throwing the ball. Chan seemed to have no confidence in Brad Smith’s ability to throw the football.

Thanks for your diligent and thorough coverage as we impatiently wait for this anticipated season to begin. 

William
Schenectady, NY

CB: The reason the Bills Wildcat package looked so limited last year was because the Bills could not sign free agents until a week before training camp. It prevented the Bills from fully incorporating Brad Smith’s talents into the offense because without spring practices like OTAs and training camp there was no forum to experiment with plays and effectively evaluate what he can and cannot do. Chan often lamented that fact during training camp.

Now with a full offseason Smith will again be the featured Wildcat QB and it’s my contention that he will throw more. Here’s a quote from quarterbacks coach David Lee for you to chew on regarding what they were trying to get out of OTAs and minicamp with respect to Smith’s capabilities.

“Every day the script for him is at the end of the OTAs determine what he does best,” said Lee. “What are Brad’s four best passes from empty? What are his four best passes with six-man protections? We’re trying to find out what he does best right now.”

Presuming they gathered that information in the spring practices the coaches will now install what they feel gives them the best chance for success in that package during training camp and make use of it with Smith at the right times during the season. Make no mistake, Smith is the Wildcat QB.

Gilmore a different breed

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore has looked like he belongs at the NFL level from the first day of OTAs. That’s why his chances are very good that he’s not just a starter on Buffalo’s defense, but a difference maker.

First-round picks, even top 10 picks aren’t always locks to be playmakers as a rookie. For C.J. Spiller the light bulb went on in year two and he was the ninth overall selection. For Mike Williams it never went on. Gilmore however, has a lot of things working in his favor.

First, he’s a quick study that digests a playbook in short order. Second, his playing style is suited to the NFL game. Third, he has a work ethic that has him prepared like a veteran. And fourth, and perhaps most important, he’s going to get an awful lot of help from his front four in terms of pressure on the quarterback. All of that could translate into a very productive rookie season for Gilmore.

Why Gilmore should excel as a rook

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore has fared well in spring workouts already and his talent should take him a long way in the NFL. But former Bills DB Troy Vincent provides some other reasons why Gilmore should do well in his rookie season.

Appearing on Bills flagship WGR Sportsradio 550, Vincent says the men lining up in front of him should make his life easier.

“Cornerback is the easiest position to learn, but the hardest to play next to the quarterback position in the NFL,” Vincent said. ”When you surround young corners that are inexperienced with a front seven like the one that exists in Buffalo it takes some of the pressure off of those on the back end, who now aren’t going to be asked to cover for four or five seconds. I think a young corner can come in and play because they’re not going to be asked to do a lot knowing the ability of what you have up front.”

Buffalo could very well have two starting outside corners that have a total of nine games of NFL experience should Aaron Williams and Gilmore both win starting jobs coming out of training camp. But with the talent in front of them both will have plenty of help on defense.

Stevie’s return to help young CBs

We’ve already passed along how much Stevie Johnson is looking forward to matching up with top pick Stephon Gilmore in practice when he makes his anticipated return next week at mandatory minicamp. In an interview with NFL Network, Johnson explained why his presence on the field will help make Gilmore a better corner.

“He’s been doing out there doing his thing,” said Johnson of Gilmore. ”He’s actually a very good defensive back, he’s very smart out there on that corner. Just adding me out there is just going to make him even better. I’m not trying to say anything about myself, but just going against everyone and all of the different type of receiving styles we have is going to make him a better defensive player.”

The biggest reason Johnson’s game will help Gilmore’s is because the receiver’s technique is very unorthodox. It’s not based as heavily on precision and technique as improvisation and creativity.

“Stevie really has his own style in terms of running routes,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick. “His game will help those young corners because his unpredictable game is a challenge.”

Awaiting the Stevie-Stephon matchup

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore and top wideout Stevie Johnson have not had the opportunity to go against one another in OTA practices with Johnson still recovering from offseason groin surgery. But it’s clear that both are looking forward to facing one another.

“I’m looking forward to going against him,” said Gilmore earlier this week. ”He had some great games against some great corners in this league and I’m looking forward to playing physical with him and him teaching me stuff I don’t know and going from there.”

“He’s a good DB as far as if you want to play man-to-man, you say, ‘Stephon go guard him.’ And he has the ability to do that,” said Johnson of Gilmore. ”He’s very fluid. I heard he talks a little bit, but that’s the confidence and the swag that he’s got. He’s real mellow and he handles his business out there. You rarely see guys get behind him coming on the outside. His hips are good. Even if he wasn’t on my team and just checking out film on him you can tell he’s going to be something special.”

So knowing Johnson had the most success against the Jets’ Darrelle Revis last year of any wideout how is he expecting to measure up? 

“I’m going to still go out there and play my game,” said Gilmore. ”It’s one thing if Darrelle Revis is guarding him, but I feel if I come out and play hard I can guard anybody. So as long as I keep that mindset I’ll be good.”

Johnson is forecast to return to the practice some time next week during the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Gilmore, Glenn meeting expectations

When you’re drafted high you’re expected to produce early and be on the field a lot. Through the first two weeks plus of OTAs, Buffalo’s top two draft choices have not disappointed.

“So far they’ve done a good job,” said head coach Chan Gailey of Stephon Gilmore and Cordy Glenn. ”I don’t see any reason that they would not be playing quite a bit this coming season if things continue to progress. All of a sudden they hit a wall you never know, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen with either one of those two.”

Gilmore is competing for a starting outside cornerback job, while Glenn will be in direct competition with Chris Hairston for the starting left tackle position.

Gilmore, A. Williams working together

As we profiled late last week Aaron Williams and Stephon Gilmore are the two main cogs for the team’s future at cornerback. Not surprisingly, the two are working to gain a level on field chemistry with OTAs a week away.

Both players have been present for just about all of the offseason conditioning workouts since the draft and even when away from position specific training are often side by side. It’s clear that both understand the potential roles both could have come the start of the 2012 season and appear determined to know each other as much as their assignments.

“It sounds good, but what we’re focused on right now and I know Stephon is working on is getting used to the playbook,” said Williams. ”I’m still learning the playbook. Not only will the OTAs help each of us individually, but it’s going to help the team chemistry-wise. We’ve all got to mesh together and I feel like being here together is going to give us that chemistry as a team.”

Gilmore signing one of quickest

The Bills and every other club in the league has the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to thank for the rapidity with which draft choices in general and specifically first-round picks have signed. It’s less than a month since the 2012 draft and Buffalo’s top pick is already signed along with six others across the NFL. That hasn’t happened in Buffalo in a long time.

Taking a look back as prior Bills first-round picks, I’ve only found two that I can verify signed prior to Gilmore’s May 17th date.

WR Jerry Butler, who was one of two first-round picks in 1979, signed his contract on May 9th, just six days after the NFL draft was held that year (May 3rd).

The only other Bills first-round pick since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger that I’ve found to sign before Gilmore was TE Reuben Gant in 1974. He has the earliest signing date of March 26th, but it comes with an asterisk because back then the draft was held in late January instead of late April.

The most recent early signee was OL Ruben Brown in 1995, who signed his rookie deal on June 20th 17 years ago.

It’s undoubtedly a welcome departure from the past couple of decades of lengthy negotiations and holdouts.

Our 1-on-1 with Gilmore signing

Here’s our exclusive 1-on-1 with Stephon Gilmore just moments after signing his contract at One Bills Drive this morning.

Gilmore is just the seventh first-round pick to sign in the league and the second top 10 selection joining Carolina’s Luke Kuechly.

Gilmore looked confident

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore had a productive three days in rookie minicamp with three interceptions and a countless number of pass breakups. Suffice to say one of Buffalo’s newest cornerbacks performed with confidence.

“You know, confidence is something that’s vital especially at the cornerback position,” said head coach Chan Gailey. ”It’s vital at some other spots, but it’s really vital at the cornerback position. And he played well and did well in this camp. Now, when he goes against the other guys, he’s going to lose some. How does he handle getting beat? He didn’t get beat a lot out here, so how does he handle that? He’s going to go through some emotions so that maturity and that confidence will help him, I think. He’s played in a tough league, he knows what it’s about.”

“I always play with confidence,” Gilmore said. ”I always speak confidently. You can’t play corner unless you have confidence. So I think that comes with me and if I just keep learning the sky is the limit.”

Gilmore to cover more than WRs?

Bills top pick Stephon Gilmore is a representation of Buffalo’s concerted effort to get big corners to match up with the bigger and bigger WRs that seem to be multiplying in the NFL. But Gilmore may cover more than a big receiver or two.

Bills GM Buddy Nix, appearing on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550, was asked if Gilmore was big and strong enough to handle covering a certain pair of tight ends in the AFC East.

“We would like to be able to match up against those two guys,” said Nix of New England’s Gronkowski and Hernandez. ”Even though you’re not as big as they are these guys with speed and they’re big enough that they can’t knock them around and push them away from them. It’s a lot harder for them against these bigger corners. Yes, we think he can do that.”

Buffalo drafted Aaron Williams last year in the second round, another big corner with good size  at 6’0″ and 200 pounds.

Gilmore explains why 27

Bills first-round pick Stephon Gilmore chose jersey number 27 on Friday. He explained why Saturday on twitter.

BumpNrunGilm0re Wearing #27 7 minus 2 = 5

5 was Gilmore’s jersey number at South Carolina.

Pre-draft visits weighing heavy

Buffalo has made seven of their nine picks so far in the 2012 draft and almost half of them came to Orchard Park on pre-draft visits.

CB Stephon Gilmore, OT Cordy Glenn and LB Tank Carder all visited One Bills Drive making it three of their first seven picks that came to town prior to the draft.

Gilmore jersey number

Bills first-round pick Stephon Gilmore has made a jersey number selection.

Gilmore will wear jersey number 27. They’re on sale now at the Bills shop online. Here’s a preview of his practice jersey.

Gilmore meets Merriman

Bills first-round pick Stephon Gilmore met a ton of people today in his first full day in Orchard Park as a Buffalo Bill including a couple of new teammates.

One of those was Bills DE Shawne Merriman (see below)

“I met a couple of them like Shawne Merriman,” said Gilmore. ”I didn’t get to meet a lot of them but I’m going to get to know them. I’ve heard they are a good group of guys and I’m looking forward to it.”

Gilmore’s tie to former Bills CB

Stephon Gilmore is a Rock Hill, SC native. There’s another former first-round pick that hails from the same exact town, but the connection goes further.

Bills 1994 first-round pick Jeff Burris is from Rock Hill, SC. Burris was the 27th overall pick and spent only his first four years with Buffalo before signing a big free agent deal with Indianapolis. Gilmore has met him, but was coached by a member of Burris’ family.

“Yeah I know Jeff Burris,” said Gilmore. ”His brother actually coached me in high school so I met him a couple of times. He told me to enjoy myself down here (in Buffalo). There are great people around here. He said I will like it here.”

Chan, Wannstedt meet Gilmore

Bills first-round pick Stephon Gilmore is making his way through the offices at One Bills Drive. Here’s a look at who he’s meeting.

Here’s Chan Gailey meeting Stephon upon his arrival at One Bills Drive. They had met before on Gilmore’s pre-draft visit. Behind them is defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. Gilmore had just finished talking defense with Wannstedt for about 15 minutes.

1st rd. DBs most popular choice

With the selection of Stephon Gilmore in the first round Thursday in the 2012 NFL draft, defensive back is now alone at the top as the most popular position choice of the Bills in round one in team history.

Counting Gilmore, the Bills have now drafted 12 defensive backs in round one over their 53-year history. Here’s the rundown of the most popular position selections by the Bills in round one.

DB – 12
RB – 11
OT – 6
WR – 6
DE – 5
DT – 4
G – 3
LB – 3
C – 2
QB – 2
TE – 2

Gilmore ready to get started

Stephon Gilmore, the Bills first-round pick, was on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550 this morning.

“It was just a waiting game, but once the Bills called my phone I was happy they picked me and I’m ready to go out and show what I can do,” said Gilmore.

Gilmore said he got to learn about the defensive coaches more on his pre-draft visit and hopes to come in and compete for a starting role.

He said he knows C.J. Spiller and tackled him a couple of times.

“I never lost to Clemson,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to go 3-0 against them.”