PITTSFORD, N.Y. — So much is made each day at Bills training camp of which players are seeing the field with certain units.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady provided a bit of a disclaimer and explanation for the reasoning behind who is on the field with who.
"We don't have a depth chart," Brady said before practice Tuesday morning. "When we go out to practice today, it's a 3rd and long day. You're going 30 straight snaps of 3rd and 7+, so there's going to be a lot of guys rolling with the 1's. Some of that's because of legs and you can't consistently go with it."
Brady said he explains to his players not to look at their pecking order at their position as a "mountain to climb" this time of year.
"I don’t want our guys kind of looking at it and saying ‘Am I getting enough reps with the 1’s? Am I getting enough reps with the 2’s?’ We’re trying to be intentional with are you getting these routes? Some of it is with Josh, but some of it is you go down to this field so I can get these plays with you when I need to get Josh some other plays.”
Marquez Valdes-Scantling falls into that bucket.
Even though the wide receiver was signed on May 14th, he still is playing catch-up a few months later.
"He wasn’t here when we put in the beginning of the system," Brady explained. "So seeing him, it’s been fun, especially the last couple days, if you go down to the blue field so I can get you more reps. It’s the frequency. I was a rep guy and a lot of receivers, it’s one thing to know what you’re doing, but let me go out there and feel it and get the vibe of the offense and some of the routes. A guy that’s one of your older guys, he’s going down to the field with some of the rookies, but it has nothing to do with performance. It’s more of I want to make sure you get these plays and you’re getting enough time on task to feel it and roll.”
Tuesday was saw MVS with the 1st team offense more than we have all of training camp to this point.
The heavy rotation Brady spoke of was apparent, but some holdovers continued to see ample time on the field with Allen.
That includes Tyrell Shavers.
The undrafted free agent a year ago spent all of last season on the Bills practice squad.
Now he has quickly ascended this camp into one of the surprise standouts, earning high praise from his coaches.
"He's so consistent, even when he wasn't playing, with his approach," head coach Sean McDermott said Monday. "One of the first players in the building. One of the last to leave. Knows what we're doing offensively, systematically. When you look up consistent in the dictionary, his face shows up in my mind because he's so consistent and at a young age. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for that."
"His approach is where it needs to be," Brady added. "He’s very accountable and he has a responsibility in the offense. You can move him around, he can play all positions, and he always knows what he’s going to do. He’s had some opportunities in here and he’s made the most of them. You know what you’re getting with him. The consistency from the receiver position, any position really, the consistency is everything I always speak. So I’ve been pleased with how he’s started camp.”