PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Here are my five thoughts from the sixth day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University:
1. Dion Dawkins is happy with the Pro Bowl recognition he has received during his time with the Buffalo Bills.
However, the veteran offensive tackle has set his sights on a loftier achievement: All-Pro honors.
The difference is significant.
The Pro Bowl is selected through voting by players, coaches and fans. It is not viewed as a true indicator of a player’s NFL-wide stature but more of a popularity contest.
All-Pro is picked by a national panel of media (I am a voter). It carries more league-wide weight, including contract bonuses for players who are selected, because there is more thought and research behind the voting.
“There’s a point where you can be cocky,” Dawkins said after Tuesday’s practice. “There's a point when you can realize who you are. And there's a point of, you know, understanding your presence, right? And I think the presence that I have, and I've been saying this over and over, it's time.
“Like, Pro Bowls, I'm thankful. You know, Top 100, I salute it, right? Like, whatever it is. But All-Pro, I need to be an All-Pro tackle for Josh Allen. I need to be an 'All-Pro Shnow' for Josh Allen, and then I need to be an 'All-Pro Shnow' tackle for Dion Dawkins, and then for the rest of my team.
“Every year that I'm not that, and it's just a personal thing, I feel like I'm letting Josh down. Even though I still do a great job, but there's levels to it, and I have a certain walk about in myself, I have a certain aura, and I have a very positive and confident aura. For me to be truly who I am, I need to cross that threshold.”
To that end, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady constantly talks with Dawkins about the need to continue to elevate his game to the highest level possible to become an All-Pro. Brady stays in his ear, harping on the importance of being a consistently effective left tackle and overcome the never-ending challenges Dawkins will face to stay at the top of his game.
“I love Dion's demeanor and the way that he plays the game,” Brady said. “And you saw – I don't want to say improvements – but the maturity element of him, just the way that day in and day out, taking care of his body and the way that he was able to perform last year. And just being able to see that consistency out in training camp. Like, it's hot days out here. It's a grind, you know. (Tuesday), he's going to get Von Miller rushing at him 30 straight snaps.
“But just continuing that mindset like, ‘Hey, I'm an elite tackle in this league, and I don't need help. You don't need to give me a jam or anything like that. I'm going to lock it down.’ And when I say I challenge, it's not because he doesn't have that mindset, but just making sure he knows that, ‘Hey, you're one of the best in this league, and you've got to have an All-Pro mindset at all given times. And I believe he has that, but just keep reminding him.”
2. The Bills focused on third-and-long situations in Tuesday’s practice. It only added to the burden of working out in the intense heat.
That should serve the offense and defense well late in games, particularly when they are played in warmer climates. It is particularly helpful to an offensive line in transition, with a new center (Connor McGovern replacing Mitch Morse) and a new left guard (Mike Edwards replacing McGovern).
“It was a tough day at practice, but a good day at practice,” Dawkins said. “It’s a passing league, and that’s where a lot of us shine. We have to be able to protect Josh. The guys have to be able to show what they can do when it's time to do it.”
3. The Bills had their first camp practice in pads Monday, and Joe Brady focused his attention on some specific areas in reviewing video of it.
“You know, it’s a mindset,” the coach said. “For offensive line, for running backs, you go all off-season and you're in shirts and shorts, and that's not how the game of football is played. Can we, when we put pads on, still play with a physicality and a personality, but still play with technique? That was the biggest thing.
“A lot of times, especially younger guys, you put pads on, they become bulls in China shops. They just kind of fly around. It’s like, can we play with our technique still? Is the energy going to stay consistent? And can the technique stay where it needs to be?”
4. One issue that cropped up on Monday was Connor McGovern putting snaps on the ground.
It is something that might not be a major concern now, but could amount to a larger problem. It seems to reflect the lack of experience he has snapping to Allen and their lack of chemistry as center and quarterback.
“Connor, I mean, he's so natural at the center position,” Brady said. “He's such an elite communicator. And that's so important as a center, being able to get everybody on the same page. We play so many games on the road. … And he does a great job in the room just leading. Yeah, balls on the ground are always going to be a concern. To me, you never just kind of push it aside. But that's expected, too.
“And they're staying after practice (to snap to Allen), doing it before. Some of it is just different, them getting on the same page. And you're changing snap counts. And now you're going in pads against some guys. So, I'm not concerned about it. I don't like when balls are on the ground, but it’s nothing that, I think, out of the norm.”
5. The Bills don’t have an official depth chart yet, so there has been plenty of mixing and matching at certain spots (though some of the personnel changes at safety have been due to injury).
Brady explained that he does not want players to get caught up with whether they get practice repetitions with the first or second team offense. He would rather they focus on individual aspects of their job.
If they perform well enough on a consistent basis, their place on the depth chart “will take care of itself.”
Related Video:
