ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The first impressions of Keon Coleman with the Bills were all focused on his personality.
The puffy yellow jacket and eating cookies.
Yet Coleman making it clear his focus has been on the game from the start.
“I don’t really like talking about a jacket either," Coleman said Tuesday. "It’s football season. My mindset’s been football. Ever since my first press conference, it was football. Yeah, you got to see the personality, but was I the one focused on the jacket? Not at all. I was focused on learning the playbook and being able to play at the speed of the game.”
Coleman has now had rookie minicamp, OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and training camp to do just that.
His first preseason run is likely done after two games, with the Bills starters not expected to play in Saturday's finale.
Still, Coleman believes he's had enough time to be good to go come regular season action.
“I think I’m pretty prepared," Coleman said. "Ready to get out there and get to game planning and really get to play. Knowing what I have to do when I have to do it and where I need to be.”
The lasting image of Coleman in the preseason is likely the rookie dropping a pass at the goal line this past weekend against the Steelers.
It is a ball Coleman believes he should have caught, but adds he quickly moved on.
So too have two of the key people of the Bills offense - Joe Brady and Josh Allen.
“I love where Keon’s at as a football player right now," Brady said Tuesday. "It’s obviously understanding where expectations are and everything. I understand where he got drafted and whatnot. I’m not always just focused on how the production is in a preseason game as opposed to seeing it every day in practice.”
“His football IQ and I’ve talked about it before," Allen added. "The way that he sees the field is pretty special for a rookie to do. His body control. The way that he can go up and jump and catch the ball that you guys have seen throughout camp. He loves this game, he loves being around his teammates, and I’m very excited to see what he can do for this offense.”
Puffy jackets and cookies are not included.