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IN THEIR OWN WORDS | Bills players share their takeaways from the first preseason game

Buffalo Bills running back Christian Wade (45) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, August 8, 2019.
  Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills running back Christian Wade (45) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, August 8, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle

1. Frank Gore praises Christian Wade

Frank Gore can tell you every run play in the playbook. Gore is also entering his 15th year in the NFL. Teammate Christian Wade didn't know anything about being an NFL running back until a few months ago. Wade, a former rugby star in England, entered the game with zero minutes of NFL experience. Still, Wade was able to find the end zone on his first-ever NFL carry.

"I remember the same play we did in practice," Gore said. "We were watching film, if the line is blocking outside then you cut in. That's what's great about him [Wade], you know he paid attention and is catching on to the game. I'm happy for him."

"It's tough to play this game at a high level," Gore said. "I've been playing this game since I was four years old and this was just his first football game. I'm happy to see him getting better every day."

2. Ed Oliver describes his first taste of the NFL

Ed Oliver was the Bills 2019 first-round pick. He's battled for a starting spot throughout training camp and ultimately earned it for Week 1 of the preseason. Still, he had some nerves heading into his first NFL game.

"My teammates could tell I was a little nervous at first," Oliver said. "I wasn't talking much, I was just reading my book and I couldn't hear nothing. They helped me along and told me to loosen up and just play my game."

Check out the top photos from the Colts vs. Bills game on Aug. 8, 2019 at New Era Field.

3. Dean Marlowe makes his case in the safety competition

Dean Marlowe was a bright spot for the Bills defense. He picked off Colts quarterback Phillip Walker to give Buffalo the ball at the Colts 20, and the ensuing drive led to a Buffalo touchdown. Plays like that will be critical as players compete for roster spots.

"It's always a competition every day," Marlowe said. "All of us together we will respect each other's game we work with each other to get everyone better each and every day. For the most part we don't even look at it like that we just look at each other as brothers and take it day by day."

4. McDermott's review of Josh Allen

Buffalo put an emphasis on getting quarterback Josh Allen rolling to begin the preseason. Buffalo called eight straight passing plays to open the game. Allen didn't flash his arm with deep passes like we've seen in the past. Instead, he showed off what he's learned in his first year as an NFL quarterback.

"Overall I thought he took what the defense gave him at times. I thought he was little fired up early with some heat on the ball. He hit Cole underneath a couple of times. He hit John Brown in the red zone there so that was good to see him using some of the new pieces."

5. Jon Feliciano gets some reps at center

Jon Feliciano found out on Wednesday that he would be the starting center for the Bills' Thursday night game. Feliciano has played mainly as a guard throughout his career but he slid over one spot to take over for Mitch Morse who was out for this game.

"I thought he did a good job," McDermott said. "That's a position you usually have to watch on tape to know a little bit more. Jon is a guy who is well respected by his teammates. He comes to work every day. I thought he did a good job getting himself ready to go coming off the injury and not a lot of opportunities in practice at that position. He showed some mental toughness."

"It's another day in the office," Feliciano said. "In Oakland we had to do more [at the line of scrimmage] as a center. Coming here, Josh [Allen] has the final say in a lot things and is able to change things which makes it easier on us."

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