Head Coach Chan Gaily
PM Practice – Wednesday, August 1, 2012
On MLB Kelvin Sheppard not practicing:
Yeah, he sat out tonight. He may be out a couple days. We will see. He has a situation that he is dealing with. It is medical and that is all I am going to say about it right now.
On the defensive backs breaking up a lot of passes:
They are doing a good job. The defensive backs are seeing a lot of things and reacting to the routes they are seeing a lot of. They are doing a good job of picking up on those things.
On having veteran DBs Jairus Byrd and George Wilson anchoring the secondary:
You take Jairus, you take George, and every Da'Norris (Searcy) is playing very well. You take those three guys and they make up for a lot of ills that might happen. They cover a lot of bases for us back there.
On S Da'Norris Searcy taking snaps with the first team defense:
We have been doing that all along. George (Wilson) missed the last part of the season and we want to make sure we have got somebody ready to go at either position. George may have to move to the other spot and Da'Norris play there. One injury and Da'Norris has to go in.
On when QB Brad Smith will begin practicing as a receiver:
That will be a little while yet. We want to keep giving him (practice at) quarterback. He will be the third quarterback going into the season so he has to know the offense to finish a game. We have to get him enough where he is comfortable, well as comfortable as he is going to get taking as many limited reps as he is taking. We have to get him that before we take him to receiver.
On the one-two running back punch of RB's Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller:
Those two guys are very, very good football players. We are fortunate. It is a good problem to have. It is a little bit of a problem as we have said all along to make sure those guys touch it as much as they need to. We'll solve that problem, hopefully, as time goes on.
On the necessity of having to capable running backs in the NFL game:
It is ideal. The thing I am not sure of is I do not want one of them standing over me too much because they are both such good players. We will see how it works out this year. We may do that, platoon them some. Or we may rotate them both in there.
On concerns over QB Tyler Thigpen's accuracy:
It is a little early but it is a concern. It is not just Tyler. He and Vince (Young) both are having some trouble there. The twos in general are not performing very well offensively. I think our ones are doing some good things. But our twos are struggling offensively.
On if he has focused on the run a little bit more the past two days:
Yes. Consciously.
On if he is starting to see real progress leading up to the first preseason game:
Some progress. Not real progress, we are starting to see some progress.
On the chemistry QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and TE Scott Chandler have:
They are. (Fitzpatrick) and Scott, (Fitzpatrick) and Stevie, are really the two that are the most in sync. We have to find out who can get there going into game one.
On the defensive line depth after over a week of practice:
I know our second team offense is not performing very well right now and I think that probably has something to do with it.
On the addition of DE Mark Anderson being a "under the radar" type of move:
(Anderson) may be forgotten by the public, the press but he is not forgotten by this football team or us coaches. I can tell you that.
On the conscious effort the team made in the offseason to improve its pass rush:
I give all the credit in the world to Buddy (Nix) and his staff for going out and getting two guys who make an immediate impact on our football team.
On what the focus off the offseason was:
It (was) about pass rush and playing better defense.
On Mark Anderson's work ethic:
He will push himself so hard sometimes that we have to slow him down. That is a good problem to have, by the way, as a coach.
FS Jairus Byrd
PM Practice – Wednesday, August 1, 2012
On his play on WR Derek Hagan and the mentality that comes with it:
Coach Wannstedt talks about being a physical defense and bringing that physical presence out there and that is something we want to do. Within means of it is our own teammate, but we want to get ready for the season.
On if he feels like a veteran with the young cornerbacks the Bills have:
Yeah, it does. It happens fast but, at the same time, with the youth we have added I have to make sure I am passing on and making their job a lot easier.
On the secondary being very active in the passing lanes through the last two practices:
I think it is a little bit of both. I think we are getting accustomed to what they are running but I also think that our techniques are looking good, too. It starts with that first. I think we are getting down our techniques. We are gelling together and communicating well. We just have to keep it moving.
On the SS George Wilson's vocal leadership communication of the defense:
Yeah definitely, but I do not mind (George Wilson being vocal). George has been in the league for a long time and he has a lot of knowledge to pass on. No matter who gets the credit for communicating, it takes all of us to be on the same page for it to work. George has a lot of knowledge because he has been in the game. We all do a good job of just making sure we are handling our sides of the field.
DT Marcell Dareus
AM Walk- thru – Wednesday, August 1, 2012
On what his expectations are coming into his second year after a solid rookie season:
I just want to do a little bit better every year, just better my game and be a better football player.
On the new additions to the team and how they could help him:
I get free! I have not been free in a while so I can see what I can do. We have Mario (Williams), Kyle Williams, Mark Anderson; we have a lot of leeway and can have some fun.
On making the jump from year one to year two:
There are so many things that I saw year one that I wanted to improve on in year two; my endurance for one thing and the level of play. There are just a lot of things I want to work on.
On if he likes the high level of expectations for the defensive line: Yes, it gives you something to play for. There are a lot of people waiting on you to get together and go out there and play together and show what you can do. A lot of fans are coming tonight so you have to give them something to look forward to.
