First day of full pads equated to multiple fights at Bills training camp

Pittsford, N.Y. | The first day of full pads at Buffalo Bills training camp brought a new level of physicality that spilled over into multiple scuffles between teammates, including a pair of rookies in the middle of it all.

While everyone expects an elevation of intensity when the pads can pop at camp, it’s been a very long time that the Bills had four fights in the course of one practice at St. John Fisher University.

Here’s more on the group fisticuffs along with other general observations from Tuesday’s practice:

• Alec Anderson looks to have an early led in the left-guard battle. He took the opening session in 11-on-11 with the first team. Austin Corbett did get first-team reps at that position, his turn just came later in practice.
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• Sam Franklin Jr. was everyone on Monday — hardly taking a break. That probably led to his lighter day on Tuesday, as many combinations of Damar Hamlin, Geno Stone, and Jalon Kilgore took safety and nickel reps alongside Cole Bishop for the majority of the morning.

• The Josh Allen to DJ Moore connection is locked and loaded. Whether it was Moore working back to the football on comebacks, finding space on in-breakers, or getting over the top for the longest play of camp thus far — which featured a ridiculously pinpoint throw and spectacular grab — these two have demonstrated an instant rapport.

Alec Anderson looks to have an early led in the left-guard battle. He took the opening session in 11-on-11 with the first team. Austin Corbett did get first-team reps at that position, his turn just came later in practice.

Sam Franklin Jr. was everyone on Monday — hardly taking a break. That probably led to his lighter day on Tuesday, as many combinations of Damar Hamlin, Geno Stone, and Jalon Kilgore took safety and nickel reps alongside Cole Bishop for the majority of the morning.

The Josh Allen to DJ Moore connection is locked and loaded. Whether it was Moore working back to the football on comebacks, finding space on in-breakers, or getting over the top for the longest play of camp thus far — which featured a ridiculously pinpoint throw and spectacular grab — these two have demonstrated an instant rapport.

• Allen had a few more incompletions in the sun than he did through a rainstorm on Monday, yet there were periods in which the ball didn’t hit the turf on five or six plays in a row. Khalil Shakir probably made the most catches, and Dalton Kincaid was found down the seam on multiple occasions.

• Jordan Hancock mostly worked with the 2s and had an interception of a Kyle Allen throw he undercut perfectly.

• Dee Alford missed two diving pass-breakup attempts in one-on-ones but showcased plus tenacity with a serious run-game stick later in team drills.

• Christian Benford closed quickly on a deep out-breaker from Allen to Moore that he should’ve intercepted.

• On that note, rookie Toriano Pride Jr. closed the separation gap on a long ball from Shane Buechele to Mecole Hardman — who, by the way, looked noticeably twitchy in one-on-ones — to break up the pass at the last second in the end zone.

• Ray Davis went down and looked to be a lot of pain after being tackled on one of his carries. About 15 minutes later he was cutting at full speed and ultimately finished practice with a few handoffs, one in which he fumbled.

• Kaleb Elarms-Orr was everywhere, including in the middle of one of the skirmishes in the second half of camp. He rotated in with the 1s all morning. Critically, he didn’t only assert his will with sticks against the run. There was textbook coverage downfield on a wheel route run by Ty Johnson in which KEO kept stride with the speedy veteran back downfield. He also sniffed out a screen play perfectly and plugged a running lane on Johnson.

• Elarms-Orr started one of the scuffles after he hit Kincaid on a grab in which the tight end was going to the ground.

• Keon Coleman was largely invisible but did make an acrobatic grab after Max Hairston undercut a short in-breaker but couldn’t knock the ball to the ground. The third-year receiver quickly reacted to the tipped pass and snagged it with one hand.

• Early in one-on-ones, Josh Palmer was open. A lot. Allen did miss him by a half yard on a go ball. After a few of those wins, Davison Igbinosun demonstrated his suffocating nature in press man that led to an Allen throwaway with Palmer as the target.

• T.J. Parker sparked another fight after a hard tackle in the flat. Unsurprisingly, Alec Anderson got right into the thick of it, and it took a while to separate everyone. I noticed Keleki Latu throw a very light punch into the mix.

Allen had a few more incompletions in the sun than he did through a rainstorm on Monday, yet there were periods in which the ball didn’t hit the turf on five or six plays in a row. Khalil Shakir probably made the most catches, and Dalton Kincaid was found down the seam on multiple occasions.

Jordan Hancock mostly worked with the 2s and had an interception of a Kyle Allen throw he undercut perfectly.

Dee Alford missed two diving pass-breakup attempts in one-on-ones but showcased plus tenacity with a serious run-game stick later in team drills.

Christian Benford closed quickly on a deep out-breaker from Allen to Moore that he should’ve intercepted.

On that note, rookie Toriano Pride Jr. closed the separation gap on a long ball from Shane Buechele to Mecole Hardman — who, by the way, looked noticeably twitchy in one-on-ones — to break up the pass at the last second in the end zone.

Ray Davis went down and looked to be a lot of pain after being tackled on one of his carries. About 15 minutes later he was cutting at full speed and ultimately finished practice with a few handoffs, one in which he fumbled.

Kaleb Elarms-Orr was everywhere, including in the middle of one of the skirmishes in the second half of camp. He rotated in with the 1s all morning. Critically, he didn’t only assert his will with sticks against the run. There was textbook coverage downfield on a wheel route run by Ty Johnson in which KEO kept stride with the speedy veteran back downfield. He also sniffed out a screen play perfectly and plugged a running lane on Johnson.

Elarms-Orr started one of the scuffles after he hit Kincaid on a grab in which the tight end was going to the ground.

Keon Coleman was largely invisible but did make an acrobatic grab after Max Hairston undercut a short in-breaker but couldn’t knock the ball to the ground. The third-year receiver quickly reacted to the tipped pass and snagged it with one hand.

Early in one-on-ones, Josh Palmer was open. A lot. Allen did miss him by a half yard on a go ball. After a few of those wins, Davison Igbinosun demonstrated his suffocating nature in press man that led to an Allen throwaway with Palmer as the target.

T.J. Parker sparked another fight after a hard tackle in the flat. Unsurprisingly, Alec Anderson got right into the thick of it, and it took a while to separate everyone. I noticed Keleki Latu throw a very light punch into the mix.

The Bills will have a walkthrough that is closed to the public & media on Wednesday before two more SJFU practices on Thursday and Friday of the Return of the Blue & Red scrimmage on Saturday evening at the new Highmark Stadium.