Lincoln Riley gets most of the credit for Oklahoma’s offense, but Bedenbaugh is owed his fair share. As the Sooners co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Bedenbaugh has helped carry on the power-run game that Oklahoma has used to dominate for decades.
Bedenbaugh has helped mold several linemen into NFL prospects in recent years. Cody Ford, Orlando Brown, Bobby Evans, Ben Powers, Dru Samia, and Daryl Williams are all the current Sooners in the NFL that were coached by Bedenbaugh. Rodney Anderson, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon are current RB’s to have lined up behind his unit.
Alex Grinch has helped the Sooners tremendously is his first season, just as he did Washington State. Grinch improved the Sooners total defense ranking from 101 in 2018, to No. 64 in 2019. While his turnover greedy ways didn’t quite catch on in year one, the mentality switch was visible.
Under Grinch, Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore are participating in this year’s NFL Combine and are considered top prospects in this year’s draft. Parnell Motley was snubbed from the NFL Combine, but could hear his name called in the NFL Draft as well.
Buffalo Bills rookies Ed Oliver, Cody Ford, Devin Singletary appear in top-50 rookie rankings.
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Since Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott started his tenure with the Bills, he’s gotten positive play from his rookie each and every year. That helps lay a foundation for when those rookies are leading the team later on.
That “tradition” of sorts started with the likes of Tre’Davious White, Matt Milano and Dion Dawkins in 2017 (sorry, Nathan Peterman). In 2019, it was carried on by another trio and Touchdown Wire took notice.
For their efforts as rookies, Ed Oliver, Cody Ford and Devin Singletary were named in the outlet’s top-50 rookies of 2019.
Oliver, the ninth-overall pick at the most recent NFL draft, headlined the group at No. 18. Singletary followed at No. 26 while Ford wrapped things up at No. 44.
As rookies, all three had ups and downs. Still, they all began their careers on the right foot. Oliver lost his starting spot early in the year to Jordan Phillips, but worked to get it back. He finished his first season with five sacks but four of them came in the final seven games of the season.
Singletary was set back mostly by injuries, but in 12 games played, he still mustered 775 rushing yards and established himself as an NFL rusher. At right tackle, Ford eventually settled down into his role as the starter once Ty Nsekhe was bit by the injury bug.
Along with these three, tight end Dawson Knox also flashed at times in 2019.
Sandwiched in between the most recent rookie class and 2017’s is the crew headlined by quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in 2018.
The number of key, starting pieces mentioned in this piece alone from the last three Bills’ draft classes is a fantastic sign of how far the Bills have come in recent years in terms of the NFL draft. These are all homegrown players. While they’ll want to eventually get paid down the line, they’ll certainly have the Bills in their mind when that day eventually comes as the team that gave them their opportunity, and potentially as a place the continuing building their resumes.
Buffalo Bills OL Cody Ford says his illegal blindside block fine was reduced.
What could have been?
The Bills will never know, but at least Cody Ford’s wallet is a bit heavier now.
In overtime of the Bills’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, Ford received a questionable penalty. On a Josh Allen run, Ford was flagged for an illegal blindside block in the back.
Allen would have set up at 55-yard game-winning kick attempt for the Bills as it would have been fourth down regardless, but instead, Ford’s penalty put the Bills way back. Would Stephen Hauschka have been trotted out to try it? Would the Bills have gone for it on fourth-and-5? We’ll never know.
After that very questionable penalty, the Bills and their fans were very upset. Buffalo punted and the ensuing Texans’ drive ended in the game-winning kick. Still, the NFL slapped Ford with a fine for good measure, the typical $28,075 fine associated with the penalty.
Maybe a bit of justice? Ford announced on Thursday that his fine was reduced, adding, “I still believed I did nothing wrong”:
Thank You Bills Fans…the money you guys raised through the go fund me for my fine was donated to charity….My fine was reduced to just over 4K…I still believe I did nothing wrong on that play #BillsMafia
Also another silver lining: charity. Bills Mafia started a Go Fund Me fundraiser to pay for Ford’s fine. It raised just short of four thousand dollars, which is about where Ford’s fine was reduced to. But Ford’s not going to tap into that to pay it, as he announced, that money is going to charity instead.
Maybe not a win-win all the way around, but still a nice ending of sorts.
The Bills earned a “B” grade with the rookie’s collective performance, according to Gennaro Filice of NFL.com.
The Buffalo Bills 2019 draft class was good, but not grade, according to NFL.com. The team earned a “B” grade with the rookie’s collective performance from the outlet.
First-round pick Ed Oliver had a bit of an uneven season with and a mid-season production swoon, but he ultimately ended on top as the regular season concluded nicely, as the Houston product played over half of the snaps in six of the final seven games. He recorded four sacks and 23 sacks during this time.
But there’s optimism, as a stronger campaign is predicted for Oliver next year:
Falling into the Bills‘ lap at No. 9 overall, Oliver was widely regarded on draft night as the steal of the first round. And in the season-opening win over the Jets, he provided the type of interior disruption that validated the hype, recording five pressures and a QB hit. But he struggled over the next couple months and lost his starting job at midseason. To his credit, Oliver offered his most consistent play as a rotational piece in the second half of the season — racking up four sacks during one three-game stretch — and it’s not hard to imagine a breakthrough Year 2.
Second-round selection Cody Ford also faced a bit of a learning curve at the right tackle spot. However, he benefited from splitting snaps with veteran Ty Nsekhe, especially when the rookie was overwhelmed by opponents’ defensive ends. Ford didn’t receive quite as much praise:
Ford started 15 games, spending the vast majority of his time at right tackle, but the results were underwhelming, rekindling the question that plagued him prior to the 2019 draft: Would he be better served playing guard?
The biggest breakout among the rookie group was running back Devin Singletary. Once head coach Sean McDermott and company felt comfortable with “Motor,” they placed a greater emphasis on getting the ball in his hands. Singletary carried the ball no fewer than 14 times in each of his final six regular-season games. He wrestled the starting job away from veteran Frank Gore. It was an easy change, as Singletary’s explosiveness put defense’s on notice. In addition, Singletary was a surprisingly reliable player in the passing game, catching 29 targets during the year. Singletary was dubbed a steal of sorts for the Bills:
Thus far, Singletary has actually proven to be the biggest steal of Buffalo’s rookie class. After dealing with a hamstring injury in September and splitting carries with the ageless Frank Gore in the first half of the season, the elusive rookie really came on down the stretch, eclipsing 600 yards rushing in his final eight regular-season games.
The final player to produce decent numbers among this draft class was tight end Dawson Knox. The Ole Miss had several positive moments on the season. He put himself on the map with an aggressive 49-yard catch-and-run in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also contributed nicely in run-blocking situations. However, he, like many rookies, is still working on developing consistency, especially with his pass-catching.
Sixth-round selection Jaquan Johnson contributed primarily to the special teams unit. Darryl Johnson, Jr., a seventh-round pick, contributed on special teams as well. He played sparingly at the defensive end position after Week 8. Tight end Tommy Sweeney played in six games. However, he was mostly a depth piece, and will need to continue to fight among a crowded tight end group.
Buffalo Bills rookie class in 2019 was the NFL’s 22nd best, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Buffalo Bills have seen production from their rookies in recent years. In this most recent season, Pro Football Focus didn’t see it that way.
According to the football analytics outlet, the Bills’ 2019 rookie class was only the 22nd best in the NFL.
Here’s why, per PFF:
Neither defensive tackle Ed Oliver (64.0) nor offensive tackle Cody Ford (51.8) lived up to their draft position, and the value added by their two third-round selections — running back Devin Singletary and tight end Dawson Knox — wasn’t enough to overcome those performances. The Bills will need those first two picks to take steps forward in 2020.
While the Bills did see production from their rookies this season, to PFF’s credit, it wasn’t fantastic production from their top-two picks in Oliver and Ford. Both saw their rookie seasons plagued with inconsistencies.
Despite PFF knocking the Bills for their top picks taking time to adapt to the NFL, the outlet did tip their cap to their best rookies in running back Devin Singletary and tight end Dawson Knox. Singletary was named the Bills’ “best value pick” as well. Here’s why:
Singletary (No. 96 overall) was a handful to tackle coming out of Florida Atlantic, and that remained the case in Buffalo. He averaged more than 3 rushing yards after contact per attempt and broke 42 tackles on the ground as a rookie.
In regard to the AFC East though, the Bills did have the second-best rookie class. The Jets were only ranked slightly better at No. 20, while the Patriots were at No. 27 and the Dolphins slotted in at No. 28. The league’s best rookie class honors went to the Redskins.
Here is the state of the Buffalo Bills offensive line entering the 2019 offseason.
Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the offensive line, including the season that was and projecting forward:
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
The Buffalo Bills offensive line underwent a massive transformation between 2018 and 2019. The team brought in several free agents, including center Mitch Morse, interior lineman Spencer Long, guard Quinton Spain, guard Jon Feliciano, tackle Ty Nsekhe, and tackle LaAdraian Waddle. Buffalo added Oklahoma tackle Cody Ford with their 2019 second-round draft pick. They also traded for depth lineman Ryan Bates.
It was quite the turnover, as the team jettisoned center Russell Bodine, center/guard Ryan Groy, guard John Miller, guard Vlad Ducasse, guard Watt Teller, tackle Jordan Mills, tackle Connor McDermott, and tackle Marshall Newhouse.
That’s a lot of movement on the transaction page.
It paid dividends for the Bills, as the line was more cohesive and generally provided better pass protection for quarterback Josh Allen. The only returning starter, left tackle Dion Dawkins, had a solid season defending Allen’s blind side.
Buffalo found absolute steals at the guard positions, as Spain and Feliciano anchored the interior of the line at a combined cap hit of just under $6 million. Mitch Morse, the Bills biggest signing on the offseason, returned from injury and filled the gap left behind by the retirement of Eric Wood in 2017.
The right tackle position was won by the rookie Ford. However, when Ford struggled, the team leaned on Nshkhe to provide a stabilizing force. It worked well as Ford adjusted to the professional game.
Buffalo Bills offensive guard Jon Feliciano. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Cap situation
Morse leads the way, with three more years on his contract. This upcoming season, the former Chief will count $11.625 million against the cap. Ford enters the second year of his rookie deal, chiming in at approximately $1.7 million against the books. Depth lineman Ryan Bates is the only other player officially signed beyond the 2020 season.
Dawkins, Nsekhe, and Felicano enter the final year of their respective contracts after the 2020 season. Each player will be an unrestricted free agent. Ike Boettger enters the final year of his contract, but he will be a restricted free agent after next season.
The Bills have a club option on Long. If exercised, it would cost the Bills $4.125 million against the salary cap. If not, the dead cap hit is $700,000.
Spain and Waddle are unrestricted free agents. Spain was a pleasant surprise, helping hold down the interior of the line. Waddle missed the season with a quad injury that he suffered in August.
The future
This unit is very interesting to examine, as there is a strong possibility that four of the returning five starters will be back in their starting role next year. Spain outperformed expectations. He is in line for a pay raise. The question will be: how much will he garner on the open market? If the Bills wish to further develop a starting unit based on consistency, then they will make an offer to keep Spain in the fold.
If they do sign Spain, then they will most likely have three players under contract for the next three seasons (Morse and Ford are the others). Buffalo will then move their focus to Felciano and Dawkins next offseason.
Dawkins is an interesting case, as he could command major money in the open market. Spotrac calculates his market value at $14.3 million. With several major pieces commanding big money in the future (Josh Allen, Matt Milano, Tremaine Edmunds), it will be interesting to see if the Bills dive in and extend Dawkins.
With this in mind, it would not be shocking for the Bills to take an offensive lineman in the draft, even as high as a day two pick. They have Bates and Boettger as depth players, but neither will command starting snaps.
It’s unlikely that the Bills make a big splash this offseason and sign an offensive lineman. They’re pressing their luck if they wish to find another version of Spain–a player who outperforms his contract in the manner that the former Titan did for the Buffalo.
If they’re willing to spend a little more on the interior of the line, Buffalo could take a look at Detroit’s Graham Glasgow. He clocked in as PFF’s 12th best interior offensive lineman in 2019.
In addition, could a draft pick do that same job as Long? Possibly, as Long played over half of the snaps in only three games this year. Buffalo could exercise Long’s option and have him take Spain’s spot. However, Spain’s production might be missed.
If Buffalo is feeling quite adventurous, they could test the offensive tackle market. It’s a long shot, but they could bump Dawkins to guard, and then find a tackle such as Anthony Costonzo, DJ Humphries, or Daryl Williams (former Panther) as options. It’s a long shot, but all scenarios might as well be on the table.
Note: Contract information is made available via Spotrac.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said players having offseason surgery will be ready by 2020 training camp.
Last week the Bills had a social media trend hit their roster.
A couple of players, namely defensive tackle Ed Oliver, tackle Cody Ford and guard Jon Feliciano, all took to their various social media accounts to announce similar things. Each had a different type of offseason surgery.
A bit concerning with so many coming in such a short time, perhaps. But Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane gave a positive update on all three at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday.
“The way we have it planned now, as long as nobody has a setback, everybody that I’m aware of would be at camp ready to roll. Again, barring a setback or anything like that,” Beane told reporters.
The GM did add that he specifically meant training camp later in the summer, which begins in late July. During earlier offseason workouts some of them may have the red non-contact jerseys on at that time. The important factor is having them back by training camp, though.
The injuries reported by the players include a core issue for Oliver, along with different shoulder injuries that needed repair for Ford and Feliciano.
Buffalo Bills 2019 draft class earns a top grade from Bleacher Report.
Bleacher Report reflected fondly upon the Buffalo Bills’ 2019 draft class.
B/R recently graded every NFL team’s slew of players selected at the most recent draft. The Bills were among the best, earning the letter mark of “A.”
Here’s how B/R broke down Buffalo’s first-year pros:
The Buffalo Bills hit on their top four picks—all of them either started the majority of games this season or made significant contributions.
Ed Oliver displayed his pass-rushing prowess with five sacks on the interior. He started slow but came on strong in Weeks 11 to 13, recording four sacks. The Houston product plays in a rotational role, yet he’s shown the ability to line up on all three downs.
Cody Ford helped strengthen the offensive line with his solid pass blocking at right tackle. He only allowed 3.5 sacks in 15 starts, per STATS.
The Bills traded LeSean McCoy to the Kansas City Chiefs. Eventually, Frank Gore yielded the featured position to Devin Singletary while T.J. Yeldon served as a low-volume backup. The Florida Atlantic product listed fifth in yards from scrimmage (969) among all rookies.
Dawson Knox hasn’t posted big numbers. With that said, in addition to two touchdowns, he’s second in receiving yards (388) among rookie tight ends. He likely saw more playing time earlier than expected because Tyler Kroft broke his foot in the offseason. Regardless, the Ole Miss product looks like a solid playmaker.
Along the Bills, the Cardinals, Broncos, Giants, Raiders, 49ers, and Bucs all also earned the top-letter honor in B/R’s grades. The Bills out-ranked their other AFC East rivals, the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins, who all earned a lowly grade of “D.”
As B/R mentions, Oliver, Ford, Singletary and Knox all made positive impacts as rookie. Singletary the most, followed by Oliver with Ford and Knox having up-and-down seasons. But they’re rookies, so inconsistencies should be expected while adjusting to the next level.
Under Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, the Bills have a reputation of landing strong pieces in the draft. In 2017, three starters via Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano were found. The 2018 class was highlighted by first rounders Tremaine Edmunds and Josh Allen. While Allen has room to grow still, he’s certainly been perhaps the most consistent first-round QB of his class, even more so than Lamar Jackson, who didn’t start as many games as a rookie and was really night-and-day in comparison between his first and second seasons.
Buffalo Bills OL Cody Ford writes he had offseason surgery.
On Tuesday, Bills first-round rookie Ed Oliver sent a message out on social media which disclosed he had offseason surgery. It was later revealed that the surgery was on a core muscle.
Second-round rookie Cody Ford then followed suit on Wednesday.
Ford posted a photo which said “surgery went great.” While he did not indicate the exact type of surgery, it appears to be a right shoulder or right arm issue of some sort based on the photo:
Ford was injured this season in Week 8 against the Eagles, suffering an elbow injury. However, the photo below shows Ford in the Bills’ Wild Card meeting with the Texans. His left elbow, not right elbow, is wrapped:
The Bills had got into a weird place with the NFL as Jerry Hughes posted to social media that he played with an unreported wrist injury all season long. The league was investigating that issue and not updates have yet come about. Then Oliver’s injury, a core issue, also wasn’t reported during the season. Still, some players have surgery to “clean up” minor, lingering issues throughout the year. More on Ford’s injury will likely come to light later.
Buffalo Bills OL Cody Ford fined by NFL for penalty in Wild Card.
Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Cody Ford took an illegal blindside block penalty against the Houston Texans. The call was met a lot of question.
Was it a bad call? Was it a penalty? The NFL deemed it certainly one since he was actually fined for it now.
According to NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport, Ford’s penalty, which took the Bills out of field-goal range in overtime against the Texans, earned him an even more questionable $28,075 fine.
Here’s the play in question:
I understand the rules but it's still crazy that the first play in this clip resulted in a penalty and $28,075 fine and the second play resulted in no fine or penalty. pic.twitter.com/ZRq3A8D9rE
ESPN reports that Ford is going to appeal the fine. Makes sense since plenty of folks questioned the play. Fans? Yes. But even FOX NFL rules analyst and former VP of officiating, Mike Pereira, said he believed it was a bad call.
The fine is really just rubbing salt in the wound for the Bills, because Buffalo eventually punted and the Texans marched down the field to win the game, 22-19.
