Tag: Ken Dorsey

Dawson Knox on O.J. Howard: ‘It’s going to be a nightmare’ for defenses

Dawson Knox on O.J. Howard: ‘It’s going to be a nightmare’ for defenses:

Bills TE Dawson Knox had a breakout year in 2021, taking the next step many had been looking for since he was selected by Buffalo with the 96th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss.

At 6’4 and 254 lb with 33 and 1/2 arms and 9 3/4 hands, the 25-year-old is looking to build on a campaign last season in which he broke the Bills single-season franchise record for touchdowns by a TE, finishing with nine total scoring catches on the year.

Even still, while addressing the press this week Knox made it clear he “Still got stuff to prove”.

What’s more, he spoke about one of the Bills newest additions to his position group and how they might play a role in that on-field production.

“It’s fun having guys like O.J. in the room, there’s going to be a lot of diversity, a lot of versatility with the position now”, Knox said during his media vailability.

During free agency this offseason, GM Brandon Beane added TE O.J. Howard to the depth chart behind Knox.

And the new Bills TE does offer some size.

At 27 years old, the former first-round pick in 2017 by the Bucs is 6’6 and 251 lbs with 33 and 3/4 arms and 10 hands.

“I mean he’s a freak athlete,” Knox added. “He makes me feel small, I mean the dude’s like you know 6’6, his arms are massive. Just having another weapon like that’s just gonna make us that much harder to stop, so I think he’s just going to push me to be better too I think.”

Howard’s development at the pro level may have been stifled once he saw less on-field gameplay experience behind Buffalo native Rob Gronkowski in Tampa. With the Bills focus on player development in Buffalo and a team-friendly one-year pact between them,  he will have that chance to take the next step as well.

“The better the room is as a whole, the better each individual is going to be as well,” Knox continued. “But it’s going to be fun to bring us in, run the ball some, then spread us out, get us good matchups on linebackers

Howard has the potential to compliment and offer position depth behind Knox, who has developed better movement and skills at the NFL level.

Howard can have difficulty on routes getting a jump and separation on defenders due to a lack of quickness in and out of breaks.

While he’ll be challenged to improve in those areas, one of the things that he offers the Bills offense and new OC Ken Dorsey is the ability to run more two-plus TE sets.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, the Bills ran only 100 plays with two-or-more tight ends during the 2021 season which was the lowest in the NFL.

Knox is confident Howard can be the addition that changes that.

“It’s just an extra piece that you know is going to be a nightmare to defend for defenses right? Oh yeah, we can’t wait. It’s going to be a nightmare for a lot of defenses.”

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PFF: Bills’ Mitch Morse among top NFL centers in this key stat

PFF: #Bills’ Mitch Morse among top NFL centers in this key stat:

The Buffalo Bills provided stability for the immediate future recently by extending C Mitch Morse to continue to anchor the team’s offensive line.

It would appear there is a good reason beyond his familiarity and cohesion with the offense behind that decision, in addition to the financial flexibility the new deal created for the Bills.

Pro Football Focus recognized Morse as one of only four NFL centers with a 70+ blocking grade over the past three seasons:

Morse has stated a preference for remaining in Buffalo for the remainder of his career and can be a part of the consistency the team has sought for their offense up front.

As GM Brandon Bean has prioritized protecting Josh Allen, solidifying the offensive line with moves that have included re-upping with Morse has been a part of that effort.

Given the GM’s long-term focus on competing and building depth all around the roster to sustain that level of on-field performance, it would stand to reason the team may look to add talent to the center position. This would be consistent with the player development culture in Buffalo under Beane and head coach Sean McDermott and make sense given both the short-term deal Morse signed.

Given Beane’s track record of signing veteran talent to short-term pacts and developing younger players behind them at the position, Morse will have the chance to continue to contribute toward Buffalo’s goal of winning a Super Bowl over the next couple of seasons.

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PFF: Josh Allen is Bills ‘best value draft pick’

PFF: Josh Allen is Bills ‘best value draft pick’

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From the time he finished his college career through his draft process and first seasons in the NFL, QB Josh Allen had been viewed by front offices, members of the press, and player analysts as a development project.

A prospect with power and arm strength who could eventually make the transition to a pro-level of play.

But that was then, and this is now.

Allen enters the upcoming 2022 NFL season as one of the premier young talents and quarterbacks in the league.

And this past week, Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus picked the young QB in his selection for Buffalo in his “Every NFL team’s best value draft picks since 2006” list.

Here is Renner’s preface of his list and analysis on Allen for PFF:

In a league with a salary cap, value is — quite literally — everything.

Because every NFL team works with more or less the same amount of money each season, the Super Bowl champions have to find a way to use their dollars more efficiently than everyone else. That’s where these guys come in — the players who outperform their draft slots in such a way that the team can overpay for players elsewhere.

BUFFALO BILLS: QB JOSH ALLEN, WYOMING (SEVENTH OVERALL IN 2018)

Move over Kyle Williams, as defensive tackle value doesn’t come close to that of a franchise quarterback. Allen’s 7.16 WAR over the past two seasons ranks third in the entire NFL — not bad for the third quarterback selected in his draft class.

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5 burning questions ahead of the 2022 Bills season

5 burning questions ahead of the 2022 #Bills season (via @jdiloro):

The expectations are bubbling over the Buffalo Bills. For the first time in over a quarter of a century, the Bills are the preseason odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl.

Things will start to heat up as the Bills look forward to training camp. With that, here are five burning questions for the team ahead of their 2022 campaign:

Sean McDermott: Bills offense is ‘light years ahead’ with Ken Dorsey

Sean McDermott: #Bills offense is ‘light years ahead’ with Ken Dorsey:

During this past offseason, the Buffalo Bills saw offensive coordinator Brian Daboll depart Buffalo to fill the New York Giants head coaching vacancy.

The front office promoted then-quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey to the team’s offensive coordinator role, where he’ll be tasked with calling plays for QB Josh Allen and company.

The transition from coaching Allen alone to playcalling for him and the rest of the Bills offensive players is significant.

And it’s one in which, thus far, Dorsey has earned praise from key figures in the team’s culture.

And from two of the most important voices in their locker room, no less.

Head coach Sean McDermott shared as far as where things stand offensively after promoting from within the Bills organization. “Light years ahead”, McDermott said while addressing the press.

QB Josh Allen, who advocated for Dorsey’s hire to the role, also expressed his support.

“Doesn’t feel like we’ve missed a step. You know, obviously, it’s going to be different, it’s a different voice in the headset, it’s a different mind calling the plays. The verbiage is still the same, the protections are still the same. We’ve switched up a couple plays here and there with concepts and thought processes. But again, being able to call the same play and players know this play like the back of their hand, and it’s just our job to go out there and execute”, Allen said while speaking to the media.

While it remains to be seen how effective the transition to Dorsey calling plays translates on the field, he has a vote of confidence from two of the more important members of the Bills organization in terms of the impact of that playcalling.

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Bills’ Ken Dorsey explains new role with ‘Talladega Nights’ reference

A perfect choice by Dorsey:

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The Buffalo Bills promoted Ken Dorsey to offensive coordinator this spring after Brian Daboll accepted an opportunity to become the New York Giants head coach.

Previously Dorsey was Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach. Now he has some added responsibilities taking care of the entire project on offense, not just worrying about Josh Allen.

As one of the most decorated college players in history and a former NFL player himself, Dorsey certainly has the tools to get the job done.

Still, it’s new.

During the second week of the Bills’ OTAs (organized team activities), Dorsey dusted off a perfect reference to describe how he feels about his new gig. It comes from the classic film with actor Will Ferrell: “Talladega Nights.”

Check it out below via Spectrum News:

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CBS Sports ranks Bills offense as second-tier in the NFL

The #Bills have a “second-tier offense” according to CBS Sports:

The Buffalo Bills offense has exploded over the past two seasons. Both years saw the Bills rank in the top five of scoring and yardage.

Even with arguably the most dynamic quarterbacks and receivers in the game, Buffalo found itself on the outside of the top-tier in CBS Sports’ offensive rankings.

The rankings, give scores to various offensive categories to determine a final ranking. The totals include the values of the quarterback, play-callers, receivers, offensive line, and running back.

Unsurprisingly, the Bills earned an elite score at quarterback, as Josh Allen earned a perfect five for this ability.

Buffalo’s wide receivers and tight ends earned a score just a shade below ideal, with CBS Sports giving this group a score of 4.5 out of 5.

However, the rankings sees the other elements of the Bills offense as being just a shade above average. Buffalo earned a score of 3.5 for their running backs, play-caller, and offensive line.

Buffalo’s offensive additions could help the team climb the rankings in the near future. The Bills added Rodger Saffold on the offensive line and drafted the dynamic James Cook as a change-of-pace back to supplement Devin Singletary in the backfield.

Despite that, the biggest unknown falls on the person calling the plays for Buffalo.

Ken Dorsey takes over the offensive coordinator spot from Brian Daboll, as the later was named the head coach of the New York Giants following a successful four-year stint as Buffalo’s OC.

In fact, Dorsey’s score could have been lower, but CBS Sports “gave Ken Dorsey a little bit of the benefit of the doubt by nudging his ranking a half-point above where we usually put rookie play-callers.”

Undoubtedly, Dorsey’s progress with the headset will have the greatest impact on the offensive taking a step forward. If he can continue the success of Daboll, there’s little doubt that the Bills will be back in the top-tier of teams on this ranking next year.

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Bills rookie WR Khalil Shakir: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs among ‘best in the league’

#Bills rookie WR Khalil Shakir: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs among ‘best in the league’

On the third day of this past weekend’s 2022 NFL Draft, the Bills added a dynamic and diverse talent in Boise State slot receiver Khalil Shakir.

And while he’s excited to compete on the team’s roster, it’s not his first introduction to some of Buffalo and the NFL’s top talent.

As a freshman at Boise State he played against then Wyoming senior and now Bills QB Josh Allen.

Even then, Allen made quite an impression on the young receiver.

“He’s shown he’s one of the best in the league,” Shakir said over video conference. “He can do it all from a quarterback standpoint. I’m excited to get up there, earn his respect first of all, and just make sure I go ahead and leave a good first impression.”

And Allen isn’t the only Bill that has caught Shakir’s attention in the past.

His new teammate, star NFL receiver Stefon Diggs, has been a player whom Shakir has watched and studied from the early stages of his development.

“I’m not even sure how I’ll react the first time I see him,” Skakir added with a laugh. “I’m a guy who studies the game and the league and he’s one of the top guys in the league right now. I’m excited to pick his brain but I have to earn Diggs’ respect and show I belong there.”

Given Shakir’s hungry approach to learning and Diggs willingness to work with the Bills younger receivers during the offseason to help them along in their development, as he did last year with WR Gabriel Davis, it sounds like he will be motivated while having the opportunity to prove himself in Buffalo.

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2022 NFL draft: Khalil Shakir calls Bills ‘match made in heaven’

2022 NFL draft: Khalil Shakir calls Bills ‘match made in heaven’

Prior to the 2022 NFL Draft there was some buzz among analysts and members of the media that the Bills might add a receiver.

On the third day of selections, Buffalo made a move up the board in the fifth round to do just that.

GM Brandon Beane and company traded picks No. 168 and No. 203 to the Chicago Bears, taking WR Khalil Shakir from Boise State at 148th overall. 

“They were one of the first teams that I talked to within zoom meetings and all that,” Shakir said over a video conference. “Kind of doing those pre-draft interviews, and in the back of my head I just couldn’t stop thinking about the talks that I had with the Bills. So, I guess it was a match made in heaven. I’m truly excited to get to work.”

Playing primarily in the slot, the newest member of the Bills offense adds depth and versatility as he can run jet sweeps, end-arounds, as well as screens. He joins a receiver group that has room for him to contribute while growing into a regular part of the offense following the departure of Cole Beasley.

A speedy threat who was clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, he also was graded the highest of any WR in the 2022 draft class by Pro Football Focus, with a 92.0 career grade 

He even drew comparisons by ESPN’s Matt Miller to San Francisco 49er’s star Deebo Samuel, with Miller calling Shakir “a steal” for the Bills.

A part of the WR’s game that he brings to the team is yards-after-catch, an area the Bills are looking to improve in.

“I can’t even put the words together to show how excited I am to get to work and showcase my talent,” he added. “The work is going to show. I’m gonna work my tail off every single day and make sure the people in the organization know that this pick was a really, really good pick for them.”

In 11 college games as the leading receiver for the Broncos last season, he went for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns on 77 catches while adding 21 carries. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2020 and 2021 and logged 10 games with 100-plus receiving yards and 414 rushing yards during his collegiate career.

He also averaged 23.8 yards per kick and 7.5 yards per punt as a return man throughout his time with the University. A position he may see playing time at for Buffalo.

“That’s something that I believe I can bring to the table, If that’s what the Bills need me to do,” Shakir said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I want to do this, or I want to do that. I’m going to do whatever the team wants me to do, whatever the organization wants me to do, and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. I’m going to do it at an elite level.”

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What the Bills still need heading into the 2022 NFL Draft

What the #Bills still need heading into the 2022 NFL Draft:

With the 2022 NFL Draft only a couple of weeks away, the Bills are in a position to draft for roster strength.

GM Brandon Beane has set the team up ahead of this month’s NFL Draft to take the best players available when Buffalo is on the clock.

Even after a successful offseason of adding talent, there are still there are some areas Buffalo could address on the days of the draft.

The team has nine picks in rounds one through seven, including two sixth-rounders, and they’re slated to pick at positions number 25, 57, 89, 130, 168, 185, 203, and 231.

With that, here are some of the positions we might see the Bills add to with their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft: