Tag: Khalil Shakir

Instant analysis: Bills extend preseason win streak with last-second win vs. Colts

Instant analysis: #Bills extend preseason win streak with last-second win vs. #Colts (via @jdiloro):

The Buffalo Bills offense came to life in the second half, ending with a last-second victory over the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 in their first exhibition game of 2022. Buffalo extended its preseason win streak to nine games in the effort.

Buffalo kept all of their starters on the sidelines for the game, giving several reserves a chance in the spotlight. With most of the Bills roster seemingly in order, it was a game in which several depth players were battling for a depth roster spot.

The Bills second-string defense performed well on the afternoon, forcing two turnovers in the first half and putting up the first points of the season. Boogie Basham sacked Indianapolis quarterback Nick Foles, forcing a turnover. Third-round pick Terrel Bernard scooped up the fumble and rumbled 69 yards to the end zone, giving the Bills a 7-3 lead.

Jaquan Johnson also recorded an interception in the first half. Baylon Specter registered 10 tackles to lead both teams. Andre Smith, Prince Emili, and Daniel Joseph also provided sacks.

Overall, Buffalo’s second defense held Indianapolis to only a field goal. Colts starting quarterback Matt Ryan went 6-of-10 for 58 passing yards. It was a solid showing for the unit, as they enter the year seemingly in regular season form.

The rookie cornerback duo of Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford kept the Colts receivers under wraps. Both recorded two tackles and a pass defensed. In addition, both rookies limited the Colts’ receivers’ yards after catch.

Buffalo’s offense, for its part, sputtered throughout the first half. Case Keenum struggled to gain any short of rhythm, throwing two interceptions, including a very poor interception in the red zone. He also lost a fumble on a sack.

All told, Keenum ended the day 11-of-18 for 86 passing yards.

While the offense had its issues in the first half, there were multiple players who stepped up and made their presence known. On only three carries, Zack Moss gained 37 yards, including a 27-yard rush in which he bounced out wide and found space. Rookie Khalil Shakir caught five passes for 92 yards.

The Bills offense found its pulse in the second half under Matt Barkley. Barkley led the Bills on both of their offensive scoring drives and helped set up the game-winning field goal Tyler Bass. Barkley ended up 18-of-24 for 224 passing yards in one half of work.

Wide receiver Isaiah Hodges and running back Raheem Blackshear flashed in the second half, helping lead the charge back for the victory. Hodges had a game-high nine receptions for 77 receiving yards. Blackshear, meanwhile, caught four passes for 60 yards out of the backfield. He also plowed into the end zone for the game-tying score.

The end results sweetened the game after a sour first half.

The Bills defense largely was solid in the game, while the offense found its footing in the second half. Still, there are some concerns that will be addressed moving forward.

The Buffalo offense committed five turnovers, with Keenum under center for four of the turnovers. Jamison Crowder had a ball bounce off his hands and turn into a Colts interception.

The Bills committed 11 penalties during the game. The deep depth defensive linemen struggled to get pressure in the second half.

Still, there was a lot of promising play from many players, making the depth decisions much more intriguing as the preseason progresses.

Buffalo takes on the Denver Broncos on Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.

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ESPN: Slot WR is Bills’ biggest training camp battle

ESPN: Slot WR is #Bills’ biggest training camp battle:

Training camp competitions are ramping up in the NFL. Now that teams have been battling on the field for a few weeks of training camp, some positional clashes are developing.

ESPN examined the camp battles that are heating up for ever team. For the Bills, the selection was the battle on the inside at slot wide receiver.

Here’s how ESPN broke down things there:

After wide receiver Cole Beasley was released this offseason, Isaiah McKenzie has emerged as the leading candidate to take his spot at slot receiver. Free agent addition Jamison Crowder missed a significant portion of camp with a lower-extremity issue, which leaves him behind in the battle. He will have to impress for the rest of camp and the preseason to keep up with McKenzie.

McKenzie re-signed with the Bills in March via a two-year deal.

McKenzie saw time in the slot and was a versatile receiver, often found in motion and running jet sweeps. He ended last year with 20 receptions for 178 receiving yards and nine rushes for 47 yards. McKenzie broke out when filling in for Beasley in Week 16 in 2021, catching 11 passes for 125 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Crowder, a seven-year veteran, has been a reliable player in his career. However, Crowder has missed nine games combined over the past two years with the New York Jets and time during this summer’s training camp in Rochester.

Last year, Crowder caught 51 passes for 447 yards, registering a career-low 8.8 yards per catch.

The final X-factor in this competition is fifth-round pick Khalil Shakir. Shakir had a solid senior season for Boise State, grabbing 77 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. Shakir added 12 rushes for 130 yards as well. Shakir has had an impressive camp thus far.

In whatever way, the Bills will need to find a way to replace Beasley’s production. The veteran may not have been a massive yards after the catch player, but Beasley’s reliability in the short passing game was vital to the Bills progress last year. Beasley averaged 77 receptions on 108 targets during his three seasons in Western New York.

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WATCH: Josh Allen hits rookie Khalil Shakir for deep TD at Bills camp

WATCH: Josh Allen hits rookie Khalil Shakir for deep TD at #Bills camp:

Josh Allen had a thing for the deep ball on the ninth day of Bills training camp.

Allen hit multiple strikes down the field during the workout. One of those went to receiver Khalil Shakir.

The rookie fifth-round pick ran a route up the seam and got his way through traffic. With the pass rush coming in on him, Allen tossed a ball off his back foot and perfectly placed it in Shakir’s hands.

Shakir hauled in the catch right at the goal line for a score.

Check out the highlight below:

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2022 NFL draft: One player comparison for every Bills pick

2022 NFL draft: One player comparison for every #Bills pick:

Each spring the NFL draft experts break down the film and give us their analysis of hundreds of college football players ahead of the event.

In doing so, often times we see comparisons made to those already in the league. In 2022 we saw many of those, including with the eight players that ended up in Buffalo when the draft was all said and done.

With that, here is a player comparison for all eight Bills draft picks in 2022:

4 things to love, 3 things to question about the Bills’ 2022 draft class

4 things to love, 3 things to question about the #Bills’ 2022 draft class:

The Buffalo Bills have settled into their 2022 NFL draft class as we’re now well removed from the event. There, the team made eight selections.

Some of the team’s actions were easy to love.

Others left us curious.

With that, here are four things to love and three things to question regarding the Bills’ 2022 draft:

PFF: Bills’ Khalil Shakir was college football’s top-graded receiver

PFF: #Bills’ Khalil Shakir was college football’s top-graded receiver:

According to Pro Football Focus‘ metrics, the Buffalo Bills selected college football’s best wide receiver at the 2022 NFL draft.

The Bills plucked Boise State’s Khalil Shakir off the board all the way in Round 5. Level of competition will factor into both the reasoning he fell to that point and why PFF felt so highly of Shakir, but facts are facts (in a sense).

PFF is objective, but the football analytics outlet graded Shakir as college football’s best wide receiver last season:

Shakir, a senior, ended his college career with his best year. He record 77 catches for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

However, Shakir reads as a much more interesting player than just numbers. Not only is he versatile to return kicks, Shakir also is a bit of a gadget player. Shakir logged 21 carries last year.

But if Shakir does prove to even come close to being the best receiver from the 2022 draft class? The Bills will have struck gold.

Any team would take that under any circumstance, but in Buffalo’s case it might be even better. Not only do that Bills have Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis that could team up with Shakir in the receiver room, the team also has question Josh Allen slinging the ball to them.

Shakir could prove to be a profitable selection.

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Highlights of Bills 2022 rookie minicamp (video)

Check out some highlights of #Bills rookie minicamp right here:

The Buffalo Bills welcomed their 2022 set of rookies to the field for the first time, officially.

All eight Bills selections from the NFL draft, undrafted rookie signees, and tryout players were all in Orchard Park over the weekend working out.

Check out some of the video highlights of the event from the team and local media outlets below:

One thing to love about each of the Bills’ eight 2002 NFL draft picks

One thing to love about each of the #Bills’ 8 2002 NFL draft picks:

The Buffalo Bills have eight new rookies joining the team. More new faces will follow, but that’s the number of players the Bills selected at the 2022 NFL draft.

From the first one joining the Bills to the late last one, there are things to like about each and every one of them.

With that, here is one thing to love for each member of the Bills’ 2022 draft class: