Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - During this spring's organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had trouble getting the snap from center Connor McGovern.
Mitch Morse had been snapping to Allen for years until he was released this offseason. McGovern was starting for the Bills at left guard last season when he signed with the team as a free agent.
Now that the Bills are in pads and at training camp, McGovern says that problem is much better.
"I think it’s going really well right now. Me and Josh are getting comfortable with each other," said McGovern following practice on Sunday. "For a while, he was used to how Mitch snapped it. Mitch tended to snap it to his left and Josh was used to it. This whole offseason, we’ve been working at it, and I think we’re finally starting to jell together."
In the spring, McGovern said he’s always been a center his whole life. He was looking forward to moving back there with the Bills. Now that the bullets are flying for real and in pads, it only took a little while for him to get back used to it.
"Mentally it was there, but it’s a little different once the pads came on. It’s just getting used to it," McGovern said.
"At guard, there was a little more separation, but at center they’re right on top of you. It’s getting used to it again. It’s just like getting back on a bike.”
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As far as the line itself, McGovern feels it's going very well.
"Right now, where we’re at is better than any point last year, just how all five of us are communicating, make sure that we’re all on the same page. And then Josh is correcting us or makes sure that all the calls are correct," he said. "The tackles are doing a great job communicating to the wide receivers because last year, I felt like the five of us might have known what we were doing, but we didn’t communicate very well to the tight ends, or Josh might have been doing something else."
Josh Allen and Keon Coleman shined once again on Sunday.
Allen was rolling to his right at around the 10-yard line and threw an absolute missile to the back of the end zone, which Coleman went up and got over Christian Benford who had excellent, tight coverage.
The same combination connected for a touchdown later in practice when Coleman beat Benford 1-on-1 coming across the end zone. Benford had his time right before that, staying with Coleman and breaking up the play.
Allen started the Coleman show early in practice, finishing 7-on-7 with a long completion.
Before 7-on-7, during warmup, Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a tough time with two drops with nobody even covering him.
James Cook made a tough catch in practice, but later on, he had a drop that would’ve been a touchdown.
Early in practice in 11-on-11, Curtis Samuel caught a seam and Allen put the ball in right on time for a big gain.
With injuries at safety, Damar Hamlin is lining up with the first-team defense along with Taylor Rapp. Kaiir Elam also continues to get first-team reps, alternating with Rasul Douglas.
For the second time in this camp, Darrynton Evans had a long run for a touchdown. He’s in his fifth season after spending time with the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.
Ahead of practice, head coach McDermott said tight end Dawson Knox didn’t practice because of a groin injury and a veteran rest day.
Others not practicing on Sunday were wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe), safeties Cole Bishop (shoulder) and Mike Edwards (hamstring), running back Ty Johnson (hamstring), offensive linemen Travis Clayton (shoulder) and La’el Collins (knee), and linebackers Edefuan Ulofoshio (ribs) and Nick Morrow (groin).
The Bills did signed linebacker Shayne Simon to a contract on Sunday. Simon, who played at Notre Dame, was signed to a contract earlier in this offseason after originally joining the team on a tryout basis in rookie minicamp.
To make room on the roster, the Bills waived injured defensive end David Ugwoebu.
The Bills will be back on the practice field on Monday at St. John Fisher University starting an hour earlier then scheduled at 8:45 a.m. ET due to inclement weather in the forecast.
