Bills' training camp preview

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Congratulations, Buffalo Bills fans! You are almost there!

Wednesday formally kicks off Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester. Before you know it, the 2024 regular season will be here on Sept. 8 against the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium.

There are plenty of questions surrounding the Bills as head coach Sean McDermott and co. get to work this week in the 585 area code. First up, let's go through those questions in regard to the offensive side of the ball:

1.) What will be Joe Brady's stamp on the offense?

The Bills quarterbacks coach last season took over as interim offensive coordinator when Ken Dorsey was fired following a loss to Denver. Brady called the offense for the final nine games of the season including the playoffs. There was only so much he could change or do in the middle of the season but this will be his playbook. They did seem to run the ball a little more after Brady replaced Dorsey and they definitely got James Cook more touches overall. The Bills increased their number of two tight end sets last season after drafting Dalton Kincaid.

2.) How do the Bills make up for the loss of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis?

Those two wide receivers combined for 608 catches, 8,102 yards and 64 touchdowns over the last four seasons. Those are some pretty big numbers. The receiver room has been overhauled. Third year pro Khalil Shakir is the only player in that room who has caught a regular season pass from Josh Allen. Shakir was definitely trending up in his second year as a Bill. He caught just four passes over the first six games of the season. Then he emerged as a reliable weapon, recording 45 catches for 646 yards over the final 13 games including playoffs.

First round draft pick Keon Coleman will be expected to have an impact and after that who knows? The Bills brought in a few veterans to compete for the next few spots on the depth chart. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 186 catches over six seasons with Green Bay and Kansas City.  Through four years with Pittsburgh, Chicago and Miami, Chase Claypool has totaled 175 receptions. Mack Hollins recorded 131 catches in a six year NFL career that has included stops in Philadelphia, Miami, Las Vegas and Atllanta. Josh Allen will need time to develop chemistry with this mostly new look group.

3.) What kind of an impact can Coleman make in his first season?

Here are the stats for the four receivers taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft:

- Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Seattle Seahawks: 63 catches, 628 yards, four touchdowns
- Quentin Johnston - Los Angeles Chargers: 38 catches, 431 yards, two touchdowns
- Zay Flowers - Baltimore Ravens: 77 catches, 858 yards, five touchdowns
- Jordan Addison - Minnesota Vikings: 70 catches, 911 yards, 0 touchdowns

4.) Is Dalton Kincaid now the No. 1 tight end?

It would sure seem that way after last season. The Bills first round pick in the 2023 draft had a tremendous rookie campaign with 73 catches for 673 yards and a pair of touchdowns. When Dawson Knox went down with an injury, Kincaid took advantage of the opportunity. He ended the season second on the team in receptions and third in yards. Knox, who missed five games with an injury, had career lows in catches(22), yards(186) and yards per catch(8.5)

5.) Will James Cook have a big role in the offense?

I sure hope so. Cook had a breakout second year in 2023 and showed the ability to be not just one of the league's best runners but a weapon in the passing game as well. He had a career high 1,122 yards rushing and a very strong 5.0 yards per carry. When you add in his receiving yards, Cook finished with 1,567 total yards from scrimmage which was the sixth highest total in the league and third best among running backs.

6.) How will the new look offensive line fare?

The Bills had the same five players start every game last season. They were one of just two teams to do that. But at least two changes will be made with starters. Center Mitch Morse was released as part of the Bills salary cap related moves. The anchor of that line started 77 games over the last five years. Connor McGovern will move from left guard to center. McGovern has just one start at center in his NFL career but did play the position in high school and college. David Edwards is the leading candidate to take over at left guard. He made 45 starts with the Raiders.

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The Bills' first practice Wednesday starts at 9:45 a.m. ET.