Buffalo Bills: 5 key position battles to watch in the first preseason game
By Joe Cook
Buffalo Bills Position Battle: Right Guard
The Bills added some pieces to their offensive line this offseason, hoping to improve the interior. They inked guard Connor McGovern to a significant deal to sure up the left side, next to Pro Bowl left tackle, Dion Dawkins. Ryan Bates was the team’s right guard last season after an impressive season prior but, struggled at times. They drafted O’Cyrus Torrence in the second round after the first-round prospect fell right into their laps. Offensive Coordinator, Ken Dorsey, said on Wednesday that the right guard battle is close.
Bates can play anywhere on the offensive line and seems to be the first option to backup center Mitch Morse, who has now had numerous concussions. Bates played 948 snaps last season, committing three penalties and allowing only one sack.
O’Cyrus Torrence brings some power to the Bills’ interior offensive line. In 1,082 career pass-blocking snaps in college, the former Florida Gator allowed no sacks and only one quarterback hit. He has received a lot of the first-team reps so far, but Bates was listed ahead of him on the first official depth chart. This is a big positional battle to watch this weekend.