The Buffalo Bills have always kept their fans on the edge of their seat and anxious enough to have a cold beer in the fridge, ready to crack open if Buffalo showcases one of their infamous “Bills-y” finishes to end a game or season.

Thus far in training camp, the Bills have kept the negative headlines to what must be a record minimum. I’m not a very superstitious person but let’s knock on wood following that statement.

Buffalo did the closest thing to a rebuild this offseason without actually tearing down the whole building and thus far, the gears in motion appear to be heading the Bills in the right direction. The team has less chaos and more productivity. New head coach Sean McDermott’s attention to detail is felt in every action throughout practice; everything carries a purpose.

Related Position battles taking shape on Day 7 of Bills training camp

Buffalo is quietly having the camp that they should have been having for the past seventeen years. This isn’t buying into the hype that occurs before every Bills season, it’s observing the new environment going on at training camp and seeing the product. Buffalo hasn’t played a game yet but the team already acts like a different, better team than last year.

With only six training camp practices left following Sunday’s session, soon enough Bills fans will see just what general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have been cooking up in their lab.

The team is slated for a matchup again the Minnesota Vikings in their first preseason bout. Buffalo players were able to break the ice a little with New Era Field on Friday as the Bills held their first ever live scrimmage within their home stadium, something McDermott pushed for.

Throughout the offseason, there are always twists and turns that shape the makeup of the roster and the players who will be starting. This year is no different.

All the talk before training camp started is just that, talk; it’s hearsay and speculation of what will happen.

Buffalo has had some tremendous surprise performers this training camp and below are three of the biggest takeaways thus far.

Preston Brown

Preston Brown came into training camp this year as an underdog to Reggie Ragland, who hasn’t started one game with the Bills due to injury. That may seem like a surprise in itself but Ragland was touted as the next Luke Kuechly by head coach Sean McDermott.

Now with Ragland healthy, Brown has completely surprised many with his great play thus far in camp and has turned the tables on this position battle.

Related Bills LB Preston Brown has something to prove at training camp

Buffalo drafted Brown in 2014 and signed him to an initial four-year rookie contract and after this season, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Could Brown be playing his tail off because he’s in a contract year or could he maybe be the Luke Kuechly head coach Sean McDermott was looking for?

He has already done his homework and spoken with Kuechly in lengths about McDermott’s system, which could immensely benefit the fourth-year player.

Brown has played for both Doug Marrone and Rex Ryan and now will have his third head coach in just his fourth season. This new system could be the one that fits Brown the most.

Coaching changes are something Preston Brown can’t control or focus on but this offseason Brown focused on something that he believes will benefit him, candy. Brown had this to say this past Wednesday regarding what he’s focused on.

“Yeah, I mean, just my diet. No candy in practice no more, none of the little stuff like that. I got a chef now. I’m trying to eat healthy – a lot of green stuff. It’s been different, just trying to make sure my body can maintain through the whole season.”

Sean McDermott has been a strong advocate of Preston Brown’s changes and specifically recognized his work ethic this week. Coach McDermott had this to say on Wednesday regarding the current state of the depth chart and what he’s seen in Brown.

“Preston [Brown] has done a nice job. I believe he’s still getting comfortable in this system – it’s still new. You see him working after practice, which I love. He’s working on his craft, he’s a true pro and he has great command of the defense. He’s our signal caller.”

McDermott later went on to clarify that they have not named a starter at middle linebacker and he’s been a big fan of what both Ragland and Brown have done at camp.

Rod Streater

Rod Streater was one of the last receivers the Bills decided to sign this offseason and was seen as a move to fill those pesky holes in the receiving depth chart.

Although Streater’s chances of sliding up into a significant role were slim in the beginning, the 29-year old has pushed up the chart in training camp and shown his electric ability.

Streater spent the majority of his career with the Oakland Raiders, spending four out of his five seasons with them and one season with the San Francisco 49ers across the bay.

Streater has the ability to help not only the Buffalo offense but more specifically wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Streater knows first-hand what it’s like to go through what Watkins has had to deal with.

“My third year (in the NFL), I broke both of my feet. I had the same thing Sammy Watkins had, except I had it on both of mine two months apart,” the Buffalo Bills’ receiver said after a recent training camp practice at St. John Fisher College. “It’s serious, man. It takes, I want to say, a good year off your feet to come back and really get going.”

Streater’s experience dealing with those major setbacks could help Sammy Watkins fully recover from his own. Watkins is primed for a fully healthy season this year but could definitely benefit from some advice from Streater.

Streater has firmly placed himself in the mix of receivers behind Sammy Watkins and Zay Jones and has emerged as one of the top choices. Coach McDermott has been impressed thus far and spoke on the matter this past week.

“He’s one of the highlights of camp so far. Big, strong wide receiver – he did a nice job of digesting the system in a short amount of time. His role on not only the offense but also special teams, factors into the entire evaluation. He’s done a nice job. I look forward to continuing to watch him and I’m excited about what he’s done so far.”

Streater may have been cast aside in the past with the Raiders and the 49ers but has a chance with the Bills to make an impact. Buffalo has quite a few question marks behind Watkins and Jones but Streater is helping to answer those so far.

Streater should be seeing a steady dose of playing time this preseason, which should help make the Bills’ roster decision easier when it comes time to cut from 90 players to 53 after the final preseason game.

Eddie Yarbrough

When the Bills signed free agent Eddie Yarbrough in early April, they may not have expected as much as they’ve gotten from the 6-foot-3 defensive end.

Yarbrough played his college ball at the University of Wyoming, finishing with 21.5 sacks over his four-year career with the Cowboys and was named First team All-Mountain West three times.

The Aurora, CO native was signed by his hometown Denver Broncos in 2016 but was released in the final round of cuts.

Although Yarbrough was cut by the Broncos, working with the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller taught the 24-year old priceless lessons. Yarbrough had this to say when asked by the Aurora Sentinel this offseason.

“You can’t pay to have two future Hall of Famers teaching you how to rush an edge, how to set an edge,” Yarbrough said. “The things that DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller taught me are invaluable. You can’t put a price on that.”

It appears Yarbrough has already begun to use those lessons to his advantage this training camp and is making a strong case for a roster spot.

Yarbrough started camp near the bottom of the eight defensive ends listed on the depth chart but has shot up the list with his strong motor and great work ethic.

Although the future is unclear for Yarbrough, he has already embraced the city and community around him.

“I love Buffalo, it’s like a big, little small town,” he said. “It has a great family atmosphere, which is something I can appreciate.”

Buffalo might be a stop in Yarbrough’s young career that sticks. He’s already turned many fans and coaches heads and has even slid in on the first-team defense at times.

On the surface, Yarbrough looks like a training camp star and a body to replace Ike Enemkpali but Yarbrough has used his time thus far with the Bills to prove that point wrong. He’s done everything in his power to make the right kind of noise and is by far one of the biggest surprises this camp.

Buffalo fans will have the chance to get a good look at Yarbrough this preseason and potentially a look at a future starter on the Buffalo Bills.

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