水果派AV

A 2024 sixth-round draft pick out of Central Florida, Grable won the team鈥檚 swing tackle job 鈥� the primary backup to starters Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown 鈥� coming out of training camp. He was active for the first three games of the season before landing on injured reserve because of a groin injury that ultimately would keep him out of the lineup until December.

Once healthy, Grable went right back to being one of the team鈥檚 key reserves, which is a testament to the trust he earned from the coaching staff, and the work he put in while being hurt.

鈥淛ust from the mental reps, I know I got better,鈥� Grable said Thursday after the second practice of training camp at St. John Fisher University. 鈥淚鈥檝e been hurt in high school, college and in my rookie year, so I鈥檝e learned how I could be a help.鈥�

With Brown starting camp on the active/physically unable to perform list because of a back injury, Grable has been with the first team at right tackle in front of quarterback Josh Allen.

鈥淚t means a lot, but I can鈥檛 take it for granted, because I鈥檝e learned that it can all be gone in one play,鈥� he said.

There are a couple key factors to point to regarding Grable鈥檚 quick rise up the depth chart. The first is his athleticism. He took a highly unusual path to playing offensive line, starting his football career as a quarterback before transitioning first to tight end in college and then ultimately to the offensive line. At 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, the 25-year-old isn鈥檛 necessarily a towering presence by the standards of an NFL offensive tackle, but he鈥檚 got the movement skills of a smaller player.

The second is his mental approach. Because he hasn鈥檛 played offensive line as long as many of his teammates, Grable has had to play catch up in learning the nuances of the position, which can be quite technical. His background playing quarterback, which forced him to learn an entire offense, greatly helped in that regard.

鈥淗e鈥檚 learning how to do it, really the Day One stuff that you have to learn, and he鈥檚 doing it quickly,鈥� Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer said. 鈥淗is natural ability takes over for most of it. We鈥檙e just trying to groom him and get him more reps. 鈥� He鈥檚 diligent. He鈥檚 smart. He鈥檚 athletic. He鈥檚 just lacking the experience, so this is a good opportunity for him to get that experience.鈥�

Kromer is widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, so his teaching has been huge for Grable鈥檚 development. So, too, has been working behind Dawkins, who has made multiple Pro Bowls, and Brown, who really emerged last season.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 my boy. He鈥檚 learning. He鈥檚 happy, and he鈥檚 open to learning, because I鈥檓 hard on these guys,鈥� Dawkins said of Grable. 鈥淚t鈥檚 how it has to be. He never talks back, he never frowns, he just shakes his head and just goes about his business. Anybody that鈥檚 open to learning, I鈥檓 cool with it, because, like, all we鈥檝e got to do is teach. We鈥檙e all here for a reason. Everybody has that skill set, we just got to teach. For the people that don鈥檛 shy away from it, they鈥檙e going to be great.鈥�

How Dawkins and Brown approach every snap, their technique, where they place their hands 鈥� all of it has been studied extensively by Grable this offseason.

That focus on the proper technique is never-ending for an offensive lineman.

鈥淭echnique, that鈥檚 what allows you to play this game for a very high level for a very long time,鈥� Grable said. 鈥淟earning it, every day it鈥檚 a challenge. You can鈥檛 count on what you did the day before. You have to continually prove yourself.鈥�

That approach speaks to Grable鈥檚 competitive nature. General manager Brandon Beane has been consistent in his desire to add players in the draft who fit the mold of what the Bills are looking for in terms of character. So far, Grable is looking like a heist in the sixth round, especially considering the general lack of depth around the NFL at offensive tackle.

鈥淔ortunately, we don鈥檛 care what round they come in. You come in here, you have an opportunity to compete, and he made the most of his opportunities,鈥� offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. 鈥淓ven when he was hurt, making sure he鈥檚 taking advantage of the mental elements of the game.鈥�

Grable鈥檚 first career start came last year in Week 18 against the Patriots. While the game was meaningless for the Bills, as far as the standings and their playoff seeding, it was far from meaningless for Grable.

He got the opportunity to play an entire game, which was a confidence booster for both the player and coaching staff coming off a long injury layoff.

鈥淚t kind of speaks volumes to kind of who he is, his mindset, his approach,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淥bviously, you guys know how I feel about the O-line coaching room. But speaking more of his character, it showed everything last year.鈥�