ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley has already referred to quarterback Cardale Jones as a "piece of clay" whom the team can "mold" into a starting quarterback. On the first day of rookie camp Friday, the Bills' sculptors were already at work.
The fourth-round pick from Ohio State had a brief one-on-one talk with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly after the session, focusing on Jones' footwork as he stood under center and began his dropback.
Video: Cardale Jones and Jim Kelly talking 1-on-1 after Bills practice today. Hall of Fame QB and the rook. pic.twitter.com/oQWUsKwo2O
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 6, 2016
Jones later explained that Bills quarterbacks coach David Lee had to correct his stance during Friday's practice, and that Kelly had noticed a similar habit that Jones needed to break.
Jones, who played almost exclusively from a shotgun set in college, was taught during the pre-draft process by private quarterbacks coach George Whitfield to stagger his left foot backward when under center.
"[When] you have the majority of right-handed centers, and after they snap the ball, they're gonna kick their left leg back," Jones said Friday. "Most times, nine times out of 10, if you have a quarterback under center, who has both feet up -- let's say even -- he gets his foot stepped on. Also, having my foot staggered back, my left one, was giving me kind of an advantage of pushing back from the line of scrimmage with just one step."
However, Lee prefers to have his quarterbacks in an "even" stance when under center and not stagger either foot backward.
"That's what I need, that's what I want to break the habit of staggering my foot," Jones said of Lee's coaching. "Because most times I was staggering my foot, I didn't even feel it."
Jones told Lee to give him cues during Friday's practice about mechanical issues that Lee discovered. One cue was "feet" and another was "elbow," because Jones was dropping his elbows during throws.
The mechanical tinkering with Jones' stance, dropback and delivery was evident during Friday's practice, which included a period of quarterbacks throwing to receivers without any defensive players and, later, against a full defense. Jones' arm strength was also evident -- he knocked over a running back with a pass over the middle -- but his accuracy wasn't consistent during Friday's session.
Bills QBs and WRs in routes vs. air now. Here's the good from Cardale Jones... pic.twitter.com/bQkG2Ec9MW
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 6, 2016
...and the not-so-good from Cardale Jones pic.twitter.com/6MSh4bZd4B
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) May 6, 2016
As Jones came off the field, he was greeted by Kelly, who had observed most of the practice.
"[Kelly had] words of encouragement, just saying, 'It's your first day. Keep your head up.' Things like that," Jones said. "But he said something about me taking the false step. I told him why and the example I just explained to you. I'm used to staggering my left foot, and now that I'm taking a false step, that's worse than staggering and having your foot parallel to the line of scrimmage. He asked [if] I knew where it came from, and just trying to break a habit. It shouldn't be too hard, I just learned the habit three months ago."
The Bills will continue their rookie minicamp with practices Saturday and Sunday, although reporters will not be present.
"They gave us a lot to know on the first day," Jones said. "They are helping [us] along with things we're not picking up as fast as they thought we would be. Overall, I think I'm keeping my head above water."