SB Nation - Drayton Florence

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense

John B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:09:55 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

You may remember the first meeting between the Jets and Bills as one of the most disastrous showings in the history of quarterbacking by Mark Sanchez. A week after holding Derek Anderson to a 2 for 17 game, Buffalo intercepted Sanchez 5 times in an overtime victory. More than any other factor, their pass defense won the Bills that game. Through one week of Rex Ryan's codes to Sanchez, things have worked out. Sanchez made good decisions against the Panthers, and the Jets won the game. Mark didn't try to do too much. If the Jets want to leave ~~Orchard Park~~ Toronto with a win, they could sure use an efficient game from the rookie quarterback.

The Bills will look to use the same formula everybody use against the rookie quarterback, attempt to generate pressure. Aaron Schobel leads their club with 6 sacks. He's probably the best pass rusher they have, although slowing him down will be an easier task for D'Brickashaw Ferguson than handling Julius Peppers. Schobel hasn't been a model of consistency this year, though. Chris Kelsay, who is battling a shoulder injury, is the other end. He has 3 sacks. You'd have to think Damien Woody has a favorable matchup.

In the middle, Marcus Stroud returned from a knee injury for the Miami game. He is a guy who always occupies attention. Neither he nor Kyle Williams register many sacks, but their job will be to get a push up the middle and flush Mark Sanchez from the pocket. We may find out a lot about the status of his knee and that brace.

Buffalo blitzed sparingly under Dick Jauron. Since Jauron's dismissal, the numbers appear to have increased a bit. Paul Posluzny is the most likely guy to come from the middle. It could present a test for the middle of the line dealing with the tackles.

Cornerback Terrence McGee has been limited by a knee injury for the Bills. Drayton Florence will start next to him. Florence is having a nice year, but he and a gimpy McGee are a good matchup for Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. They do have a pair of good cover safeties in Donte Whitner and George Wilson.The problem could be the run defense for the Bills, though. The Jets ran all over them in the first meeting. You have to think the biggest adjustment they will make will be to stop the run. That probably means they'll want their safeties up and won't dedicate them as much to the passing game.

Buffalo has been decimated at the linebacker position by injury. In one regard, that might help them in this matchup. Bryan Scott is starting at outside linebacker. He was converted from the safety position and is a good pass defender, which leaves the Bills in good shape covering Dustin Keller. Posluszny is also a good pass defender. The other starting linebacker, Chris Draft, was limited in practice with a neck injury and is probably the weakest cover linebacker the Bills have but is still solid. It will have to be a day for the receivers. Sanchez should have time to find them. Again, after the rushing numbers the Jets posted in their first meeting, the Bills won't be overly aggressive for fear of being caught up field.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:30 -0000

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Two weeks ago - a day before the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Dick Jauron, in fact - we here at Buffalo Rumblings took a look at the core players of Buffalo's roster. The idea behind the post was to identify players that, based on their contract status with the franchise, are very likely to survive a regime change at One Bills Drive.

We'll recap the fruits of that labor quickly after the jump, but the purpose of this post is to take that exercise a step further. With the core players out of the way, it's time to look at the players that I'll term "crux players" - guys with flexible contract situations that will define a new regime's focus on re-building the Bills.

Core player recap
We named 17 current Bills as "core players," splitting the group up into vested veterans, young players with promise and role-playing veterans awaiting new roles once the regime change is complete. Of those 17 players, we defined a solid 9 as starting-caliber, a further six as fringe starters, and two as reserves. Here's that breakdown:

Starters: RB Fred Jackson, WR Lee Evans, G/C Eric Wood, DE Aaron Schobel, DT Marcus Stroud, LB Kawika Mitchell, CB Terrence McGee, FS Jairus Byrd, P Brian Moorman

Fringe starters: TE Shawn Nelson, OT Brad Butler, OG Andy Levitre, DE Aaron Maybin, DT Kyle Williams, CB Leodis McKelvin

Reserves: C/G Geoff Hangartner, DT Spencer Johnson

Keep in mind that all of these players are currently under contract through the end of the 2012 season. That means that, if each plays to the end of their contract, they'll be in Buffalo for another three years. The fact that each player has at least three years left on his deal at least ensures that they'll be part of the roster in Year 1 of a new regime, and many of them will be playing considerably large roles.

For this exercise, the criteria changes a bit. "Crux players," as far as we're concerned for now, are players that, once the 2009 season ends, will have either one or two years left on their current deal. Each is under contract for the 2010 season, but each also has a deal that makes it possible for a new regime to play football in 2010 without these players under contract. They are truly "crux" players in that a new regime will be making its most important decisions amongst this group. The entire new direction of the franchise from a personnel standpoint will be based largely on evaluations of these 19 players.

Keep in mind, also, that this list changes if 2010 is an uncapped year. Ask MattRichWarren about it.

Buffalo's 19 "crux players"
You'll have a task at the end of this exercise, but for now, here's a quick summary of the 19 crux players on Buffalo's roster:

Trent Edwards, QB - Signed through 2011. He's been benched and needs a new environment, but some talent remains.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - Signed through 2012. Has proven to be reliable as a backup, but is not considered a franchise signal-caller.
Brian Brohm, QB - Signed through 2012. A project player with some solid tools, there's a chance he never sees the field for Buffalo.
Marshawn Lynch, RB - Signed through 2013, with an opt-out clause in the final year. No longer the starting running back, Lynch might be the subject of trade talks this off-season.
Corey McIntyre, FB - Signed through 2011. Run-of-the-mill player.
James Hardy, WR - Signed through 2012. Buffalo invested a second-round pick in him, and the talent is there, but Hardy has had injury issues and hasn't seen the field much.
Roscoe Parrish, WR - Signed through 2012. Has clamored for a trade, but a new regime might be inclined to keep him as a punt returner. Unlikely to get PT as a WR anywhere.
Steve Johnson, WR - Signed through 2012. Held in high regard by current regime, but that could change quickly, and doesn't carry the same investment as Hardy.
Derek Fine, TE - Signed through 2012. Probably survives a regime change because he's a role player with special teams ability.
Demetrius Bell, OT - Signed through 2012. Has struggled with injuries and on the playing field, but again, there is raw ability to work with.
Chris Kelsay, DE - Signed through 2011. A heady veteran who has improved under position coach Bob Sanders, but has a large salary that might seal his fate.
Chris Ellis, DE - Signed through 2012. Does not play a significant role now and that's not likely to change, but represents a significant investment ('08 third-round pick).
John McCargo, DT - Signed through 2011. Nothing more than a rotational tackle at this point in his disappointing career.
Paul Posluszny, LB - Signed through 2011. Sure to be the most intensely-debated player on this list.
Drayton Florence, CB - Signed through 2011. Has been excellent as a fill-in starter, and has scheme versatility.
Reggie Corner, CB - Signed through 2012. Reserve-type corner that has his uses, but should never be counted on as a starter.
Donte Whitner, S - Signed through 2011, with an opt-out clause in the final year. Could be a UFA as soon as this coming March. New regime might feel differently about him.
John Wendling, S - Signed through 2011. Special teams player only.
Rian Lindell, K - Signed through 2012. Reliable and gets more consistent with age.

Your Task
There's your list, folks. Some of those names obviously carry much more weight and importance than others. Your task: pick out the players that you believe are worth keeping around. Then, of those names, split them into starters and reserves. Combined with your input from the original post, this should really cement your ideas about where you'd take the franchise if you were GM.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/1

MattRichWarren — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:14:24 -0000

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Lynch Fine With Back Seat Role
"I feel good. It feels good to come home and get a win in the fashion that we did," said Marshawn Lynch. "It's all right. If I could sit down and watch Fred (Jackson) do his thing, then that's what I'm going to do. As long as we get wins, I'm satisfied."

Veteran Florence proving a valuable pickup : The Buffalo News
"Drayton Florence is doing his talking on the field this season, and his performance says he is rehabilitating his career."

Bills Announce Thursday's Game in Toronto Is A Sellout | WGRZ.com
The Buffalo Bills announced late Monday evening, the game against the New York Jets in Toronto on Thursday is officially a sellout and the game will be televised locally (in Buffalo - NOT Rochester).

Fitzpatrick helps Bills finish | BuffaloBills.com
"In winning his sixth game as an NFL starter, Fitzpatrick led four touchdown drives on 17-26 passing for 246 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also capped a scoring drive with a 31-yard run—the longest rush by a quarterback in team history."

Bills replay: Run defense stiffens : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The rushing defense didn't look great in the first half but that changed in the second when they clamped down on Ricky Williams.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Levy and Thomas reunite on air
Former Bills head coach Marv Levy joined Thurman Thomas and The Bulldog on Buffalo Football Monday's Extra Point show, and Levy touched on a number of topics and memories.

Buffalo Bills Replay: Has team turned corner? | Democrat and Chronicle
Leo Roth and Sal Maiorana take a look back at the Dolphins game giving their feedback.

Buffalo Bills give Fred Jackson chance to be No. 1 RB | Democrat and Chronicle
"We need two running backs and he needs to get started and he needs his carries," said Fred Jackson. "I know he's the feature back and that's who they want to try to get rolling, but yeah, anybody in my situation wants the ball. You want to help the team as much as possible."

Food for Perry | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana gives his opinions on Perry Fewell and other events surrounding the Miami game.

Six from Sunday: Questionable calls prove costly
"The Dolphins' Wildcat pass from the 3-yard line in the opening drive of their loss to Buffalo is a play the Fish would love to have back. The play resulted in an interception, after Miami had rushed five times for 32 yards (6.4 average) to reach the 3"

Buffalo Bills | NFL at CBSSports.com
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell has quickly won over his team with his energetic approach. "He's the type of guy that has come in and gotten everybody behind him," DT Marcus Stroud said. "We want to play ball and ... we're trying to build up some wins."

Week 12 Morning Aftermath | ProFootballTalk.com
Mike Florio thinks that "Under Fewell, the Bills are dangerous." He continues saying, "It's easy to have big gonads when there's no real danger of getting them cut off."

No pads practices this week – Inside The Bills
"We will have walk-through practices, they won’t be padded full-speed practices because you’re coming off a game on Sunday," said Fewell. "And so we must try to keep our players fresh but give them good information."

BillBoard: Porter & Fish LBs | Buffalo News
"This will sound odd, but even though Miami linebacker Joey Porter had 2.5 sacks in Sunday's game against the Bills, he did not play a great game."

Oh Snap! Guess What I Saw? | The Goose's Roost
"Fewell may not be the guy, but he’s making Russ Brandon and Co.’s decision a little bit tougher every day. It’s hard not to root for him."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Defense kept Buffalo in Sunday's win
Tim Schmitt rewatches the game and thinks the Bills defense is what won the game - not the offense.

Inpspired Bills down Dolphins | Olean Times Herald
"BUT THE real winner was Fewell who the players have embraced for his upbeat personality, positive attitude and willingness to get in their faces if needed," says Chuck Pollack.

Bills/Dolphins notebook: A record run for Fitzpatrick; Lindell redeems himself
Notes from the Bills’ 31-14 win over the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon at "The Ralph:"

Bills hope to get warmer reception in Toronto - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Wawrow talks with Brian Moorman and Rogers Communications' Adrian Montgomery about the upcoming game north of the border.

Anything But | The Goose's Roost
Ryan knows it's better for the Bills if they lose but, like me, can't bring himself to root against Buffalo.

Kubiak must go, the amazing Colts, coaching blunders - Don Banks - SI.com
"If the Bills can't land one of the big-name coaching candidates they've pursued, they could do a lot worse than retain Fewell, who at least has his guys playing impressively early on in his seven-game audition."

Stock Watch: Bills RB Fred Jackson - George Winkler - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
Fred Jackson's fantasy stock has gone way up now that he is the featured back.

Underdog Buffalo Bills likely to bite New York Jets | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews wonders why the Jets are favored on Thursday night when the Bills beat the Jets while they still had their two best players in Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

The 10 best NFL games of the last decade - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The Music City Mirage makes the list as the third-best game of the decade.... and it's barely part of the decade (January 8, 2000).

Touchdown for Teachers award winners announced | BuffaloBills.com
The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank announced the "Touchdown for Teachers" program finalists and grand prize winner during the Bills vs. Dolphins game on Sunday, November 29th.

Bills make plays late, give Fewell first win

MattRichWarren — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:11:36 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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For the first time in recent memory, the Buffalo Bills were the ones putting a team away late in the fourth quarter in their 31-14 win over the Miami Dolphins.

A career-long 56-yard field goal from Rian Lindell put the Bills up 17-14 with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, Chris Kelsay applied heat to Chad Henne, who floated a pass that was picked off by Drayton Florence with 2:43 remaining. Everyone thought the Bills would try and bleed some clock on their possession, but Ryan Fitzpatrick had other ideas. The starting quarterback audibled at the line of scrimmage and threw a perfectly-timed deep ball to Terrell Owens for a 51-yard touchdown to ice the game with 2:31 left. Interceptions by Donte Whitner and Corey Mace sealed the deal.

The Bills' offense was not without their faults on the day, as Fitzpatrick was picked off once and sacked six times. New addition Kendall Simmons had what I'll politely call a rough outing at right guard, giving up two sacks and getting in on the penalty party by jumping offside once.

Fred Jackson got the start in the backfield for the Bills today and picked up 73 yards on 15 carries. Fitzpatrick cemented his status as Buffalo's starter with a big day, throwing for 246 yards and the long touchdown to Owens. Fitzpatrick also started the Bills' scoring by rushing for a 31-yard touchdown on a broken pass play.

Buffalo's defense allowed Ricky Williams and the Dolphins to march down the field early. A Chris Draft interception on an ill-advised Williams goal line pass thwarted the first Miami drive, but Williams amassed 115 yards rushing and a touchdown on 27 carries. Henne was 17 of 30 for 175 yards, including a touchdown pass to Brian Hartline and the three late picks.

The win moves Buffalo to 4-7 on the season and to a short week to prepare for the 5-6 New York Jets. That game will be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, and will be broadcast on the NFL Network. The Dolphins fall to 5-6 on the season, and this loss severely hurts their playoff chances (which couldn't make me happier).

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/28

MattRichWarren — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:42:24 -0000

A look at AFC East O-line stability - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills will use their league-leading seventh different starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills have used as many offensive line combinations as the Jets (1), Dolphins (2) and New England Patriots (3) combined.

Kelly's Call: A coach, a QB and a rebuttal
Jim Kelly clarifies his statements regarding California quarterbacks and Tim Tebow.

Fan Friday 11-27 – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown answers questions from fans on Brian Brohm, whether or not Jauron addressed the team after he was relieved of his duties, Trent Edwards' future, Mike Shanahan and other coaching candidates.

Dolphins Prep
Downtrodden Buffalo Bills will try to rise up against their biggest rival, the Miami Dolphins
"It's on a greater level than the other division teams ... Our guys are keyed up," Perry Fewell said.

Miami Dolphins prepare to face Terrell Owens for second time this year -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
"I mean, look at him, he's a physical freak," Dolphins rookie cornerback Sean Smith said. "There's not a lot of wide receivers out there 6-3 and built the way he is. He's built to last the whole year without slowing down at all."

Bills look to regain home field edge | WIVB.com
The Buffalo Bills have lost seven of their last eight games in Orchard Park, three of four this year. Rebuilding their home field advantage is an important step towards eventual playoff contention.

Final Word: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
- Ricky Williams should record his third straight 100-yard rushing game. - Bills receiver Terrell Owens might have fun against the Miami Dolphins' rookie cornerbacks.

Video: Williams will run over Bills - AFC East Blog - ESPN
AccuScore doesn't believe the Bills can cope withRicky Williams this weekend.

Bills notebook: Stroud likely to play Sunday : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills position coaches had longer work days Friday and today to prepare for next week's game — on Thursday against the New York Jets.

Miami center not looking good – Inside The Bills
The Miami Dolphins are likely to be without their starting center. Jake Grove did not practice again on Friday and Miami head coach said Grove has been declared doubtful for Sunday’s game.

Sparano on weather factor – Inside The Bills
Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano isn’t worried about the weather that Buffalo might have in store for his team Sunday.

Team in Transition
Coaching carousel: Remember Mike Martz? | National Football Post
Mike Martz has the highest winning percentage among coaches who have won a Super Bowl.

GoErie.com: John Dudley - Bradford would be an acceptable answer to Bills' prayers
"If I'm the Bills, I take Bradford if I have the chance, and never look back," says Dudley.

Leftovers
BillBoard: More on DT Harvey
Perry Fewell talks about new DT Lonnie Harvey. He likes that the Bills offense can now practice against someone that big in a 3-4 look.

Bills players on a mission | BuffaloBills.com
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, safety Bryan Scott, cornerback Drayton Florence, linebacker Chris Draft and wide receiver CJ Hawthorne volunteered to serve more than 300 people a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Sports on the Air: Bills fans continue to tune out : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills' 18-15 loss to Jacksonville had a 26.9 rating on WIVB-TV, making it the season's lowest-rated Bills game.

Losman's Las Vegas team wins UFL title : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Losman completed 21 of 35 passes for 193 yards.

Jaguars 18, Bills 15: Week 11 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:16 -0000

by Stephen Morton - AP

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The Buffalo Bills dropped an 18-15 decision yesterday to the Jacksonville Jaguars, once again squandering a fourth quarter lead in defeat. Perry Fewell's Bills had many of the same problems that Dick Jauron's Bills had - which isn't surprising, as it's kind of the same team - but there was at least one major difference that's worth mentioning in this week's film session.

We've got eight topics of discussion in this week's film review. Let's get this over with, eh?

On Ryan Fitzpatrick. One might argue that Fitzpatrick had his best game as a Bill yesterday, and statistically, that's true. Fitzpatrick averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, completed 18 of 31 passes, and in general was smart with the football. That's why he's starting over Trent Edwards, folks - rarely does Fitzpatrick make the wrong read. In fact, I only saw him make one poor read in Jacksonville, checking down to an out route to Josh Reed when he had Terrell Owens wide open deep. T.O. let him know he missed him, and the two moved on amicably and hooked up to have a really solid day.

Fitzpatrick's big problem is simple: he just doesn't throw a good ball. I charted all 31 of Fitzpatrick's throws, and while this is completely subjective, I judged 16 of those throws (51.6%) to be inaccurately placed, whether they were caught or not. Overthrows, passes too far ahead of or behind receivers - Fitzpatrick is all over the place. If Ralph Wilson is seriously considering spending $10 million on Buffalo's next head coach, he might consider spending a similar amount transplanting Fitzpatrick's brain into Edwards' body; that procedure might give us one of the best quarterbacks in the league. (Also acceptable for the transplant: J.P. Losman's body.)

On Terrell Owens. The guy's still got it. Forget about what the Mike Florios of the world continue to repeat about his supposedly "deteriorating skills," because that's garbage. Yes, Owens was toasting two incredibly inexperienced Jaguars cornerbacks on Sunday. Yes, you would hope that a player of T.O.'s pedigree would completely and utterly dominate names like Derek Cox and Tyrone Brackenridge. He did just that - his 9 catches, 197 yards and a 98-yard touchdown reception prove that he can still be a tremendous asset, even to a non-contending team. Owens probably won't be in Buffalo next season, but he's absolutely worth the risk for a team on the verge of contending in 2010.

Owens, by the way, was clearly the focal point of the passing attack this week; he was targeted 14 times, nine more than the next-highest Bills receiver, Reed.

On Andy Levitre. I thought he struggled mightily on Sunday, just as I thought he struggled in Tennessee. I also thought he looked better at left tackle than he did at left guard - his footwork was quick and concise on the edge, which really surprised me. He doesn't have the arm length or the wide base to consistently hold the edge - and let's remember that the Jaguars are one of the worst pass-rushing teams in the league, which helped Levitre's cause - but there aren't many rookie offensive linemen who can do what Levitre has done over the past two weeks. He has struggled, but he deserves a ton of credit for having the ability to play competently while flip-flopping between left tackle and left guard. At all costs, Buffalo needs to avoid this going forward, as it's going to be difficult for Levitre to develop his game over the next six weeks if he's playing different techniques every other down.

On Eric Wood. So much for using the rest of the season to develop our young offensive lineman; Wood's lower left leg injury - confirmed by the team after the game to be fractures to both his tibia and fibula - was one of the most gruesome injuries I've seen in quite some time. I don't blame Buffalo for playing Wood at right guard this season, but I've thought Wood was playing out of position all season. Now, it looks like he won't even finish his rookie season healthy. More on that this afternoon, but you've got to feel for this kid - he clearly loves playing football, and that's a tough way to go out. Get well soon, Eric.

On David Garrard and his stupid legs. Garrard is an incredibly average quarterback, and as such, the one thing you absolutely cannot let him do is hurt you with his legs. Buffalo was in this game because they did an outstanding job in run defense, limiting Maurice Jones-Drew to just 66 yards on 25 attempts. That forced the game back into Garrard's hands, but it was his legs that did damage to Buffalo. The stat line wasn't astounding - he ran for 16 yards on six attempts - but he picked up first downs twice with his legs on critical third downs, and he also added a two-point conversion on a quarterback draw. Buffalo only gave up seven first downs on the ground the entire game, but those two were pretty crucial.

On Kyle Williams. I mentioned the stellar performance of the run defense - that's the aforementioned clear difference between Jauron's Bills and Fewell's Bills that I mentioned - and Williams was the centerpiece of the effort. The guy was unblockable yesterday (on run downs, anyway). He finished with five tackles and was generally disruptive all day. He also put a big hit on Garrard while pass-rushing; Buffalo's pass rush was solid in the first half, though it waned in the second half as the Jaguars started to dominate in time of possession. Give Williams credit - his knee isn't 100%, but he was a dominant force on Sunday. Most might not consider him a starter going through a regime change, but you might consider it. He can really excel, particularly if he's not an every-down player.

On Aaron Maybin. I watched him closely, because let's just be frank - with the success of Washington rookie Brian Orakpo, patience with Maybin is (unfairly) wearing thin. I thought he looked really solid in the first half; he had an excellent bull rush on a stunt (which forced Garrard to step up into a blitz), and he looked quicker around the edge than I've seen him at any point this season. (It may have helped that he was lining up against rookie right tackle Eben Britton.) He even got a snap or two in which he rushed from a standing position, which Bills fans have been itching for all season; I thought he looked very uncomfortable doing this.

Then he disappeared in the second half, when he was far less effective and didn't really show up at all. This is pretty much what we've seen from Maybin all year - flashes of supreme athleticism and hustle while factoring into the rush peripherally, but stretches of blah play and a complete lack of a counter-move. Give him time, folks. Understand that inconsistency is entirely expected from a 21-year-old. Once the Bills (or, more accurately, the new regime of the Bills) figures out to use him, and he gets a little more comfortable in his own skin, he's going to be dynamite.

On Reggie Corner. Say what you want about him, but Drayton Florence might be the Bills' defensive MVP not named Jairus Byrd this season. He's tough, physical, and doesn't make many mistakes. So, naturally, with Terrence McGee sidelined for a second straight game as he recovers from knee surgery, Jacksonville went after Corner early and often. Corner was torched. He's a fast player who is willing to crack down against the run, but he's not a terribly quick corner, and he's got bad hips; it's pretty easy to turn him around, and it always gets him a half-step out of position. He got torched by Mike Sims-Walker on the deciding touchdown of the game, however, because of impeccable play design and a really sneaky rub route that impeded Corner's ability to keep up with MSW. Corner struggled, but he shouldn't be blamed completely for those decisive points.

If y'all noticed anything about particular players, units or situations, you are, of course, welcome to share those in the comments section.

Stroud one of three Bills starters out for Sunday

Brian Galliford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:36 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills, led by interim head coach Perry Fewell, will be looking for a win in Jacksonville without the services of three key starters.

Marcus Stroud did not practice all week with a knee injury and has been ruled out, according to BuffaloBills.com. This could potentially leave the Bills with just two healthy defensive tackles on Sunday. Also ruled out were tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), linebacker Keith Ellison (thigh) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle).

Stroud's absence is of critical importance. The Bills have the NFL's worst run defense, and they're about to take on the NFL's fifth-leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew without their most proven run defender. Exacerbating that issue is the fact that fellow defensive tackle Kyle Williams is on the injury report as well, listed as questionable with a knee injury that has caused him to miss Buffalo's last two games.

Spencer Johnson will start in Stroud's place, and if Williams can't go, John McCargo will make his first start of the season as well. Converted safety Bryan Scott will make a second straight start at outside linebacker in place of Ellison. Rookie guard Andy Levitre will flip out to left tackle in place of Bell, with veteran Seth McKinney getting the nod in Levitre's left guard spot.

Joining Williams as questionable for Sunday are receiver James Hardy (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd (groin). McGee and Byrd were both limited in practice on Friday. With Donte Whitner returning to the lineup (he's not listed on the injury report and practiced all week), George Wilson would start at safety if Byrd can't go. If McGee cannot play, the Bills will dress just three healthy cornerbacks in Jacksonville (Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster).

Meanwhile, Jacksonville will be missing one key defensive starter (cornerback Rashean Mathis) and is likely to be without another (middle linebacker Justin Durant is doubtful).

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/4

MattRichWarren — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:41:46 -0000

In-season coaching change is nothing but a knee-jerk reaction | NFL.com
It appears Jim Zorn and Dick Jauron will keep their jobs. Some fans might not like that, but it's not as if an interim coach is going to make a long-term difference.

Pro-football-reference.com blog " The Best 2-Game Stretches of the Decade (2000-08)
Buffalo has two of the top eleven: The first two games of the 2003 season and the 12th and 14th games of the 2006 season. The Bills have three more on the best list and only three on the bottom list. Go to PFR to check out those gamelogs if you would like.

The Bills’ Midseason Five Least Valuable Players : Buffalo Sports Daily
Aaron Maybin, Demetrius Bell, Marshawn Lynch, Terrell Owens and Trent Edwards make the dubious list.

McGee's injury
Terrence McGee undergoes knee surgery | ProFootballTalk.com
On Tuesday, Terrence McGee underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Hoping McGee’s ready for Titans – Inside The Bills
"Without McGee, Buffalo would presumably start Reggie Corner and Drayton Florence outside, and then when they go to a nickel package, Corner would move into the slot with Ashton Youboty outside."

BillBoard: McGee has minor surgery
"It mostly was affecting me during the week," McGee said. "After the game you wake up the next day and you really feel it then. So during the week coaches have been giving me time to recover so I’d be able to play on Sunday. During the game on Sunday the majority of the time it would be all right."

Byrd's injury
Byrd now in holding pattern | BuffaloBills.com
When asked if he could miss any games as a result of the nagging condition or the groin injury Byrd is hopeful that he won’t. "I wouldn’t go that far," he said. "Next week we’ll know more."

Byrd still soaring | BuffaloBills.com
Jairus Byrd continues to pick off passes.

Other injuries
Lots of players watching – Inside The Bills
Between injured players and vets there are 16 players either absent or watching practice. Full list here

Scott gets reps at LB – Inside The Bills
Bryan Scott was getting reps at outside linebacker in practice Tuesday as an emergency option. Why not? Jairus Byrd isn't sitting down anytime soon.

Bills notebook: McGee has minor knee surgery : The Buffalo News
"I felt good. I did a little bit more [Tuesday] in practice," Trent Edwards said. "I feel I'm getting better each day, getting stronger."

News Bits
Video: Countdown Daily Huddle - AFC East - ESPN
John Clayton tells you the latest news from each team inside the AFC East.

SI poll: Joey Porter NFL's second-dirtiest player - AFC East - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills, with a league-leading 59 penalties, didn't have any players among the top 20. Hines Ward was first.

Week 9 power rankings: AFC East (sorry, Dolfans) - AFC East - ESPN
After another loss the Bills stayed exactly where they were - 22. They have never been higher than 21 nor lower than 25 this year.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East - ESPN
Stock Falling: Bills quarterback situation

Who's more lovable: Jauron, Mangini, Cable? - AFC East - ESPN
Eric Mangini has surpassed Dick Jauron as the lowest approval rating. Tom Cable is still doing better than Jauron, though.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Byrd soars into rair
It’s gotten to a point where Jairus Byrd even amazes us during the bye week.

Around the AFC East | The Sports Network
Buffalo is now 29th in NFL total offense (264.8 yards per game), 28th in passing (154.8 yards per game) and 26th in scoring (15.4 points per game).

NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: There Will Be Blood -- NFL FanHouse
The Bills fall from 22 to 23 after the loss to the Texans who surged to number 11.

Semi-pro player tackles own teammate on a punt return - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The reaction of the guy is friggin priceless. I had to share.

Bills 16, Jets 13 (OT): Week 6 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:01:13 -0000

Finally, mercifully, re-watching a Buffalo Bills game was worth the time investment this week. Considering the length of the game and the fact that it's a busy week for me, I didn't get through all of the tape this week - my apologies. There are still several talking points to bring up from the Bills' 16-13 overtime victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Topics of conversation that you'll find after the jump: Dick Jauron; Ryan Fitzpatrick; the offensive line; the non-no-huddle offense; linebacker play against the run, and how opponents are exploiting them; Drayton Florence; team mistakes. Enjoy!

On Dick Jauron: I'll defer to MARVelous' ridiculously awesome FanPost from this morning for the bulk of the argument here. Jauron deserves credit for getting his troops ready. No, they didn't play particularly well, and yes, they were probably only alive late in this game because Mark Sanchez was so ridiculously awful. No, I wasn't particularly enthused about his decision to run to set up the field goal - but considering how the Bills' visit to the Meadowlands ended in 2008, I wasn't mad about it, either. The clock management, at any rate, was superb, as Rian Lindell kicked as the clock expired. I'm not asking anyone to change their opinions on whether Jauron needs to stay or go. Just play the hate game fairly. When the Bills lose, Jauron deserves some blame. When they win, he deserves some credit, too. I liked his game plans (specifically incorporating the slant pattern against the Jets' blitz), and his guys, as usual, played hard the whole way.

On Ryan Fitzpatrick: Let's walk a fine line here. Fitzpatrick was not good on Sunday. He also was not as bad as his stat line indicates. What I didn't like: his accuracy - and really, that's about it. The guy was all over the place with his throws, even on the slant to Lee Evans that ended in six points. He had perfect throws (the fade to Evans in overtime), and he had horrid throws (several bounced passes). What I did like, however, was his pocket presence and his decisiveness. Fitzpatrick kept plays alive with his feet, and he handled Jets pressures pretty well - and read them well pre-snap, I might add. The guy is nothing more than a backup quarterback, but he's a pretty good backup. I'm comfortable with him playing in a fill-in role. I will say, however, that the interception he threw in overtime was one of the poorest decisions and throws I've ever seen a quarterback make. Very Sanchez-like.

On the offensive line: People have been saying they played well on Sunday, and the fact is, they weren't bad. Particularly in terms of penalties, the Bills' offensive front cut down significantly - and that played a key role in the game. But they weren't great, either. The pass protection still sprung a few too many leaks for comfort, and the Bills averaged only 3.3 yards per carry between Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, despite Kris Jenkins leaving early with a season-ending ACL injury. Still, the relative anonymity of players like Demetrius Bell and Jamon Meredith - both did well against creative Jets blitz packages - is better than we've had. As these guys get better, our offense will diversify - we've really limited our attack in order to give our quarterbacks bulked up protection schemes.

Oh, and before I forget - Meredith needs to remain the starter at right tackle. Nothing against Jonathan Scott, but even if he's healthy this week, continuity up front is paramount. The young guys aren't going to progress much this season if they're playing next to new people every week. Ride this five as long as you can, for better or worse.

On the non-no-huddle offense: For at least one week, the move was smart - not only because it gave the Bills an extra bit of rhythm offensively, but because it allowed the Bills to more easily change the tempo of the game. Fitzpatrick went no-huddle suddenly after a play and caught the Jets with about 15 defenders on the field. Having that no-huddle background in their pocket allowed for quick communication and an easy five yards - but not limiting the offense to solely the no-huddle allows the Bills to dictate even more. We'll see how the offense progresses in or out of the huddle, but for now, the tempo card is an extra bonus.

On our linebackers and difficulty defending the run: Misdirection plays are still killing this unit. In general, Buffalo's defensive line - ends and tackles alike - are playing well at the point of attack. Yes, there are blips there, but that's true of any NFL team. The gap control of the linebackers has been abysmal, and it's simply because they're trying to play fast against teams that are doing everything they can to out-think them. Both of Thomas Jones' big runs on Sunday came on plays in which all three linebackers on the field slid to the strong side of the run, and Jones cut behind their flow. Pretty simple. Those runs aren't big runs if there's proper safety contain, but the crux of the issue lies with linebackers simply not reading their keys well. Paul Posluszny is the only player of the three to consistently flash recognition and make a play at or behind the line of scrimmage against the run (though Keith Ellison did this once or twice as well). More study and more experience is obviously needed, but right now, cutbacks and misdirections continue to kill this team. It doesn't help when ends and safeties over-pursue, obviously, but the problems right now start at linebacker.

On Drayton Florence: I got on Florence's case a little bit in the pre-season for his pro-Michael Vick-to-Buffalo sentiment, but that's completely unrelated to his play on the field - and he's been lights out. His run support could use a face lift, but he's been outstanding in coverage. He drew Braylon Edwards a few times on Sunday, and more than held his own. He obviously held his own against any other receiver the Jets tossed on the field, because Edwards was the only Jets receiver to catch a pass. Florence brings an energy and swagger to the entire defensive backfield that Leodis McKelvin has, but does not display as frequency. He's been a great addition for this defense, and as well as Jabari Greer is playing in New Orleans, Florence has been just as good in Buffalo.

On team mistakes: Buffalo did not exactly improve in this department. They still committed 8 penalties for 64 yards, and the team still turned the ball over twice. In short, they still played like a brutally youthful football team. But the fact that the Jets turned it over six times, and committed 14 penalties for 96 yards, was the difference in the game. I've beaten the dead horse enough, so I'll sum it up: teams that make the fewest mistakes generally win football games. The Bills clearly still have a ton of work to do in this department themselves, but as long as they keep forcing their opponents into mistakes (or simply capitalizing on non-forced mistakes), they'll win some more football games.

Handing out first-quarter grades for the Buffalo Bills

Brian Galliford — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:14 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills have completed the first quarter of their regular season slate this season, and have done so with a 1-3 record. After a promising start to the season with a surprisingly close loss in New England and a semi-convincing home victory over Tampa Bay, Buffalo has dropped two straight abysmal performances to New Orleans and Miami. The Bills are 0-2 in the division, and are the only AFC East team to not yet pick up a win against a divisional foe. They've scored more points than just two other AFC teams - Oakland (1-3) and Cleveland (0-4). Meanwhile, only Kansas City (0-4), Cleveland and Detroit (1-3) have surrendered more points than the Bills.

In short? It's been pretty brutal.

It's not all bad news, though - Buffalo has four more games on its schedule against teams that have yet to win a single game in the first quarter of the season (Week 5 vs Cleveland, Week 7 at Carolina, Week 10 at Tennessee and Week 14 at Kansas City). So unless the Bills continue to play as they have over the past two weeks (or they can't stay healthy once they get healthy again), there's a chance they could climb back into the race. But only a chance.

We've got grades for you for each positional unit through four games. We also highlight two players that have really stood out, and two more that... haven't. It's all after the jump.

Quarterbacks: C- You can't completely discount Trent Edwards' strong start to the season - through two games, he'd thrown four touchdown passes and sported a QB rating of 104.9. But with his O-Line in a constant state of flux and with his own play slipping to a new level of mediocrity (for him), the position has only barely been passable this season - and it's been ridiculously awful in the past two weeks. Good news, though - Ryan Fitzpatrick has shown a great aptitude in relaying play calls from Alex Van Pelt to Edwards. (Yes, that means I'm saying that the calls to bench Edwards are ridiculous.)

Running Backs: A- There is nothing to not like about Fred Jackson's game. He's still the sixth-leading rusher in the league (333 yards at 4.8 yards per carry) despite the fact that Buffalo has abandoned the running game almost completely in the last two weeks. He continues to lead the Bills in receptions and receiving yardage, too. Fred Jackson is our best player right now, and it's not really close. Marshawn Lynch is back and continues to knock off the rust; we'll see if his presence has any long-term effects on the effectiveness of Jackson. Heck, Xavier Omon looked pretty solid taking spot carries for Jackson in Weeks 1-3, too.

Wide Receivers: D Part of their alarming lack of production has to do with the lack of cohesiveness up front as well as the lack of rhythm in the passing game. Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Josh Reed have combined for 29 catches, 415 yards and 3 TD through four games. That's about equal to the output of Steve Smith - New York's Steve Smith, not Carolina's Steve Smith - who has 34 catches, 411 yards and 4 TD as a make-shift No. 1 receiver for Eli Manning. If that doesn't speak volumes about how putrid the receivers and the passing attack in general have been, I don't know what does. They only get a D because they can't be completely blamed for their issues.

Tight Ends: D+ Derek Schouman proved himself a valuable, underrated underneath option before landing on IR with a knee injury. Derek Fine has been just as prone to drops as the receivers have been, and while Shawn Nelson has flashed ability (he had a TD reception in Week 1, his first NFL appearance), he hasn't yet asserted himself as a threat in Schouman's stead. Jonathan Stupar? He's human, folks - very, very human.

Offensive Tackles: D Unfortunately for Brad Butler, he gets dragged down by his teammates. Butler was performing well, but he, too, is on IR - his season is over. Demetrius Bell flashed loads of potential and dominance, but he also made tons of mistakes - and then he missed Week 4 with a groin injury. His worth, however, was thrown into perspective when Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers resorted to the pirouette pass-blocking technique down in Miami. It didn't work for them. Buffalo has given up 16 sacks already this season, and the vast majority of them are the fault of the tackles.

Offensive Guards/Centers: B- Geoff Hangartner has struggled with a nagging back injury and really awful shotgun snaps, but he's still representative of a massive improvement at center from last year's group. Andy Levitre and Eric Wood, the subjects of much pre-season skepticism, have both made their share of mistakes (many more in the case of Wood), but they've also been dominant at times, particularly in the run game. These guys have proven why they were high-round picks, and there is some hope that they'll turn into dominant offensive linemen sooner rather than later. It's not perfect, but here, at least, there is lots of potential.

Defensive Ends: B It's hard to find reasons to be upset with this group right now; much-maligned for the past two seasons, this group is performing well. With very little statistical input from first-round pick Aaron Maybin, the trio of Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney have amassed 7 sacks already - well beyond the pace they've set in recent seasons. Yes, they're still susceptible to misdirection plays and lapses against the run, but on a long list of problem areas, this unit is unranked. They're playing well.

Defensive Tackles: C+ This group had a strong start to the season, but they've faded in the last two games as the Bills have given up well over 200 yards rushing per game to opponents. Marcus Stroud has two sacks, while Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson have both flashed the ability to make plays in the backfield. Williams in particular has been unblockable at times. But they're getting gashed right now - which isn't completely their fault, I realize, but does bring their grade down a touch.

Linebackers: F How's your arm, Paul Posluszny? "Poz" has played roughly two quarters' worth of football this season after breaking his arm in the first half against New England, and Buffalo's defense clearly misses him. Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison are both serviceable players, but in this defensive scheme, they can't carry the burden they're carrying now - they've been abysmal against the run, and the plays they've made are... well, never mind, they haven't made any plays yet. Marcus Buggs has been overwhelmed trying to fill in for Posluszny, and none of the team's young, talented reserves have proven capable of stepping up. This is the clear weak area of the defense right now.

Cornerbacks: B Terrence McGee continues his unappreciated play; as far as reliable tacklers go, McGee might sit atop a list of two or three names - all of them defensive backs. (Posluszny might have sneaked onto that list were he healthy.) Leodis McKelvin is gone for the season, but before he was lost, he'd been picked on almost mercilessly by the likes of Tom Brady, Byron Leftwich and Drew Brees. Drayton Florence has played well in his place, but we'll see how long that lasts - he was brutal as a starter last season in Jacksonville. Reggie Corner and Ashton Youboty have performed well in sub-package duty, but it's best if they stay in that role - we really can't afford any more injuries here.

Safeties: B+ Take away some big plays they've given up to opposing tight ends, and they might have snuck into A range. I said it earlier this morning, and I'll say it again: Donte Whitner is playing at a Pro Bowl level. I'm curious to see if that continues when he eventually returns from his thumb injury. Bryan Scott continues to be highly competent defending the run, and is as sure a tackler as there is. Jairus Byrd has seen a lot of playing time, and has acquitted himself quite well - he hasn't made any big plays yet, but he hasn't given any up, either. He's shown physicality defending the run, too - but he needs to start taking better angles.

Specialists: B- I knock the grade a bit because of the poor overall performance of Bobby April's coverage units and kick return unit, but overall, the individual specialists - Rian Lindell, Brian Moorman and particularly rookie long-snapper Garrison Sanborn - have been quite good.

Coaching: C- I'll never be the type of guy that lays blame at any one person or group's feet. Football is a team game, and losses are team losses just as wins are team wins. But the coaching has not been good this season. Strong game plans - such as the one employed by Perry Fewell to almost completely shut down Brees and the Saints - have been overshadowed by terrible on-field play, which no matter which way you cut it is partially at the feet of the coaching staff. Hot seat? Yep - every last Bills coach is sitting on one as we speak.