SB Nation - Eric Wood

Jets 19, Bills 13: Week 13 Film Session

Brian Galliford — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:16 -0000

by Chris Young - AP

It's Monday, and even though the Buffalo Bills are a full three days removed from their most recent loss - in this case, a 19-13 loss to the New York Jets in Toronto - Monday means it's film session day.

You know the drill. We've added a few thoughts about teams and games outside of this (dreary) matchup, so that's slightly different, but you know what to expect. As always, feel free to add your own thoughts and observations to those presented here in the comments section.

Rex Ryan has Buffalo's number. Buffalo put up 29 points in two games against the Jets this season. They ran the ball well in (extremely occasional) spots, and were able to hit the (extremely occasional) big play. But New York's offense was also very kind to Buffalo, giving them plenty of opportunities to put both games away, and the Bills were only able to do so once. Just how thoroughly is Rex Ryan's defense owning Buffalo's offense? Take a quick look at Ryan Fitzpatrick's stat line in the two games: 39.6% completions (19 of 48), 214 yards (4.46 yards per attempt), 1 TD, 2 INT, 3 sacks and a quarterback rating of 43.2. Fitzpatrick's quarterback rating of 43.2 is only slightly higher than the number of yards per quarter Thomas Jones picked up against the Bills this season (39.9).

Ryan's defense didn't do a ton, but given Buffalo's massive upheaval along the offensive line, it did the only thing it needed to do: run a bunch of exotic blitzes and confuse the hell out of Buffalo's blockers. Just like in Week 6, the Bills had opportunities to make plays down the field in this one - Lee Evans was open on intermediate routes several times, for example - but overload blitzes and stunts got pass protection out of whack, and Fitzpatrick was forced to either throw an inaccurate pass or eat the ball nearly every time.

I feel bad for Ron From NM. Not because of anything he's done or anything that's in his control. I just feel bad that most of the excellent, hard work he puts into analyzing Buffalo's offensive line on an annual basis will be largely meaningless this season. Demetrius Bell hasn't played enough to be evaluated fairly. Grades on Jonathan Scott, Kendall Simmons, Kirk Chambers and Jamon Meredith will be largely meaningless, because none of those players figure to be in Buffalo's long-term plans.

If I were Ron - and if I were him, he'd be me, and he'd probably use my body to do his usual analysis anyway - I'd just focus on three guys in my ultimate end-of-season analysis. Those three guys would be Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner and Eric Wood. They're the only guys who've played enough to fairly evaluate, and considering that fact alone, it's not hard to understand why Buffalo's offense is so ridiculously awful.

Given everything that's happened up front this season, as well as the fact that the Jets threw exotic looks at the Bills again, I came away impressed with Levitre. I think it's pretty safe to say that he has been the Bills' best lineman this season, his first in the league. He's played in every game, he's acquitted himself nicely when asked to play positions beyond his skill level (left tackle), and while he's had his ups and downs, his technique and consistency have come a long way since September 14 in New England. He's going to be a good player in this league for a while.

We've already talked about the abysmal run defense. Read that article if you missed it, but if you're looking for the Cliff's Notes version: backside contain and gap discipline are lacking, the linebackers stink, and the secondary is hit-and-miss in run support across the board.

That's it. I don't think I can talk about the rest of the team, because the game was so dreadfully boring and repetitive that we won't learn anything new by re-hashing what we've been talking about for three months. Blech. This team is awful to root for sometimes.

Mark Sanchez has the stuff to be the real deal. When I'm looking at a young quarterback, I don't care as much about the throws and the production as I do about what he looks like in the pocket. Sanchez has a little bit of a Tony Romo flair to him - he's quite mobile, can throw from different arm angles, and can create throwing lanes with his movement. He's terrific with ball fakes, and he has the arm to eventually make "all the throws," as they say in the biz. Yes, he's struggled in two games against the Bills this year, but I beg you to understand that that is not likely to continue. Sanchez is gonna be pretty good.

The AFC East stinks. Is there a more overrated division in the NFL? Our division leader is 7-5. Buffalo has beaten each of the two teams currently a game behind New England - who also barely beat us in the season opener. New England split with New York and Miami, two highly, highly average teams. I mean, they lost to the Bills, for crying out loud.

Going into the season, fans fretted about the "difficulty" of the two divisions the AFC East would be playing in 2009 - the AFC South and the NFC South. Granted, those two divisions sport the only two undefeated teams in football, but beyond those two teams, there aren't any others that strike fear into its opponents, with the possible exception of the Tennessee Titans of the last six games. This division is 7-5 against the NFC South - although, to be fair, they're 7-1 against teams not playing in New Orleans - and, more pertinently to the overrated argument, they're 3-6 against the AFC South.

There aren't any elite divisions in the NFL this season - mostly because there aren't many elite teams - but the AFC East race, at least in my personal opinion, is one of the least exciting out there. Which is, of course, a bummer.

New York Jets Run Defense vs. Buffalo Bills Run Offense

John B — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:26 -0000

by Dean Duprey - AP

View full size photo »

The Jets lost Kris Jenkins in the first game, leaving a void on the defensive line for the rest of the year. The defense really stepped up in games against teams with powerful running attacks like Miami and Carolina. The Bills aren't on the same level. They're averaging a pedestrian 4.1 per run and only gain 104.6 per game, not terrible but on the bottom half of the NFL.

Fred Jackson is now the starter for the Bills. He's more dangerous than Marshawn Lynch. Think of him as Leon Washington to Lynch's Thomas Jones. Jackson is very quick, capable of making guys miss in space, and a threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield. His 4.2 average per carry is over a yard better than that of Lynch, who started his year suspended and never really got things going.

A good chunk of the blame should go on the run blocking. Lynch is good at hitting holes. Buffalo has been terrible at opening them. The Bills tried to revamp their offensive line during the offseason. lnjuries have played a role, but even without them things have looked bad. Geoff Hartinger was supposed to bring veteran stability to the center positon. His play has been uneven. Rookie guard Eric Wood was doing well, but he's on IR, replaced by unremarkable Kirk Chambers. Other rookie guard Andy Levitre has gone through ups and a lot of downs. Tackles Jonathan Scott and Demetrius Bell have been flagged a combined 15 times in 12 combined starts. Bell will sit this one out with a knee injury, leaving Jamon Meredith likely in his place. We all know the Jets don't have many playmakers on the line, but this matchup is a favorable one.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

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

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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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.

Game Day Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/29

MattRichWarren — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:21:37 -0000

Gameday Tipsheet - Week 12 | BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown's things to watch for.

Buffalo Bills set to host Miami Dolphins | Democrat and Chronicle
John Wawrow's AP preview

Simmons expected to start – Inside The Bills
The seven-year veteran Kendall Simmons is expected to start at right guard in place of rookie Eric Wood.

Game Previews
Bills-Dolphins Preview | BuffaloBills.com
Preview from the Associated Press.

Bills Daily Gameday Preview
The Bills blog gives its preview.

Dolphins' Porter out to prove he's not all talk : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Expect Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter to have blood in his eye Sunday when he faces the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Preview - Miami (5-5) at Buffalo (3-7) | Sports Network
The 2009 season has descended into the abyss for the Buffalo Bills. On Sunday, when Perry Fewell makes his Ralph Wilson Stadium debut as the team's interim head coach, the 3-7 Bills will be looking to drag the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins down with them.

Week 12 NFL game previews - USATODAY.com
Dolphins @ Bills is a third of the way down the page: The Dolphins have won the past three meetings by an average of 16.7 points.

Bills-Dolphins scouting report : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Here is Allen Wilson's breakdown of today's matchup.

Game Day: Buffalo Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana's six points and gameday preview.

Dolphins vs. Bills Preview | wgrz.com
Adam Benigni spoke with Dolphins color Commentator Joe Rose as the team arrived at the Adam's Mark hotel in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo Bills Game Day (Two Bills Drive)
Gameday preview by the Bills blog, Two Bills Drive.

Who has the edge: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - Miami Dolphins - MiamiHerald.com
Armando Salguero breaks down who has the edge during several specific times in the game like when the Bills run or the Dolphins pass.

Team in Transition
Russ Grimm emerges as candidate for Bills job | ProFootballTalk.com
Charley Casserly of CBS's The NFL Today suggested the Cardinals line coach.

Mike Shanahan, Leslie Frazier among NFL coaching candidates - Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks profiles the list of potential head coaches fir 2010.

The Tuna recipe to NFL success : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Dolphins football chief Bill Parcells built winners in New York, New England and Dallas, and now he has helped remake Miami in his own image. The veteran coach's doctrines are no secret; adopting them could pay major dividends for the Bills.

A strong GM is a thing of the past in these parts : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan profiles Colts GM Bill Polian.

UFL's Jim Haslett Contacted for NFL Job --FanHouse
Haslett didn't elaborate or even say if it was for a head coaching job or a coordinator position.

Tasker, Reed named Hall of Fame Semifinalists
Hall of Fame announces 25 semifinalists | ProFootballTalk.com
No-brainers for enshrinement are Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice. Tim Brown might have to wait until Carter gets in. Reed arguably should get in before either of them.

NFL Videos: Road to Canton with Rod Woodson
The Hall of Fame DB discusses Tim Brown, Cris Carter, and Andre Reed. When asked to pick one of the 3 he picks Andre calling him "the most complete" and "the greatest at yards after the catch".

Reed, Tasker Make Final 25 List for NFL HOF : Buffalo Sports Daily
"In what is sure to raise the ire of Buffalo Bills fans everywhere, Darryl Talley was inexcusably not included among the final 25."

More Bills News
ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive - Florida Gators college football
New Bills practice squader Jason Watkins played on the UFL's New York Sentinels.

Calls and Effect: AFC East penalty tracker - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Officials already have marched off 75 infractions against the Buffalo Bills. Their 71 accepted penalties last year were the NFL's second-fewest.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
"[Eric Wood] is back in town ... and everything looks good," interim coach Perry Fewell said.

Mace jersey number – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown is worried that Mace's promotion means Marcus Stroud may be limited even if he plays.

Prep work already on Jets – Inside The Bills
Buffalo's position coaches already have the shell of the game plan set up for the Thursday night game against the Jets.

Felser: Bills need to find out Brohm's capabilities : The Buffalo News
The Bills need to find out everything there is to know about Brohm and his possibilities as a quarterback who could produce a contender in Buffalo says Larry Felser.

Buffalo Bills have lost their home-field advantage | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana laments the loss of Buffalo's homefield advantage.

Video: Kelly wants Bills to draft Tebow - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN takes a look at Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly's recent comments about Tim Tebow being a perfect fit for the Buffalo Bills.

Wilson owes a debt to fans like Chuck : Donn Esmonde : The Buffalo News
Donn Esmonde uses a fan named Chuck Jones to highlight some of the struggles Bills fans go through rooting for the team when they are so bad.

Answer Man: Buffalo Bills should consider McCoy | Democrat and Chronicle
"I believe McCoy has the arm strength, accuracy, mobility and savvy to be a very good NFL quarterback for a long time."

Bills finished with Edwards | Olean Times Herald
Chuck Pollack thinks the BIlls addition of Brian Brohm means they are permanently done with Trent Edwards on any level - backup this year, backup next year, starter if Fitzpatrick is hurt.

Bills Tweets
Terrell Owens
Is it time 2 put the Xmas tree??? I'm puttin up my tree rite now: http://tweetphoto.com/5516897

Thurman Thomas
@DarrylTalley ur a hall of famer in my book, I love you and ur family

Lydell Sargent
Mannn Tim Tebow has hearttt bro!!! Heart, Passion, Swag!! I can respect it....

ESPN's Adam Schefter
Q: What do you think the chances of terrell owens staying in buffalo?
A: Far less than chances he'd ever play there.

Former Bill Ross Tucker
Love the fake QB sneak by ND. We did that in Buffalo vs. Seattle in 2004. Mike Mularkey special.

Ross Tucker
JeremyNPike: "One more game and the Bills would have been in the playoffs. So close that year."
Tucker's response: "Tell me about it."

Thurman Thomas
Gameday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It wld be nice if 72,000 fans gave the Dolphins the Bud Adams at the same time... I'm just saying

Thurman Thomas
They sld show nothing but Bills/Dolphins highlights on jumbo tron today.... 90's highlights...Y I'm not workin over there blows my mind

The AP's John Wawrow
#Bills #Dolphins an absolutely perfect late November morning for Buffalo. Mild, partly cloudy. 2 bad not many fans showing up early.

Thurman Thomas
I asked Thurman: "Do you hate the Dolphins more or less now than you did before your one year there?"
He responded: "less it ws a different experience, but I gained alot of friends there. Taylor, Zac,McDuffie,even got 2 spend time wit Marino"

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/27

MattRichWarren — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:38:45 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

23 days ago: Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) tries to keep his balance on a third-quarter run against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 18-15. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Browse more photos »

Simmons could step right in | BuffaloBills.com
Kendall SImmons is playing so well in practice he may get the start at guard this week.

Moorman punting at Pro Bowl level | BuffaloBills.com
Through ten games, Moorman already passed his punting yardage total of last season with 2,747 yards, good for second in the AFC behind Oakland’s Shane Lechler. His net average, a category that most look at to judge a punter’s season, is ranked third in the conference at 40.2.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Report: Kelly wants piece of team; Tebow
The long-whispered rumors are true, Jim Kelly wants to be a part of the Bills ownership group.

4th quarter is Bills' Achilles heel | BuffaloBills.com
The Bills have been outscored in the fourth quarter this season 109-40, close to a 3:1 ratio through the first 10 games. Only one team in the NFL has given up more fourth quarter points (Miami, 110). In six of Buffalo’s 10 games they have been shut out in the final stanza of the contest, and in their last three outings the Bills have been outscored in the fourth quarter 54-0, all losses.

HOF semifinalists to be named Saturday – Inside The Bills
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will be naming their 25 semifinalists for enshrinement as part of the 2010 Hall of Fame class. Former Bills likely to be on the list include Steve Tasker, Andre Reed, Kent Hull and Darryl Talley.

Sanborn making it look like a snap | BuffaloBills.com
Dan Bates profiles Buffalo's low profile long snapper, Garrison Sanborn.

Practice squad adds are interesting – Inside The Bills
A little more information on the two newest Bills, Lonnie Harvin amd Jason Watkins.

Bills practicing in rain – Inside The Bills
The Bills practiced outside in the rain Wednesday.

Sparano knows Fewell – Inside The Bills
Sparano was the tight ends coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. Fewell was the secondary coach for the Jaguars on that same coaching staff.

Safety rotation will continue – Inside The Bills
Donte Whitner and Jairus Byrd subbed in and out for one another through the course of the Jacksonville game. Interim head coach Perry Fewell liked how it worked last Sunday and intends to continue with it moving forward.

Fewell asks for fan support – Inside The Bills
The Bills coach wants fans in the seats this Sunday to welcome the Dolphins to town.

Eric Wood still not back from Jacksonville – Inside The Bills
"I don’t think [the injury is career-threatening]," said Fewell. "I can’t answer that question, but I just know that everything went well and we hope to have him home soon."

Bills players serve turkey dinner | BuffaloBills.com
Among the players serving a full menu of turkey, stuffing, beans, corn, yams, grilled cheese, rolls, deserts and drinks were safety Jairus Byrd, defensive backs Cary Harris and Lydell Sargeant, offensive lineman Nick Hennessey, Andy Levitre, Jamon Meredith and Andre Ramsey, defensive end Aaron Maybin, linebacker Ashley Palmer and long snapper Garrison Sanborn.

Whitner's return means safety in numbers for Bills | Buffalo News
"I didn't start, but I played most of the game," said Donte Whitner. "It was a different feel not starting. I didn't know why it happened and I haven't really talked to anyone about it." The rotations is likely to continue.

Bills notebook: Williams is back in limelight as Dolphins' feature back : The Buffalo News
Ricky Williams was named AFC offensive player of the week after his three-TD performance last week.

Question Mark: Coaching contracts can be structured with an out clause : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan answers questions about out clauses in a coach's contract (for instance if the team is sold or moved), blaming the Bills ineptitude on financial constraints, and Aaron Maybin's lack of productivity.

Offensive line does the shuffle, again : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"There was no truth to the rumor the Buffalo Bills handed out stick-on tags that read "Hello, My Name is:" at their offensive line meeting on Wednesday. But it would have been warranted."

Former Bills DB Janik dies : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Tom Janik, who as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 1968 intercepted a pass by Joe Namath and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, has died. He was 69.

Buffalo Bills may have McGee for game against Miami Dolphins | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The Buffalo Bills bumped up their schedule of meetings and practice so the players and coaches could enjoy part of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Buffalo Bills reshuffle offensive line again | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Injuries force a seventh new starting lineup

Dolphins vs Bills: Keys to Victory - The Phinsider
The Dolphins travel up to Buffalo on Sunday and these three factors are critical for a dolphins win. Resident SBN Dolphins blog the Phinsider (my third-favorite blog name) tackles the keys.

Dolphins backup Joe Berger could start at center Sunday | The Palm Beach Post
Starter Jake Grove sat out his second straight practice with a high-ankle sprain and is behind schedule with his recovery.

Bills’ poor record may leave many stadium seats empty : Buffalo/Erie County : The Buffalo News
Tickets still are available for the team’s last three "home" games, and two of them could be played before a bunch of empty seats.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Wood retunrs to town for Thanksgiving
Buffalo Bills rookie Eric Wood flew back to Buffalo for Thanksgiving, reports Mark Ryan.

Buffalo Bills Transcripts | Miami Dolphins
Transcripts of Perry Fewell and Ryan Fitzpatrick talking to the Miami media.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS: Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens insists he's still got it
"I knew if I just kept plugging away, remaining positive and keeping my faith and believing in my abilities, yeah, I knew the opportunities would eventually come," Owens said, referring to the third-most prolific performance of his 14-year career.

Want your QB in 2010? Then root for this : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran tells you what to root for if you want to select the QB of the future in this year's frat.

Reason for thanks: Five NFL players grateful for their bounty - USATODAY.com
Fred Jackson and his long road to the NFL is part of this Turkey Day feature.

Team in Transition
Buffalo Bills elevate search for new coach | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana gives his take on the current Bills coaching search.

Cowher would be a better fit for Bills : Bucky Gleason : The Buffalo News
Bucky Gleason opines the Bills should prefer Cowher to Shanahan.

Murphy and Peck discuss coach prospects | WIVB.com
WIVB's sports guys discuss possibilities to man the top coaching jjob in Buffalo.

What's next for Bills after Shanahan? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The next wave of candidates might include the likes of Brian Billick, Jim Fassel, Mike Martz and Jim Haslett, but the Bills seem hot for an offensive-minded coach, which could work against Haslett, a former Bills linebacker.

Bills Tweets
Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
I think they will be fiscally cautious as always. RT @tblonsky: Do you think Bills would be big spenders if next off season is uncapped?

More from Rochester D&C's Sal
It's raining in Buffalo, and Bills are outside practicing. Novel concept given they may have to play in rain Sunday. Jauron rarely did that.

Rochester D&C's Sal again
I doubt it. Ralph trusts Brandon. RT @MattKabel: Any chance Bills bring in a consultant? Don't think Brandon is qualified to lead search.

Fake Perry Fewell
They gave Shanny the fieldhouse RT @tblonsky u have the bills outside today? Why risk giving the players the sniffles? This is a disgrace.

Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
Bills coach Perry Fewell liked the way new OG Kendall Simmons looked in first practice. No commitment from Fewell, but Simmons should start

SalSports' Sal Cappacio
Looks like former Bills DC Jerry Gray will be new Head Coach at Memphis.

John Niyo
Lions put S Ko Simpson on iR, sign CB Jahi Word-Daniels from practice squad [Ed.: Even former Bills aren't safe!]

Donte Whitner
Keep your Head down and grind don't look up til ur past where u wanna be!

Fake Perry Fewell
Getting ready for Sunday. On the menu for Thansgiving, tuna WITH dolphin meat!

Adam Schefter
$10 mil per year is not close to offer. RT @ryanferreira2: how bad is Buffalo if 10 mil per year and control of the team may not be enough?

Rochester D&C's Sal Maiorana
Mike Martz wants the Bills job. What I don't like is he drafted Ryan Fitzpatrick with Rams in '05, and he might think Fitz is the right QB

WHAM TV's Chuck Wade
Bills fans: be thankful the NFL still has the Raiders. They are just bad.

WGR's Nick Mendola
The Lions and Raiders made me realize the Bills weren't the worst game-day coached team in the league. Wow.

Dolphins vs Bills: Five Good Questions

Matty I — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

A picture is worth a thousand words...

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With the holiday just a day away, we decided it would be wise to do our five question exchange in preparation of Sunday's game between the Dolphins and Bills today as opposed to Thursday - which is when we did it back in week four. After all, I don't think too many people will be running to their computer with a gut full of turkey to see what Brian and I are talking about.

So let's welcome in Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings - SBN's fine Bills blog, and the best Bills site you'll find on the internet, if you ask me. I asked him five questions about his Bills and his responses are below. You can head over to his blog at some point on Wednesday to see how I responded to his Dolphin questions.

Matty I: Way back in June, during one of our "Around The AFC East" posts, you said that this would probably be the make-or-break season for Trent Edwards. But you also called Edwards a "good young football player." I'll bet you probably still don't feel that way about Edwards. So what do you think the future holds for Edwards and for the quarterback position in general in Buffalo?

Brian G: Yeah - I wouldn't turn that exact phrase to describe Edwards at this point. I wouldn't go too far the other way, either - he's still got the talent to stick around in this league for a long time, even if it's just as a backup. But Buffalo really, royally screwed the pooch with his development. He's never spent more than one season with an offensive coordinator, and to say that their plans for a re-structured offensive line have backfired would be the understatement of the century.

Unless Buffalo's next head coach is enamored with Edwards' raw skills and thinks they can still mold him into a starter, I'd guess that Edwards' career in Buffalo is essentially over. He's under contract at a cheap rate for 2010, so he may stick around as a backup next season. Either way, he's clearly not the franchise quarterback he appeared to be in the first six games of the '08 season. He needs to be in an environment where he can mature emotionally, because his confidence is completely shot right now.

Matty I: Speaking as an outsider, I'd say the firing of Dick Jauron was about 11 months too late. With that said, I don't understand why the Bills had to fire him in the middle of the season. What was your take on the firing? And where do you see the Bills turning for a new head coach?

Brian G: About 95 out of 100 Bills fans agree with your sentiment that Jauron should have been fired at the end of last season. He's a hell of a guy and is far more well-respected than most realize, but the results speak for themselves. He needed to go.

WIVB-TV in Buffalo reported that Ralph Wilson gave Jauron the opportunity to finish this season as the lamest of lame duck coaches, and not surprisingly, Jauron declined - what was to be gained for either side? I was floored that Wilson pulled the plug in the middle of the season; he hasn't done that since 1986, when the Bills brought in Marv Levy. But it is what it is, and it may have even been a savvy move on Wilson's part, since it'll take a significant head start in the search process to talk a guy like Mike Shanahan into coming to Buffalo. It probably won't happen even with said head start.

Bottom line - the firing was inevitable after the Bills' ridiculously awful Week 5 loss to Cleveland. I mean, seriously - Cleveland is 2-17 in their last 19 games, and both wins have come against Buffalo. It's sickening, considering we're on the verge of a full decade without playoff football, but we're looking at yet another complete re-build, and this will be our most desperate attempt at it yet. Ralph isn't exactly a spring chicken, after all.

Matty I: This is about the time of the year when I like to ask fans of other teams their impressions on their rookies. The Bills have a number of them. From browsing the stats and watching highlights, Jairus Byrd seems to have had the biggest impact of all of Buffalo's rookies. So what are your early impressions of Buffalo's key rookies (Aaron Maybin, Eric Wood, Byrd, and Andy Levitre)?

Brian G: Byrd hasn't just been our biggest-impact rookie, he's been one of the best rookies in the entire league, and probably the most valuable rookie to his team. That's not to say he'll win Rookie of the Year, because Percy Harvin and Brian Cushing are having outstanding seasons as well. But they're playing on much more talented teams, whereas Byrd has been pretty much the lone bright spot on an awful football team. Seriously - he's directly responsible for two of Buffalo's three wins. Can any other NFL rookie legitimately claim that they're responsible for 67% of their team's wins? Byrd is also the NFL's current interception leader (8).

Maybin has struggled to earn playing time, and when he's gotten time on the field, he's only flashed potential, and his tangible impact has been very minimal. But he's only 21 years old and he's playing one of the toughest college-to-pro transition positions, so I've been preaching patience with him, largely to no avail. Levitre has been important for the offense simply because he's capable of playing left tackle and left guard, but flip-flopping his position isn't exactly helping his development. Wood was probably our best lineman this season, but you may or may not have witnessed his gruesome, season-ending leg injury, in which he suffered compound fractures to both his tibia and his fibula. (If you haven't seen it, I wouldn't suggest actively seeking out the footage.) He'll be lucky to play football in 2010.

Matty I: Marshawn Lynch has been far from impressive since returning from his suspension. I know the offensive line isn't very good. But it seems like Fred Jackson has outplayed him (averaging a yard more per carry, for example) for the most part. What's been Lynch's biggest problem and what does the future hold for Lynch? Is he still considered Buffalo's long-term starting running back?

Brian G: Jackson has most definitely been the better back of the two this season, and playing from the start of the season helped him get a rhythm that Lynch just hasn't been able to find this season. In fact, Lynch's presence in the lineup has taken Jackson out of rhythm, and our run game has suffered as a result.

I'm not sure I'd call more than one or two running backs in the NFL a "long-term starting running back," because as dynamite as players like Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson are, running back is easily the most replaceable position on a football field. Quarterbacks, defenses and good trench play win championships. A good running back can be a tremendous asset to a team, obviously, but most teams who build around a running back, rather than a quarterback or a line, are going to struggle. Lynch is a good football player. He needs to clean up his act in the off-season and commit himself totally to football; if he does that, I have little doubt that he'll return to near-Pro Bowl form in 2010.

Matty I: It seems as though Buffalo's defense has regressed. They're allowing 40 yards and one point more per game than they did last year. What's this unit's biggest problem right now and what can the Bills do this offseason to improve?

Brian G: They haven't regressed - not in my opinion, anyway. The pass rush is markedly better than it has been in years past, though it's still not great (they've picked up 19 sacks in 10 games, as opposed to 23 all last season), they're No. 2 in the league with 17 interceptions, and they've made many more game-changing plays than they ever have under Perry Fewell. The statistical drops you mention are directly attributed, again in my opinion, to a ridiculous injury situation and the fact that the Bills can't get off the field on third downs (42% third down rate, good for No. 25 in the league).

Only two opening-day starters - ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay - have played in all 10 of Buffalo's games to this point. Three more opening-day starters (Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison, Leodis McKelvin) are on IR. A further four (Kyle Williams, Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott) have missed three games or more. Considering the fact that they're a M.A.S.H unit, and the fact that they get zero help from the offense most weeks in terms of being able to stay off the field, the defense has actually been borderline phenomenal this season. It's tough to blame them totally for fourth-quarter meltdowns when they're on the field 35+ minutes per game, and aside from our Week 4 loss to your Dolphins, the Bills have had chances to win every game this season.

As for improving next off-season, they need Aaron Maybin to develop into a much bigger factor as a pass rusher, and they really need to bolster their depth at defensive tackle and linebacker. If they get that accomplished and can finally stay healthy, they have the makings of a really good unit - unless a new coach tries to fit them into a 3-4 defense, of course.

The Linc - Michael Vick, Stacy Andrews, & why the country dislikes the Cowboys

JasonB — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:18 -0000

by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

23 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) is chased by Chicago Bears safety Al Afalava (24) and safety Danieal Manning (38) as he rushes for long yardage in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

View full size photo »

Rich Hofmann: Still time for Vick to prove worth with Eagles | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/24/2009
As it stands today, the whole thing has not been worth the aggravation. But there is time, and there has been a glimmer. For about the last 5 years, these have been the weeks when the Eagles as a team have defined themselves. It is the same thing with Michael Vick. Now, we'll see. *

How I See It: NFC East Stock Watch - NFC East Blog - ESPN
LeSean McCoy, Donovan McNabb, & Desean Jackson

The Real McCoy: Shady's Breakthrough Game
In every player’s career, there are breakthrough games. For LeSean McCoy, Sunday’s 24-20 win in Chicago was one of those games.

Eagles coach Reid cites knee injury for Stacy Andrews' deactivation | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/24/2009
"We knew with Stacy's knee there was going to be that first year back after knee surgery is a tough thing, especially as late as he had it. This isn't anything on Stacy's will or knowledge or any of that, it's just to plant that leg and feel comfortable with it, it goes in cycles a little bit. He'll be back in there."

More after the jump, including m recent contributions to the Washington Post. The best IMO, is my take on why people hate the Cowboys so much...

The League Panelists: Philadelphia Eagles fans hate Dallas Cowboys bandwagon fans most in the NFL according to Bleeding Green blogger - Jason Brewer
The legions of soulless, bandwagon Cowboys fans, scattered across America, make Dallas that much more repugnant.

The League Panelists: The NFC East still a strong division in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants still strong - Jason Brewer
The worst division in football this year is the same one it's been for several years. The NFC West.

CBS wouldn't replay this gruesome leg injury - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
NFL history is littered with nauseating injuries. Joe Theismann. Napoleon McCallum. Ed McCaffrey. Don't click any of those. They're all just nasty (and yet, perfectly preserved on YouTube forever). Today, another such injury was added to the list. Eric Wood(notes), a promising rookie lineman for the Buffalo Bills, suffered an injury just as sickening as any of those listed above.

Bills sign OG Kendall Simmons, send Wood to IR

Brian Galliford — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:41:44 -0000

Facing a disastrous shortage of offensive linemen, the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday announced that they have added veteran guard Kendall Simmons to their 53-man roster. Buffalo previously visited with Simmons this past March before ultimately signing Seth McKinney, who suffered a season-ending injury this past Sunday.

A former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Simmons missed most of the 2008 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Released in February, he spent the early portions of this season with New England, but was released on November 6.

Discounting starting center Geoff Hangartner, the Bills only have one true guard on the roster - rookie left guard Andy Levitre - and he's been moonlighting at left tackle. Buffalo lost two guards, Eric Wood and McKinney, to season-ending injuries on Sunday (Wood was placed on IR to complete this transaction).

Simmons is a veteran presence for a team that needs a veteran presence up front. It's unclear if he'll play immediately - tackle-by-trade Kirk Chambers filled in for Wood in Jacksonville, and knows Buffalo's offense - but for a desperate team, Simmons was as solid a signing as we could have hoped for.

McKinney still has not officially been placed on IR, so the Bills may not be done wheeling and dealing up front.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links 11/24

MattRichWarren — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:13:00 -0000

CBS wouldn't replay this gruesome leg injury - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
CBS wouldn't reshow it but if you want another look at Eric Wood's injury take a look. I am going to warn you it turned my stomach. His lower leg is destroyed right now.

Mike Sims-Walker spent yesterday celebrating Terrell Owens - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Did anybody else catch Mike Sims-Walker spelling "T.O." after his TD catch? I was wondering what the heck he was doing.

Two point attempt was impromptu – Inside The Bills
For those that may have been wondering if Buffalo’s two-point conversion attempt was planned after the Owens TD, it wasn’t.

The ultimate killer on Sunday – Inside The Bills
The Bills lost a tough game again in an 18-15 loss to Jacksonville, and what made it even tougher was the offense was more productive, but two touchdowns came off the board for the Bills on penalties.

Jones-Drew gives Bills ‘D’ credit – Inside The Bills
"Buffalo did a great job of loading the box and staying disciplined," said Jaguars running back Mauirce Jones-Drew. "We knew all week that they were a real disciplined team. I told you guys earlier in the week when your coach is fired; there are two ways you can go. They went the positive route. We fought hard, they fought hard."

QB for Miami still to be determined – Inside The Bills
Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell stuck to his statement last week that the starting quarterback would be a week to week decision on Monday.

NFL - Weekly Leaders Week 11
Terrell Owens led the league in receiving yards this week. When's the last time that happened?

Garrard: last TD play was well designed – Inside The Bills
David Garrard comments on the final touchdown that ultimately won the game for the Jaguars.

Bills notebook: Wood's injury a gruesome sight : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"That young man was in pain," said Fewell, whose emotion was clearly on display as he spoke. "That was not a pretty sight to see. ... That's part of our game, but as a human being you never want to see that happen to another."

Buffalo Bills finally unleash T.O.'s talent | Democrat and Chronicle
No one played with more of a purpose than wide receiver Terrell Owens. He finally enjoyed his breakout game as a Bill with nine catches for 197 yards, including a team-record 98-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Buffalo Bills Replay: How do we assess Fewell's first game? | Democrat and Chronicle
Leo Roth and Sal Maiorana rewatch the Bills-Jaguars game and discuss high and low points.

Wood injury another awful blow to Bills - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Wood was focused on trying to block Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey from tackling Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley was charging from Fitzpatrick's left. Stanley tried to wrap up Fitzpatrick, but his momentum sent him crashing into the unsuspecting Wood.

Take 2: Fewell the Fire | wgrz.com
Adam Benigni's brother, Matt, played for Perry Fewell at West Point and Adam recalls Matt's memories of his former coach.

One on one with Safety George Wilson | WIVB.com
News 4 Sports Director John Murphy has a one-on-one interview with Bills Safety George Wilson.

Military ticket promotion underway | BuffaloBills.com
The Buffalo Bills announced that all military personnel are eligible to receive a $10 per ticket discount off of the $45 seats for the Indianapolis Colts game on January 3, 2010 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Owens ability finally on full display | BuffaloBills.com
Owens finally had the type of game the team and fan base envisioned when he signed a one-year contract in March.

New Coach, Same Result | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana wishes he could have gone to the Bruce Springsteen concert in stead of the Jaguars game. Then he gives his rundown on that game.

Shirt of the Decade | The Goose's Roost
twoeightnine got some pub over on TGR for his new franchise QB shirt. It's an awesome shirt BTW.

Dolphins vs Bills: Three Key Matchups - The Phinsider
The Dolphins will head up to Buffalo next weekend for a division battle with the Bills. What are some of the critical matchups? The Phinsider is on top of it already.

Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium Had a Lot of Terrible Towels In It - Arrowhead Pride
Arrowhead Stadium might not be a sell out for the Bills game next month.

Looking to 2010 - 13WHAM.com - Rochester News, Weather, and Sports
Here is what Mike Catalana wants to see for the rest of this "very forgettable season".

Team in Transition
Schottenheimer's name surfaces in Buffalo | ProFootballTalk.com
"If he were to return to the game, Schottenheimer surely would need control over the football operation. He didn't have it with the Chargers, and Marty repeatedly clashed with G.M. A.J. Smith."

NFL.com: Bills contact Cowher – Inside The Bills
"Cowher also apparently isn’t interested in a management/coach role. He wants to coach only."

Being in coaching pool is Fewell’s option – Inside The Bills
Interim head coach Perry Fewell was asked if he should be considered for the permanent head coaching job. As far as he understands it he has the option to throw his hat in that ring.

Sullivan: In weak NFL, playoffs never far away : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Here's a fun fact: The Bills have lost five games this year in which they were tied or in the lead at some point in the fourth quarter." What could have been with a couple different bounces.

NFL Insiders: Mike Shanahan Unlikely to Coach in Buffalo | WGRZ.com
"I think he's going to look at the Bills quarterback situation and probably not be too impressed," said ESPN.com's Tim Graham. "And then there's also just the aspect of Mike Shanahan having his pick of any team in the NFL."

Bills coach search continues | WIVB.com
But sources tell News 4 Sports that as of Sunday, Mike Shanahan had not heard directly from the Bills and no meeting was scheduled.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Lowly Bills thinking big for 2010
PFW does a nice summary of the Bills' front office situation going forward.

Bills Tweets
Sal Maiorana
Perry Fewell said Bills RB Marshawn Lynch's shoulder is feeling better. My suggestion: Rest him - for rest of the season - and play Jackson

Sal Maiorana
Do you realize Bills could have as many as 3 practice squad talent level offensive linemen active against Miami Sunday? Unreal

Bob Glauber
Rex Ryan when asked if he's putting too much on his plate by adding offensive responsibilities: "There’s always a lot on my plate." [Ed. note: No kidding.....]

Eric Stangel
I'd love to see Schottenheimer coach the Bills if only to see Terrell Owens' head explode when it's run run run punt

Eric Stangel
Bills working quickly to land new HC. Reached out to Shanahan, Cowher, Schottenheimer. Even left voicemail for Weeb Ewbank

Eric Wood: bigger than Lady Gaga

Mike Rutherford — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:57:27 -0000

It's the hair.