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Buffalo Bills
Location: Orchard Park, N.Y. | Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium (73,967) | Owner: Ralph Wilson | General Manager: Russ Brandon
Coach: Perry Fewell | League Championships: 2
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Bills report: Strategy and personnel
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Strategy and personnel · Inside slant · Notes, quotes
 
Presented by Epson

 

REPORT CARD AFTER 7 GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE
D -- The Bills ranked 29th in passing at 163 yards per game, 30th in sacks allowed with 21, and last in third-down passing at 21.6 percent. The education of QB J.P. Losman started off well but soon hit a bumpy road. While his accuracy has improved (62 percent, up from 49 in eight starts last year) and his yards-per-attempt mark is better by almost a yard, Losman has struggled mightily with ball protection with 11 turnovers -- six interceptions and five fumbles. Pass protection has been sporadic, with LT Mike Gandy allowing 4 1/2 sacks. That has prompted a line reshuffle with Jason Peters shifting from right to left tackle to protect Losman's blindside, and Gandy kicking inside to left guard. Lee Evans has been Buffalo's most consistent receiver, but most of his 37 catches have come in garbage time, and he has averaged just 11.6 yards per reception with a long of 27. Roscoe Parrish has picked up some slack with 51- and 44-yard TD grabs, but the team needs more out of Peerless Price and Josh Reed, particularly on third down. Running backs and tight ends remain underused; Willis McGahee (14 catches) does have a team-high 56-yard reception on a shovel pass. Robert Royal leads the tight ends with nine catches. Buffalo has made just seven of 52 third downs of 6 yards or longer.

RUSHING OFFENSE
C-minus -- The Bills ranked 23rd in rushing, which is disappointing given the commitment to the run shown by the coaching staff. McGahee led the NFL in carries with 150 but was averaging just 3.8 yards per carry with one TD. Again, line play has been sporadic, but fans are wondering why McGahee can't make some yardage on his own as he once did. Backup Anthony Thomas (11 carries, one TD) could be used more to give Buffalo a better 1-2 rhythm. FB Daimon Shelton appears to be slowing down.

PASS DEFENSE
D-plus -- The team's 14th-place ranking in yards allowed is deceiving. Buffalo has given up 10 touchdown passes with defensive backs and linebackers struggling to guard their men. What doesn't make sense is that the Bills have one of the NFL's best pass rushes, ranking fifth with 21 sacks, led by Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay with five each. The Bills don't have a single sack from their interior linemen, who are billed as fast and quick. Meanwhile, CBs Nate Clements and Terrence McGee do not have an interception between them, but they have combined for 16 passes defended. McGee has struggled mightily, giving up TDs in three consecutive games and being benched last time out. Rookie safeties Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson have one interception each. Veteran free agent Kiwaukee Thomas has been a bright spot in the nickel defense.

RUSH DEFENSE
D -- Buffalo was among the worst run defenses in the NFL a year ago and hasn't improved much, allowing 113.9 yards per game and seven TDs on the ground. Tackles Larry Tripplett and Tim Anderson, and rookies Kyle Williams and John McCargo (now on IR with a broken foot), have struggled with gap assignments and holding ground at the point of attack. That has allowed offensive linemen to get into the second level and get a piece of the linebackers. London Fletcher-Baker, Angelo Crowell, Takeo Spikes and rookie Keith Ellison have combined for 154 tackles, but they've probably missed 30 as Buffalo has allowed 314 total yards per game. The Bills are hoping for a healthy Spikes (post-Achilles soreness and hamstring injury) the second half of the season to make a difference.

SPECIAL TEAMS
B -- K Rian Lindell (10 of 11) and P Brian Moorman (43.9 average, 12 inside the 20) continue on as one of the NFL's top kicking tandems. They never seem to have a bad game. McGee (25.5 on kickoffs) and Parrish (10.3 on punts) have come on in the return game. Coverage units that led the league the past two seasons have tailed off considerably, however, thanks to a rash of penalties and season-ending knee injury to LB Josh Stamer.

COACHING
D-plus -- Coach Dick Jauron's encouraging 2-2 start is a distant memory after three consecutive losses to Chicago, Detroit and New England by a combined score of 88-30. All three phases of the team have regressed, and Buffalo is now among the league-leaders in penalties (50) and turnovers (14). After team owner Ralph Wilson fretted over "dumb" mistakes and questioned the player's effort in a 28-6 loss to New England, it's hard to dole out a passing grade to a coaching staff that has become ineffective in preparation and planning. Jauron and Co. have nine games to get things moving in a positive direction again and give hope to the future.

Copyright (C) 2006 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 

Buffalo Bills Message Board
Reputation:78
Level:Pro
Since:Mar 4, 2008

November 30, 2009 9:30 am
Congrats Perry on your first win! 
I am use to seeing the Bills playing a great first 3 quarters and a tired, over-worked defense lose the game in the 4th quarter. It was great to see the long ball. Isn't that why we paid Owens $6 million to come to Buffalo. Great to see
...(more)
Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 21, 2006

November 30, 2009 6:58 pm
Many fans are disgusted with the Bills playing home games at the Roger Centre in Toronto but let's look at why it is. Players have gotten greedy and demand top dollar to play in Buffalo. Football fans are reluctant to go to Ralph Wilson Stadium as the fans behave in poor fashion. When the fans of the Bills tailgate hours before kickoff and ...(more)
Reputation:43
Level:Rookie
Since:Nov 3, 2009

November 29, 2009 11:12 am
Normally with the Phins coming into Buffalo with the weather turning cold and gray the Bills should be the favorite. Not this year the Dolphins are a 3 1/2 point favorite, honestly I'm surprised that it is not more. The Bills O-line is in complete shambles due to injuries, the lin ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 19, 2008

November 23, 2009 5:30 pm
Just interested in seeing how many of you Fans actually pick the usual bottom feeders to beat Miami this week. An if you do predict Buffalo to win dont base it on the fact thast Buffalo plays Miami tough. I know its gonna be hard to find another reason to base this upset but im sure you can find something good in your team. Or maybe you cant i dont.

As for me i see this 1 being a little
...(more)
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 8, 2008

December 1, 2009 7:54 pm
Here me out here, it is possible.  I said possible, it would require some luck at the same time.  The Patriots have to lose 3, one of those coming by us.  They play the Texans, Dolphins, ...(more)
Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 14, 2009

November 24, 2009 9:03 am
Best wishes to former U of L offensive lineman Eric Wood. He suffered a horrific injury yesterday -- compound fractures to his tibia and fibula during Buffalo's game at Jacksonville.

According to a story in the Buffalo News, Wood remained in Jacksonville after the team returned to Buffalo to undergo surgery.
...(more)
Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 21, 2006

November 20, 2009 1:41 am

Well it appears that Perry Fewell will be coaching the final 7 games as an audition to remove the interim from his title. It was reported that Mike Shanahan is a choice for the Bills to replace Jauron with but I think that if the Bills finish well under Fewell that he stays on and takes the head coach job. It is also sounding like the Bi ...(more)

Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 25, 2009

November 17, 2009 6:34 pm

To me this is it for Edwards hes got 7 more games to prove he can be the Q.B of the Bills if not then i say trade or draft a new Q.B. Yes McCoy is probabably out of reach and to me tim tebow will fail in the NFL. Sam Bradford might be there for us and possibly Snead from Ole Miss.

Many will probabaly say im stupid fo ...(more)

Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 15, 2007

November 29, 2009 4:32 pm
Bills fans , Congrats on your 31-14 win over the Dolphins.It was a real good game. Enjoyed it. Good luck next week when you host the Jets. That should be another very good game.
Reputation:78
Level:Pro
Since:Mar 4, 2008

December 2, 2009 8:06 pm
(POLL) With all the holes in this team: O-line, LB, DE, TE, QB. I would love to say that we can address them all, but realistically we can not. What good does drafting a QB in the first round if you can not protect him. With Edwards as a back-up, do we keep Fitzpatrick for 2010? Two games does not equal success.
Reputation:78
Level:Pro
Since:Mar 4, 2008

November 30, 2009 9:42 am
Keep the Bills in Orchard Park!!!  Even if we have to keep Mr. Wilson alive via life support! One of the oldest teams in the NFL with arguably the "best fans" deserves to stay put. Can't see myself flying to Toronto to cheer on the "Toronto Bills."
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 14, 2008

November 16, 2009 12:12 pm
I think this should really be the goal at this point. It seems like a long-shot, but I truly BILL-lieve. Generally, we will need a few of the equally horrid teams to win a few more games and the Bills to lose out. Here are the factors:

1. Bills losing out. This could easily be accomplished. All of their games except one are again
...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 17, 2008

November 18, 2009 10:31 pm
The question then becomes, is Mike Shanahan interested in the Bills? Adam Schefter reported that the Bills had contact with him to fill the coaching vacancy. This would become one of the better moves the Bills front office has made, and if they do it, one of the last. Shanahan is one of those guys that not only coaches the team, but control ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 7, 2006

November 24, 2009 8:30 pm
Cowher - Said no...for now. He supposedly turned down 10 million a year. My guess is that he is waiting to see if there is a better job out there for next year (more ready to compete team). Is he interested in Washington?

Schottenheimer - I dont think he is interested in anything at all. Of course that could be just courtesy talk. According to ESPN, he doesnt want to coach or GM.....but
...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 27, 2007

November 24, 2009 9:50 pm
Hey Bills fans,

I'm going to my first game in Orchard Park this weekend. I went to the game in Toronto last year but it didn't have a home game feel at all. I felt bad you lost a home game to such a crappy atmosphere. So this year I 'm going to the game in Toronto again but had to catch a game in Orchard Park.


I'
...(more)
 
 
 
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