Archives for November 2004

‘The Patriots need to set up third-and-longs, and the key to doing that is making stops on first and second down. That will make it harder for Bledsoe to connect with his favorite target – wide receiver Eric Moulds, who will likely be guarded by Samuel. Moulds has 616 yards, almost twice as many as Lee Evans, who is second on the team with 321. “I think he is more confident in the pocket,” Bills head coach Mike Mularkey said. “When he is moving he is finding the check-downs quicker. I think he throws the deep ball great and we are opening it up a little more for him for that. Obviously the run game helps, but some of the things we have done scheme-wise, I think, has helped, too, in his confidence.”‘

‘"I don’t know what their philosophy was in the beginning," said inside linebacker Ted Johnson, "but obviously whatever they’re doing is now working."’

‘Considered a huge first-round gamble when the Bills drafted him torn-up knee and all out of UMiami last year, McGahee has run for more than 100 yards in each of his first three NFL starts. All three have been Bills victories. McGahee has put former Pro Bowler Travis Henry on the bench and restored Bledsoe as a winner while in the looming shadow of Losman.’

‘McGahee’s confident and powerful running has caused a ripple effect throughout the entire Buffalo offense, Belichick said. “That sets up their play-action passing game, so they are high percentage passes,” he said. “They’re staying out of third-and-long … no sacks, no interceptions. They’re not turning the ball over. That’s a formula to win games at any level.”’

Will Bills be more receptive? (Boston Globe)

Offense powers Patriots (Boston Herald)

Bills ready for battle (Boston Herald)

Strong presence (Boston Herald)

McGahee won’t trash talk opponent (Boston Herald)

A mighty tussle in store (Boston Herald)

Big rise in value for Bills (Boston Herald)

Players work together to secure future (Metro West Daily News)

Four downs (Metro West Daily News)

Givens sets sights on hauling in big catch (Providence Journal)

McGahee the key to Bills’ chances (Providence Journal)

Gorin in a comfortable place (Providence Journal)

You don’t say (Providence Journal)

Curran’s quiz (Providence Journal)

A String Of Successful Conversions (Hartford Courant)

Bills (3-5) At Patriots (7-1) (Hartford Courant)

Pats prepared for any obstacle (Springfield Republican)

Road only gets rougher (Woonsocket Call)

Questionable history, but now he has the answers (Portland Press Herald)

Improving Bills are next up on Patriots’ agenda (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills formula: Throw less, win more (Lowell Sun)

New England hosts resurgent Bills (Manchester Union Leader)

Patriots’ receivers taking different routes (New Bedford Standard Times)

Road to East title is well-paved (New Bedford Standard Times)

Pats, Bills in rematch tonight (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

‘A month under Jim McNally’s tutelage must have done wonders for Peters to be promoted.’

‘Mularkey doesn’t seem intimidated by his first head coaching assignment on Sunday night football. He said he was more excited about the energy he saw in practice.’

‘To make room, defensive end Constantin Ritzmann has been placed on injured reserve.’

‘It took a little while for Mike Mularkey to put his mark on this team, but the Bills are buying into Mularkey’s system, and the results are showing.’

‘Since leaving the Patriots after the 2001 season, Bledsoe is 1-4 against his former team. Tom Brady, who replaced him at quarterback, is 6-1 in his career against Buffalo.’

‘April gives each of his units a military label in an effort to hammer home the importance of special teams to his players. The kickoff return unit, for instance, is the Seals, named after the Navy Seals. The kickoff coverage unit is the Gurkhas, named after the British Army units that originated in Asia. April combines his military labels with an elaborate points system that allows each player to gauge his performance against everyone else on special teams.’

‘It’s no disgrace. Brady is a rising superstar. For my money, he’s not merely the best quarterback in the NFL, but the best player, period.’

‘The facility, located a few hundred yards from the tunnel entrance to the stadium, is the first of its kind in the NFL and will be used exclusively for youth football teams in Western New York.’

‘The Bills aren’t nearly as good as Belichick made them out to be, but there were some shards of truth sprinkled amidst all the coachspeak spilling out of Belichick’s mouth that every Bills fan could relate to.’

‘Suddenly, drafting a running back with a bum knee who needed a lengthy time to recover does not seem like it was such a bad idea.’