Archives for December 2004

‘How was the transition to FS? Are you comfortable back there, and how are you adjusting to playing a position you never played before? Are you willing to make this a long term move, and make it a permanent position? Great game and thanks for your thoughts.

TV: The transition has been a tremendous challenge. It’s rejuvenated my body and my mind. I have to prepare as if I never taken a snap before at this level. Last week I had the rookie jitters, that first time of being on the field and not knowing the speed of the game at that position. The biggest transition is the speed of the game. At cornerback you could basically take yourself to the game and create a game yourself. At the free safety position the game has to come to you. You have to be patient because you’re not just looking at one guy. It’s a tremendous challenge for me but it’s a position that I do believe I can excel at.’

‘I’ve been saying from day one that in this league you are one play away from being a good team, and one play away from being a bad team. The Bills have been getting some breaks over their four-game winning streak, but for the most part, they’ve made their own breaks by playing aggressively. The defense has been hungry and is making opponents pay with its physical style of football. They are punishing backs and receivers and that has led to a bunch of turnovers. You have to take the ball away to win in this league.’

‘Bills 24, Bengals 21.’

‘"I’m not here to be close," he said. "We’re here to win a championship. Close doesn’t get you anything. We work too hard to settle for anything but winning the football game. We’re going to keep working to find a way all the time to win the football game."’

‘"We talk about the same time every week," Bratkowski said. "Tuesday night around 11 when things are starting to wind down and we’re going off to do our individual stuff. We talk once a week. Maybe twice.’

‘Q: Since Terrence McGee is so fast and has so much range, why not put him at free safety and Vincent back at cornerback?

A: No question, McGee would give the Bills great range at free safety. Experience, however, is probably more important at free safety than at any position on the field, other than quarterback.’

‘This is the Cell Phone Game. Bills-Bengals Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Can you hear me now?’

‘”They are really the rock of the defense,” Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said of Adams and Williams. “They can let the linebackers roam free. Your line pays so much attention to those two guys inside. They are so explosive. They create a problem.”‘

‘”When you get a new coach coming in, players don’t know what to expect of the coaches and coaches don’t know what to expect of the players,” Spikes said. “It took a lot of time for (Mularkey) to understand who’s going to be role players and who’s going to be the sole-called key studs. It was a work in progress.”‘

Palmer not yet counting self out (Cincinnati Enquirer)

SS Beckett doubtful to play against Bills (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Another tough foe for Bengals (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Rudi’s battled the best (Cincinnati Post)

Rudi Johnson, game by game (Cincinnati Post)

Backup Kitna ranks as 1st-stringer in life (Cincinnati Post)

Palmer’s down to 1 crutch (Cincinnati Post)

Focused Spikes back in Cincinnati (Dayton Daily News)

Kitna defends arm, Rudi earns praise (Dayton Daily News)

Kitna at peace with role (Columbus Dispatch)

Kitna & Palmer close friends despite differences (AP)

‘”We want three a game, not to get greedy, but to finish on a positive note,” said Gray, whose unit has 28 takeaways, already 10 more than all of last season. “If you can get a positive number, the offense will have the ball on short fields and you have a great chance to win games.”‘

‘One other former Pitt quarterback is clearly interested in a job once a new coach is hired. Alex Van Pelt, who is the Panthers’ all-time leading passer and played for the Buffalo Bills for nine years, has contacted Long to let him know he’s very interested in being a part of the new coach’s staff.’

‘As a favor, Vincent asked Gray to design some plays in which the free safety would blitz, something the Bills didn’t do with rookie starter Rashad Baker. Gray obliged and called Vincent’s number on the first play against Cleveland. Vincent responded with a sack. “I didn’t think he was going to start the game with it. At least let me get my feet wet and put me back deep,” Vincent said, laughing.’

‘You have to wonder if it’s worse than Mike Mularkey is letting on.’

‘The old knock against the Bills offense was that its ineptitude was placing too much of a burden on the defense to keep the game close. Now, it doesn’t seem to matter how many points opponents score. The Bills offense is suddenly believing it can keep up with anyone.’