Archives for September 27, 2005

‘As good as McGahee was, second-year quarterback and first-year starter J.P. Losman was that bad, as he put forth his second abysmal performance after looking sharp in the first game of the season.’

‘Jacobs started for the Patriots for two years then became aware of the perils of football after Nick Buoniconti was drafted and given his job. But things couldn’t have worked out better for the Canton product as his trade to the Bills was to a team on the upswing. Buffalo compiled a 12-2 record the next season for their first of back-to-back championships. The second was a 23-0 victory over San Diego in 1965.’

‘Second year quarterback J.P. Losman has shown the ability to move the offense into scoring position.’

‘Clearly, Losman is early in his learning curve and needs some major help from a defensive unit that swore it had his back. But unless it happens soon, this team is in big trouble … and it’s not all on the quarterback.’

‘That run defense was anchored up the middle by large defensive tackles Pat Williams and Sam Adams. However, Williams departed in the off-season for a bigger payday in Minnesota and his loss has really shown as veteran Ron Edwards has taken over alongside Adams. Outside of the opener, when the Buffalo Bills defense held Texans starting back Domanick Davis to just 48 yards on 14 carries, Buffalo’s run defense has been porous.’

‘"It just looks like it just gave out on him," Mularkey said.’

‘The Buffalo Bills were 29th in the NFL in touchdown scoring percentage in the red zone last season. Not much has changed this year.’

‘”He addressed the team and he was emotional,” recalled fellow linebacker London Fletcher. “It hurt to have him tell you he’s done for the year. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice, his voice was cracking, but he was still focused on the team. In spite of his situation he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself, he was more concerned about the team and that says a lot about him as a person and a teammate.”‘

‘So where do they go from here? It looks gloomy, even though the season is only three games old. The Bills made a big effort on Sunday to point that out. But here’s the catch: the Bills are 1-2 and face a daunting schedule that won’t make Losman’s life any easier and defensively, the best player in recent Bills history will be leaning on crutches on the sidelines for the rest of the year. So where are they going? In my view, not very far.’

‘So much has changed since the 1960’s when sprinting out of the backfield was so easy for Bass. Preaching has become his mission. He did it from the pulpit of Tallahassee’s Faith Presbyterian Church for 20 years before retiring 17 months ago. “Now you look at life and I’m happiest when I help somebody,” he said. “That’s better than a touchdown.”‘

‘Having said that, and despite all those compelling stats I just gave you, it still isn’t obvious the Bills made a mistake, at least on the quarterback decision. It is just as obvious after three games, and this was even before the season-ending injury to Takeo Spikes, the Bills are not made of playoff stuff.’

‘The Buffalo Bills’ worst fears have been realized.’

‘After giving up 191 yards to Tampa Bay a week earlier, the Bills gave up 236 on 36 carries (6.6 yards per rush) to the Falcons. Vick, whose 27-yard scramble to convert a third-and-10 play set up Atlanta’s clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter, finished with nine runs for 64 yards. Few teams can contain Vick, but the Bills made it worse on themselves by also allowing running backs Warrick Dunn (15 for 97) and T.J. Duckett (12 for 75) to run wild.’