Archives for September 2005

‘Only three weeks into a very long season, the 2005 Buffalo Bills are starting to bear a very strong resemblance to the 2004 edition.’

‘The Bills will start third-year player Angelo Crowell, who predominantly has been used on special teams, at Spikes’ weakside linebacker spot.’

‘For his career, Spikes has tallied 814 tackles, 20 1/2 sacks and 12 interceptions, three of which have been returned for touchdowns.’

‘Buffalo’s defense has struggled even with Spikes healthy, allowing a combined 721 yards in its last two games, including a 19-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Sept. 18.’

‘Bills head coach Mike Mularkey will address the situation when he meets with the media at his normal Monday 3:00 time slot.’

‘Buffalo converted 2 passing first downs, their fewest since having 2 at N.E., 12/14/80 … 36 net passing yds. were the fewest since gaining 36 vs. Mia., 12/3/00.’

‘Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes will miss the rest of the season with an injured right Achilles tendon, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has learned.’

‘Is there an antidote? Well, since last year’s signal caller, Drew Bledsoe, is out of the picture: You remember him, right? The guy who’s now picking apart secondaries like Thanksgiving turkey — 63 of 98 with 6 TDs and 2 INTs — for the 2-1 Dallas Cowboys, despite getting Gilliganed out of Buffalo for having the mobility of a Model T. It leaves only one option: Kelly Holcomb. Who? Kelly Holcomb, the former Indy and Cleveland quarterback, he’s the backup in Billville. I think I’m getting sick.’

‘The Bills’ plan for trying to contain Vick could be summed up in one word: attack. They blitzed him in every situation with every combination of pass rushers they could find. It did not work.’

‘”Everybody knows he’s a great talent, but just having him on the field and doing the things he does makes everybody better,” linebacker Jeff Posey said.’

‘First, they couldn’t slow down Cadillac. On Sunday, they couldn’t turn off DVD.’

‘”Anytime you’re on the road, your opponent comes out with a lot of intensity,” said Vick. “We say that you’ve got to weather the first-quarter storm because they’re going to be jacked up. That’s why they were hitting me after the throw. That’s why they were fined 15 (yards). It’s part of the game. Guys are going to be jacked up and ready to play, they just have to keep their composure.”‘

‘Blame the officials. It’s a lot easier than swallowing the hard, objective truth – which is that Gray’s celebrated defense might be the most overrated unit in the NFL, one that talks about making history when it should be worried about making tackles.’

‘The guy ought to be illegal because what’s a defense to do?’

‘”You can run deep a lot, but at the same time you can run short routes against press coverage and make plays that way,” he said. “You catch the ball and then you make one guy miss, and now you’ve got a big play, so you really don’t have to throw it deep every time. We’ve got to find a way to make plays down the field and we have to do it on a consistent basis because it’s frustrating the way it’s going right now.”‘