Archives for December 20, 2005

‘”We just gave up the privacy of the huddle and changed the tempo of the game,” Wyche said. “Then when the crowds got loud on the road, we changed it to the walk-by huddle and the sugar huddle and, during timeouts, the sideline huddle. It just made everybody in every (NFL) office in New York mad.”‘

‘Coach Mike Mularkey said after practice Tuesday that he’s leaning toward starting Holcomb even though Losman practiced on a limited basis. Losman sat out Buffalo’s 28-17 loss to Denver last weekend after hurting his throwing shoulder and left leg in a loss to New England on Dec. 11. Losman, who is listed as probable to play, showed no signs of difficulty throwing passes in practice, but did walk with a slight limp.’

‘Nobody expected them to beat Denver but to watch a football team go through the motions isn’t too enjoyable. Mularkey has lost this football team, and it becomes more and more evident every single week. The only reason to watch Saturday’s game would have been to see Losman develop, but he didn’t even play. Anyone trying to find excitement in this latest chapter in Bills history is simply grasping for straws.’

‘The Bills need to sell tickets next season. They need to give fans reason to believe. How much belief can you place in a coach who is turning into a buffoon before your eyes?’

‘Saturday night’s loss to the Denver Broncos was witnessed by one of the worst-behaved crowds at Ralph Wilson Stadium in recent memory, authorities said Monday.’

‘You’re right about Buffalo’s depth. Beyond what we’ve already suggested, there’s not much more Mularkey can do personnel-wise, because then the game would turn into a joke, and the suits at NFL headquarters wouldn’t like that. But there is one other move he can make. Sit down linebacker Jeff Posey, the most invisible linebacker in the league, and play Mario Haggan or Josh Stamer. Once again, if they’re ever going to find out about these guys, this is the time.’

‘But as I see it, Mularkey has qualities you want in a head coach, and that hasn’t changed. He’s a former hard-nosed player who understands how to relate to his team and still has their respect. He has a good offensive mind and believes in a power running team built to win in December, but drawing up the right x’s and o’s isn’t enough. There have to be some real horses to pull the wagon.’

‘Many critics are blaming Mularkey, who calls Buffalo’s plays, for not allowing the team to establish a running identity lately. The past two games were close heading into the third quarter, yet Buffalo kept taking to the air, calling 62 passes to 28 runs.’

‘Bills and the coaching staff are running for the bus.’

‘The Bills defensive collapse has been epic.’

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

‘”Some years things don’t go your way. I’ve been on teams where everything went right for you but, for some reason, we’re getting the wrong end of the bargain this time. I don’t think we got outplayed tonight. We didn’t make some smart decisions … didn’t make some smart plays and didn’t give ourselves an opportunity to win the ballgame.”‘

‘Both Holcomb and Mularkey admitted the Bills blew a winnable game on Saturday night because of the same mistakes – stupid penalties, poor red zone offense, vulnerable defense on 3rd down – that have plagued the Bills all season. And if that isn’t an indictment of coaching…’.

‘When a coach is using catch phrases like “mental mistakes”, there is a very simple translation: He is basically admitting that he has too many players who are not smart enough. Mularkey and his coaches spent an entire off-season, and regular season, teaching, re-teaching, and drilling all these things into their heads. Yet many of his players are incapable of correcting their mistakes, continuing to take bad penalties, and playing with a lack of discipline.’