Archives for September 18, 2006

‘The Bills are rebuilding. They’re still pretty boring, especially on offense. But they’re also 1-1, and that’s better than most of us realists predicted they’d be at this stage of the season.’

‘Only one team that started 0-2 in the past three years made the postseason (the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles).’

‘Didn’t show up: Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey…’.

‘Coaching: Steve Fairchild probably isn’t happy that the Bills gained only 171 yards, but that’s all they needed to win this game pretty easily. He knew when to run the ball, and when to pass the ball, unlike his counterpart in the Miami coaching booth, Mike Mularkey. And defensive coordinator Perry Fewell called an excellent game as well, his use of blitzes was impressive as he took advantage of a weak Miami offensive line and immobilequarterback.’

‘In less than one season, Crowell’s gone from being a reserve to one of the Bills most important defensive players, at the same time adapting to the new, Tampa-2 scheme coordinator Perry Fewell installed upon being hired’

”’Coach [Jauron] told us some things throughout the week, what [Mularkey] likes to do on that side of the ball, some trick plays and things like that,” safety Donte Whitner said. “We were really keyed into what they like to do in certain situations.”’

‘”Culpepper looked confused a lot,” rookie safety Donte Whitner said. “He would be looking for an open man, and our rush would force him out of the pocket. Often, he had to throw before he wanted.”‘

‘”I told (the team) that coach Mularkey, that was something that he liked to do when he was our head coach,” Fletcher-Baker said. “We knew what coach Mularkey’s philosophy is, so that helped us.”‘

‘”Buffalo is known for having great special teams, but that’s no excuse,” Jones said. “We have to use special teams to our advantage, and we didn’t do that today.”‘

Losing it fast (Miami Herald)

Unit is depleted but not defeated (Miami Herald)

A lengthy list of culprits for weak pass protection (Miami Herald)

Chambers, Booker quiet (Miami Herald)

Allen’s gaffe ruins stellar day (Miami Herald)

Culpepper will be a perfect fit — eventually (Miami Herald)

Unimaginable disappointment by listless team (Miami Herald)

A very ugly start (Miami Herald)

Pope’s injury turns costly (Miami Herald)

Grading the Dolphins (Miami Herald)

Dolphins keys to the game (Miami Herald)

Dolphins quarter-by-quarter highlights (Miami Herald)

Bills stymie Dolphins offense until final minutes (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ go-to guy goes largely ignored (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Bills’ defense proves staggering (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Brunt of blame falls on Culpepper (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Defense deserves some blame, too (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Game mistakes irk McMichael (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Daunte Culpepper Q&A (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Photo Gallery (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Flop in home opener puts season in peril (Palm Beach Post)

Buffalo D knows what to expect from Mularkey (Palm Beach Post)

Special teams give Bills major boost (Palm Beach Post)

Saban should’ve used his reliever (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins aren’t dead, but prognosis is grim (Palm Beach Post)

Photo Gallery (Palm Beach Post)

Daunting deficit (Florida Today)

Culpepper only clicks in spurts (Florida Today)

Running game improves (Florida Today)

Miami finds self in 0-2 vice (Naples Daily News)

Culpepper unable to get his game in gear (Naples Daily News)

Fans lose patience with Culpepper (Fort Myers News Press)

No fire, no emotion, no chance for listless Dolphins (Vero Beach Press Journal)

Postgame notes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Injury report (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins postgame quotes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Bills postgame quotes (MiamiDolphins.com)

Photo Gallery (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Special teams: Brian Moorman. Out of all the terrific games the punter has had in over five years as an NFL-er, this was clearly among his best.’

.’MLB London Fletcher is a tackling machine but is neutralized when linemen lock on to him. When the defensive line keeps blockers occupied, Fletcher and LBs Takeo Spikes and Angelo Crowell can flow to the football.’

‘By the looks of their performance Sunday, if anyone was worried about the middle of Buffalo’s secondary they might be breathing a little easier now.’

Special teams (A+): Two of the biggest plays of the game came from the kicking teams in the third quarter, which is nothing new for the Bills. Roscoe Parrish had a 26-yard punt return that gave the Bills a drive start at their 44 and helped set up a field goal. Then Coy Wire blocked a Miami punt and Andre Davis recovered the ball at the Miami 17. Rian Lindell made all three of his field goals, and Brian Moorman had five punts inside the 20-yard-line, four inside the 10.

‘Buffalo defensive end Ryan Denney had three sacks in the first 17 minutes of the game, and Angelo Crowell intercepted Culpepper’s pass inteneded for Chambers and sent the Bills into halftime with a 3-0 lead. Buffalo went up 10-0 after its opening drive of the second half, aided by a 50-yard pass interference flag against the Dolphins’ Will Allen on Lee Evans at the Miami 4.’