Archives for August 11, 2008

‘”It started to come as the game went along, but it’s those mental errors we’ve got to get rid of,” he said. “I think it was a good learning experience for us.”‘

‘I definitely felt comfortable with the speed of the game, which was encouraging. Knowing the tricks of the game and the ins and outs of it are things I still need to get a grasp of. I’m still learning of course and the mistakes can be corrected and that’s my main focus this week, not making the same mistakes.’

‘It was a typical preseason game for the Bills: a token, first quarter appearance by the starters, running vanilla plays. The rest of the game was full of contenders and pretenders locked in roster battles to stick around come September.’

‘While much of what went wrong is fixable, the important task now is to actually fix it in the next handful of weeks. Getting team members to make the correct reads and cover the right ground unlike what went on in suburban Maryland will be the difference between growing out of sloppiness and wallowing in slop.’

‘”It’s been three years since they’ve been saying they will get me more involved,” he said after Saturday’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. “But I just don’t let that get into my head. I do what I can when I get my opportunities and make the best of them.”‘

‘Spare me the explanation that the Bills don’t want to show too much too early. The focus should be on establishing an offensive identity, something missing since Drew Bledsoe’s first year with the team.’

‘”I thought it was a good night for Ashton,” head coach Dick Jauron said. “It was good that we got to see him, and he showed up. He made his presence felt. That’s generally how he’s played. He has up-and-down plays, but when Ashton gets a chance to make a play, he usually makes it.”‘

‘"I came out and showed what my talents are, which are my feet and my speed," Buggs said. "Obviously, I’m a smaller linebacker and I have to use my positives to my advantage."’

‘”He’s doing everything well,” Bills running backs coach Eric Studesville said last week. “He’s working hard. He’s picking things up. It takes time. It’s an adjustment, especially from the program he came from. He may not have had as much experience going against the speed that he’s saying here, but he’s doing a great job.”‘

‘By getting their chips on the table early, have the Toronto players bought themselves a long-term hole-card advantage? Or did they simply see a chance to make a profit on an eight-game parlay?’

‘”Well, I have a lot of thoughts about Brett, and a lot of great memories about Favre as probably everybody who has ever watched football has,” Jauron said. “That being said, he’s obviously a great player, a future Hall of Famer, and we have to play him twice a year. We’ll get ready and play as hard as we can.”‘

‘The Bills acquired DL Spencer Johnson in free agency to play tackle and end, allowing them more versatility in their pass-rush packages. During camp, the hard-working veteran, who has played mostly inside during his career, has taken on the dual role with a good attitude that’s sure to help team chemistry. “It’s cool,” he said about taking repetitions at end. “Defensive line is defensive line. I know I can play it. I’ve played it before. I just have to get a few kinks out and I’ll be all right. I’m an inside guy mainly, but if I have to swing outside, I can do that also.”‘

‘No. 1 pick Leodis McKelvin has given the Bills coaching staff a lot to think about in terms of its return game.’

‘Didn’t we see this last year?’