Archives for November 29, 2009

‘Perry Fewell showed an aggressive coaching style and it paid off. He went with his gut in letting Lindell kick the 56 yard field goal and was rewarded for it. Never went into a shell as they kept coming after getting the lead. Going with Jackson over Lynch was the right move as well. Alex Van Pelt opened up the playbook a bit for Fitzpatrick as they showed more aggression as they threw the ball well in the second half despite the lack of time to throw. Bobby April’s unit played their best game in weeks. Grade A: Congratulations to Coach Fewell for his first victory.’

‘The team had definitely taken a more aggressive style under Perry Fewell. The interesting thing is the offense has become more aggressive. Part of that is Fewell taking the training wheels off and part is the gun slinger attitude of Fitzpatrick. He audibled into the TD pass to Owens that put the game away but a pass play was called anyway as the Bills refused to go into a shell. Fewell called it gut instinct in allowing Lindell to try the long kick but his instincts are obviously better than his predecessor. With the game over, he failed to call off the dogs as they ran the ball down their throat to a statement touchdown by Jackson.’

‘Donte Whitner’s interception with 1:37 remaining led to Fred Jackson’s seven-yard, in-your-face TD run which capped the stunning 17-point scoring burst and sealed the deal. It was the Bills first victory for Fewell, who took over for Dick Jauron two weeks ago, and they improved to 4-7. The Dolphins probably saw their playoff hopes dashed as they fell to 5-6.’

‘Buffalo had been outscored 109-40 in the fourth quarter this season and 54-0 in their last three outings. But the Bills offense was efficient in moving the football for a second straight week as Ryan Fitzpatrick orchestrated three touchdown drives including one that he capped with a 31-yard touchdown run.’

‘The Bills are without starting cornerback Terrence McGee, who missed his third straight game after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Backup cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle), and backup defensive tackle John McCargo (calf) are also inactive for the Bills.’

‘The Bills are in a funk as of late, playing well against competition for three quarters of the contest and then getting blown out in the fourth quarter. Buffalo has been outscored 53-0 in the fourth quarter in their last three games, and have also let a lead slip in the last quarter of all three games. For the Bills to win this contest, they’ll need to exploit some matchups, even though they have an incredible amount of injuries to many key positions.’

‘”How can you live in Buffalo and not like the Bills?” he asked me the other day, in the workout room. “It’s like a marriage, except there ain’t no divorce . . . When they’re losing, that’s when they need you.”‘

‘"It’s tough to intimidate someone when you’re 3-7, and if our record was better there would be more of an intimidation factor," said the always forthright Donte Whitner.’

‘ Miami has not allowed Henne to be sacked in the past two games, and the second-year-pro is now 5-2 as a starter. The Dolphins have used him economically and he has topped 200 yards passing just three times. If the Bills can contain Williams, perhaps it will lead to Henne trying to do too much and the Bills forcing some mistakes. They lead the AFC with 17 interceptions.’

‘I believe McCoy has the arm strength, accuracy, mobility and savvy to be a very good NFL quarterback for a long time. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Bills lose their six remaining games if it would result in landing McCoy. He’s probably lifted himself into the top half of the first round.’

‘As the Bills search for a way out of their decade-long playoff drought, what can they learn from the Parcells formula? Here are some of the cornerstones of Parcells’ philosophy…’.

‘Dolphins, 20-17.’

‘"The model hasn’t changed," Polian said. "The things we do work for us. We have continuity. It starts with a great coach and a great quarterback. Without that, you’re not going very far."’

‘The Bills need to find out everything there is to know about Brohm and his possibilities as a quarterback who could produce a contender in Buffalo. If he doesn’t answer that description, the people who inherit their drafting assignment must investigate what either Tim Tebow or the other highest-rated emerging college quarterback has to offer between January and draft day in April.’

‘It’s possible Brohm isn’t an NFL-quality player, but the real significance of the signing is that it’s clear the Bills have quit on Trent Edwards.’