Archives for February 20, 2010

‘The Bills have begun the process of switching to a three-man front with four linebackers, a scheme that the NFL’s best defenses run and one that Buffalo hasn’t used since Wade Phillips left town after the 2000 season. Analyzing players on the current roster and deciding if they can make the transition is Job One right now.’

‘"Coach (Gailey) coached special teams when he started out in Denver," DeHaven said. "I guarantee he understands what you need to get it done. It is a little different from coaching for someone who just wants the kicking game to be good."’

‘Special teams coach Bruce DeHaven was asked about the infamous Music City Miracle play during a media briefing and graciously gave a detailed response despite the fact the play has haunted him for a decade and he’s talked about it ad nauseum. On Jan. 8, 2000, the Bills lost a wild-card playoff game at Tennessee on a controversial lateral kickoff 22-16 after DeHaven called for a pooch kick instead of driving the ball deep. Despite 13 seasons of excellent work, he was fired by coach Wade Phillips. "I have talked to Wade Phillips a few times in the last few years," DeHaven said. "As the great sage, poet and passer rusher, Bruce Smith, once said ‘That’s water under the dam.’ … Of all the people involved I feel more hurt by it than anyone because I did feel responsible. I thought about things that had happened to us the last couple years (in that situation) and I thought that was the best kick. I don’t like the results but the only thing that made me feel like the decision was OK was I talked to Allen Lowery, the special teams coach for the Titans, about a month later he said ‘That’s the only kick we never practiced against; we kind of made it up as we went along.’ That was poor execution on our part."’