Archives for September 28, 2014

‘Bills 17, Texans 14.’

‘Are they the team that went to Chicago to knock off the Bears in Week 1 before returning home and dominating the division rival Miami Dolphins, or are they the Bills that looked outmatched against the San Diego Chargers in Week 3?’

‘Pick plays, also known as rub routes, have been around forever. High schools run them effectively. But they’ve been more noticeable because they offer a pointed rebuttal to the aggressive, man-to-man defenses that have gained popularity in recent years.’

‘Manuel needs to unshackle himself soon and play the kind of game that skeptics expect from a franchise QB, one where the man playing football’s most vital position seizes command and makes the team and the offense his own.’

‘Bills 24, Texans 20.’

‘Fitzpatrick may be a Harvard graduate, but he was a quintessential Buffalo guy with his friendly nature, his flannel shirts and jeans, and that still present and still-spectacular beard that even members of the Boston Red Sox have to admire.’

‘Texans 26, Bills 23.’

‘On Friday, coach Doug Marrone wouldn’t commit to who would replace Williams in the starting lineup, but rookie fifth-round pick Cyril Richardson could be in line to take over. Veteran lineman Kraig Urbik will also be available, but he’s the team’s backup center, so the Bills like to have him available as a swing man.’

‘”My mom made a little joke with me yesterday,” Williams said. “She said, ‘Dang, you went from getting 89 passes a year to one-and-a-half a game. I’m like ‘Yeah, things change.”

‘”It’s one of those things, when you’re a first-time coordinator, a young coordinator, you pick and choose your battles,” Hackett said. “I mean, they knew how I felt about Fitz. I had a great relationship with him. I really respect him as a quarterback. I was excited to work with him, but this is a business, too, and I have to trust all of the guys that hired me. I mean, they hired me, so I trust them already. There’s so many things that go into that kind of process, it’s like I’m just here to coach the guys that they are going to put in the room and I go from there.”‘

‘Since 1995, Marrone has turned a playing career that included just five NFL games and a brief NFL Europe run in London into three collegiate and four pro coaching stints.’

Contingency plans would behoove Texans (Houston Chronicle)

Bond between O’Briens and Marrones endures (Houston Chronicle)

McClain’s guide to Texans-Bills game (Houston Chronicle)

Blue gaining confidence (Houston Community Newspapers)

NFL preview: Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills (Houston Community Newspapers)

‘Wide receiver Marcus Easley (knee) and linebacker Randell Johnson (linebacker) are also out. Linebacker Keith Rivers (groin), safety Da’Norris Searcy (ankle) and cornerback Ron Brooks (illness) are probable.’

‘Goodwin is recovering from a concussion and Williams is out with a back injury.’

‘It is pretty apparent that they make him better. How? Take a look…’.