Archives for September 2014

‘Watkins’ struggles went beyond the stat sheet and the one play he took off. Pro Football Focus graded him as at -4.0, a grade worse than only two other players on the Bills’ offense. EJ Manuel’s quarterback rating when throwing to Watkins was 39.6 just a week after it was 137.3 when throwing to Watkins against the Dolphins. Needless to say, Watkins will have better days.’

‘Buffalo Bills wide receiver and special teams ace Marcus Easley is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a sprained MCL, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan.’

‘Even last year, they nearly upset the Patriots in Week 1, and went 2-2 through September with wins over the Panthers and Ravens. Manuel had been a horrible reach in the first round, but he actually looked pretty decent. Things were looking up. Then they lost eight of their last 12, and … yep, 6-10 for the fourth time in five years.’

‘”You’re not going to win every game. It’s how it is,” defensive back Corey Graham said. “You’re going to have losses. You’re going to have setbacks.”‘

‘Coach Doug Marrone declined Monday to reveal the severity or nature of the injury. He says Easley is still being evaluated.’

‘Gilmore played 49 of 66 defensive snaps, McKelvin played 46, and Graham 33, though some of those come at safety due to injuries to Aaron Williams and Da’Norris Searcy. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, didn’t have a ball intercepted and only one of his seven incompletions was the result of a breakup, that by Graham.’

‘”We’re gonna put him back and see how he is moving around the field first,” Marrone said. “I think he should be ready to come back.”‘

‘Cornerback Nickell Robey was benched for, what it seemed to be, poor play against the San Diego offense. Robey accounted for only 42-percent of the snaps, even though the Chargers were in three-wide receiver sets a majority of the time. Robey was replaced by Ron Brooks, who received 35-percent of snaps on defense.’

‘Sammy Watkins’ 13 receptions through the first three games are tied for the second most in team history (Haven Moses, 1968 and Josh Reed, 2002). RB Joe Cribbs has the most receptions with 15 in 1980.’

‘And, with the exception of the special teams, which had a third straight solid game, though exerting little impact on the outcome, Buffalo’s defeat was a collective effort.’

‘”I love winning, so whatever it takes to win, that’s what I’m here for and that’s what I’m here to do,” said Brown, who ran for 261 yards and a touchdown against another Buffalo team, the UB Bulls, in the 2009 Independence Bowl, in his final game at Connecticut. “Whether it’s one carry or all the carries, whenenever your number’s called, just make the most of the opportunity.”‘

‘The Chargers three sacks of Manuel were recorded by linebacker Dwight Freeney, the former Colt, and ends Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes. It was the second of the year for both Freeney and Liuget, tops on the team, and the first for Reyes.’

‘I see Manuel float and overthrow passes. I see an awkward delivery. I see spotty accuracy. I see a guy who always takes the safe route instead of taking a shot.’

‘A Buffalo defense that had given up only one play of more than 20-plus yards in its first two games gave up six such plays Sunday.’

‘”I always felt like I belonged in the NFL, since I was a little kid,” Oliver said in the Chargers’ locker room after San Diego’s 22-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. “Nobody could tell me that I wouldn’t be here. It’s something I always desired it in my heart, and God knew that. He got me here, and I wouldn’t be here without him.”‘