Archives for September 2014

‘”We’re a team that’s fighting for respect, and when you’re fighting for respect you get like that,” said RB Boobie Dixon of the emotional edge the team has displayed. “You feel some type of way and you have a chip on your shoulder. We still feel like we haven’t got the respect we deserve and you’ve got to earn it. We’re just trying to hit the field and get the respect we deserve. You’ve got to keep the intensity high to do that.”‘

‘Spiller is the second consecutive Bills player to be named Special Teams Player of the Week this season (Dan Carpenter won in Week 1). This is the second time in Bills history that two Buffalo players have won this award in consecutive weeks. The last time this occurred was in 1994 when P Chris Mohr won in Week 2 and K Steve Christie won in Week 3.’

‘”The Finance Committee of the National Football league has just met and has voted to unanimously recommend the Pegulas to be the next owners of the Buffalo Bills,” Grubman said. “That recommendation will go to our owners at our next league meeting which is scheduled for October 8th.”‘

‘Hughes gets in his three-point stance and is off like a shot, dipping his inside shoulder to slide under the offensive tackle, circle half the ring and slap the quarterback from behind. The Bills’ pass rusher tries a multitude of rush variations over the course of the next 20 minutes.’

‘Spiller’s game-worn throwback jersey from Buffalo’s 29-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday is now displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for approximately the next calendar year. The Hall of Fame requested the jersey after Spiller became the first NFL player to produce a 100-yard kick-return touchdown and a 45-yard rush in the same game since 1973. Spiller produced a 102-yard kick-return touchdown in the third quarter and a 47-yard rush in the fourth quarter.’

‘Through the first two weeks of the season, the Bills have struggled producing touchdowns once they get inside the red zone. It’s a problem that dates back to last season, when their touchdown percentage of 34 ranked 29th in the NFL.’

‘Meanwhile, Meeks has been dealing with a neck injury and has been limited in practice for the last few weeks. Buffalo has two safeties, Kenny Ladler and Deon Broomfield, on their practice squad.’

‘Chips. Quick throws. Motion. It’s common sense but if the QB doesn’t have the ball, then he can’t get sacked. Think back to Mario Williams debut against the New York Jets. No-name tackle Austin Howard kept him at bay. While headlines may have screamed that Williams was a no-show, the truth was in the game plan. A quick passing game is the most effective way to keep sack numbers down. Every little thing helps. From chips and quick throws, to motion that forces Wake himself to alter his read.’

‘To that end, the coaches did a great job Sunday in opening up the Dolphins’ defense. But I still have concerns about Marrone’s game-day decisions. He admitted Monday to being wrong about what yard line the Bills were on at one point, and then he spent a time out to correct the error. I don’t expect him to be perfect, and the Bills’ record speaks well of his performance.’

‘The Buffalo Bills also announced that the team has placed S Jonathan Meeks on the Reserve/Injured list.’

‘It’s only two games, but the Bills offense has operated at a much slower pace this year than it did last season. Buffalo is averaging 57.5 offensive plays per game after two weeks. Last year, the team averaged 69.8 offensive plays per game, 14 more plays per game.’

‘EJ Manuel has been effective under center for Buffalo, completing 32 of 48 passes for 375 yards, two touchdowns and only one interception for a 95.4 passer rating. His top target is rookie sensation Sammy Watkins, who through two games has caught 11 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. The Bills also have a particularly potent rushing attack led by the dynamic duo of C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson.’

‘Well, why not? If the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners can come back from the baseball dead this season, why can’t the Bills, long among the football deceased, sit up on their cold slab along Lake Erie and wink at all of us with the bad jokes?’

‘But, even more significant this season, the Bears and Dolphins have run 143 offensive plays against the Bills and have mustered only one for more than 18 yards.’