Archives for September 2016

'The Bills have plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and Anthony Lynn's job will be to play to their strengths over the course of the season.'

'Perhaps most discouraging for these Bills was the play Thursday night of starting cornerbacks Stephone Gilmore and Ron Darby. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and his trio of receivers — Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Quincy Enunwa — embarrassed Gilmore and Darby all game long. For both, career nadirs.'

'Many Bills players felt the offense lacked an identity under Roman – even last season, when the team led the NFL in rushing, people with knowledge of dynamics in the locker room told USA TODAY Sports after Ryan informed players of the decision Friday.'

'It's not difficult at all to envision a 2-6 stretch over the Bills next eight games (best case?) and them sitting at 2-8 and effectively done for the year coming out of the bye.'

'Let the playmakers make plays.'

'As for the remainder of Buffalo’s season, let’s do some discouraging math.'

'Among the biggest issues the Pegulas had with the offense was that it ranked 21st the league in fewest third-down conversions last season and are atrocious in that area again this year. The owners didn't like the fact there were communication issues the past two games between the sidelines and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was getting plays from Roman slowly via the receiver in his helmet.'

'The owners expressed their concerns to coach Rex Ryan during a meeting Friday morning, a team source said, and Ryan took action.'

'“A-Lynn spoke to us real quick, kind of a bang-bang thing. His message was we’re going to get this right. We have the people in the room to do it.”'

'Real tough guy, that Rex Ryan. As soon as things got a little hot for the Bills' head coach, he proved what a fraud he really is by throwing Greg Roman under the bus. He presides over one of the most embarrassing defensive performances in Bills history and scapegoats his top offensive assistant as a result?'

'After the Jets fired Ryan, Lynn interviewed for head coaching positions with the Jets and Dolphins.'

'"I was afraid to pressure," Ryan said, "because we weren’t holding up in man coverage."'

'The Bills played against one of the NFL’s best defensive lines Thursday – without starting left tackle Cordy Glenn – and still managed to get through the game without allowing a sack. Taylor did get hit hard enough that he had to briefly exit to be checked for a concussion – and, technically, there was a sack on that play that was nullified by a penalty – but putting a zero in that column in the official stats is still something to build off. And for a replacement left tackle like Cyrus Kouandjio, not being the story after the game may as well be a positive.'

'Well, I recognize this isn’t an ideal situation to make a change, but we do actually have a couple extra days and I thought it’s better than doing it maybe after a Sunday game, so that’s kind of why we went with this decision today.'

'"I just want to thank the Pegulas for the opportunity to work in Buffalo, Russ Brandon, Doug Whaley, Rex Ryan and the entire Bills organization — all the great players and coaches I got to work with. I want to thank all the great fans of Buffalo for all and we love the community of Buffalo. I wish the Bills' organization the best moving forward."'