‘It’s different this year. In fact, the Patriots have evolved into a balanced offense in recent years. Three years ago, they threw the ball 65-percent of the time. So far this year, they’re throwing it 56-percent of the time. They’re in the top third of the league in percentage of run plays called.’
Archives for October 2018
Scouting Report – Week 8 – Bills vs. Patriots
‘In much the same way that the Colts were able to run on the Bills last week, Buffalo must turn those tables on New England. The Patriots are ranked 21st against the run. Provided LeSean McCoy can be cleared from the concussion protocol, he and Chris Ivory need to have success if the Bills are to have a chance.’
Bills Today: Tre White talks sophomore improvement, Pats’ offense
‘“I tend to try to go to the overall team and try to look at formations, certain stuff they’re going to run out of certain formations,” White said. “Then I go in and try to study one guy. I try to get a feel for the overall offense before I just try to key in on one guy.”’
One solution to Bills’ passing problems? Throw more to LeSean McCoy
‘The Patriots excel at the tactic with receiving back James White, who is a matchup problem for defenses. White averages only 5.7 carries a game. But his 45 receptions ranks No. 2 in the NFL among running backs. White has lined up wide or in the slot as a receiver on 20 percent of his snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.’
Bills Notebook: Starting quarterback Derek Anderson limited at practice
‘“The more days here’s here, the more he’s aware of what we’re trying to do and the more you can do,” coach Sean McDermott said. “He’s worked hard over the last couple of days.”’
Mark Gaughan’s X’s and O’s: Great special teams another credit in Belichick legacy
‘The Patriots have ranked among the top half of the league on special teams 10 straight years, according to The Dallas Morning News annual ranking. They were in the top six in six of the last eight years. They were No. 1 in 2010 and 2013.’
New Bills QB Derek Anderson needs to play better, and he knows it
‘“I felt prepared and I said that after the game, I didn’t have any self-doubt,” Anderson said. “I went into the game, I knew what they were gonna do, or I thought I knew what they were gonna do. And, you know, as far as our offense, our plays, our play calls, I knew every detail that needed to be known.”’
Jerry Hughes praises Tom Brady’s toughness; explains how Bills can stop him
‘”Just for someone of his age and his caliber you wouldn’t expect him to get down in the trenches and get dirty and be willing to bang a little bit,” Hughes said. “Some of those quarterbacks don’t like that contact. But him, he gets down there and he does it. He’s an expert at it because whenever it comes to 4th-and-1 he gets it.”‘
Bills RB LeSean McCoy still in concussion protocol, status uncertain vs. Patriots
‘McCoy practiced Thursday but was limited and wore a red no-contact jersey as the Bills prepared for their first Monday Night Football game at New Era Field since 2008.’
7 things Bills QB Derek Anderson said about Josh Allen and facing Patriots
‘”They’re a good football team. There’s no question about that. Fortunately, I just have to play their defense. That’s my focus this week. They’ve got a good defense. They’ve got a good scheme to try and take away guys and who they think are going to be our biggest threats and take away the things that we do well. They are a good football team, but I just have to focus on their defense.”‘
Patriots will have ‘no fans’ at New Era Field on MNF, says Devin McCourty
‘”It’s one of those, and I’ve said it before, it’s one of those away games where we have no fans there. Like, even the couple of fans that come, they won’t take over that stadium. The Buffalo fans will be there. They’ll be giving us the middle finger as soon as we get in town. Like most teams, it’s when you pull into the stadium. There, it’s like as soon as you get within a couple miles of the stadium… They’ll be ready to go.”‘
Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly coming to Syracuse to sign autographs
‘Tickets for the event start at $65 for a photo with Kelly; prices are higher for autographs. VIP packages are also available for $250.’
Bills coach Sean McDermott explains why Buffalo starts an undrafted Patriots rookie who missed the preseason
‘”Yeah, our guys did their research and felt like it was an opportunity for us to get a young player that they had scouted and [were] really interested in college,” Bills coach Sean McDermott explained via conference call Thursday. “We had a need, and Corey was there.”‘
Patriots to see a familiar foot in Buffalo
‘Despite his oftentimes fancy foot work in training camp, Bojorquez never set foot on the field in a preseason game with the Patriots, the popular theory being that the team was hoping to sneak him through waivers during its cuts to the regular-season roster limit of 53 and stow him away on the practice squad as a developmental punter behind six-year veteran Ryan Allen. If that was indeed the plan, it failed when the Bills put a claim on Bojorquez when he was waived on Sept. 1, clearing room for him on their 53-man roster by releasing Colton Schmidt, their punter since 2014.’
Why Bills Took Chance On Corey Bojorquez After Punter’s Strange Stint With Patriots
‘Rostering a healthy player for an entire summer without ever playing him is highly unusual. Some speculated the Patriots might have been trying to hide the strong-legged 22-year-old from other teams with the hopes of sneaking him onto their practice squad, where he would have more time to develop his punting precision.’