‘“As an offense, you want to get to the point to where every time you step on the field, you’re getting points,” Beasley said. “I mean, I know that’s hard to do. But we come out there with the mentality that nobody’s going to stop us and we’re going to score. I think that confidence built some last year, and even the year before. But even more so this year.”‘
Archives for September 9, 2021
With Steelers stud back Najee Harris coming to town, Bills know they need to tackle better
‘According to pro-football-reference.com, the Bills ranked tied for sixth in the NFL last season with 125 missed tackles (the Raiders led the NFL with 143, while the 49ers were the best with just 69). The numbers on analytics website Pro Football Focus differ slightly, but tell a similar story. PFF charged the Bills with 136 missed tackles last season, which tied for ninth most in the league with Pittsburgh – Sunday’s opponent in the season opener at Highmark Stadium. Houston’s 155 missed tackles led the NFL, according to PFF, while the Los Angeles Rams led the league with just 97 missed tackles (a fairly wide disparity from the data kept by PFR, demonstrating the subjective nature of the statistic).’
The Editorial Board: Poloncarz dropped the ball by reversal on vaccine mandate for Bills games
‘A question confronting the Bills now is how much do stadium personnel need to act as mask police? The team requires all fans to wear a mask in enclosed areas of the stadium, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated fans are required to wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. Is there any practical way to enforce those rules?’
Dynamic passing game leads Buffalo Bills explosive offense into 2021 season
‘“It’s harder when you’re playing well and people know that you can play well,” Diggs said earlier this week. “And then you’ve got to live up to a standard of playing well each and every day, each and every game. Last year is over. We can’t translate those wins, but what we can do is take what we did from the good side of it and translate it to this year and the things that we didn’t do well. We didn’t do X-Y-Z well, let’s make sure that’s a point of emphasis going into the year.”’
The Bills pinpointed upgrading their tackling as a key to defensive improvement this year
‘“When we started OTAs and the offseason program, we put a heavy emphasis on tackling,” Frazier said Wednesday. “That was an area we really wanted to improve as a defense, which we thought would also help our run defense. There were some other things that we emphasized, but that was probably the one thing we really harped on, improving our tackling.”’
Can Greg Rousseau, Bills’ revamped DL hit ground running vs. Steelers? (6 things to watch)
‘Buffalo should have their fair share of opportunities to exploit Pittsburgh’s offensive line, get after Ben Roethlisberger and hit the ground running in 2021.’
Thursday’s Pittsburgh Coverage
‘There’s going to be growing pains’: Ben Roethlisberger tempers hype for Steelers’ offense in Week 1 (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Joe Starkey: T.J. Watt blinked, but there’s only one way he can really lose (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
T.J. Watt practices with first-team defense as discussions on new contract continue (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Paul Zeise’s mailbag: Are the Steelers overrated? (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
True to his word, T.J. Watt makes full practice debut with Steelers (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Steelers notes: Kendrick Green, Alex Highsmith, Tyson Alualu show up on initial injury report (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Steelers’ handling of Watt negotiations an embarrassment (Beaver County Times)
Watt, ‘Worth Every Penny,’ Returns To Practice For Steelers (AP)
Ben Roethlisberger says Pittsburgh Steelers should pay T.J. Watt ‘whatever he wants’ (ESPN)
T.J. Watt contract: Ben Roethlisberger says he ‘should get whatever the heck he wants,’ pass rusher practices (CBS Sports)
Ben Roethlisberger had some strong things to say on T.J. Watt’s Steelers contract negotiation (The Sporting News)
T.J. Watt goes full in practice, contract status still unknown (KDKA-FM)
Watt says he’s ready to go 100% on Sunday but will take himself out if needed (KDKA-FM)
Schobert reunited with Watt as TJ returns to practice (KDKA-FM)
Roethlisberger says Watt should get whatever he wants (KDKA-FM)
Did Najee Harris just leak Watt’s extension? (KDKA-FM)
Steelers first injury report (KDKA-FM)
Ben expects growing pains (Steelers.com)
Reunited and it feels so good (Steelers.com)
Week 1 Injury Report (Bills) (Steelers.com)
Asked and Answered: Sept. 9 (Steelers.com)
Steelers at Bills: How to watch/listen to the game (Steelers.com)
British NFL star tipped for success with Buffalo Bills as they target Super Bowl glory
‘There are plenty of international players beginning to establish themselves on different rosters around the league, and NFL Africa was launched recently as gridiron football seeks a foothold in new markets.’
Diggs Finds Validation In Being Selected A Bills Captain
‘“It means even more now just as far as being acknowledged by your peers,” he added, with Buffalo preparing to open its season hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday. “The fact that they trust you in the biggest moments and they trust you on a daily basis that you’re going to do the right thing on and off the field, yeah, I was happy.”’
Steelers at Bills time, odds, prediction: How to watch, key matchups as Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Allen battle
‘Caesars Sportsbook has tabbed the Bills as a 6.5 favorite while the over/under is now 48.5. While they only combined to score 41 points in last year’s meeting, I expect the two teams to exceed 50 points on Sunday. The weather will be better than it was on that December night, and both teams have since added significant weapons to their skill positions. As far as picking a winner, I’ll go with the Bills. They’re playing at home, and given their continuity and the Steelers’ questions on the offensive line and in the secondary, Buffalo is the much safer pick. Look for Allen to take advantage of a Steelers secondary that is still figuring each other out. But if the Steelers’ offense can stay out of too many third-and-long situations, Roethlisberger and company may keep things interesting. And as you can see below, I have a feeling that both teams’ red zone offenses will surely not be in midseason form.’
Mike Tomlin see similarities in Josh Allen, Ben Roethlisberger
‘“No question. I remember when [Allen] came out of Wyoming, and I remember the comparisons then, and I saw that in him then,” Tomlin said. “So I’m not surprised by the comparisons, not surprised by his skillset and the things he’s capable of doing, [as well as] the style of game he plays.’
Bills defense must limit explosive plays from Steelers RB Najee Harris
‘“He’s one of those guys who as a running back has really good vision you know he can see things that a lot of other backs can’t see. There are times where he’s about to approach a hole and it may look a little cloudy and he’s able to find that opening and the real good ones they’re able to do that,” Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Wednesday before practice.’
Leslie Frazier thinks Bills DT Ed Oliver can have a ‘bust out season’ in year three
‘“He’s definitely matured as a player, you can see his growth, we’re all watching his maturation, it’s been a process and it’s been really good. You can see him really ascending as a player,” Frazier said before practice on Wednesday.’
Bills Injury Report: September 8th
‘DT Star Lotulelei (calf) has been nursing an injury to his calf for over a week, and after Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he would be either “limited or not out there” for practice on Tuesday, Lotulelei did not take the field on Wednesday.’
Tremaine Edmunds sets the bar high for a breakout season
‘Edmunds had a good 2020 season with 119 tackles but still at times wasn’t consistent on plays and even hesitated on initiating contact. The media on Wednesday spoke to Edmunds and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who said the two have big expectations this season to officially be an considered an elite linebacker in the league.’