From ESPN Insider

[Indy Dave]

This is from ESPN.com and Scouts Inc. It's their preview of our game with the Jags.

 

Overview

There will be no shortage of talent in Buffalo's backfield, with the return of Travis Henry and Willis McGahee, who's healthy after missing his entire rookie season because of knee injury. The talented backs both feel they should be the starter, giving them that much more incentive to perform well given the opportunity.

Bills QB Drew Bledsoe finished last year with his worst quarterback ranking since his rookie season and many felt that Buffalo would release him. He'll want to disprove his critics and show he's still one of the best in the league with a strong start to the 2004 season.

 

Buffalo embarrassed the Jaguars in a 38-17 rout in then-first-year head coach Jack Del Rio's debut in Jacksonville. The Jaguars will want to return the favor in Bills' first-year head coach Mike Mularkey's debut in Buffalo.

 

 

When the Jaguars have the ball

Rushing: Buffalo did an excellent job of limiting RB Fred Taylor's production on the ground last year. And the Bills should have similar success this week, as there haven't been any changes in either team's fronts.

 

DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams excel at occupying blockers at the line of scrimmage, allowing the linebackers to flow to the ball without fighting through much traffic. OLBs Jeff Posey and Takeo Spikes both have the range to prevent Taylor from turning the corner when Jacksonville attacks the perimeter.

MLB London Fletcher doesn't have prototypical bulk for the position and Taylor can be surprisingly effective between the tackles, but Fletcher is efficient as well as a sound tackler that will wrap up. Kyle Brady will miss this game because of a tendon injury in his middle finger. Brady, who almost plays like another offensive lineman, will be missed on short-yardage and goal line situations, especially considering the Bills' defensive line is most vulnerable at left defensive end.

 

Rookie second-round-pick Greg Jones should get some short-yardage carries. While Jones hasn't shown great burst through the hole and lacks speed, he has the powerful style of running to pick up the tough yards after contact. If he struggles early, the Jaguars will just go back to Taylor or Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala if he's healthy. Fuamatu-Ma'afala might miss this game with a foot injury.

 

Passing: Buffalo failed once again to find an explosive pass rusher to complement RDE Aaron Schobel, as it cut OLB Jason Gildon. With Schobel and the rest of the defensive line working against an offensive line that gave up a franchise-low 28 sacks last year, it will be the responsibility of the secondary to bail the pass rush out this week.

 

 

 

The addition of DC Troy Vincent opposite DC Nate Clements, combined with the quick maturation of second-year nickel back Terrence McGee gives the Bills an excellent nickel package. They should match up well with Jacksonville's three-receiver sets.

Jimmy Smith has clearly lost a step with age, Reggie Williams hasn't developed as quickly as hoped and Troy Edwards struggled during the preseason. As a result, the Bills could record some coverage sacks in this game.

 

When the pass rush is able to get to QB Byron Leftwich, it will look to strip the ball from the second-year starter as much as possible. Leftwich lost nine fumbles last year and he does a poor job of covering the ball up at times. He isn't much of a threat to run, so he must make quicker decisions and be willing to throw the ball away when the pocket collapses around him.

 

When the Bills have the ball

Rushing: Buffalo signed ROG Chris Villarrial to replace the departed Ruben Brown. Villarrial is consistent, but he isn't dominant in any one area. This will be his first game in a Bills' uniform. With Villarrial adjusting and former undrafted free Lawrence Smith unexpectedly winning the starting job opposite Villarrial, there are plenty of questions along the interior offensive line.

 

That's not good news for Buffalo fans, because Jacksonville may have the best starting defensive tackle tandem in the league. DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud will clog up the middle and make it difficult for Buffalo to run between-the-tackles, especially in short-yardage situations.

 

The key to establishing Travis Henry and Willis McGahee on the outside will be getting a body on MLB Mike Peterson. Peterson flies to the ball and has the range to make plays from sideline-to-sideline. FB Daimon Shelton is a physical lead blocker, but Peterson has the quickness to beat him to the spot. It's critical that Shelton take good angles to his blocks this week.

 

Del Rio stressed the importance of sound tackling throughout the preseason. If his back seven hasn't learned the significance of breaking down and wrapping up, it could give up some big plays. Henry and McGahee run with good power and both show good speed in the open field.

 

Passing:

 

 

The pieces are in place for Bledsoe to have a big game. Adding first-round pick Lee Evans to complement Josh Reed and a now healthy Eric Moulds gives Buffalo a formidable three-receiver set.

Bledsoe has two backs who are capable of turning the short gain into the big play. With the running game setting up play action, he should be extremely productive working against a Jacksonville secondary that is without a true shutdown corner.

 

Of course, Bledsoe's biggest weakness is his tendency to hold onto the ball too long, causing him to take some big hits. But that shouldn't be a problem this week. The release of Hugh Douglas and Tony Brackens combined with Jorge Cordova's season-ending knee injury leaves the Jaguars without a quality pass rusher along the defensive line. As a result, Jacksonville will often play OLB Akin Ayodele at end when it goes to its nickel and dime packages. Ayodele has recorded four sacks over the past two seasons.

 

Buffalo's receivers must be aware of where SS Donovin Darius is on the field at all times. Darius plays with a mean streak and he times his hits extremely well. If one of the Bills' receivers doesn't see him when going over the middle, the result could be an incomplete pass or worse ? a fumble.

 

Scout's Edge

Jacksonville is a team on the rise and Buffalo is coming off a disappointing season. But look for the Bills to bounce back with a strong start in 2004 and give the Jaguars a dose of reality. Expect Jacksonville's strong run defense and Taylor to keep this game relatively close heading into the half.

 

Bledsoe, however, will make enough big plays to force the Jaguars to play off the ball, creating running lanes for Henry and McGahee. Once Buffalo has established the lead, it can just steadily rotate both backs into the game and wear

[Simon]

Seems like a pretty sensible review, but one thing puts me off.

 

Guy says this "DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams excel at occupying blockers at the line of scrimmage, allowing the linebackers to flow to the ball" but then follows it up with this "That's not good news for Buffalo fans, because Jacksonville may have the best starting defensive tackle tandem in the league"

 

PhatPat and The Keg are thee best DT tandem in the NFL bar none, and not only are they given left-handed shortshrift again, but their wannabe opponents get the nod from lesjudgesdefrancois.

 

Make them pay PhatPat........again and again and again and again.