Two Bills Drive

‘"We have to be smart how we use them," Mularkey said. "We have two guys who don’t just have speed but are big, physical backs. People don’t realize they’re 240 pounds, well-built and can get to the edge. It’s hard to say how the whole thing will play out. Willis has great ability, but he has to prove himself."’

‘Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe was unhappy with the team’s mistakes. "We came out and ran the ball extremely well the first couple of plays. We showed that we are capable of against a good defense, coming out and running the ball the way we did. We also showed that if we can’t build a little bit more mental toughnesss to fight through then adversity of one mistake and not allow that to snowball into two and three mistakes, then we’re not going to be successful."’

‘But Mularkey never has been in charge of a whole team. He never has set the agenda for both sides of the ball, never been a policy maker, never been the primary link between the team and the keepers of the team’s finances. Mularkey never has been as accountable as he is now.’

‘First and foremost, Willis McGahee is no longer a guy who’s rehabbing his knee, but rather a running back on the Bills roster, who looks good enough to challenge for a starting spot in the NFL. Travis Henry started the day with the first team offense, and ran the ball effectively, before penalties thwarted the drive. Henry was very productive, but I got the impression that the Bills coaching staff was at Fisher today for the same reason most of the fans were – find out what Willis McGahee can do.’

‘Q. How did Willis McGahee look to you?

A. Ask Buffalo how he looked. I don’t know.’

‘All told when the regular units were on the field, the Bills offense and defense each scored once. The Browns did not score.’

‘On his way back to the sideline, McGahee was greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd behind the Buffalo bench at the Bills training camp site in suburban Rochester. ”It’s good to know that they’re behind me and they want to see how I do,” McGahee said. ”And I’m just glad to score and let them know that I can still do certain things.”’

‘He was the key force in the Browns offense even though he was limited to playing only the first of four offensive series. Suggs carried five times for 82 yards, including a nifty cutback run of 50 yards on Cleveland’s second offensive play of the scrimmage held at the Bills training camp site in suburban Rochester.’

‘On recovering from some early mistakes and Drew Bledsoe speaking to his teammates on the sidelines:

I was extremely please by what he did on the sideline. That’s what we need. Don’t wait until Mondays after games to address the problem. They’re recognizing at least that they have an issue and they’re trying to address it and take care of it so when they go back on the field it’s been talked about. They know that probably their biggest opponent that they’ll face can be themselves. It’s just too hard to make mistakes against good football teams and every team is good to overcome. It was a good example. I’m glad it was a scrimmage it took place in.’

‘On if he thought about all of his hard work and rehab after his first touchdown:

Not yet. It doesn’t start until preseason. It was a good day today to go against the Cleveland Browns in a scrimmage, but it will really pay off during preseason and during the regular season.’

‘"The protection was outstanding," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "We ran the ball well at times, so that gives me a reason to be very optimistic about what we’ve done so far as far as the changes."’

‘"I try to come back stronger and faster and more mentally prepared as far as knowing the schemes and the defense," Clements said Friday. "I know the defense now. I’m expanding on it by knowing what all the guys around me are doing to help me be in the best position."’

‘”Both clubs are trying to establish identity, both clubs are trying to look good against an opponent and, you know, we play a contact sport,” Bills cornerback Troy Vincent said. “It’s a physical and emotional game, so you’re going to have emotions flaring because everyone wants to make a play. (The gunner drill) is the highlight of the morning. It got the juices flowing.”‘

‘”Sometimes with rookie quarterbacks, if they’re not absolutely positive where they should go with the ball, they should just take it and run. With him, that’s OK.” Bills coach Mike Mularkey on fleet QB J.P. Losman.’

‘”I think we have some talent,” said McNally, who as one of the most respected line coaches in the league knows what he’s talking about. “I don’t know how much depth we have, but we have some guys with experience.”‘