Two Bills Drive

‘”We got to see some of the younger guys and what they were going to do in their first live competition,” said Mike Mularkey. “It’s hard to give them a grade right now, immediately, but I’m assuming it should be good watching it on tape for some of the young guys.”‘

‘Bills coach Mike Mularkey had no problems with Bledsoe letting the offense know where he stood. “I was extremely pleased by what he did on the sidelines,” Mularkey said. “Don’t wait until Monday to tell them. He recognized there was an issue and he addressed it.”‘

‘Mularkey’s primary task is to restore balance to the attack, to reduce the sacks and turnovers and in that way help Bledsoe and the warrior defense (coord. Jerry Gray has been retained). If he can do it, the Bills can play with any team in the AFC East (except New England).’

‘"As the day went on, from my perspective, it looked like he got more comfortable, as he took another hit and took another hit," said backup quarterback Travis Brown. "He started to run a little harder. On the goal line he was putting his head down and getting in there. On a couple plays we were really close to seeing something unbelieveable. He was really close."’

‘"The O-line was opening up holes and giving me creases, and all I had to do was hit it," Suggs said.’

‘Good for him, and very good for the Buffalo Bills.’

‘He’s just another "U" for unsatisfactory on Donahoe’s report card.’

‘"I think two things were apparent," Bledsoe said. "No. 1, we came out and ran the ball extremely well the first couple of plays. We showed what we’re capable of against a good defense. We also showed if we can’t build a little bit more mental toughness to fight through the adversity of one mistake and not allow that to snowball into two and three mistakes, then we’re not going to be successful."

‘"You could really see Lee’s speed," Brown said. "He was so wide-open that I didn’t want to overthrow him. He probably would have scored if I hit him in stride. But I wanted to complete the ball. We had one yesterday that just went off his fingertips. That was in the back of my mind."’

‘”Two things were very apparent,” Bledsoe said. “We came out and ran the ball extremely well the first couple of plays. We showed what we are capable of against a good defense running the ball the way we did. We also showed that if we can’t build a little more mental toughness to fight through the adversity of one mistake and not allow that to snowball into two or three mistakes, we’re not going to be successful.’

‘”We’re going to be better this year. We’ve got more chemistry, and in this scrimmage alone it’s starting to show. We were able to make some turnovers and guys were starting to make more plays because they know the defense.”‘

‘In order to match the success of the 2003 Panthers, Buffalo’s defense would have to produce significantly more turnovers, Travis Henry and Willis McGahee would have to be at least as effective rushing the football as Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster were last year, and QB Drew Bledsoe would have to bounce back and be at least as productive as the 2003 version of Jake Delhomme (3,219 yards passing with 19 TD passes and 16 interceptions).’

‘Jeff Garcia’s first pass as a Brown in a game-type situation was one he’ll soon try to forget.’

‘The play was designed to go to the left, with Suggs following fullback Terrelle Smith. But Suggs said the Browns had watched film of the Bills Friday night and noticed that their defense often overpursued. Suggs said Smith told him before the snap he was going to try to create a hole in the middle.’

‘No scoreboard was used, but the Bills technically won the scrimmage 14-0. Willis McGahee scored from scrimmage from the 1 and defensive end Michale Spicer picked up a fumble by Luke McCown and ran about 50 yards for the Bills other touchdown.’