Two Bills Drive

‘If Moulds can go, Bailey is likely to cover him for the majority of the snaps. That would likely leave Bauman matched up with the 6-foot-1 Bobby Shaw–who has 26 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns this season–or 5-10 wideout Josh Reed.’

‘Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright played five seasons in Buffalo and doesn’t expect to hear a sound when he returns there for the first time since leaving after the 2000 season. “They didn’t know I was there when I was there,” Albright said, laughing. “That means I did my job.”‘

‘Moulds, whose status is improving, didn’t practice all last week and missed last Sunday’s 30-3 loss to the New York Jets. He could return to practice this week.’

‘”No, I have complete confidence in myself. When presented an opportunity to make a play I know that I can make it. As an offense we have to improve. The biggest area is our third down conversions. That’s not allowing us to sustain drives. Whatever the reason, we have to get it straightened out. We had some reasonable down and distance and we need to be able to convert those. No question.”‘

‘”Our personnel is what it is right now. Our roster is set and we play multiple packages. Guys are on the field a bunch with exception of our offensive line, it’s pretty much stays static throughout the course of a ballgame. In the special teams, the offense, and the defense everyone that dresses plays. Those guys are getting on the field in whatever packages we have. We have to make sure that our basics are being handled. We have to mark sure we are executing within the structure and the call and not trying to get too much too fast. Some guys are pressing a little bit and it’s my job to make sure they are not pressing too much. Just do what the design says and everything else is gravy. We’ll get back on base.”‘

‘On whether the Buffalo game is a “Must-Win”: “It would certainly help us to get this game and be in decent shape within our division. We’re in second place within our division. We’re not the only team struggling out there. But this is a crucial game for us.”‘

‘Q: Emotionally, how will it feel going back to Buffalo: A: “Certainly it will be an extra feeling and it’ll be an emotional experience. And I’m looking forward to it. Again, I can’t let that sidetrack me or this team. It’ll be a phenomenal experience. I think Darryl Talley’s jersey is being retired on Sunday and he’s being put on the Wall of Fame. It’ll be wonderful for him and a historic day. But once again, my mindset is going to be on playing well. And after the ballgame is over, I’ll have all the time in the world to visit with all of my friends that I’ve known for years in Buffalo.”‘

‘Running back Trung Canidate is listed as doubtful for the game with a mild ankle sprain. While club officials say there is a slight chance he could play on Sunday, Canidate was less optimistic.’

‘”The biggest thing I need to see is his overall conditioning,” head coach Gregg Williams said. “He’s in very good physical condition, he’s just got to get into playing shape.”‘

‘McGahee says he could do everything that was asked of him. He even played some defense on the scout team. Gregg Williams says McGahee will do more with the offense as the week goes on. The head coach says realistically, players need a few weeks to get into football shape. McGahee says he can play anytime the coaches ask him to.’

‘Canidate, the team’s leading rusher, has a severe ankle sprain. He is listed as doubtful and sounded pessimistic about his chances of playing.’

The smile was genuine, a reflection of how happy McGahee was following his long-awaited first practice since the Buffalo Bills made him their first-round draft pick last April.

‘On the change after starting the season 2-0: “We haven’t had any offensive rhythm. We haven’t been able to establish some of the things we did early in the year offensively. We’re trying to, maybe, do too much. I said earlier in the year that we probably aren’t as good as a 31-0 team when we won the opener, and we know we’re not as bad as the 30-3 loss to the Jets in this past ball game. We’re somewhere in between. A couple of guys have been pressing a little bit, trying to do more than what’s in the call instead of just executing the design of the play, the design of the call and anything after that is gravy. We just have to get back to the basics.”‘

‘Head coach Steve Spurrier said on Wednesday that cornerback Fred Smoot would sit out the game against the Buffalo Bills. Smoot has a sprained clavicle.’