Two Bills Drive

The Bills made the biggest jump as far as talent. Their stats were a little misleading a year ago. Although they ranked 15th overall, that was only because opponents ran the ball so well against them that they didn’t give up a lot of passing yards. The Bills surrendered 132 yards a game on the ground and 4.5 yards a carry.

‘"We have improved the team speed, but it is not one of the faster defenses that I have had the opportunity to coach, but we have improved significantly in that area. This team speed right now is the best since I have been here but we have still got to keep own players healthy. We have a long way to go before training camp starts. We are in some heavy phases of our program right now, in strength and speed phases. These next three weeks are critical and the final five weeks prior to training camp and opening day is another big phase that Rusty Jones and his staff have got to make sure that our guys are right on top of it."’

‘"It’s all going to start up front…with out offensive line," Bledsoe said. "Last year, they showed what they could do. This year they’re working together for the second straight year. I think they’re going to be a dominant group."’

The Bills revamped their entire offense last offseason simply by bringing in one key pawn – Drew Bledsoe. He tied everyone together by being the leader on a team that sorely needed one. Trust and good chemistry exploded among the offensive players, and the team jumped from 3-13 in 2001 to 8-8 and just out of the playoffs last season. The problem? There was little trust that the defense would do its share of the workload, which it rarely did. This offseason, Bills GM Tom Donahoe worked overtime to complete his repairs on that side of the ball. LB Takeo Spikes could turn into the Bledsoe-like leader the defense desperately needs. That in turn should improve the defense and allow the offense to transfer some of the load off its shoulders, rounding the team out and taking it to the playoffs.

27. Drew Bledsoe, QB, Buffalo Bills: One of the more underrated passers in the league, he is coming off one of his best seasons. When given time, and outside receivers, he is one of the best deep-ball throwers in the league.

OT Dave Foley – #78 – 1972-77

Great player at Ohio State who was drafted #1 by the NY Jets in 1969…obtained on waivers by the Bills in 1972…immediately inserted into the starting lineup at OT and was a key member of the "Electric Company" offensive line in 1973 that set the all-time Bills' record for rushing yards (3088)…retired after the 1977 season and now lives in Springfield, OH where he runs Foley Benefits Group (group benefits, financial planning)…served as a football official (umpire) in the Mid-American Conference for 18 years before retiring in 2002.

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‘Traded to Tampa Bay in ’88, Marve played four seasons for the Buccaneers and one in San Diego. Throughout his 11-year career, he planned for his post-career life. "I bought single-family houses; two and three bedroom homes, in my hometown of Flint, Michigan," Marve said. "I accumulated 63 homes. I’ve sold three since then, so I have 60 homes. I rent them all out. I’m a landlord."’

‘"I was really impressed last year with Drew thinking like Kevin," coach Gregg Williams said. "They were in really in sync. As they continue to work together, I think you will see Drew take another step and hopefully we will get better around Drew. I think we’ll be as explosive as we were last year, and I think we have a chance to be even more explosive if we stay healthy."’

"I just liked playing… I loved playing… I liked the challenge… I was actually halfway decent at something – so when people keep encouraging you – when things are going good – like when my Mom & Dad did – I was the ninth of ten kids – I was playing for my family – this was the biggest treat in the world and my wife was the oldest of eight (kids) – so, hey – can you believe this?"

‘The team will be on the field four days in each of the next three weeks.’

‘If the new additions come together quickly, the Bills could make some serious noise atop this division.’

”’Eric’s a guy that we expect to carry a heavy load as he has a lot of years here,” Bledsoe said. ”But with Peerless gone, I think he’s going to have to carry a little bit more of the load. And he knows that, and he’s been working his butt off.”’