Two Bills Drive

Larry Centers was only player Clayton’s All-AFC team

Bills: As many as 5 rookies are being played on defense. The run defense is porous. QB Johnson finally couldn’t avoid the sack that fractured his clavicle and sidelined him until December. Still, Williams is getting good effort out of the players. They are playing hard, particularly on defense. Maybe having Alex Van Pelt at QB will manage a more steady passing game. Rookie CB Nate Clements has all the looks of being a star. Still, the coaching turnover and the salary cap has caused a three-game drop to 1-7.

‘They don’t need a quarterback with a perfect body and a cannon for an arm. They already have one of those in Rob Johnson, and all they have to show for Johnson’s much-ballyhooed physical gifts is a 1-7 record.’

‘Against New England last week, the team burned three timeouts because players misunderstood signal calls and lined up wrong. Sunday against Seattle, the Bills plan to use less motion and shifting because it means using fewer words to communicate. "You can fool your opponent as much as you want but sometimes you do it so much, you fool yourself," said wide receiver Eric Moulds, who complained after the Patriots game about burdensome terminology to get a play off. "I think that’s what we’ve done a couple times."’

‘"I know that all the players have a lot of confidence in Alex," Bills guard Ruben Brown said in a telephone interview. "They all are very excited when Alex steps into the lineup. We know that he can win games for us."’

‘As many as 17 men have occupied the Seahawks quarterback position, but only a quartet of running backs have marked the past three decades. Sherman Smith started it all. He ran leadoff during the 1970s before giving way to Curt Warner, who carried the rushing load over the next decade. The ’90s belonged primarily to Chris Warren, who then made the exchange to Ricky Watters four years ago. And now, the baton, or rather the football, appears as if it’s changing hands again. This time, Shaun Alexander is on the receiving end and he’s running better than anyone has before him in the short amount of time since he’s arrived.’

‘Robbie Tobeck is up on his pulpit. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

The Seattle Seahawks’ center, team captain and, at 31, the old man of the offense, is going on about the young players not appreciating what it means to play in the NFL.’

‘"Don’t underestimate this guy," said Seahawks defensive tackle Chad Eaton, who was a member of a New England defense that faced Van Pelt in 1997. "Our whole thing when we played Buffalo was, ‘Don’t hurt Rob Johnson.’ That’s how much respect we have for (Van Pelt)."’

‘"It feels good. This is obviously a position that I tried to put myself in," Van Pelt said. "I haven’t had this kind of opportunity yet, and it’s something I’m really, truly looking forward to. I’m expecting good things."’

Buffalo is still trying to give the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium something to cheer about. The Bills are 0-4 at home for the first time since 1984, when they started 0-6. The Seahawks got back to the .500 mark last Sunday with an emotional 34-27 victory over the AFC West rival Oakland Raiders.

Seattle leads the all-time series, 5-3. This is the first meeting in Buffalo between the teams since 1995.

‘Dreisbach, a free agent, spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders and is familiar with the Bills’ West Coast offensive scheme. He has yet to appear in a game and missed all of last year with a shoulder injury.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has signed quarterback Scott Dreisbach (pronounced DRIZE-bock) to the team’s practice squad and released practice squad cornerback Tim Carter. Dreisbach (6-3, 210) signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1999 out of Michigan. He was on the Raiders 53-man roster for the entire 1999 season but failed to see any action and spent all of 2000 on Oakland’s injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old Dreisbach will wear jersey #3 with the Bills.’

‘Offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard plans to simplify the offense this week, something he probably would have done regardless of Johnson’s injury. With little talent on the offensive line and problems at quarterback, Sheppard’s offense has foundered. But the players have remained professional – in their approach to subterfuge. "Some of the plays today I don’t even think were in our playbook," receiver Eric Moulds told the Buffalo News after the loss to New England. Not to be left out, defensive tackle Shawn Price sprinkled a few granules of dissension. "It’s nice to see the defense growing," he said. "We didn’t take a step back. I think some other parts of our team have made a step back."’

QB Scott Dreisbach was signed to the PS. He spent the 1999 season with the Oakland Raiders but the 2000 season in injured reserve, will join the Bills practice squad this week to see if he can fill the role for the third QB on the team. Should the Bills need a third QB for Sunday’s game, the Bills will activate him and have to take someone off their current roster. He (like former Bills QB Todd Collins) is a former QB from Michigan.

NOTE: His uncle, Tom Ehlers, played in the NFL from 1975-81 with Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.

Last night the Bills held a Holiday Card drawing party for 50 children from Roswell Park in the Fieldhouse. Jack In Syracuse, TBD’s resident blue coat, has provided pictures and information from the event. Players in attendance were DaShon Polk, Junior Robinson, and Brian Moorman, along with several of the Jills.

Commisioner had control for weeks 1-3 so blame him why Bills have no meaningful games at home.

WEEK 1 – AUG 8 – AUG 12 – Cincinnati at Buffalo

WEEK 2 – AUG 15 – AUG 19 – Minnesota at Buffalo

WEEK 3 – AUG 22 – AUG 26 – Buffalo at Indianapolis

WEEK 4 – AUG 29 – SEP 1 – Buffalo at Detroit