Two Bills Drive

‘While this week isn’t critical, it sure is pivotal. The Bills may be winless, but they also are bad hosts when the Jets pay their annual visit, having won five of the last six at Ralph Wilson Stadium. A loss would drop the Jets to 1-3 (1-2 in the division) and their summer talk about being a playoff team and aspiring to play in the Super Bowl would ring very hollow.’

‘Pat Williams looks around and shakes his head at what remains of the once-proud Buffalo Bills defense he played for during his first three NFL seasons. With preseason cuts, free-agent defections and in-season injuries, only one member of last year’s starting front seven – linebacker Keith Newman – will be on the field Sunday when the Bills host the New York Jets.’

‘Gregg Williams needed little time to consult his exhaustive database of candidates and peg Sheppard as his guy back in February. The new head coach said, "Mike has had to learn at the elbow of one of the masters of the West Coast offense in Mike Holmgren." But what exactly did Sheppard learn during his two-year stint as Seattle’s quarterbacks coach?’

‘Forget Johnson’s other problems for a moment. Unless offensive line coach Ronnie Vinklarek and offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard can turn a bunch of very large young men better suited for construction work into a cohesive unit very quickly, it won’t matter if Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas are time-warped forward from 1991.’

‘He minimized the importance of experience and leadership as Buffalo not only lost a handful of players to free agency – most notably Marcellus Wiley – but also turned loose a dozen veterans including lockerroom leaders Henry Jones and John Holecek.’

Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Kris Farris will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair his broken right leg.

On Monday, Bills coach Gregg Williams said the team will place Farris on the injured reserved list, and consider their options on how to fill that roster spot.

With the unusual October schedule, how do you plan on utilizing that on improving the team?

"The coaches are taking a look at that, and their plan was to initially have some practices that were dedicated to fundamentals, then start working on Jacksonville, and then we’ve got another stretch after that as well, and then we can get ready to play San Diego. Obviously, as you get closer to the game, you can focus in on who you’re playing, and prepare to do that. The extra time, you have to use wisely, and try to improve the fundamentals of your football team."

Antoine Winfield is a perfect fit with the new defensive scheme brought into Buffalo by Williams and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. Unlike a lot of players at his position, he plays a very physical style and is regarded as one of the best tacklers in the league, despite having a smaller 5-9, 180 pound frame.

Farris, who has had foot injuries previous two years, will be placed on the IR list. Farris, making his first NFL start, was injured by Travis Henry as he was blocked and rolled over his leg breaking it.

Other players are to be re-evaluated later this week.

FB Larry Centers was chosen by fans to receive the buffalobills.com Game Ball of the Week for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Centers became the first back in NFL history to record 700 catches in a career. You can ask Centers a question this week.

‘Williams feels the team’s problems come down to poor execution of techniques and communication breakdowns by the players and coaches.’

‘"The only thing harder than playing in the National Football League is standing on the sidelines and watching your teammates fight out there," he said. "It tears you up. It’s the worst feeling. It’s not because I don’t have faith in the guys who are in there. It’s just in your blood and you want to be out there."’

‘"I don’t think words can describe how I feel right now," Moulds said. "It’s like I’m out there running around for nothing. It’s ridiculous." Ouch.’

‘"We’re going to struggle this year coming up (2002), then we’re going to be in the clear," Wilson said. "We’ll have this cap strangulation behind us. "I told Tom Donahoe when I first talked to him, ‘Tom, we’ve got a terrible cap situation and I want you to know that up front.’ I admire him because he knew it and he still came over here and tackled the job." Wilson said he was for the fast, not gradual, approach.’

‘One thing that is certain: If Johnson does practice and play, coach Gregg Williams expects him to play better than he did in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "I thought he took a step back this week," Williams said yesterday after what must have been a painful film-watching session.’