Two Bills Drive

‘The team’s highest-priced players going into next season include both quarterbacks, defensive linemen Washington and Phil Hansen, linebackers Sam Rogers and John Holecek, defensive backs Henry Jones and Ken Irvin, and offensive linemen Jerry Ostroski and Joe Panos.’

‘Police booked a second man Friday in the Jan. 22 robbery and carjacking of Buffalo Bills defensive back Raion Hill.’

‘[Requires Free Registration] Harris was most recently the offensive backfield coach for the Buffalo Bills in 1998 and 1999, when he was on the same staff with the Jets’ new defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell. Harris was out of football last season, after being fired by the Bills at the end of the 1999 season, apparently over philosophical differences with the former coach Wade Phillips and the offensive coordinator Joe Pendry.’

‘I was looking around and i found a site that has the info on the 46 Defense.’ [This isn’t really a news piece, but it does provide technical details surrounding the infamous defensive scheme.]

‘Williams said when he was hired he wanted a staff well-schooled in teaching fundamentals and Graves seems to fit that mold. Bills president Tom Donahoe echoed those sentiments and he also noted this week the club would not be hesitant to hire college coaches to attract the caliber of staffers it wanted.’

‘"Nobody’s going to give up something to absorb a burden on their cap. If I’m the new coach, I’ll stay with the 27-year-old with upside and two years of contract left and hope he becomes a leader and gets better. I don’t care how good Flutie is right now at his age."’

‘Smith, who has joined Butler in San Diego as assistant general manager, said owner Ralph Wilson "dictated" what took place in Buffalo. "John has taken unwarranted hits on all those things concerning Buffalo’s salary cap," Smith said. "Just ask Mr. Wilson. He was the one involved with that."’

‘Graves, a Ute assistant coach since 1982, will work under new Bills Coach Gregg Williams, who played for Graves at Northeast Missouri 25 years ago, and offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard, a former New Mexico coach and Brigham Young graduate assistant.’

‘Dr. Z looks at Ravens’ D compared to great defenses of years past. Bills’ note is that the mid ’60s unit is used as one of the comparison teams (and is the only AFL team mentioned) Congrats, Old Rockpile.’

‘Like the controversial show on MTV, Jackass, it was almost (but not quite) amusing when it first happened. Running a parallel of the Presidential election, major sporting news sources stated that there was an equally important campaign going on in Buffalo Rob Johnson or Doug Flutie?’

‘Fred Graves, who has coached Utah wide receivers for 19 seasons, is the leading candidate to become receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills, a hiring that could become official today.’

‘Graves, 50, has 26 years experience at the college level, including the last 19 at Utah. Since 1998 he has been assistant head coach in charge of receivers for Utah. He also coached running backs and served as offensive coordinator.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with Fred Graves as receivers coach. Graves, 50, comes to the Bills with 26 years of coaching experience at the college level, including the last 19 seasons at Utah. Since 1998 he held the title of assistant head coach/receivers.’

After saying at his Buffalo introduction. that he would be accessible to all the media, Bills’ head coach, Gregg Williams went live on the air with Bauerele and the Bulldog on WGR-55 this morning.

Coach Williams’s first comments were regarding the issue paramount in most Bills’ fans minds – who’s the QB? He said no decision has been made yet and a process on continual evaluation is ongoing but there will be a decision by March 1st. He said all the parties would meet in Buffalo and “I want men to be treated like men and I want people to talk face to face. The Bills would be “starting off fair (with all parties) understanding what we had to do and why we’re doing it. I think that’s important to start that way right off the bat.”

On his selection of OC, Mike Sheppard, Williams praised his background education and his “organized approach – an attacking approach” that he learned from the likes of Ted Marchibroda, Kevin Gilbride and Mike Holmgren.

His view of the West Coast offense?

“It’s based on short, quick rhythm passing with the set-up of the QB and various concepts of stretching the field sideways and horizontally with seam and vertical stretches down the field. But the thing (offense) is based on having the QB get rid of the ball quickly.”

The passing game sets up the power running game and leads to further and opportunities. Coach Williams emphasized the style that Jeff Garcia brings to the West Coast offense where, “Jeff G. and his elusiveness run, create things out of a bad situation with his legs. It’s an offense that’s easily adaptable to each QB who has a chance to run it.”

Williams’ ideal quarterback? A player with the physical ability including the parts of feet, arm, hands and brain and the ability to improvise. The ideal QB also has his teammates’ confidence. Gregg stated that both current candidates have these intangibles.

Coach Williams wants his coaching staff assembled and in place by Sunday when they will all gather in Buffalo. He said there may be still be a vacancy but didn’t elaborate which one. There have been discussions with Joe Ferguson and Mike Sheppard will continue talking with Joe. Williams emphasized that all the coaches will be on the same page and that the players will be getting the same message from everyone.

‘Two Titan fans informed our message board readers about an excellent interview Williams had on a Nashville station yesterday. It starts around 20 minutes into the archive and lasts over 1/2 hr. It’s a must listen. (Feb. 7th date)’