Two Bills Drive

‘It’s only the first preseason game, but the Bills have a long way to go to justify Williams’ contention that they’re a playoff team. The good news is that rookie Travis Henry looks like the answer at the crowded tailback position.’

‘But Larsen realizes he can gain playing time by being disruptive, which he was for one series Sunday in the Bills’ 24-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Larsen, the second-year player out of UTEP, played well despite being hampered by a groin injury since the beginning of the Bills’ rookie camp.’

‘"You can see that there were too many negative plays to start the ballgame out and throughout the ballgame," he said. "It’s not the way we want to play. You can see we’re still in camp, that’s what training camp is for and we have a lot of work to do."’

‘Nobody’s expecting Flowers to produce 16-plus sacks like Kearse did, but some passion would be nice. Too often he’s ridden to the outside and out of sight. Too often he’s all bark and no bite.’

‘Cowart suffered heat-related back spasms in practice Thursday. Second-year pro Kenyatta Wright started in his place last night.’

‘The best showing of all for the Bills may have come from rookie running back Travis Henry, who is locked in a training camp battle with Shawn Bryson and Sammy Morris to become the team’s featured ball carrier.’

‘Midway through the second quarter, the Rams had outgained Buffalo 196-37, with 11 Rams players touching the ball on offense.’

‘Seeing how Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed have retired, the Bills are fairly toothless on offense these days. They stayed basic on offense Sunday. Then again, the Rams kept it simple on defense, too.’

‘The defenders came out sharp against Buffalo, limiting the Bills’ first-string offense to 19 yards in three first-quarter series. Overall, Buffalo was limited to 173 yards of total offense and only 10 first downs.’

‘Rob Johnson played three series for the Bills and completed 3-of-5 for 13 yards. Backup Alex Van Pelt was 6-for-11 for 54 yards with an interception. The Bills were held to just 164 total yards.’

Stats of game.

“Rob Johnson had a hard time adjusting to the West Coast offense.”

Bills starting quarterback Rob Johnson was in for three series, going 3-for-5 for 13 yards and managing just one first down.

“We obviously would have like to have moved downfield and put the ball in the end zone, but this was the first game for us and we’ll look to improve,” Johnson said.

‘Sixty-two of their 80 players, in fact, have played just two NFL seasons or fewer. Almost half the players on the team (37) never have appeared in an NFL regular-season game.’

‘Fourth-year back Robert Holcombe will start in the backfield because All-Pro Marshall Faulk and former No. 1 pick Trung Canidate both are injured.’

‘Bill: "I was so glad Washington beat Buffalo in the Super Bowl tonight. Believe me, that made the Washington press so slap-happy they pretty much forgot about me and Hillary for a day or two." Hillary: "They call it "60 Minutes.’ The interview only lasted about 10 minutes. It felt like 10 hours. And I wish Buffalo had won. I’ve always been a New York woman at heart."’