Archives for November 8, 2005

‘The Bills come off the bye and hope for a fresh start in the season’s second half. They feel they are still in the race, and for that reason they are staying the course with Kelly Holcomb at quarterback but doing some shuffling along the offensive line.’

‘So far this year, the Bills’ line has allowed a grand total of 20 sacks to quarterbacks Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman. If they keep that pace up, they’d give up 40 and be among the worst pass-blocking lines in the NFL.’

‘The shakeup is a sign the Bills aren’t satisfied with Anderson or Williams and is a clear show of support for undrafted free agent Jason Peters. Anderson has been fine as a run blocker but is unreliable in the passing game. It could be humbling for Williams, the fourth pick overall in 2002 and the Bills’ highest-paid player this season.’

‘But the Bills drafted Williams No. 4 overall to be a tackle. That’s why he’ll count $9.4 million against the salary cap next year. You don’t pay that kind of money for a guard, or an average, injury-prone tackle. At that price, Williams would be a huge, unjustifiable drain on the Bills’ financial structure.’

‘He said the decision for the benching came from Mularkey, not defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, and insinuated it was unwarranted. He believes he has played well this season based on what’s expected from him in Buffalo’s defensive system. “If someone can outplay me, you need to put them on the field,” Adams said. “If (Mularkey) feels that, that’s fine. That’s their choice.”‘

‘Buffalo has outscored its opponents by a 40-7 margin in the first quarter. No NFL team has relinquished fewer points in the opening 15 minutes than Buffalo and only NYG (+40) has outscored its foes by more points in the first quarter than the Bills (+33). However, the Bills have been outscored by a 152-88 margin in the final three quarters.’

‘This year’s remaining eight Bills games would make even a good team wince.’

‘Buffalo’s line has done a strong job in run blocking, helping Willis McGahee gain 790 yards, fourth best in the NFL. Poor pass blocking, however, has prevented the Bills from attacking deep through the air. A permanent switch of Williams from tackle to guard would seriously alter Buffalo’s salary structure and leave Anderson as the odd man out.’

‘But head coach Mike Mularkey and McNally weren’t here when Williams was drafted, and they must agree that the Bills o-line will be stronger with Peters at right tackle and Williams at left guard. McNally even told me last summer he thought Peters was the best pure athlete he’d ever coached as an offensive lineman.’

‘With a 3-5 record and with an offense ranked 26th in scoring, Buffalo is trying to see if it can assemble a more dominant and more consistent offensive line, even at this late juncture.’

‘Coaching: D – Mike Mularkey and staff have failed to build on the momentum of last season’s spirited 9-7 finish. Giving up on Losman after just four games was a bold move and has given the team its best chance at winning. But miscalculating Losman’s readiness, or failing to get him ready, is the bigger faux pas, leading many critics to wonder if Buffalo gave up on Bledsoe one year too soon.’

‘TE Kevin Everett had surgery to remove scar tissue in his left knee that was hindering his ability to run. The rookie out of Miami, who underwent ACL surgery in the spring, could hit the practice field in the next week or two. Buffalo hopes he can see some playing time this year.’

‘"We’re still trying to find the best five linemen combination," said head coach Mike Mularkey.’

‘"It doesn’t hurt my feelings," Adams said. "No, that doesn’t motivate me at all. It irritates me and takes away the focus of what I need to do … I need to play to win."’