Archives for September 15, 2006

‘Chris Chambers vs. Nate Clements/Terrence McGee: Last season Buffalo matched Nate Clements up on Chambers in Miami a good amount of the time. This year Chambers typically lines up on the right side of the formation so it will be interesting to see Buffalo’s approach. Will they have Clements follow him around all day or will they let McGee have a crack at him as long as he lines up on the right side of the formation. Mike Mularkey will likely move Chambers around through the course of the game in an effort to get him involved early. If Clements or McGee can hold him to a day like he had last Thursday night (5 catches, 58 yards), Buffalo could be in good shape.’

‘”The one thing he told us,” said Miami receiver Chris Chambers this week, “if you beat the Buffalo Bills, you beat the whole city. That’s one thing we want to do.”‘

‘Fletcher said every team the Bills face is his archenemy. “Every Sunday is the same for me, it makes no difference who I face,” he said. “I treat them all the same. They’re all important.”‘

‘In general, however, I think the quality of offensive lines league wide is poorer than it was a decade ago, which hurts the consistency of pass offenses. There are four more teams, so that’s almost one fewer starting lineman per team.’

‘A shooting put Eric Powell in the hospital for 12 days. Five years later, he’s a defensive end for Buffalo. ‘All I wanted to know was what were the chances that I could play football. And the doctor said, ‘You might be able to.’ That’s all I wanted to hear, the ‘might.’ That’s like telling me ‘yes.”’

‘But that might be easier said than done. In Week 1, head coach Dick Jauron and offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild did everything in their power to simplify the offense for Losman and keep him out of compromising situations, using a lot of three-step drops and check downs. The result was an extremely efficient afternoon for Losman, in which he completed 65.2 percent of his passes and did not throw a single interception.’

‘Bills owner Ralph Wilson said Mularkey told him he was troubled by the criticism he and his family were receiving from his local detractors. It’s also believed he developed misgivings about the Bills’ front-office shakeup after a 5-11 finish, which included the return of the franchise’s Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy as general manager.’

‘Atkinson will work on the development of new corporate business for sponsorship and suite sales.’

‘The take from my recliner on J.P. Losman is give the kid a chance. He certainly has the arm and is much improved over last year’s version. He’d better get real good, real fast, however, for I fear the Bills defense will not be a dominating unit. Especially if the injuries continue. Learn fast Buffalo defensive rookies, WNY’s Monday morning smile may depend on you.’

‘Carey called Mularkey “a passionate coach. A coach who believes in just beating up on your opponent.”’

‘When former coach Mike Mularkey, now the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, benched Losman last year, he understood. It helped him realize how a quarterback always needs a sense of urgency. “He had to make a decision,” Losman said. “There was no reason to be mad or upset at anybody else but yourself. Football careers aren’t that long, so everything is happening in the now. Every game, week and year is critical.”‘

‘Under Dolphins team rules, Mularkey is not allowed to talk to reporters. But, according to sources, he believed he was in a no-win situation in Buffalo, working for a general manager who likely would prefer a handpicked coach. Mularkey, sources said, also figured he’d have a hard time replacing the assistants because of his own tenuous situation.’

‘”He’s gotten better every day, certainly every week,” new Bills coach Dick Jauron told reporters during a conference call this week. “He’s at a kind of a critical time in his career. It’s his third year, and that’s helped him. He doesn’t have a lot of experience so we’ve got to be a little bit patient with him. I’m saying we’re going to be forcefully patient.”‘

Mularkey facing familiar faces (Miami Herald)

Wilkinson faces lawsuit (Miami Herald)

Sunday vs. Bills a sellout (Miami Herald)

Learning as he goes (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Civil suit keeps Wilkinson off Dolphins practice field (Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

Dolphins’ Mularkey ready to face his former team (Palm Beach Post)

One Dolphins loss, OK; two losses … not so much (Palm Beach Post)

Dolphins’ Wilkinson defending self in civil suit (Palm Beach Post)

Losman getting comfortable (Florida Today)

Saban: Things will get better (Florida Today)

Dolphins Players Post-Practice Press Briefings (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins-Bills Game Declared Sellout, Will Be Televised Locally (MiamiDolphins.com)

Coach Saban Post-Practice Press Briefing (MiamiDolphins.com)

Dolphins Players And Coaches Sponsor Youth Groups And Others To Attend Games (MiamiDolphins.com)

Wes Welker: A Great Story (MiamiDolphins.com)

‘Dolphins 27, Bills 15.’