Archives for October 2006

‘Despite defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s knowledge of the Bears (he was Chicago’s secondary coach last year), the defense was impotent against the pass and the run, but that was probably more a case of talent than scheme. Jauron’s young troops just never rose to the challenge, making for an embarrassing return to the Windy City for Jauron, whose 13-3 Bears team in 2001 was never this dominant.’

‘P Brian Moorman’s career day punting (57.8 average on six attempts, with a long of 66) was spoiled by a botched fake punt try on the game’s first series. Moorman dropped a low snap by Mike Schneck, and the fumble was recovered by Bears LB Brendon Ayanbadejo at the Buffalo 40-yard line, setting up the first of four Robbie Gould field goals. “I just dropped the snap,” Moorman said. “It’s one of those things. It’s a play in our book, and I dropped the snap. It’s really as simple as that. The defense stepped up and held them to a field goal; they were able to prove that wasn’t going to be the deciding factor in the game. They had my back. But of course, I’d like to have it back and make a play.”‘

‘We kinda knew this season would have its ups and downs, we just didn’t know the down would be quite as deep as it was at Soldier Field.’

‘So far in his Bills career, the former Colt has only four tackles in five games. Though Tripplett is probably missed as a reserve by the inept defense of Indianapolis, his presence as a first-time starter in western New York hasn’t been felt to a large enough extent. In fact, the Bills’ run defense has been gashed for large yard-per-carry numbers by four opposing backs this year – Laurence Maroney, Corey Dillon, Ronnie Brown and Thomas Jones.’

‘As for Losman’s performance, coach Dick Jauron was philosophical. “I don’t think he took a step back,” he maintained. “Did he have a great game? No, he didn’t have a particularly great game. But I’m not ready to call it a backwards step because every time he takes a snap I think he’s gonna grow from it.”‘

‘”It’s the way you lose and to me this type of loss is tougher (than a close one),” he said. “When you lose by so many points, the way it went down … We still like to think of ourselves as a good football team (but) the score is not going to show that. We didn’t get swamped up and down the field physically (but) this game is not going to show that."’

‘A symptom of the Bills’ problems could be found in the tackling stats where free safety Ko Simpson was unofficially credited with 11 tackles, 10 of them solos. Your team is in trouble when a safety is your leading tackler. By contrast, Brian Urlacher, Chicago’s Pro Bowl middle linebacker, led the Bears with five stops.’

‘”We’re playing OK right now, but it’s never as good as you think it is,” he said. “It’s like when you watch the film, it’s not as bad as you think it is and it’s not as good as you think it is. But we are making a lot of plays and our D-line (14 of Chicago’s 15 sacks) is really getting after it right now.”‘

‘"It started with me," Moorman said, referring to his muffing the snap on a fake punt that ended the Bills first drive with a fumble. "That’s not how you want to start a game against a team as good as Chicago. And it kind of went downhill from there."’

‘Larry Tripplett, Tim Anderson and rookie Kyle Williams rotate at the defensive tackle positions. McCargo was starting to play himself into the rotation after signing late in the preseason.’

‘A screw will be placed in McCargo’s foot that will form a bridge between the break in order to accommodate faster healing.’

‘It’s the same foot McCargo broke as a junior at North Carolina State last season, an injury that forced him to miss five games.’

‘The injury happened late in the fourth quarter of yesetrday’s loss to the Bears when another player stepped on McCargo’s foot.’

‘On whether they can play with three defensive tackles – We certainly did for the early part of the season. John really wasn’t in the rotation, at least in significant numbers, until the third or fourth game.’

‘"It’s a disappointment to us obviously to get him hurt now," said Jauron. "We’re optimistic that the surgery will rectify the problem, but there will be a recovery time. We’ll just have to see how severe it is and how long it is going to be."’