Archives for August 18, 2008

‘An NFL analyst for 12 years, Sharpe will call the game for the NFL Network when Buffalo visits Indianapolis for a preseason game Sunday. It will be the first NFL game at the Colts’ new Lucas Oil Stadium.’

‘But there is still one more hurdle for the team to contend with: repeatability. For the Bills put together long stretches of good play last year, only to watch it come painfully undone with a few tiny mistakes.’

‘”The two guys that are returning for us, Terrence and Roscoe, it’s pretty hard to say they’re not the top guys,” assistant head coach and special teams coach Bobby April said after the Steelers game. “They’ve had tremendous years here but he’s definitely making a statement. I mean, what can you say. This kid, that’s two weeks in a row. He almost had one last week which would have been unbelievable for his first two games to break ’em. We’re really blessed. We got three really good guys.”‘

‘”We were pleased with what John did last year, based on no playing experience in the NFL,” said Bills linebackers coach Matt Sheldon. “The distance he covered from Saginaw Valley State to playing in the NFL was quite large. He was strong with how he handled our game plans and his game management.”‘

‘The first-team Bills not only evaded pass blockers but successfully patrolled the rest of the field, with the safeties in particular and Whitner in particular serving as an ominous presence for foes. And it’s about time. As with an encouraging performance by the offense, they’ve been shaky for far before the unsettling display that was the first preseason game.’

‘”It was a surprise,” Greer said. “You never know which way they intend to go. But obviously they sent a message that we weren’t good enough at cornerback. It was a situation where I had to look in the mirror and ask myself what I need to do to get better.”‘

‘Duke Preston had never taken a practice snap at right tackle. Heck, he had never played the position, period. Yet there he was lined up on the right side with the third-team offense during the Bills’ preseason win over Pittsburgh. “I have officially played every position there is to play on the offensive line,” said Preston, whose primary job is backup center and guard. “I found out [I was playing tackle] the day before the game. But I was ready. Challenges come along every day, and you just have to meet them head on.”‘

‘"It gives us confidence that Robert is back," coach Dick Jauron said following the game. "We’re pleased with Robert. He’s a tremendous teammate, a big effort guy and tonight he showed it."’

‘"It was kind of aggravating being out here and not being able to participate with the guys," Reed said. "I feel good and now I just need to stay in line with what the trainers are telling me."’

‘”Derek’s going to be a little while, we’re hoping not a long while,” Jauron said following the team’s first practice since the game in Toronto. “At this point, (trainer) Bud (Carpenter) is talking in the weeks. So it’s not good, but it could have been worse.” Jauron called the injury a knee strain.’

‘Coach Dick Jauron said trainers informed him that it will be weeks before Schouman is expected to be cleared for practice, meaning the player likely will miss the Bills’ two final preseason games. “It’s not good, but it could have been worse,” Jauron said.’

‘A Rogers spokesman said the goal of the Bills in the Toronto series isn’t to make money, but to give back to the city. Many tickets were given out to United Way partners and Canadian military personnel. Vice president Phil Lind boldly predicted that the Dolphins-Bills game — the first regular-season game ever scheduled in Canada — would generate a legitimate full house.’

‘BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Fred Jackson vs. Dwayne Wright, Xavier Omon and Bruce Hall at backup RB — This is Jackson’s job to lose behind Marshawn Lynch after his big 2007 season, but Wright and Omon are making things interesting. Each averaged 4.4 yards per carry in last Thursday’s preseason win over Pittsburgh, with Wright ripping off a 16-yard carry and Omon a 14-yarder. Wright hurt his cause, though, with another fumble. Jackson had five carries for 18 yards (3.6 average) and added three catches for 10 yards. Ultimately, the Bills will keep their best athletes at this position and there’s a lot of skill here to mull over.’

‘No. 1 pick Leodis McKelvin’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Steelers sealed himself a role in the team’s special teams plans for 2008. McKelvin showed the speed and explosiveness that allowed him to set an NCAA record with eight career scores while at Troy, reading a key block from fullback Darian Barnes and just leaving the Steelers in his dust. A week earlier against Washington, McKelvin had a 37-yard kickoff return and a 45-yard punt return. The Bills have two of the NFL’s best return men in team record-setters Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish, but coach Dick Jauron said a team can never have enough of these guys. “Those guys (return men) tend to get nicked so there’s room for all of them,” he said. “They’ll all have their opportunities.” McKelvin had one thing on his mind when he got into the open field: Don’t get brought down by Steelers kicker Paul Ernster. “The other 10 guys did a great job blocking,” he said. “I saw the kicker and I just said, ‘I don’t want to get tackled by the kicker.””

‘”Derek’s going to be a little while,” said head coach Dick Jauron. “We’re hoping not a long while but at this point Bud (Carpenter) is talking in the weeks. So it’s not good, but it could’ve been worse.”‘