Archives for November 7, 2008

‘The injury to Youboty is the latest blow to his career, after the Bills 2006 third-round pick missed 18 games over his first two seasons. Youboty beat out veteran William James to make the team out of training camp, and had a forced a fumble and a sack in five games, including two starts this season.’

‘Buffalo now has just four cornerbacks on their active roster.’

‘In Buffalo’s three losses this season they are a combined minus-9 in the takeaway-giveaway category. Solid pass protection and securing the football upon contact will be of the utmost importance. Losing the turnover battle to any team makes winning that much harder. Against the Patriots, even without Tom Brady, it’s near impossible to post a win being on the negative side of the turnover ledger.’

‘The Buffalo Bills announced that they will host the Section VI high school football playoff games at Ralph Wilson Stadium (RWS) beginning Friday evening, November 7th and Saturday November 8th.’

‘Add it all up, and if this isn’t a crossroads game for Buffalo, it’s at least an important checkpoint that could very well help determine the direction the rest of the season takes. For a team trying to end an AFC-worst eight-year playoff drought, self-confidence is a key component to the task. But that element is a fragile one right now for the Bills, and it can head one of two ways with this game against a proven winner like the Patriots.’

‘Jauron is referring to the fact that Buffalo only has Melvin Fowler and Whittle as interior line options on the roster. With Whittle’s ability to play Sunday in question due to a back injury Chambers got snaps with the first unit at right guard in practice this week.’

‘Hardy recently established an after-school program with the United Way called ‘Homework with Hardy.’ Hardy, in conjunction with the SAFE after school program, met with kids at the Frank A. Sedita school in Buffalo. He will be traveling to different local schools for the remainder of the season and then plans on dropping in to see the kids upon his returns to Buffalo in the offseason.’

‘Thurman and Jeff will talk strategy with Bills playmaking cornerback Jabari Greer and discuss what the Bills need to do to contain wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker and beat the Patriots.’

‘Starting right guard Brad Butler (left knee sprain), starting defensive end Aaron Schobel (foot), starting strong safety Donte Whitner (separated shoulder), No. 2 receiver Josh Reed (ankle) and nickel back Ashton Youboty (plantar fasciitis) have all been ruled out for Buffalo (5-3).’

‘”They’ve been practicing, they’ve been getting all the information,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “They have gotten some work. They haven’t gotten as much work as you would like for them to have against an opponent like the Patriots, but obviously they’ve gotten some work, so we’ll see how they respond.”‘

‘”Obviously throughout his career he’s put up large numbers and sacks and has made a reputation for himself as a pass rusher, which he is, and teams have to be aware of that,” Kelsay said of Schobel. “So maybe that he’s gone, maybe they’re able to get out of certain double teams, maybe take a back out of the backfield instead of keeping him in to block, chip, or keeping a tight end in. But it definitely opens things up for the offense, I’m sure, because you don’t have to worry about a pass rusher.”‘

‘Mularkey is getting an A-plus from Falcons’ fans and media.’

‘The only thing better than great coverage on a pass is preventing the pass from being delivered in the first place, and corner and safety blitzes will throw off New England’s throws at the source. Cassel is a mediocre implement among a fine toolset being used by a craftsman in Bill Belichick who occasionally cuts corners, and the Bills should be so relentless in the pursuit to disrupt the substitute that the 5-3 Patriots are unable to even discern that Whitner isn’t part of the stampede.’

‘Bills 23, Patriots 20.’