Archives for November 7, 2008

‘"I feel like I’m playing well," the 310-pounder said the other day. "I definitely want to improve, I’m my own worst critic and I want to be out there playing better than I am right now, but I don’t think I’m playing bad. As a pro you’re always trying to improve on things."’

‘The Bills rank 23rd in the 32-team NFL in TD percentage inside the red zone this season. In 24 trips inside opponents’ 20-yard line, Buffalo has 11 TDs (.458) and eight field goals for a scoring percentage of .792 (ranked 27th).’

‘”Going back to years past and things that have happened, we had opportunities and let them slide . . . ,” said Evans, the Bills’ leading receiver, though he dropped that thought in mid-sentence and shrugged. The four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s, the late-season rush to the 2004 playoffs that fell short with a last-week loss, even that victory against Dallas last season that inexplicably melted into another head-shaking defeat . . . they are all part of the package up here. So Evans knows the way the first half of the 2008 season has unfolded is a bit disconcerting. Four straight wins pumped life into these ferociously proud and unpretentious fans, but three sloppy losses in four games have left them wondering just what to make of the team’s 5-3 record.’

‘”They are very sound and also explosive,” he said. “They ran a fake punt last week against the Jets, had a big day returning punts against Seattle, and we’ve seen – whether it was [Terrence] McGee or [Leodis] McKelvin or whoever – [they’ve] had plenty of success returning kicks, too.”‘

‘”It’s always a big deal facing that group,” Izzo said. “Year in and year out they’re at the top of all the statistics. They always present a lot of problems. They really can win the game. You can’t say that about a lot of special teams groups.”‘

‘”It’s just not Marshawn; it’s Jackson as well,” New England defensive back Ellis Hobbs said. “They have that 1-2 combination going right now. To be a guy only in his second year in the league, Marshawn has definitely made an impression on the league, as well as Jackson. Those two together and individually are great running backs. You have to get eleven hats to the ball when you are playing those guys.”‘

‘”He appears to be calm on the field, doesn’t appear that you rattle him very easily; he’s got really good size to see down the field; it appears that he’s got good vision of the field. It looks like another smart personnel move, and they’ve done a really nice job developing Matt, so I’m impressed by him.”‘

‘”He’s smart with (the ball),” Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas said. “He takes what defenses give him and doesn’t try to force the ball. When you do that, good things come with it.”‘

‘”The past has very little to do with anything in the future,” fullback Heath Evans said. “You can learn from mistakes made and the success you’ve had, but it still comes down to how well did you perform on that given Sunday. There’s not a lot of confidence from the past.”‘

Which Bills fit? (Boston Globe)

QBs, pursuers have tightened grip (Boston Globe)

Bills a special challenge (Boston Globe)

Short-term play bodes well for Patriots QB long term (Boston Herald)

Dominance just one of those things (Boston Herald)

Larry Izzo keeps Patriots’ eyes on Bills’ return units (Boston Herald)

Challenging first half to season, but Patriots are still in the hunt (Providence Journal)

Buffalo’s big offensive line to be tough test of Pats’ defense (Providence Journal)

Bills’ Jauron impressed by play of Cassel (Providence Journal)

Bills can expect to see more of Faulk (Brockton Enterprise)

Bills believe in Edwards (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Pats have mental edge over Buffalo (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)

Cassel has Patriots speak down pat (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)

QB clash a contest of youth (Springfield Republican)

Faulk could play key role again vs. Buffalo (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

By the numbers (Quincy Patriot Ledger)

Newcomer Webster knows the Bills (Manchester Union Leader)

Patriots just one of gang in wide-open AFC East (AP)

Young Bills could be due; Thursday notes (Patriots.com)

Matt Cassel Locker Room Interview (Patriots.com)

‘Schobel had the cast placed on his foot to protect a sprained ligament in his big toe after the player was examined by a specialist in North Carolina, a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press on Thursday. It’s possible Schobel, who has already missed three games because of the injury, could be back by the end of the month, the person said.’

‘Patriots 23, Bills 17.’