Archives for November 18, 2008

‘”I will remember this for 70 years probably,” a very somber Lindell said. “You just have to know what to do with them a little bit more. I missed my line really,” explained the usually accurate Bills’ kicker. “I hit the ball, had a good approach, form, snap and hold … I just got to make that, it’s ridiculous.”‘

‘A lot of us fell for it. We thought this team was different.’

‘”You start seeing things that you’re not really seeing, and you’re doing things that you’re not normally used to doing,” Edwards said after the game. “Right now, I don’t really have any good answers.”‘

‘Dick Jauron showed no faith in Edwards but settling for a 47 yard field goal attempt at the end instead of trying to get closer. Perry Fewell had his unit defending the short pass better by using some good blitz schemes but they still struggled to get to the quarterback. Turk Schonert is in love with the passing game. Why spread the field and pass it on 3rd and 1 in the first quarter with the QB struggling. The result another interception and another field goal for Cleveland. Grade F: They need to have some guts to mix it up.’

‘The coaching staff won’t change quarterbacks since they are committed to Edwards and knows Losman is leaving at the end of the year anyway. Now that the playoffs are an unrealistic dream they might as well give Edwards the year to see if he can develop or if they have to start all over again like so many times before.’

‘”He’s got good size, he’s really strong, he runs good routes,” said an AFC scout. “He’s got strong hands and can pluck the ball and he’s strong after the catch. He’s an interesting player.”‘

‘In addition to his personal best receiving night, Lynch also cracked the century mark for the first time this season with a game-high 119 yards. It was his fourth career 100-yard rushing game. With 58 receiving yards Lynch also set a career-high 177 total yards from scrimmage. Lynch also posted the first receiving touchdown of his career with his 18-yard catch and run to the end zone.’

‘A month ago Trent Edwards was an MVP candidate. Monday night he was a candidate to be benched for J.P. Losman. Not that the Bills would have ever done that. But they had to consider it. Trent is young. That is obvious. But what made him special before is now gone. The decision making is shot. There is no question he has lost confidence. On Monday night he definitely let what happened early affect him late. These warning signs have quickly become warning flares. Again, in the front office, there must be worries about number 5 as their long term solution at quarterback.’

‘Edwards was left shaking his head after another disastrous performance.’

‘Bills fans also might have expected Jaworski to weigh in on the Bills’ decision to have three running plays in the final minute to set up Rian Lindell’s 47-yard field goal attempt rather than attempt or risk a pass that might have gotten the kick closer. He did say he expected the Bills would play it conservatively, but he didn’t say if he agreed with it. It also would have been reasonable of commentator Tony Kornheiser – who acts like ESPN’s game-day sports columnist – to raise the L word during the game. You know, J.P. Losman.’

‘”Obviously a disappointing loss for us,” said head coach Dick Jauron. “We had a chance.”‘

‘The Bills’ special teams, which had almost single-handedly kept the team in the game, would now be called upon to win it. In light of Lindell’s past successes it was assumed his kick would be a fitting exclamation point to a night rescued by special teams.’

‘It was a horrid early display, as Edwards threw one pick on one attempt, two on three, and three on six; in his defense, he cut his percentage of interceptions in half over that time, although improving to the point where he was committing turnovers on only 50 percent of throws isn’t quite a Pro Bowl rate.’

‘How bad was he? Besides the three interceptions in the first 11-and-a-half minutes? Well, he played scared, which is the worst kind of quarterbacking to play, or watch. Edwards was so gunshy that of his 16 completions, 10 went to his feature back, Marshawn Lynch, and I’m not sure more than three were clearly past the line of scrimmage.’

‘The Bills have now lost four-striaght and are 5-5 on the season, which is last in the AFC East. Their playoff chances took a major hit as there are four teams at 6-4 in the conference along with the four division leaders.’