Archives for September 21, 2009

‘Trent Edwards took some shots downfield and was pretty accurate with his throws. He hit Lee Evans and Terrell Owens for scores. T.O.’s touchdown was a nice audible by Edwards on a 3rd and 1 play. He checked off at the right times to Fred Jackson and Derek Schouman. Edwards finished 21 of 31 for 230 yards and two scores. He lone blemish was a poorly thrown interception. Grade B+: His confidence is building everyday.’

‘There was no collapse this time.’

‘The pass protection from the Bills offensive line was very good. They gave up two sacks but for the most part Edwards had all day to throw.’

‘The question on Bills fans minds as the gathered around their televisions or into Ralph Wilson Stadium was how would Buffalo respond after a gut wrenching loss to the New England Patriots last week? The atmosphere was electric in the stadium as the Bills were ready to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the season home opener with 50th anniversary team on hand to be honored at halftime.’

‘The biggest question I had about Edwards coming into the regular season, wasn’t about his terrible pre season showing, although of course that was a concern, but rather his durability. That is STILL the #1 question as Edwards goes into the final year of his original Bills contract at — believe it or not — $550,000. Most BACKUP qb’s, including Ryan Fitzpatrick, make more than that, but it has been Edwards inability to stay on the field that is more responsible for not having a new deal than his performance.’

‘Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams was the unsung player of the first quarter. The fourth-year man from Louisiana State was a wrecking crew in the middle of the Tampa offensive line. Williams had a tackle for a 6-yard loss on the second play of the game.’

‘Winslow paid some dividends in the second quarter, catching a 42-yard TD pass to get the Bucs back in the game.’

‘The Bills had a reliable man at corner in Reggie Corner. Subbing for Butler was fourth-year man Jonathan Scott, who played in 20 games for Detroit in 2006 and 2007 and was on the Bills’ roster for only two games last season. Derek Fine took over for Schouman because rookie Shawn Nelson already had gone out with a sore shoulder.’

‘Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 97 yards in the Bucs’ opener, carried only seven times in the game for 9 yards. Credit the Bills with good defense, but the Bucs needed to get him the ball more.’

‘Still, the line kept opening holes and protecting the passer. The rookie guards, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, were quietly effective for the second game in a row. And Jackson, the undrafted gem who inherited the starting job when Marshawn Lynch got a three-game suspension, more than made amends for his fumble.’

‘”We feel like we should be able to stop them with the seven guys in the front, the big boys in the front,” Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said. “We weren’t able to do it. Then we tried to take a chance and use one of our eight-man fronts and they exploited that as well.”‘

‘”That’s just good team defense. The guys are getting pressure up front and we’re making plays in the back end. As long as we can continue to get that pressure we’ll be able to go to the [quarterback’s] second and third read and make plays on the football.”‘

‘There’s a refreshing naivete about these guys. They haven’t been in Buffalo long enough to see calamity around every bend. Hey, the offense has scored 57 points in two games. It’s a far cry from the preseason.’

‘T.O., throughout his career, never has been a particularly big fan of pawn to queen 4, only checkmate. He wants balls thrown his way now with the same frequency they arrived as a rookie, never mind that pass coverages have grown more sophisticated and cloaked in an assortment of disguises.’

‘Starting right tackle Brad Butler went down with a right knee injury late in the second quarter and didn’t return. Starting tight end Derek Schouman suffered a right knee injury as well late in the third quarter.’