Archives for September 2009

‘Florio reports that Quarterbacks Coach Alex Van Pelt will take over for Shonert.’

‘”It’s the preseason, you might want to win some games but I’d much rather have the wins in the regular season,” said Bills safety George Wilson. “For the guys who have starting jobs, they’re just trying to fine-tune themselves so they can start peaking at the right times.”‘

‘”I’m a lot smarter now,” he said. “Last season, I was much more frantic in my mind. There was always so much going through my head last season. There are a lot of things that I need to be aware of at once, and it makes it difficult to focus sometimes. It’s hard to sort through."’

‘Nobody should be thinking the Bills are a Super Bowl team, but usually you can find faint hope among fans about them making the playoffs. But this season, more than any in recent memory, is accompanied by a persistent sense of dread.’

‘”This has been a long, slow process,” Hardy said this week. “I really wish I could be on the field with the rest of the guys. It’s tough standing around and watching them play. Not being able to play makes you appreciate the game a lot more.”‘

‘The Bills’ second-string defense had a strong first half against the Lions’ starting offense, holding it scoreless.’

‘In other words, it was a good night for a television blackout because this game was largely unwatchable.’

‘If the Bills somehow lose to Tampa Bay, the pressure would be on coach Dick Jauron heading into Week 3, when the high-powered New Orleans Saints come to Ralph Wilson Stadium. That will be a very difficult matchup for the offensively challenged Bills.’

‘For Maybin, it was the second big play in as many weeks. Last week, Maybin had a sack on Ben Roethlisberger in the team’s 17-0 loss.’

Matthew Stafford fails to click in final dress rehearsal (Detroit News)

CB Chris Roberson helps his cause with Lions (Detroit News)

Photo gallery (Detroit News)

Stafford shows flashes and flaws, but says he’s ready (Detroit Free Press)

Return troubles ail rookie WR Derrick Williams (Detroit Free Press)

No word on Lions’ starter at QB after exhibition finale (Detroit Free Press)

Recap: Lions 17, Bills 6 (Detroit Free Press)

Photo gallery (Detroit Free Press)

Matthew Stafford sputters in Lions’ sloppy win against Bills in preseason finale (Booth Newspapers)

Mistakes pile up for Lions rookie Derrick Williams (Booth Newspapers)

Despite stumbles against Bills, Matthew Stafford proves he’s Lions’ No. 1 quarterback (Grand Rapids Press)

Closing Out the Preseason (DetroitLions.com)

Photo gallery (DetroitLions.com)

‘”When I saw one of the ideas, I wasn’t sure if it would work for Buffalo, but my wife and I thought that it would work in Pittsburg.” Moorman said. “I always wanted to do something for charity and I thought this would be perfect.”‘

‘For the record, the Bills’ first unit played 16 series. It ran 78 plays for 269 net yards. The possessions ended in nine punts, three interceptions, two fumbles, one field goal and halftime.’

‘”We’ve got to pick it up,” coach Dick Jauron said of a no-huddle offense that as a whole combined for six touchdowns in five games. “We have a long way to go.”‘

‘Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started last season in Cincinnati, finished 9-for-17 for 78 yards for the Bills, who sat quarterback Trent Edwards, its top two rushers and wide receiver Terrell Owens.’

‘”Our offensive line did, they’re all playing different positions and some of them are brand new obviously. Both of our guards they did play. They did start. We thought they needed some time together so we put them out there for a couple of series. I think they got 19 plays,” said Jauron. “We started preparing Trent for New England gave him all New England reps up to this game and we just decided it was better not to put him in there with no preparation for another opponent.”‘