Archives for October 28, 2009

‘Fitzpatrick has helped Buffalo win two in a row, the most recent a 20-9 victory over Carolina last Sunday, and coach Dick Jauron has refused to commit to who will start once Edwards is healthy. Fitzpatrick doesn’t have gaudy passing numbers, but has mostly avoided turnovers while still taking occasional shots down the field.’

‘When asked if he was concerned about being the starter for that game against the Titans, Edwards said, " It’s not at the top of my mind right now. I have a lot to think about in terms of getting healthy and being able to help the team win. I know we have a big game on Sunday and I’m going to do everything I can this week to help Ryan out just like he did for me."’

‘Also limited in practice was safety Bryan Scott (ankle) and cornerback Terrence McGee (knee).’

‘”I’m frustrated, but I mean, what can I do? I just continue to try to work hard, continue to try to do the best I can.”‘

‘”That’s not on the top of my mind right now,” he said, noting he’ll assist Fitzpatrick in preparing to make his second start. “I have a lot to think about in terms of just getting healthy and helping the team win.”‘

‘”He took a few snaps, but it was mostly individual work,” said head coach Dick Jauron. “He didn’t do any team work or any of the look squad drills, but that was kind of planned. It looked to me like he felt fine. He moved around fine and it was good to have him back. It was good for him to be back. I think he felt good being out there.”‘

‘Well folks, the Buffalo Bills are still fighting hard. After the loss to Cleveland at home which lead many people to call for Dick Jauron’s job and a billboard going up asking for his ouster, this team has shown resiliency and bounced back with 2 road wins. The Bills went down to Carolina and caused 4 turnovers, on route to a 20-9 win.’

‘”They generally get better every week, but to make that kind of a jump I can’t figure,” said April. “We want the kind of performance we had these past two weeks, but usually the improvement is more incremental in nature. I don’t know what to make of it. We’ve got a lot of the same guys, but there are some young ones mixed in there and now they’re getting experience as they go.”‘

‘But if you’re in the market for capsule recaps of some of the Bills’ greatest moments, whether from the era of Jack Kemp, Joe Ferguson, Jim Kelly or Doug Flutie, this one is a keeper. It would be of particular use to younger fans who have no idea that Ahmad Rashad played football before he went into broadcasting, or that there was an O.J. Simpson understudy named Preston Ridlehuber who threw a famous halfback option pass that beat the Patriots in 1969.’

‘"If you want to be able to get picked up during the season you’ve got to know that you’ve got to be able to learn very quickly," Draft said. "This game is about trust. They have to be able to trust that you can go out there and execute a defense. It won’t matter how strong, fast or quick you are, if you don’t know where you’re supposed to go, you can’t play."’

‘The offense receives the most criticism, the quarterback in particular, but there are decade-long defensive trends that are no less disturbing. Only once since 2000 – in 2004, with Bledsoe at quarterback nonetheless – have the Bills finished a season with more sacks than the opposition. Overall they’re a minus-84 in sacks over the last 10 seasons, this one included. Granted, a good portion of that disparity stems from the earliest portions of the decade. But last year they were a minus-14, this year thus far a minus-5. The numbers reflect not only on the ends, but the entire defense and the coordinator as a whole. Is there a single player on the defensive side of the ball that opponents truly fear?’

‘Ramsey, 30, was released by Tennessee on Oct. 3. He had signed with the Titans in April to be the third stringer behind Kerry Collins and Vince Young. But the Titans cut him to make room for more cornerback depth.’