Archives for February 2010

‘A nine-year coaching veteran, Johnson just completed his fifth season as offensive line coach for the Indiana Hoosiers. Under his tutelage, Indiana’s offensive line has put up some of the best offensive numbers in school history. The Hoosiers offensive line broke the 2,000-yard rushing mark in back-to-back seasons (2007-08) as Johnson kept his unit productive despite a lot of line shuffling due to a rash of injuries in 2008.’

‘”Offensively, Curtis is a valuable member of what we’re trying to get done here,” said Gailey. “He takes some of the organizational stuff off of me so I can go do my job as being the head coach as well as running the offense and it’s great to have him here and it’s invaluable in my opinion to the organization that we have a guy like that.”‘

‘Fine, a fourth-round draft pick in 2008, had 19 receptions in two seasons. He was put on injured reserve last November because of a knee injury after being limited to just eight games.’

‘The Lions’ special teams were among the best in the NFL under Kwan. They led the league with five takeaways and a plus-four turnover margin and kicker Jason Hanson tied an NFL single-season record with eight field goals of 50-plus yards in 2008. The Lions also have blocked 16 kicks the past six seasons, second-most in the NFL over that span.’

‘With 19 years of NFL coaching experience, Kwan was most recently the special teams coach of the Detroit Lions from 2007-2009.’

‘The Bills announced the release of TE Derek Fine, DE Jermaine McGhee, LB Ashlee Palmer, DT Marcus Smith, S John Wendling, WR Justin Jenkins and C Marvin Philip.’

‘"You’re going to think I’m crazy, but we’re not that far away," said Nix, whose first big decision was naming Chan Gailey as the Bills’ new head coach. "I know I can turn it around. I can’t do it by myself, but we’ve got a lot of good folks who just need direction."’

‘”I have been a part of a program that was a 4-3 for a long time and made the transition to a 3-4,” he said. “When I first went to the Dolphins five years ago, they were 4-3 team forever. Then all of a sudden we come in there and we transition to a 3-4 defense. Is it hard? Yeah, it’s hard. Is it different? Yeah it’s different. But at the end of the day it still boils down on defense to being able to attack a blocker, get off a block and make a play on a running back or whoever the ball carrier is. That’s what defense is all about.”‘

‘”I’m excited about this opportunity,” he said. “Bobby did a great job here, and I’m looking forward to continuing that.”‘

‘Edwards is finished in this town. He lost his confidence, his job, and the faith of his teammates and coaches last season. He’s reluctant to throw downfield. He gets hurt too often. He should be the last option for the new regime.’

‘”At the end of the day it still boils down to defense and being able to take on a blocker, get off a block, and make a play on the running back or whoever the ball carrier is,” Edwards said.’

‘Suggestion: the Bills should try to trade Lynch for San Diego’s pick late in the second round. The Chargers probably would offer a lesser pick and Buffalo probably would take it.’

‘"That decision will play out once you get a complete evaluation of the guys in the draft, and a complete evaluation of the guys you’ve got, and a complete evaluation of the guys that are out there available in free agency, or on the trading block," Gailey said.’

‘Since the Bills desperately need offensive tackles, another mock draft says they will select Anthony Davis of Rutgers. There will be at least a dozen players assigned to Buffalo by the amateur pickers before the actual draft April 22-24. Since Gailey will act as his own offensive coordinator, the assumption is the top pick will be an offensive player.’

‘Barring price increases by other teams, the hike would cost the Bills the spot they held last year as the cheapest ticket in the NFL.’