Archives for November 2010

‘Spiller’s absence may mean another big game for Fred Jackson, who scored twice during his best performance of the season last week. Jackson gained 133 yards on 25 carries while adding 37 more on six catches.’

‘”It’s a slow process. I’m taking it day to day and getting as much treatment as I can to get back,” said Spiller. “The main thing with this type of injury is you have to make sure it is 100 percent before you get back out there and further damage it. You have to look at the long haul, I’d rather miss one game than the rest of the season.”‘

‘”It was just going to be a matter of time. I was shocked at the beginning of the season that Trent was still named the starter and what have you,” said Owens. “I think that coaching staff, they kind of recognized that he wasn’t at the level that they needed him to be. Obviously with Fitzpatrick and his history and background, again, I knew the guy could play all along. I’m not surprised by any means.”‘

‘”We knew it was probably getting close — we felt like it was getting close,” stated the Bills head coach. “Obviously it wasn’t. But we felt like it was getting close and we knew we had some younger receivers we wanted to develop, so, that was the direction we went.”‘

‘”It’s everyone’s goal to try to make the Pro Bowl some day and wind up at the top of your position,” said Wood. “I think I’ve played myself out of Pro Bowl aspirations in my first year coming back off the injury. But I’m just trying to get to a high level and live up to being a first-round draft pick and being what the Bills want me to be.”‘

‘”It wasn’t like they kicked me to the curb and said we don’t ever want to talk to you again,” said Fitzpatrick, who made it clear he has a lot of respect for his old team. “We had a good relationship, and they talked about bringing me back. It was just a matter of a better opportunity elsewhere, and that’s why I decided to move on.”‘

‘The Bills have a good opportunity for Win No. 2 when they meet the reeling Bengals, losers of six straight games and now dealing with a rash of injuries. Job One is getting pressure on QB Carson Palmer, who is playing with a sore shoulder and without OT Andre Smith, on injured reserve with a broken foot. The Bengals would love to run the ball on Buffalo’s 32nd-ranked rush defense, but Cedric Benson is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. The Bills have played better defensively of late, and if they can shut Benson down and get to Palmer, they can dictate the game’s outcome. Offensively, protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick shouldn’t be a problem against a pass rush that’s accounted for just nine sacks in nine games and will still miss DE Antwan Odom, out with a wrist injury after missing four games with a banned-substance suspension. And for a second week, the Bills face a team missing its top placekicker. Mike Nugent went on IR with a torn ACL this week, so the Bengals will be suiting up Ohio State rookie Aaron Pettrey.’

‘Buffalo’s tight ends are practically non-existent in the passing game, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t contributing. Buffalo is running a lot of two-tight end looks, using David Martin and Shawn Nelson to chip linebackers downfield or to pull and lead-block into lanes. The two-tight end look helped spring Fred Jackson for a 27-yard run last week. “Detroit liked to play a lot of eight in the box, and it was going to be tough to run in the beginning,” said Jackson, who ran for 133 yards on 25 carries. “We stuck with it. Our offensive line, tight ends and receivers did a great job of blocking, and I was able to go out and take advantage of it.”‘

‘It was just like old times for Owens. He was both outspoken and enthusiastic in discussing himself and the Bills (1-8), who prepare to play at the Bengals (2-7) on Sunday.’

‘"We’ve got to teach him not to jump, to go and run through it and get the sack," he said. "He’s a good blitzer. He has a good feel for that."’

‘”We did a great job on both sides as safeties and corners in not giving up the big play,” said McKelvin. “Even though (Johnson) did get 10 catches for 120 something yards, they were all short. He broke a couple of tackles, but we kept him under control with the exception of that touchdown play.”‘

‘But I think it is worth noting that Buffalo didn’t blow it this time. They nearly did then watched Lions QB Shaun Hill, who threw for 323 yards, sail his 2-point conversion pass to tie the game out of the back of the end zone. It would’ve been fitting had these two franchises, who will each miss the playoffs for an 11th consecutive season, went to overtime and tied 14-14.’

‘In what the team calls its "Trey" formation, the tight ends are in an offset position flanking both tackles behind the line of scrimmage.’

‘"If you talk to C.J., C.J. thinks he’s going to be hoping to practice this week," Gailey said. "The realistic thing is he’ll miss one [game] and then we’ll see from there."’

‘”Well, we knew they would put eight men in the box and it would be tough to run in the beginning,” Jackson said. “But we stuck with it, and our offensive line, tight ends and receivers did a great job blocking for me. I was able to take advantage of it.”‘