Archives for December 2010

‘"He’s done some good things and done some bad things," he said. "It’s hard to say he’s been great or awful. He’s been somewhere in between there. He’s learning. He hasn’t been there. I’ll tell you what, the nose tackle we just played is right at the top of the list of guys we played this year so that was an extreme challenge for him."’

‘”I think it comes in steps,” Nix said. “You have to learn how to compete with the best teams, and then you start learning how to win. We played close against the better teams, had a chance to win, one play away in some games, and then you learn how to finish games. That’s what we’re doing. We’re getting better. We just need to get a few more weapons. We’re coming; we’ll get there.”‘

‘Chan Gailey did a nice job getting the young receivers involved in the game plan, and he had his team ready to play, and win, in a road division game. The defense is getting better as George Edwards continues to tinker with the scheme and with the personnel. It’s not a bad thing when a team is getting better as the season moves along.’

‘”The entire week we just worked on the fundamentals, getting back to the basics like how to pass set, getting our hands up,” said Wrotto, who lined up opposite Wake most of the day. “Obviously we needed to pass the ball today. Cameron Wake is a very good player. He’s a hard worker, and you can tell that just by how he plays on Sundays. But we fought our butts off today and gave Fitz more time.”‘

‘"Probably if you were out of linemen, Geoff might get ready to play by Sunday," said Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey. "But we’re not pushed in to that so I’m thinking that if we can let him get healthy one more week that doesn’t hurt anything. I don’t want to push him back too quick this time of the season."’

‘It was one thing on Monday to measure the Bills’ modest run of success a day after a 17-14 win at Miami in which they ended the Dolphins’ playoff hopes. Fitzpatrick is aware that Buffalo (4-12) faces a much more daunting challenge this weekend when the New England Patriots (12-2) come to town.’

‘We have not had playoffs in this millennium for the Bills. We will not have them again in 2011. But I am getting a feeling that we might see something special on Sunday. A loss by New England probably would not have that much impact on the Patriots season. They will likely win the division and get home field throughout the playoffs. But a win by the Bills will finally end the losing streak against New England (14 in a row and counting) and might be the tipping point that makes the Bills relevant in the NFL again (at least going into next season).’

‘”The young guys, those young receivers made some great plays out there,” Fitzpatrick said. “I told them I am going to give them a chance, I am not afraid to throw it to any of them because I know if we get matchups that we are going to come down with it most of the time and they made some good plays.”‘

‘In what was one of the flattest efforts imaginable in a game that they had to win, the Dolphins were outplayed by the going-nowhere Bills and lost 17-14.’

‘Ryan Fitzpatrick always does something in a game that amazes me, and he always does something that makes me continue to believe he’s not a franchise quarterback. But I will take him in a second over Miami’s Chad Henne. Come to think of it, I’d take him over at least half the QBs in the NFL.’

‘Will RT Mansfield Wrotto be able to handle Miami’s Cameron Wake? Wrotto wasn’t solely responsible, but Wake was never a factor. In fact, the NFL sack leader was almost invisible as he was in on just two tackles. In all, Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked only twice for 12 yards.’

‘Chan Gailey did a nice job getting the young receivers involved in the game plan, and he had his team ready to play, and win, in a road division game. The Bills defense is getting better as George Edwards continues to tinker with the scheme, and with the personnel. It’s not a bad thing when you’re getting better as the season moves along. GRADE: B.’

‘”The young guys, those young receivers, man, they made some great plays out there today,” beamed Fitzpatrick after the game. “I said I’m going to give them a chance. I’m not afraid to throw to any of them, because I know if we get matchups we’re going to come down with it most of the time. They made some good plays.”‘

‘”We kinda knew coming in that [Henne’s] forte is not throwing the ball downfield,” said Bills cornerback Drayton Florence. “And then, these last few weeks with their O-line being banged up he’s been hit a lot, too. So we knew the ball would be coming out quick, which they did throw a lot of short passes. But you know in this league offenses can’t win dinking and dunking down the field.”‘

‘It matters. Beating Miami always matters. You could tell by the roar in the visiting locker room afterward. You knew it when Ralph Wilson, who never stopped believing the rivalry matters, appeared with a big smile on his face.’