Archives for December 6, 2011

‘Next season has to be playoff-or-bust for Nix and Gailey. Enough with the baby steps, the Bills are overdue for real, significant progress for once.’

‘In the first seven games, the Bills had an impressive 18 takeaways and gave the ball up only nine times, an impressive plus-9 in the all-important turnover ratio. But over the last five starts, Buffalo has committed 11 giveaways and taken the ball away on only four occasions, for a minus-7.’

‘”Hairston has been a bright spot this season,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “He hasn’t played as well yet coming back as he did before he got hurt. He hasn’t done that yet. So I think that as he gets healthier he’ll continue to get better though.”‘

‘Even if the Bills win out over San Diego, Miami, Denver and New England, they need some help to end their lengthy playoff draught. After Sunday’s action, here is the projected playoff picture if the season ended today…’.

‘The Bills have 14 players on injured reserve, including 10 who started the season on the 53-man roster.’

‘Seven others were charged with disorderly conduct, three with public lewdness, eight with trespassing and one with petit larceny.’

‘While they aren’t throwing or running or blocking or tackling on game day, coaches still need to be sharp and have a feel for the game and that’s where I thought Gailey failed Sunday. He was not sharp.’

‘Coming off a 23-17 loss to Tennessee, the Bills (5-7) are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a 12th straight season. After showing signs of being ready to contend for the AFC East title, Buffalo suddenly has its hands full in holding off Miami (4-8) from finishing last in the division.’

‘Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey is not optimistic either tight end Scott Chandler or rookie cornerback Aaron Williams will play at San Diego this weekend.’

‘”It got to where we were two touchdowns back and we started throwing it,” Gailey said. “I would like to have run the ball a little more, yes. He played very well in the first half. Again, we tried to run him in the second half.” Well, not really. Three carries does not constitute trying, not in anyone’s book, though Spiller did not question the strategy.’

‘There’s not much more that can be said for the defensive staff. The Bills are making far too many mental mistakes and compounding it with physical ones like blowing coverages or missing tackles, and part of that has to fall on the staff. As for the scheme, the Bills are starting four rookies, so they are limited in what they can do. On offense, Gailey stopped calling running plays in the second half, which made no sense, and on the penultimate drive that resulted in a touchdown, he should have been no-huddling all the way but didn’t, and it took the Bills six minutes to score.’

‘Coach Chan Gailey made a decision late in the third quarter that wasn’t very popular in the stadium. With the Bills trailing by 10 points, they faced a fourth-and-6 from the Tennessee 42. Gailey opted to punt in the hope that Brian Moorman would pin the Titans deep and the defense would force a three-and-out. Moorman managed a 25-yard punt that was fair-caught at the 17, and Tennessee drove 57 yards in 13 plays, chewing off 6:33, before kicking a field goal that put the game just about out of reach.’

‘In the case of Chandler, he injured his ankle on the play that saw the ball get stripped right out of his hands. He attempted to get back in the game on the next drive, but sat out the remainder of the contest after that. Chandler had X-rays taken after the game, and the Bills believe he has only a slight chance to play this week.’

‘Rookie cornerback Aaron Williams, who started the last two games sustained a knee injury in the first half and did not return. He limped to the sidelines under his own power after the injury. Fortunately MRI results revealed that the injury was not serious. “Not as bad as it could’ve been,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “I don’t know if he’ll play this week, but I think he’s got a real shot for the next game.”‘