Archives for April 2013

‘With Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Alan Branch and Torell Troup on the roster, the Buffalo Bills wouldn’t seem to have a pressing need for an interior defensive lineman at No. 8 overall, but with a new defensive scheme, it can’t be ruled out.’

‘”I think coming into it one of the things that we wanted to get accomplished as a team was one we wanted to establish a tempo, the way we practice, the way we go about our business,” said Marrone. “You’ll see different changes as we start going through with the OTAs. What we wanted to do as far as installation is create that base with more of a huddle and obviously once you have that foundation you’ll see us actually be a lot faster.”‘

‘The Bills were 6-10 last season, so they weren’t exactly one of the best teams in the NFL. But the good news is their 2013 opponents had a combined .473 winning percentage in 2012. That means the Bills have a favorable schedule. (But remember: They also have a lot of question marks entering this season.) The Bills will play 10 of their 16 games against teams that finished below .500 in 2012.’

‘"The competition is obviously higher being with the vet guys," Mulkey said. "It’s not free agents and rookies out here. It’s all vets. So if I can hold my own and perform well, I have a better chance of staying around."’

‘While last year the Bills were stuck with home games in December against non-division opponents, this season most of the home games are wrapped up by mid-November. I don’t count the Toronto game as “home” and, as mentioned, a home game against Miami seems to be one of those exceptions when Bills fans don’t mind the cold, in fact they relish it.’

‘”But that’s what we need. We need change, and we need to see something different and hear something different and be exposed to different things.”‘

‘Marrone is the 17th head coach in Bills history. Only one of his 16 predecessors won the first game of his tenure. That was Marv Levy in 1986. Marrone has a big challenge to become No. 2. The Patriots have beaten the Bills 18 of the last 19 and 23 of the last 25 meetings.’

‘”Obviously you keep hearing about the same couple of guys, and it is a good left tackle draft,” said Doug Majeski, the Bills’ coordinator of college scouting. “It’s a little bit unique that you get guys with the prototypical size and length and athleticism.”‘

‘This year, the Bills will play six home games – all in Orchard Park – by the middle of November, and have only one game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the final six weeks, that against Miami on Dec. 22.’

‘Piccone is honorary chairman of this year’s Trek the Trail Walkin’ n’ Talkin’ event. He will be joined by Booker Edgerson, a defensive star for the team in the 1960s, and Ed Rutkowski, who served as Erie County executive after his playing days ended.’

‘”Just became a Buffalo Bill super excited to be apart of an amazing franchise and thankful for the opportunity,” Stahovich tweeted Thursday.’

”’When I came in, and I saw what we’re doing, the tempo and the type of team we’re building, my faith was just sky high,” said Johnson, who has led the team in yards receiving in each of the past three seasons. ”I’m going to ride with it.”’

‘It marks the fourth time since 2003 Buffalo has opened against New England, and ninth time overall.’

‘The Cowboys wanted to move him to linebacker. The Bills planned to keep him at his natural guard position on the offensive line. He chose the latter and spent all nine years of his illustrious career in Buffalo. Yet his lasting impact comes back to his induction in Canton.’

‘”I think for us coming in to it, one of the things that we wanted to get accomplished as a team was one, we wanted to establish a tempo,” Marrone said after the conclusion of the third and final day. “Football is a game, when you got on that field, everything happens so quickly during a game. I think that you get a false sense of security if you’re slowed down in practice and you’re slowing things down. The faster you can make it in practice, I think it’s better carryover to the game.”‘