Archives for August 17, 2013

‘It’s only preseason, but Mike Pettine’s defensive unit is looking better each week. If the Bills keep pressuring the quarterback, they are going to make it harder for opposing offenses to beat them down the field.’

‘Buffalo’s defense had three first-half sacks and produced the first touchdown of the game, thanks to a Vikings miscue. Minnesota’s backup center, Joe Berger, snapped the ball over the head of backup quarterback Matt Cassel on a third-and-7 play from Minnesota’s 23-yard line.’

‘”Obviously it started slow. It took a little while for the game to come to me,” Kolb said. “But I’m happy with the way it finished. I felt like I got in a little bit of a groove; we got in a little bit of a groove. I’m a little bit disappointed there in the first quarter in myself, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen live action, been a long time since I’ve been on the field. I’ll just keep getting better and keep pushing.”‘

‘”One of the things this week I told him: A lot of times people play well against the teams they were on prior to,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said. “I said, ‘It’s going to be interesting to see this week who you are.’ Are you going to be able to play with that same intensity, play with that same production? He probably played with more production.”‘

‘OK, now that they’re even, can we end this charade the Bills call a quarterback competition and get on with the season?’

‘The idea of Manuel not being the Bills’ opening-day starter Sept. 8 against the New England Patriots is difficult to fathom barring injury or some sort of implosion over the next couple of weeks.’

‘”If I have to take it back to my car, I’d rather do it now,” said Bill DeGrout outside Gate 5, where, half-an-hour before gates were scheduled to open, he was still looking for a straight answer as to whether his red Tops-brand tote bag would be allowed into the stadium.’

‘”He got off to the same start EJ did in the last game,” coach Doug Marrone said of Kolb. “It’s tough when it’s the first time you come into it. Kevin did a nice job at the end, making sure that we scored.”‘

‘”Early on our defense played very well and made some things happen,” said Doug Marrone, Bills head coach. “Defensively, we have tried to establish an identity right from day one. We still have some work to do, but I like that type of effort; they made some things happen. I was happy with the defense.”‘

‘It was only when third-string Vikings defenders began to get playing time that Kolb did much of anything.’

Sloppy play in Vikings’ loss covers up signs of any progress (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Pro Bowl backfield remains idle (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Photo gallery (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Mistakes cost Minnesota in loss (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

Ponder, first-team offense struggle against blitzing Bills (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

Vikings once again make extensive use of shotgun offense (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

Minnesota Vikings receiver Jarius Wright injured (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

Minnesota Vikings hold Adrian Peterson out of Friday’s exhibition (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

Photo gallery (Saint Paul Pioneer Press)

5 things learned in Friday’s preseason loss at Buffalo (Fox Sports North)

Photo gallery (Fox Sports North)

Vikings offense dismal from the get-go at Buffalo (KSTP-AM)

Photo gallery (KSTP-AM)

Photo gallery (Vikings.com)

Photo gallery 1 (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery 2 (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (WGRZ-TV)

”’We’re breeding an attitude around here,” center Eric Wood said. ”And we’re trying to be the toughest team out there each week. And you don’t do that by going out and laying an egg in the preseason.”’

‘Williams complained of soreness after practice Wednesday and joins receivers TJ Graham (groin) and Stevie Johnson (left hamstring) on the sideline. Also not in uniform are corner backs Leodis McKelvin, Justin Rogers and Crezdon Butler, as well as defensive end Kourtnei Brown and offensive lineman Keith Williams.’

‘Manuel outplayed Kolb and the Bills topped the Minnesota Vikings, 20-16, in the second preseason game for both teams.’

‘If this was a heavyweight fight and Doug Marrone was the ref, I think he’d stop the fight now and name Manuel the winner. We’ll see if he does that Sunday morning when camp resumes.’