Archives for October 16, 2013

‘Unlike fellow free-agent fill-in Jeff Tuel (and several other recently former Buffalo quarterbacks, including first-round pick J.P. Losman), he did not obviously lock in on his intended receivers and read and exploited Cincinnati’s coverage on both touchdown throws, as well as a 47-yarder to T.J. Graham that set up Lewis’ 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.’

‘Coach Doug Marrone expressed unhappiness with Brown’s performance since training camp. Legursky missed the first four games with a knee injury.’

‘Brown opened up Buffalo’s first five games of 2013 at left guard before being replaced by Doug Legursky for Sunday’s 27-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati.’

‘Offensive lineman Bryant Browning was signed to the practice squad to take Asper’s place, with linebacker Jacquies Smith also signed. Defensive end Jamie Blatnick was released from the practice squad.’

‘However, the one thing Lewis was able to do that EJ Manuel hasn’t proved to do with consistency just yet is hitting a deep pass down the sidelines. Lewis did it once with Graham in the first quarter, then connected with Marquise Goodwin on the game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Had Goodwin not been interfered with by Adam Jones in the third quarter, that throw had a very good chance of being completed down the sidelines as well. Lewis didn’t show that ability in his lone start for Cleveland in 2012, making it more than a surprise to the Bengals and Bills fans in general.’

‘And even though none of the running backs, including C.J. Spiller, have run enough to be sick to their stomach, the Bills continue to be one of the league leaders in rushing attempts. Buffalo runs the ball 49-percent of the after the first six games. Only Seattle, with 54-percent, runs the Ball more often. The Bills lead the AFC in percentage of rushing attempts and they’re tied with Carolina and Philadelphia with runs on 49-percent of their plays. The NFL average for all 32 teams is 41-percent running plays.’

‘Brown, who started each of the Bills first five games, struggled mightily at times in his first year as a starter. He surrendered pressures, hits and sacks on the quarterback with a frequency that re-opened the left guard job that he had won in training camp once Doug Legursky was healthy enough to play.’

‘Fans are encouraged to wear white to the November 3 game to match the players’ road white uniforms and form a ‘white out’ in Ralph Wilson Stadium. The first 50,000 fans through the gates will get a white pom pom. The nationally renowned Penn State Marching Band will be performing pregame and at halftime.’

‘I’m excited, excited to be here. I think it’s a great opportunity. Get to come in and learn a different offense. Just get to keep playing. That’s the main thing. Just being around here all day I’ve just being around the town, being around the guys and the facilities and everything like that. I’m excited and ready to start digging in to the playbook.’

‘Trying to keep pushing you never know when it’s going to come. We all know what people say, we’ve got to be more consistent down by down by down. I think that’s important for us.’

‘”I checked with the doctors and he’s ahead of schedule with where he is right now,” said Marrone.’

‘Stevie Johnson still has to test his lower back injury in practice Wednesday to see just where he’s at after what was essentially a week off for the Bills top receiver. Missing a full week of practice left interim starting quarterback Thad Lewis without a valuable slot receiver in the passing game last Sunday. Lewis isn’t 100 percent healthy either, but if both are on the field this weekend in Miami, working between the numbers should be even more productive than it was this past week.’

‘Buffalo and Miami will meet for the 95th time in the regular season this week. The Bills are 37-56-1 all-time against the Dolphins. This week’s game will mark the 48th regular season road game for Buffalo in their series against Miami (15-31-1). The two teams have squared off 25 previous times in the month of October (9-15-1).’