Archives for November 10, 2013

‘The stress isn’t restricted to NFL coaches. University of Michigan legend Bo Schembechler was 40 and about to coach in the Rose Bowl when he had his first heart attack. Former Bills coaches Lou Saban and Chan Gailey suffered heart attacks while coaching in college at 55 and 53.’

‘Remember in ’04? They got embarrassed on a Sunday night in New England to fall to 3-6. The more hysterical observers (OK, it was me) were crying for Mike Mularkey to bench Drew Bledsoe and begin the J.P. Losman era. But Mularkey, a rookie head coach, told his guys they were still in it. The Bills went on a rousing six-game win streak, averaging 38 points a game.’

‘”The first thing that comes to my mind, and how much respect I have for Mike Tomlin, is that they are going to come back and they are going to get after it,” said Bills coach Doug Marrone. “There is a lot of pride in that defense in Pittsburgh. We will get their best game.”‘

‘Steelers 27, Bills 19.’

‘”I was actually worried coming out of college because you hear stories about people getting their hair shaved and I thought they would cut my hair when I came to Pittsburgh … but it was the exact opposite,” Polamalu said in a broadcast interview. “Guys accepted me with open arms. We return that favor now that I’m a veteran on the team we try our best to help them.’

‘Their defensive line isn’t as strong against the run as it used to be, and their safeties aren’t as solid as they used to be.’

‘The Steelers have won eight of the past nine meetings and are unbeaten against the Bills at home (5-0) since 1993.’

‘Curiously, they are getting help from three former Steelers. Kraig Urbik, a third-round choice in 2009, has been a permanent fixture at right guard since the Steelers cut him in 2010; Doug Legursky, a backup and part-time starter for four seasons, starts at left guard; and former 2009 fifth-round choice Frank “The Tank” Summers is the starting fullback.’

‘I speak from experience here. I grew up in Western New York. I am a recovering Bills fan. I am permanently scarred, and I am not alone.’

‘Even after Buffalo’s stadium was skinnied down to its current capacity of 73,079 by the installation of larger seats and more luxury seating, the Bills are having trouble filling it. They played to an average home crowd of 64,950 last season, and they have averaged 62,694 (in 2011) since playing to 99.9 percent capacity in 2003.’

‘It’s always tough to predict a road victory for a team with a rookie quarterback at the helm, but EJ Manuel and company should be able to come away with a win and put themselves back in the mix.’

‘”(Whaley) gave me an opportunity to move up,” Fisher said by phone before scouting Thursday’s Baylor-Oklahoma game. “I just thought it would be a good challenge and hopefully go up there and build a team.”‘

Steelers’ defense is dying with every big play (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Locker room stories that should be heard (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Game 9 Matchup: Steelers vs. Bills (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Back to basics: The Bills’ G Kraig Urbik vs. the Steelers’ DE Cam Heyward (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

How the Steelers got to 2-6 (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Bills find Steel City uninviting (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Scheme allows Bills to go against grain for yards (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Foote’s loss had ripples to the roots (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Be grateful, Steelers fans (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Extra seats too much of a good thing? (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Polamalu preps for ‘Mane Event’ (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Fisher embraces new challenge with Bills (Beaver County Times)

Steelers Gameplay: Week 10 vs. Bills (Beaver County Times)

Steelers just searching for a win (Washington Observer Reporter)

Bills will have Steelers on the run (Washington Observer Reporter)

Jones needs Polamalu’s pep talks (Uniontown Herald Standard)

Steelers Must Stop Run To Feast On Rookie QB (Uniontown Herald Standard)

‘”It’s going to be an intense feeling. I’ve never been an opponent in that stadium, I’ve never been to the visitor’s locker room. It’s going to be strange. All homecomings are nice; I’m going to see a lot of people. My wife’s family is still there. But it’s going to be an interesting feeling to walk on that field and be an opponent.’

‘The Bills figure to come at them with heavy doses of C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, who combined to rush for 193 yards against the Chiefs last week. If Spiller and Jackson can come close to that production against the league’s 30th-ranked rushing defense, the Bills won’t need much more than game management from Manuel.’