Archives for October 6, 2015

'Meanwhile, where’s the starting defensive line that’s eating up 28 percent of this year’s $143 million salary cap?'

'“The penalties is something, you know, kind of keeps you up at night trying to think of what to do, how we can fix it,” Ryan said Monday. “It doesn’t go away by talking about it, or that would already be done. We have tried to do some things, but make no mistake – we are trying to get fixed. I am trying to get it fixed.”'

'That has to change. Ryan and the Bills have to find an emotional middle ground. They have to play inspired, emotional football without going over the edge. Otherwise, the bully mentality will follow them around and cost them the playoffs.'

'“That’s pretty discouraging,” Ryan said. “There’s no question about that. We’re a team that prides ourselves on being able to run the football. Obviously it wasn’t a secret that they were pretty good at stopping the run. We get that. But two yards a clip is discouraging. Not being able to pick up a third and six inches was discouraging so we have to get a lot better.'

'“Pegulaville” is at least the third Western New York-based story that Glor has done in his eight years at CBS. Last year, he interviewed Jim Kelly as the Bills legendary quarterback battled cancer. In 2009, he reported from here on the tragedy of Continental Flight 3407.'

'"The penalties are something that kind of keeps you up at night, trying to think of what to do, how we can fix it," Ryan said Monday in a much calmer state than he displayed on Sunday when discussing the penalty problem. "It doesn't go away by talking about it, or that would already be done. We tried to do some things. But make no mistake: We're trying to get it fixed. And I'm trying to get it fixed."'

'The Bills have now been flagged 42 times in their three home games, and 47 times overall. Meanwhile, 11 other penalties were either offset or declined. The penalties weren't why the Bills lost 24-10 to the Giants, but they played a huge role.'

'"And when you look at this one here, clearly some of the unsportsmanlike penalties and all that, No. 1 we have to clean up. There is no question about that. That can't happen. Is that an issue, is that something that we get reputation-wise? It's something certainly to look at."'

'The Bills' offense is going to struggle as long as Sammy Watkins (calf) and LeSean McCoy (hamstring) continue to miss time. Percy Harvin and Robert Woods struggled to get open as the focal points of the passing game, and Karlos Williams found little running room behind the Bills' offensive line. Watkins and McCoy open up the offense quite a bit with the attention they draw from opposing defenses. That was a bigger factor Sunday than we anticipated.'

'Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan did all the talking, while the New York Giants were the ones who muscled up when it counted.'

'"Build a bully, but you've got to be a smart bully, to use (Ryan's) terms," Golic said. "You can be tough, but to get stupid penalties? My gosh, 17 of them in this game. You gave the stats there. You have now crossed the line. Now you're past tough, you're into dumb. You can be as tough as you want — you can be the big boy throwing out your chest all you want— but when the referee stands in front and gives the signal for personal foul and points at your team, you've just entered the dumb phase. You just have, and all you'll do is cost yourself. There should be no one that leaves that game and says, 'Well, I know we beat them, but boy, are they tough.' I mean, come on. If you're playing in the league, you're tough. There's a line of tough and stupid penalties and they've crossed it, and they need to come back."'

'Consistency is the mark of a true championship contender. This football team just hasn't learned how to win yet. That sounds so vague, but it's true. It takes time for the team and patience from the fans. I know the latter is in pretty short supply in Orchard Park these days.'

'Instead of hammering his players with negative reinforcement at 0-2, Coughlin kept them positive in the face of the negativity surrounding the poor start, reminding them about the good things they were doing and pointing out the “little things’’ that were keeping them from winning.'

'"So sometimes penalties don't tell the whole story," Ryan said. "But sometimes they do."'

'Without needing to worry about those two dynamic players, the Giants effectively clamped down on wide receivers Percy Harvin and Robert Woods, and New York often had eight men in the box to handle rookie running back Karlos Williams. And that was the name of a tune that ended with New York winning 24-10. '