Archives for October 2015

'Herron was released from the Colts after suffering a shoulder injury in the team's preseason finale.'

After 4 weeks I’m still not really sure about the Bills. I want to believe that they are talented enough and on the right track to make the playoffs, but being beaten by New England and New York is worrisome at best. The next 3 week will tell us a lot about who the Bills.

'Despite the fact that Mariota has only played three games, he’s among the league leaders already in passer rating, yards per attempt, and touchdown passes.'

'Herron has played in 25 career games, starting three, and racking up 389 yards and one touchdown on 87 carries. He has also caught 22 passes for 230 yards. The 26-year old originally entered the league as a sixth round pick (191st overall) of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft.'

'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."'