Archives for November 20, 2015

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'The two head coaches with the best all-time records against Belichick – the titanic force currently blocking Buffalo’s path back to relevancy – are former Houston Oilers coach Jack Pardee and New York’s Tom Coughlin. “And you know who the coordinator was on both of those,” Gilbride said with a chuckle.'

'The analytics website Pro Football Focus, which grades every player in the NFL, ranks Glenn as the fifth-best offensive tackle in the league. He’s allowed one sack, two quarterback hits and just seven quarterback hurries on 304 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF, giving him a pass blocking efficiency of 97.5, which ranks fourth among tackles.'

'“Rex has something up his sleeve," safety Bacarri Rambo said. "Rex is, in my opinion, the best defensive coach in the league. He’s going to find a way to slow them down. He’s going to bring some of those rabbits out of his hat to slow them down. We just have to know our assignment and do our job. We can’t do too much, we can’t do too less, we have to do our job.'

'Still, I remain unconvinced about Taylor as the Bills’ franchise quarterback. He has some gaudy statistics, and a 5-2 record as a starter. But there’s the numbers test and the eyeball test, and he’s failed the eyeball test too often to be the surefire answer at QB.'

'"They’ve won some rings or whatever," Ryan said. "I ain’t kissing them, but I respect them. I admire the fact that they’ve been that successful through the years. But that’s what I’m chasing. I want to win, man. I mean that’s as simple as that."'

'LeGarrette Blount is a 250-pound bully between the tackles, capable to carrying the load. He ran the ball 29 times two weeks ago in a win over the Washington Redskins, once pounded the Bills for 189 yards on 24 attempts in 2013 and ripped the Indianapolis Colts in the postseason twice for lines of 24-166-4 (in 2013) and 30-148-3 (in 2014). In a Week 2 win, the Patriots opted to spread out the Bills to throw, throw, throw and throw some more.'

'“He's been very consistent since he's been here,” said Marcus Easley, one of the coverage men on punts and kickoffs. “You can't replace a guy like Moorman, a Pro Bowl punter who was here 15 years. … it's like who's next, where do we go from here? For Colton to be doing as well as he's been doing since he's been here, we have full belief in him. It was definitely an easy transition.”'

'"No, I'm just telling you the facts," Ryan said. "The only thing I'm focusing on is beating them right now on Monday night. We're not conceding that, I can promise you."'

'"Do we want to beat them? Absolutely. Do I want to beat them more than any team? Yeah, because they're the standard. They've won. They're the ones that win the division, and that's why. But do I obsess over them and all that? You guys write I've lost seven of eight, so why are you even talking to me? I obviously have no clue how to attack them or defend them, so you guys should talk to somebody else who's got a better record than I do."'

'The Patriots' pass rusher leads the league with 10.5 sacks, and he certainly has the attention of Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, who is preparing his team to play the Patriots on Monday Night Football this week.'

'Ryan cited three specific stats — total runs and completions, turnovers, and passer rating differential — and how the Patriots performed when they have an edge in those categories.'

'“I’ll tell you this, we prepare for them the same way we prepare for every team that we face. But do we want to beat them? Absolutely. Do I want to beat them more than any team? Yeah, because they’re the standard. They’ve won. They’re the ones who win the division. To me, that’s why.'

'“He’s definitely improved,” Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. “You can tell that he’s playing at his best and he’s playing healthy, making the explosive cuts that you’re used to seeing. He’s out there making plays, out there in the running game and in the passing game.”'

'Throughout the years, Ryan has made it a habit of talking about the Patriots. Even before the Bills played his old team, the New York Jets, last week, Ryan said he hadn’t put much thought into the matchup and said that he always circled the Patriots on the schedule.'