Archives for December 2016

'Exactly who was to blame for the massive communication gaffe, Ryan wouldn’t say on Monday. But he wanted everyone to know there is a ‘someone.’'

'Now, you have to wonder whether this is it for Ryan as a head coach, whether he’ll slip seamlessly into the waiting network TV booth. Head coaches who’ve been fired twice in less than three years and who’ve coached six consecutive seasons without a playoff berth usually are not a hot commodity.

'The one major issue unsettled is Ryan's status as coach , a decision that rests with team owners Terry and Kim Pegula. Ryan left it to the Pegulas in dismissing a question whether it's fair to judge a coach after just two seasons.'

'Taylor has endured heavy criticism most of the season for his inability to make anything happen in the passing game. Entering the Miami matchup, the Bills ranked 31st in the NFL in passing, a position they've occupied most of the second half of the season. Taylor's difficulties with seeing the entire field, his penchant for leaving clean pockets and his nagging habit of waiting too long to deliver were all factors in the criticism.'

'“(It) is my responsibility,” the head coach told reporters during his scheduled Monday press conference after his team’s 34-31 loss to the Dolphins. “I’m responsible for everything, but everybody’s a professional. You have a job to do. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen and it should never happen and it did happen. And it cost us the game. That’s how I look at it. That play right there contributed mightily in costing us the football game.”'

'“That’s about as painful of a loss I can remember,” Ryan said as he stepped to the mic. “To come up short, and the magnitude of the game, it’s painful.'

'And that’s all part of the problem. Rather than giving his offense — which had nearly 600 yards to their names — a chance to extend the drive, he believed that his defense would get a stop. The same defense that had been getting beaten all game long, and the same defense that surrendered 31 points to that point in time.'

'“Big Charles dominated in all phases,” Robert Woods said. “We needed him to come up big. You never know what play or moment is going to be yours, and this game Charles Clay came up big. He took the hit (on his first touchdown), still stayed up and got six. Those are the type of plays big playmakers make. We love to have him on our team.”'

'Taylor also ran for 60 yards helping him to eclipse his own single-season rushing best last season of 569 yards. He now has 580 rushing yards this season.'

'The Bills are still alive for a top-10 pick. They could move up as high as ninth overall with a loss, or they could drop to the high teens with a win depending on next week's results.'

'It is hard to imagine Dan Fouts, CBS’ second-team analyst, would have passed on instantly criticizing or supporting a decision Ryan told reporters he made because he trusted his (porous) defense.'

'However, Saturday, players and coaches were complicit in defeat, and it further shined the light on the fact that the Bills are still what they’ve been for far too long: NFL mediocrity of the highest order.'

'No flag was thrown on the play, but Hughes could still face a fine for his actions. This isn't the first time that Hughes has thrown a head butt during his time with the Bills. Earlier this season, Hughes head butted Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Jake Fisher. He was penalized 15-yards for his head butt on Fisher. Last season, Hughes head butted Giants offensive tackle Ereck Flowers.'

'Of course, it’s easy to look back and blame a simple blown coverage, missed kicker, fumble, or jersey number on why the Bills missed the playoffs.'

'Talent on the field has definitely been a big problem for the Bills during this much-too-long playoff drought, and some of that blame these days definitely falls on the shoulders of General Manager Doug Whaley and team president Russ Brandon.'