Archives for October 2017

'Find a new tight end: Nick O’Leary could be serviceable with Charles Clay out of the lineup, who is expected to miss ‘multiple weeks’ per Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. Without Clay, McDermott likes O’Leary. But the team could benefit from adding a new tight end. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor likes his tight ends no matter who it is. When Clay went down last week, O’Leary led the Bills with five catches for 54 yards. If the team was to add another that’s a viable pass catcher like Gary Barnidge, it could help the passing game without Clay. When Clay returns, Tyrod still likes his tight ends, so the more, the merrier.'

'Wood then went into some detail as to how the linemen attack the defense in the wide-zone scheme, "Basically, we want to get everyone moving laterally and then someone is going to get a guy, either on a cut block on the back side or maybe you reach your guy and wall him off. As soon as one guy on the defense gets walled off, there's a big cut there (for the ball carrier)."'

'After injuries piled up on the Bills in their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo added a pair of players to the practice squad in tight end Ryan O'Malley and center Adam Redmond.'

'The top-end talent has always been good enough to win for the Bills, and we saw that once the Bills went through the first four weeks of the season really without any injuries to the top players on the roster. That all changed again in Week Five against the Cincinnati Bengals and pointed to just how thin the depth chart was in a few spots.'

'“That’s one thing I have done a lot is tackle. I think the first game last year against Buffalo I had like 10 or 11 tackles. That’s the second time I’ve had that many tackles,” Wright said.'

'“We’ve just got to keep plugging at it,” McCoy said. “It’s hard, but it’s like respect. There are certain routes, certain bracketing in coverages, and all the attention is on the back. So as much as I want to be angry, we’ve just got to adjust to it and figure out a way to beat it. We’ll get there.”'

'These next few days will provide ample opportunities for self-reflection and self-scouting, not only for players but for the coaching staff as well. Their rushing attack has been abysmal since Week One, their quarterback play has mostly been mediocre, and their wide receiver production has been nonexistent. Star running back LeSean McCoy — who’s currently averaging 3.1 yards per carry — admitted after Sunday’s 20-16 loss in Cincinnati that he is angry at himself, while quarterback Tyrod Taylor shouldered the blame for squandering another defensive gem.'

'Clay was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday's 20-16 loss to Cincinnati when he was hit by Bengals safety Shawn Williams at the end of a 24-yard gain. Pro Football Talk reported Monday that Clay suffered a torn meniscus and sprained MCL, although McDermott did not confirm those details, saying he had yet to get a full report from the Bills' medical staff.'

'Ideally, the Bills would have played more smash mouth with the Bengals. But Buffalo ran 13 times for 70 yards on first down, a 5.5-yard average. The pass game needed to move the chains more to give the run game more cracks.'

'The two most obvious trade chips for the Bills happen to be the team's highest-paid players on each side of the ball – Marcell Dareus and Cordy Glenn.'

'In the loss to the Bengals, Dawkins received a -1.9 pass-blocking grade, the eighth-worst score out in Week Five out of 54 qualifying offensive tackles.'

'Next man up, that’s what we do. That’s what happens in the league, sometimes this happens. We’ve gotten hit a little bit by the injury bug. The great part about it is, if there’s a silver lining if you will, is that we had five rookies on the field yesterday getting significant experience. Whether they started or played, that’s important for our future, and as we continue to build, there’s a silver lining in some of this. Although, I never want to see a guy get hurt, in particular, any player, let alone a player of Charles’ caliber.'

'“I thought Nick did a good job yesterday in the passing game,” McDermott said. “In particular, made some key catches for us. He’s a guy that (quarterback Tyrod Taylor) trusts, obviously, and he’s made some big plays this year so far. I like the direction that he’s heading in right now."'

'The Bills woke up Monday ranked second-last in yards gained per game and yards per play, 29th in passing yards per game and 16th in rushing yards.'

'Bills wide receivers have averaged 4.8 receptions on 10.2 targets for 63.2 yards through five games, lower numbers than any NFL receiving group has put up for a full season since 2001, according to data from ESPN Stats & Information.'