Two Bills Drive

‘“For any young guys reading this, it’s always good to learn the whole concept,” Samuel said during an interview with The Buffalo News. “The injury rate in this league is so high, you never know when you’ll get your opportunity and, when you do go in, you want to do the job right so the coaches can depend on you.”’

‘Teams can gain a lot of advantages using motion. It helps reveal the defensive scheme. If no defenders move with the motioning receiver, they’re very likely zone coverage. Motion forces the defense to communicate more, which could create a coverage bust. It can create a numbers mismatch in the run game. It can create a mismatch in the pass game (if a team with one top cornerback doesn’t have that guy follow the star receiver). It can help get a receiver off of press coverage.’

‘ The best way to slow the Miami offense is to keep it off the field entirely. If the Bills can dominate time of possession like they did in their last meeting with the Dolphins, when they held the ball for 38:07, they can give their defense plenty of time to rest for the challenge of racing with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.’

’38:07: That’s how long the Bills held the ball in the 21-14 win at Miami last January. Buffalo ran 77 plays to just 48 for Miami. Can the Bills keep the Dolphins’ speedsters on the sideline?’

‘The best game of Week 2. One look at the Jets’ offense showed why the AFC East goes through Buffalo or Miami this year, so this should be viewed as a statement game. The Bills can send a message (“We’re still the boss”) with a road win. Miami can show it is primed for a breakthrough if it wins. The Dolphins’ running back injuries are a concern, but receiver Tyreek Hill will be the game’s best player. Dolphins, 27-23.’

‘Absolutely, it’s a concern. The Bills made it exceptionally difficult on themselves, particularly on offense, with pre-snap penalties. Those are the kind that drive McDermott nuts. The Bills had nine penalties accepted against them in Week 1, which was tied for fifth most in the league behind Dallas (11), Cleveland (11), Green Bay (10) and New Orleans (10). It is an area the team needs to clean up as soon as possible.’

‘First, you need televisions: lots of them and the bigger the better. It’s the most important thing besides drinks since you have to be able to see the Bills take home a win each week, right? Next, you need a proper drink selection. And if (craft) beer isn’t your thing, there are plenty of places that offer options beyond hops including mead, seltzer, cider, wine, canned cocktails and craft cocktails. Don’t forget the food, too.’

‘The team was overwhelmed early to an undermanned Cardinal team, down 17-3. Buffalo lost its star cornerback, Taron Johnson, on the first series. Then they dominated Arizona for a couple of quarters, before giving up a kick return for a score. That turned the game into an improbable nail-biter at the end with the Cardinals throwing a fourth-quarter, fourth-down incomplete jump ball at the Bills’ 2-yard line in the waning seconds.’