Aerial Showdown: Matt Schaub Vs. Buffalo Bills Pass Defense

Sorry I can’t do the generic Game Preview.

There’s too many out there. How many can one possibly read leading up to a game?

My advice…read my Featured Columnist colleague Dan Van Wie’s previews, they’re good. He does a much better job hyping a game that I ever could.

I’m more of a numbers/match-up guy.

Anyhow, this week’s most intriguing story comes from the rocket arm of Matt Schaub and the turnover-creating Bills defense.

Let’s break down these two critical aspects of Sunday’s game.

Matt Schaub is currently:

First in passing yards (2,074)

First in touchdown passes (16)

Third in total completions (163)

 

He’s got weapons too.

Andre Johnson is about as scary as they come in terms of wide receivers, and Owen Daniels, yes, Owen Daniels should be a household name if he’s not already. He deserves the notoriety.

Andre Johnson is:

First in receiving yards (634)

First in targets (70)

T-3rd with nine receptions over 20 yards.

The guy looks like a linebacker but runs like an Olympic track star.

 

Don’t sleep on Owen Daniels either.

Through six games Daniels is:

Sixth in first down receptions (27)

Second among TE’s with 39 receptions

First in TE receiving yards 497.

He can certainly play the tight end position.

 

The Buffalo Bills counter with a defense that prides itself on giving an anemic offense great opportunities to score points—by creating those ever-important things called turnovers. They’re giving opposing quarterbacks fits this year.

The Bills defense is:

T-1st with 13 interceptions

Third in yards per attempt allowed 5.8

Second in opposing quarterback rating allowed at 58.

 

I touched on these very stats in my article comparing the run defense and the pass defense , but they continued their outstanding play, therefore I feel the need to reiterate how shockingly good the pass defense has been.

Sure they’ve faced some shaky quarterbacks in the past three weeks (Derek Anderson, Mark Sanchez, and Jake Delhomme) but the Bills didn’t allow these struggling quarterbacks to have a rebound game against their unit.

They did hold Drew Brees and Tom Brady to somewhat pedestrian numbers remember.

What’s going to give?

It’s very tough to predict this one—even the “experts” would have a hard time, though I think the majority is leaning toward Houston’s pass offense getting the best of the Bills.

Andre Johnson has been hurt, but don’t expect him to slow down his locomotive-like engine, and I don’t envision Perry Fewell changing much with his super-successful game plan.

The determining factor, to me, is the pass rush. Schaub has been sacked 12 times this season, which carries a mediocre standing in the NFL.

The Bills D-line is revitalized. They’ve already accumulated 16 quarterback take downs.

The point is, Matt Schaub isn’t known for his mobility. If he gets into a groove, stays relaxed in the pocket, things may turn in Houston’s favor. But if an early pressure leads to a bad interception, the Bills will have extreme momentum. There’s nothing better for a crowd to feed off than tremendous defensive play. 

Schaub can be rattled, but also can look as comfortable as Brady back there.

Whichever team sets the tone early, has the advantage.

 

What do I think will happen?

I think Schaub will have a good day, but nothing spectacular. At home, the crowd really gets behind the defense that, for the most part, has played out of their minds as of late—especially at the Ralph.

This makes me believe Schaub could be forced into a bad throw in the early going, as the Texans haven’t been able to rely on Steve Slaton producing great yardage on first down.

On obvious passing downs, the Texans won’t have as big of an edge on the Bills secondary as it may seem on paper.

I don’t dare to make a game prediction, but I envision a near draw between these two heavy-weights, with the unit that makes one or two more plays deciding the winner.

That close.

 

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Seen and Herd Week Seven: Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers

Say it with me…The Buffalo Bills are officially on a winning streak.

It’s been awhile.

When the final whistle blew in Charlotte after another oddly exciting football game, the Bills found themselves again victorious.

 

Win in Perspective

Buffalo sits at the respectable, yet far from ideal spot, of 3-4. Two weeks ago, many had buried the season following embarrassing losses to Miami and Cleveland. Now the Bills are rebuilding the semblance of a bandwagon. Will fans jump back on?

It keeps Buffalo in the “playoff hunt” if there’s such a thing in October, but they’re currently a game out of a wild-card position. At least the season isn’t finished.

A Jets or Carolina loss, or a combination of the two, would have all but mathematically eliminated Buffalo from playoff contention before the half way point of the season.

There’s still life. A good amount of it.

The Bills, even in their consecutive wins, haven’t resembled a playoff-caliber team.

The defense looks up to snuff, but the offense hasn’t improved in the statistical sense, and surely isn’t the explosive unit many believed would materialize with Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, and Terrell Owens on the 2009 roster.

Still, somehow, Buffalo triumphed, when many were ready to turn off the lights on the season.

 

A Star is Born? 

Jairus Byrd continued his hot streak of interceptions this week with another two-INT performance. Both were on over-throws by Jake Delhomme, but Byrd was situated exactly where a safety needs to be, and he made Carolina pay.

He’s got five interceptions this year—he’ll be a big part of the team’s success in the future. His torrid streak puts him in serious contention for a spot on the All-Rookie team, if not Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Yea, I’m serious.

The Bills have already eclipsed last year’s interception total and it’s proven to be the deciding factor in all three Bills’ wins.

Even George Wilson, who rounded out the back-up duo in the Bills last line of defense grabbed another pick late, securing victory.

When Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner, went down with injury, I realized George Wilson, a converted wide receiver, and Jarius Byrd who at the time had less than three starts, would be our two safeties. I was worried.

In reality, they’ve out-played Whitner and Scott, which leads me to my next point.

 

What’s Next?

With Byrd and Wilson playing stellar football, what will come of the now four legitimate safeties on the team?

Many believe Bryan Scott may lose his job, but he’s still unbelievably vital defending the run. He’s about the same size as Keith Ellison and obviously has better coverage skills.

Whitner hasn’t become the playmaker Buffalo believed he’d be when they drafted him eighth overall in 2006. But he’s a vocal leader on defense and frequently stuffs the box on obvious running downs. He’s an above average cover man, especially on tight ends.

So here’s what happens. When Byrd was drafted, rumors floated that if Byrd panned out early, the Bills would institute a three safety look, and now it seems like that’s what will happen.

Clearly Byrd will stay in center field while Whitner and Scott can focus on strengthening the run defense. That’s something that’s critical for this team, which faces many good running backs down the stretch. (Steve Slaton, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson)

 

Offense Improvement?

New starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t wow anyone, but had the game I was expecting/hoping for. 

He was 11-for-22 for 123 yards and one touchdown. Remember Terrell Owens had two drops, which didn’t help his numbers. 

Fitzpatrick epitomizes “managing the game,” scrambling when nothing’s there, occasionally going deep, while responsibly throwing the short and intermediate passes when need be.

He had Owens in the first half for a touchdown, but his arm strength failed him. Later he connected with Lee Evans on a 50-yard strike in the fourth quarter.

(Side note: Evans didn’t utilize any double moves, or up and outs. He straight up burned the corner on a go route, something he can do to just about any member of any secondary in the NFL. It’s old-school football.)

Fitzpatrick, for the first time all season, used the middle of the field. He hit Owens on a deep dig with the Bills backed up in their own zone and a 3rd-and-long situation. He utilized the slant route for his frozen rope touchdown to Lee Evans.

He definitely doesn’t like checking down as much as Trent Edwards, which has it’s pros and cons.

He isn’t the future for Buffalo, but his “I’ll-gladly-be-the-backup” attitude suits the Bills perfectly. And to be honest, he isn’t that bad of a player.

 

T.O.s

No I’m not talking about Terrell Owens, or even his cereal. His troubles are well-documented. Catch the ball.

I’m talking turnovers. Buffalo’s 13 interceptions catapults them to first in the NFL this season. They’ve allowed an average quarterback rating of 58. That puts them in sole possession of second.

Who would have thought?

The defensive line deserves some credit. Though they weren’t in Delhomme’s face all day, they did register two sacks and often pressured Jake into incompletions. With an occasional blitz, Buffalo becomes a formidable pass rushing team.

Never thought I’d say that following last year’s 24-sack catastrophe.

Where the Offense Goes From Here

Marshawn Lynch accumulated only 40 yards on the ground while Fred Jackson carried seven times for a mere 10 yards.

Carolina played down hill with all their linebackers and sometimes even their safeties on run plays. The offensive line, which we always analyze following the game, wasn’t great, especially for the backs. They did keep Fitzpatrick upright all but one time in Sunday’s contest however.

We know Fitzpatrick isn’t afraid to test teams deep. (Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief together.)

With that dynamic, (and I don’t mean necessarily completing the passes, just throwing the deep ball) the Bills offense gets much tougher to defend.

Carolina was going to let Ryan Fitzpatrick beat them, putting the onus on stopping the run, and they did.

They were caught off guard on the Owens miss down field in the first half and certainly couldn’t stay with Lee Evans in the fourth quarter. He missed on four other bomb attempts. You can take a positive from those negative incompletions.

The defense keeps those distance throws in the back of their minds, so complete commitment to the run is suddenly gone.

This can only benefit the run game, the offense line, and then the play-action pass, my favorite.

It’s been a long time coming, but expect more deep throws to connect, and don’t be shocked to see some running game improvement.

 

Looking Ahead

The Buffalo Bills host the Houston Texans on Sunday in an early November game with wild-card implications. Houston sits a game ahead of Buffalo at 4-3, and they’re also winners of two straight.

Their defense is anchored by Mario Williams and an above-average secondary, but with new wrinkles the Bills can certainly exploit this under-appreciated unit.

Matt Schaub has eight touchdown passes to only two interceptions in his last three games, making him one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s the league leader in passing yards.

The game’s best storyline is Schaub against the Bills’ stingy pass defense.

Buffalo held Drew Brees to under 200 yards with no scores in Week Three, so hopefully their stellar pass-defense comes through again.

The teams are closely matched with the Texans boasting a much better offense. Andre Johnson’s availability following a chest injury against the 49ers is huge.

This game means a lot. Reaching 4-4 going into the bye would be huge for Buffalo.

 

Bills-Texans, 1:00 Sunday. Seen and Herd to follow.

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Seen and Herd Week Seven: Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers

Say it with me…The Buffalo Bills are officially on a winning streak.

It’s been awhile.

When the final whistle blew in Charlotte after another oddly exciting football game, the Bills found themselves again victorious.

 

Win in Perspective

Buffalo sits at the respectable, yet far from ideal spot, of 3-4. Two weeks ago, many had buried the season following embarrassing losses to Miami and Cleveland. Now the Bills are rebuilding the semblance of a bandwagon. Will fans jump back on?

It keeps Buffalo in the “playoff hunt” if there’s such a thing in October, but they’re currently a game out of a wild-card position. At least the season isn’t finished.

A Jets or Carolina loss, or a combination of the two, would have all but mathematically eliminated Buffalo from playoff contention before the half way point of the season.

There’s still life. A good amount of it.

The Bills, even in their consecutive wins, haven’t resembled a playoff-caliber team.

The defense looks up to snuff, but the offense hasn’t improved in the statistical sense, and surely isn’t the explosive unit many believed would materialize with Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, and Terrell Owens on the 2009 roster.

Still, somehow, Buffalo triumphed, when many were ready to turn off the lights on the season.

 

A Star is Born? 

Jairus Byrd continued his hot streak of interceptions this week with another two-INT performance. Both were on over-throws by Jake Delhomme, but Byrd was situated exactly where a safety needs to be, and he made Carolina pay.

He’s got five interceptions this year—he’ll be a big part of the team’s success in the future. His torrid streak puts him in serious contention for a spot on the All-Rookie team, if not Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Yea, I’m serious.

The Bills have already eclipsed last year’s interception total and it’s proven to be the deciding factor in all three Bills’ wins.

Even George Wilson, who rounded out the back-up duo in the Bills last line of defense grabbed another pick late, securing victory.

When Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner, went down with injury, I realized George Wilson, a converted wide receiver, and Jarius Byrd who at the time had less than three starts, would be our two safeties. I was worried.

In reality, they’ve out-played Whitner and Scott, which leads me to my next point.

 

What’s Next?

With Byrd and Wilson playing stellar football, what will come of the now four legitimate safeties on the team?

Many believe Bryan Scott may lose his job, but he’s still unbelievably vital defending the run. He’s about the same size as Keith Ellison and obviously has better coverage skills.

Whitner hasn’t become the playmaker Buffalo believed he’d be when they drafted him eighth overall in 2006. But he’s a vocal leader on defense and frequently stuffs the box on obvious running downs. He’s an above average cover man, especially on tight ends.

So here’s what happens. When Byrd was drafted, rumors floated that if Byrd panned out early, the Bills would institute a three safety look, and now it seems like that’s what will happen.

Clearly Byrd will stay in center field while Whitner and Scott can focus on strengthening the run defense. That’s something that’s critical for this team, which faces many good running backs down the stretch. (Steve Slaton, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner, Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson)

 

Offense Improvement?

New starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t wow anyone, but had the game I was expecting/hoping for. 

He was 11-for-22 for 123 yards and one touchdown. Remember Terrell Owens had two drops, which didn’t help his numbers. 

Fitzpatrick epitomizes “managing the game,” scrambling when nothing’s there, occasionally going deep, while responsibly throwing the short and intermediate passes when need be.

He had Owens in the first half for a touchdown, but his arm strength failed him. Later he connected with Lee Evans on a 50-yard strike in the fourth quarter.

(Side note: Evans didn’t utilize any double moves, or up and outs. He straight up burned the corner on a go route, something he can do to just about any member of any secondary in the NFL. It’s old-school football.)

Fitzpatrick, for the first time all season, used the middle of the field. He hit Owens on a deep dig with the Bills backed up in their own zone and a 3rd-and-long situation. He utilized the slant route for his frozen rope touchdown to Lee Evans.

He definitely doesn’t like checking down as much as Trent Edwards, which has it’s pros and cons.

He isn’t the future for Buffalo, but his “I’ll-gladly-be-the-backup” attitude suits the Bills perfectly. And to be honest, he isn’t that bad of a player.

 

T.O.s

No I’m not talking about Terrell Owens, or even his cereal. His troubles are well-documented. Catch the ball.

I’m talking turnovers. Buffalo’s 13 interceptions catapults them to first in the NFL this season. They’ve allowed an average quarterback rating of 58. That puts them in sole possession of second.

Who would have thought?

The defensive line deserves some credit. Though they weren’t in Delhomme’s face all day, they did register two sacks and often pressured Jake into incompletions. With an occasional blitz, Buffalo becomes a formidable pass rushing team.

Never thought I’d say that following last year’s 24-sack catastrophe.

Where the Offense Goes From Here

Marshawn Lynch accumulated only 40 yards on the ground while Fred Jackson carried seven times for a mere 10 yards.

Carolina played down hill with all their linebackers and sometimes even their safeties on run plays. The offensive line, which we always analyze following the game, wasn’t great, especially for the backs. They did keep Fitzpatrick upright all but one time in Sunday’s contest however.

We know Fitzpatrick isn’t afraid to test teams deep. (Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief together.)

With that dynamic, (and I don’t mean necessarily completing the passes, just throwing the deep ball) the Bills offense gets much tougher to defend.

Carolina was going to let Ryan Fitzpatrick beat them, putting the onus on stopping the run, and they did.

They were caught off guard on the Owens miss down field in the first half and certainly couldn’t stay with Lee Evans in the fourth quarter. He missed on four other bomb attempts. You can take a positive from those negative incompletions.

The defense keeps those distance throws in the back of their minds, so complete commitment to the run is suddenly gone.

This can only benefit the run game, the offense line, and then the play-action pass, my favorite.

It’s been a long time coming, but expect more deep throws to connect, and don’t be shocked to see some running game improvement.

 

Looking Ahead

The Buffalo Bills host the Houston Texans on Sunday in an early November game with wild-card implications. Houston sits a game ahead of Buffalo at 4-3, and they’re also winners of two straight.

Their defense is anchored by Mario Williams and an above-average secondary, but with new wrinkles the Bills can certainly exploit this under-appreciated unit.

Matt Schaub has eight touchdown passes to only two interceptions in his last three games, making him one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s the league leader in passing yards.

The game’s best storyline is Schaub against the Bills’ stingy pass defense.

Buffalo held Drew Brees to under 200 yards with no scores in Week Three, so hopefully their stellar pass-defense comes through again.

The teams are closely matched with the Texans boasting a much better offense. Andre Johnson’s availability following a chest injury against the 49ers is huge.

This game means a lot. Reaching 4-4 going into the bye would be huge for Buffalo.

 

Bills-Texans, 1:00 Sunday. Seen and Herd to follow.

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Bills Breakdown: The Two Sides Of Buffalo’s Defense

It feels different writing following a Bills win.

I could get used to this.

Instead of adding yet another “Game Preview” of this weeks showdown in Charlotte, I’m taking a look at the Bills oddly dissimilar defense, that’s made Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde seem somewhat normal.

The Bills defense will be the difference in Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Mark my words.

A solid performance, they’ll win. Missed tackles, and gaping running holes will lead directly to the Bills fifth defeat of the season.

 

Bad News First

I like ending with the good stuff. Finishing with a positive is better, so you’ll walk away feeling hopeful for the Bills. I’ll start with the permeable run defense.

First, the numbers.

Buffalo is:

– Last in Total Rushing Yards (1091) and obviously average (181.9) in the NFL.

– T-Last in the league in recovered fumbles. (1) They’ve only forced four. (31st)

– 31st in the NFL in rushing first downs allowed. Trailing only the Browns. Burn.

– On pace to surrender 2,909 yards rushing

Have you thrown up yet? Even a little in your mouth? If you did, it’s OK.

It’s been that hard to watch the past four weeks if you like hard-nose run defense.

The defensive line really hasn’t been the problem. The inexperience at linebacker and safety (mainly due to injuries) has lead to bad angles on runs, with has provided Moses-and-the-Red-Sea-like passageways for opposing runners.

Also, the counter has killed Buffalo.

The Jets employed this misdirection run constantly, to the tune of 318 yards this past Sunday. The Bills now are fully aware it’s coming, but don’t be surprised if the Panthers institute this deadly run play in Charlotte.

Paul Posluszny needs to get his defense playing with more passion, and aggression. They allowed 130 yards combined in the first two weeks of the season, but have gone all swiss cheese on us since.

The tackling hasn’t been any worse than any other NFL defense, but the angles players are taking have eliminated them from many run plays.

I’m hoping this week Perry Fewell preached to his unit the importance of gap responsibility. I expect them to come out playing downhill against the Panthers, but I still have no confidence in them stopping the run.

 

Now, the Good News!!!

If you’ve been surprised about the run defense, how about the Bills defending against the pass?

No, it hasn’t been horrible. Quite the opposite actually.

The Bills are:

– Seventh in total passing yards allowed (1,024) and fourth in average per game (171)

– T-First in Yards Per Attempt allowed in the NFL (5.5)

– Third in the NFL with 10 interceptions

– Second in QB Rating allowed (58.5)

 

Are you sure I wasn’t looking at the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers?

I’m sure. That’s Buffalo’s pass D’s stat-line. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Many point to the fact that the Bills have faced Derek Anderson, Mark Sanchez, Chad Henne, and Byron Leftwich, but don’t forget they hosted Drew Brees, and were in Foxboro for Tom Brady’s return.

The numbers seem to be legitimate.

Donte Whitner may not play this weekend, and his buddy, Bryan Scott looks to be out again with a nagging ankle, but George Wilson and Jairus Byrd have spelled the veterans rather nicely.

Byrd is living up to his ball-hawk pre-draft hype, and George Wilson is a straight gamer.

Drayton Florence has filled in for Leodis McKelvin better than many expected, and Terrence McGee, well, he’s been Terrence McGee. Don’t forget about Reggie Corner.

 

The Bills/Pathers matchup is a very interesting one. The Bills poor run defense against the Panthers dangerous backs. Jake Delhomme against the Bills secondary. When all is said and done, whatever team imposes its will on the other’s weakness will win this football game.

How about some more balance, Bills defense? I love the interceptions, but tackling some running backs would be nice for a change. 

 

 

Thoughts welcomed below….

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Seen and Herd: Week Six, Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

How about this past weekend. It was surely a wacky one.

My apologies on the late post of my weekly column, but I’m a day behind because of the “travel day.” I was in NYC for the game, and folks, if you can make the trip, get to McFadden’s Bills Backers Bar. It’s nuts.

Yes, even writers sometimes need an extra day after travel, not just the players.

Anyhow, the Buffalo Bills pulled off an astonishing road win in overtime against the rival New York Jets, riding an astonishing six interception performance to victory.

Yes, six. It hasn’t happened since 1967.

One of the interceptions was thrown by the punter, who was the holder for a botched field goal in overtime, but I’ll take the five legitimate picks any Sunday.

 

Ugly?

That’s been the buzz word following the game that featured a whopping eight turnovers. Ugly? It was beautiful if you ask me.

I understand the idea many have that “the Jets did everything they could to lose,” or “the Bills were handed a gift.” But let’s really focus the scenario here.

The Bills intercepted starter Mark Sanchez five times.

They did give up 318 yards rushing, but 150 of those yards came on two Thomas Jones home runs.

They shut out the Jets in the second half.

The Bills lost their starter (whether you like him or not, Edwards is more talented than Ryan Fitzpatrick) early in the second quarter, and their back-up led the team to 13 points and the victory, although he didn’t have a great statistical game (10 of 25, 116 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

These are facts.

Close your eyes for a second and imagine if everything stated above happened to the Bills.

They get intercepted five times. They rush for 318, but get shut out in the second half, and allow the Jets to win in comeback fashion with their second-string quarterback.

No one would call that ugly. The national media would praise Rex Ryan and destroy the Bills, furthering our embarrassment as fans. In fact, the local media here in Buffalo would tear apart the team, especially Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards.

The Jets did commit 14 penalties, some in timely situations, which is what some of the “gift-wrapped game” is based on, but if the Bills committed that many, you wouldn’t hear that the Bills handed the Jets anything.

It’s just that fans have been so distraught for so many years, even a solid road win isn’t good enough.

No, this win doesn’t catapult the Bills into the playoff hunt, but give the team some credit for their most recent victory.

People hate to use cliches, but why not throw one in here. A win, is a win, is a win.

The Bills have lost much uglier in the past three seasons, let alone in their history.

 

No T.O. No problem

Terrell Owens was again a non-factor in the Meadowlands. He caught a mere three passes for 13 yards, but did draw a few pass interference/illegal hands down field penalties against the Jets lock-down corner, Darelle Revis.

Lee Evans had his best day of the year. He complied 68 yards on four catches, including the game tying touchdown late in the third quarter.

When you think about it, and this may be a stretch, but for as bad as the offense has been, they’ve given the team the chance to win four ball games thus far. A Roscoe Parrish fumble, and a Leodis McKelvin kick return are what separate the Bills from a flip-flopped 4-2 record.

What I’m saying is the only place the Bills offense can go is up.

We haven’t seen anything nearing a 100 yard performance from either Lee Evans or Terrell Owens, and yet, the Bills have been in four contests, none of which their offense has lost for them late.

With all that said, I’m still ticked about the Browns game. Probably more than anyone.

 

Continuity on the Line

Entering the Week Six game against the Jets, many believed the poor offensive line play would reach it’s lowest point.

Wrong. The fifth different combination of lineman produced one of the best showings this season. 

Jamon Meredith, who was labeled along with Shawn Nelson , as a draft steal this April was impressively smooth adjusting to the never-before-seen speed of the NFL. The false starts were limited, and for the most part, the offensive line stood tall against the over-hyped “vaunting” Jets defensive front, and aggressive blitz packages.

One word for the Bills coaching staff: Continuity. They should know it well. It was the main reason Dick Jauron was extended this past offseason, and same thing goes for the offensive line.

The young guys aren’t going to get better playing alongside someone different every week.

No, offense to Johnathon Scott, but I’m calling for Jamon Meredith to remain at right tackle.

It’ll only get better from here.

Byrd Man

Jairus Byrd is not only living up to his pre-draft hype, but to me, he’s exceeding expectations.

Not only is he tied for third in the NFL in interceptions, but all of his picks have been of the acrobatic/extremely athletic variety.

He’s got more interceptions in four professional starts than Donte Whitner does in his entire career.

Sorry for the burn, Donte. We’re glad you’re back.

 

Returnees

Along with Whitner, his fellow defensive leader Paul Posluszny returned.  Despite allowing the second most running yards in team history, the presence of the two defensive stand-outs was certainly felt. The command they have as far as communication on defense is imperative if this group improves down the stretch.

 

Looking Ahead…

After many believed the season was in as much trouble as the Balloon Boy family, a glimmer of hope was uncovered Sunday.

Sunday’s tilt against a mediocre Carolina Panthers team is officially the make-or-break game of the year.

You never, ever, know in the National Football League.

Bills/Panthers 4:05 Sunday. Seen and Herd to follow.

 

 

 

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Cold Bills, Hot Topics

The Buffalo Bills find themselves in a very bad situation. Their coach is on the hot seat. They’re coming off three humiliating losses.  They haven’t found ways to incorporate future Hall of Famer Terrell Owens into the offense; that as a whole, is very out of sync.

At this point many Bills fans are kissing the season goodbye. A road test lies ahead against the defensively stout New York Jets, who behind head Rex Ryan’s ultra aggressive scheme, have blitzed over 100 times this season.

Look out.

Though it’s hard to find fresh topics on the Bills, here’s my reaction to all of the most recent story lines heading into this weekend.

Jauron’s Billboard

Some of you love it. You’re entitled to your own opinion but here’s what I got.

The billboard is another showing of poor fandom in Buffalo. We had McKelvins’ lawn, Whitner’s jewelry, and now this.  And we claim we have the best fans in the NFL. I still think we’re up there, but a few are spoiling that honorable title for the rest of us.

Unless the Bills ride a hot streak into the winter months, Dick Jauron (and possibly others) will be gone, at the latest, by season’s end.

Regardless of when he’s let go, the team’s performance won’t change a great deal. There’s been too many injuries.

Funny, yes. Good idea, no.

Scrapping the No-Huddle.

In my recent column outlining the 10 things the Bills must do to save this season, I mentioned making the choice on the no-huddle is critical.

Finally.

That finally represents a gigantic sigh of relief that a decision seems to have been made. Bigger than when Brett Favre returned to the league and I didn’t have to watch Rachel Nichols report from outside his house anymore.

That big.

The no-huddle hasn’t officially been axed. Dick Jauron didn’t comment on Thursday after practice, but it looks like we’ll witness the first Bills huddle of the year this Sunday.

It makes perfect sense. Imagine that, the Bills coaching staff is making a good choice.

The Bills are the most penalized team in the league. Some has been a direct result of the teams youth, but a lot of offensive lineman have been flagged on frustrating false starts. Huddling allows everyone to be certain on the snap count.

The word describing Trent Edwards recently has been “regressing.” He’s had trouble recognizing coverages and can’t get the ball to his receivers.

So why not huddle up? Give Lee Evans and Terrell Owens time to tell Edwards what they’re seeing down field. Help the line figure out defensive schemes—strengthen communication. The Bills need this change. It can’t hurt.

Whiter and Posluszny Return

It’s official. Both starters have practiced all week and will play in the Meadowlands. Another sigh of relief. Too bad Leodis McKelvin and Kawika Mitchell were lost in the process of Whiter and Posluszny recovering, because the defense, outside of the Dolphins game, has played outstanding.

These two instantly upgrade two paper-thin positions, safety and linebacker. Expect both Posluszny and Whitner to play their hearts out—bring back their leadership. It’s a huge boost for the entire team.

There you have it. Believe it or not, there are some positives coming from the Bills camp. I’m curious to see Van Pelt’s attempt to mask the obvious issues across the offensive line against the Jets.

I’ll be in NYC this weekend, which normally would lead to extreme street ridicule when I wear Bills gear on Sunday, but thank god for Bills Backers Bars.

Bills/Jets 4:15. Keep your fingers crossed. Your toes too. Seen and Herd to follow.

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Bills Breakdown: Ten Things Jauron, Bills Must Change to Succeed in 2009

How far the Buffalo Bills have fallen. Exactly a year ago, the Bills were sitting on top of the AFC East with a 4-0 record. They were ranked in the top five in nearly every major power ranking. But, they failed to make the playoffs.

A mere month ago, the Bills were playing in the most-watched television program of 2009, Monday Night Football, against the New England Patriots.

After a crushing loss to the rival Patriots, the Bills defeated the re-building Buccaneers. The following week, a dominating defensive performance was overshadowed by an anemic offense in a 20-point loss to the Saints. People began to wonder.

Last week, the Bills suffered their most embarrassing loss since a 52-10 lambasting at the hands of those very same Patriots at home in 2007. The Dolphins rode three interceptions of Trent Edwards and 250 yards rushing to a 38-10 defeat. Now, wonder for some has turned into certainty.

Many believe the Bills are again doomed for another winter watching the playoffs on television, something they’ve done for the past nine seasons.

We’ve been disappointed in the minimal boost Terrell Owens has brought to Buffalo’s offense, but he reminded us during his weekly press conference that the season is only into its fifth week. There’s a lot of football yet to play.

I’m not being idiotically optimistic. It’s hard to be real optimistic at all. But it’s as foolish to call this season quits in Week Five, as it was last season to book a spot in the playoffs at this same juncture.

I’m not sold on the Bills rebounding, becoming the league’s hottest team and stampeding into the playoffs, but here are the ten things they must do, or a decade of futility will be complete.

10. Get healthy—I’m putting this at the ten spot, because it’s basically out of the Bills’ control. Starters Bryan Scott, Donte Whitner, and Paul Posluszny are still nursing injuries, but are expected to return this year. Their starter savvy and superior athleticism is dearly needed.

The Bills’ backups aren’t horrible football players, it’s just obvious they have little to no game experience.

9. Win against the teams that aren’t overly talented—I’m peering further down the road here, but games against the Chiefs, Panthers, Titans, Texans, Jaguars, and this Sunday against the Browns are must-wins. The Jaguars and Texans may be better squads than the Bills at this point, but they all are games that certainly aren’t out of reach. Give yourself a shot.

If the Bills continue to believe that they’re the nerdy freshmen and the rest of the NFL symbolizes the hot, blonde senior, they’re done. Those are games they must win, to have any chance in the dog days of November and December. Believe in yourself.

8. Either speed up, or slow down the no-huddle—The Bills’ offensive leaders (Dick Jauron, Alex Van Pelt, Trent Edwards) have been the targets of harsh criticism regarding the effectiveness of the No-Huddle and whether it should be scrapped or not.

For a guy like me, this story has been littered all across local media outlets. It’s been everywhere. The bashing is comparable to the news about David Letterman for the rest of you, whose lives revolve around more than just sports. 

It’s a valid point. The Bills rank dead last in time of possession (just over 25 minutes per game) and last week they held the ball for only 22 minutes against the Dolphins. One first thinks lack of ball control is the main ingredient in the recipe for losing a football game.

But entering the season, the Bills knew they weren’t going to win many possession battles, and wanted to use the up-tempo attack to confuse defenses while masking the limits of their offensive line. So, if you want to be quick with the offense, catch defenses off-guard, then do it. What’s the point in waiting around?

The other school of thought here is what Dick Jauron has been alluding to all week. The no-huddle doesn’t necessarily relate to time of possession. A team running the no-huddle can hike the ball quick into the play clock or wait until its final ticks.

So what’s the point, then? Why not huddle, strengthen communication, call a play, then allow Trent Edwards to audible at the line if he feels the need?

Either way works; it’s the Bills’ indecision with the attack that they themselves founded in the early ’90s, that’s had the offense actually stymieing itself.

7. Use the middle of the field—This is nit-picking, but comments below would be appreciated on the amount of throws you’ve seen this year across the middle. Many teams live between the two safeties. Outside of a few Terrell Owens slant attempts (that have been intercepted ) I don’t recall an attempt to use the seam of the field.

The thought here is, with safety coverage mainly on the outside to help in cover-two defenses, the middle of the field should be open.

Trent’s perfect for this call—he can make that touch throw over the linebackers, in front of the deep safeties. Owens and Lee Evans can go deep somewhere other than down the sideline, remember that. How about running two wide receivers at a safety—make him commit one way or the other.

Not difficult. Spread ’em out. Use the entire field.

6. More aggressive on defense—I’ve got nothing but praise for the defensive front, that’s sixth in the NFL in sacks at this point. Not a misprint. The Bills 11 sacks have them nearing the top five in quarterback take-downs. Never thought I’d live to see the day. However, the defensive coordinator(s) must use this extreme luxury to his/their advantage.

Usually, when a team can force pressure with four rushers at the line, the coverage has a field day. With seven players dropping into coverage, the secondary has to play with a new sense of aggression. Jump a comeback route, peel off a receiver to step in-front of a throw. They’ve got six to seven players covering three to four players on opposing offenses.

You don’t need to be a mathematician to realize those numbers are heavily stacked in the Bills favor. Again, not a tough fix. Just a game plan tweak.

5. Move players around—Sorry for the generality, but I mean it in a very broad sense. Terrell Owens has historically worked well in the slot, to the quarterback’s left, and just off the line. Lee Evans makes a deadly slot guy, as well. No nickel-back is covering him down the middle. How about Roscoe Parrish on the outside, for an easy slip screen? Or Marshawn Lynch spilt wide?

Not only will personnel changes confuse defenses, but the matchups they create make Trent Edwards’ job that much easier. The NFL is all about finding favorable matchups for your team, and exploiting the other teams’ weaknesses. Do it.

4. Use play-action—Please, please use more play-action. The mis-direction and play-action bootlegs were critical to the Bills’ offense ripping the Patriots defense in Week One. In Week Two, the fake-run was pivotal in deep connections with Lee Evans and Terrell Owens for scores.

Why the abandonment? There’s really no point. The play-action creates that split-second bite from the defense that’s often the difference between an interception and completion. Buffalo’s two running backs have got to be on opposing defenders’ minds, so the Bills must use the play-action to their benefit. Watch games on Sunday, the majority of big plays you see will come from that pesky fake hand-off.

3. Play with some pride—It’s funny that most of my points are referring to the X’s and O’s of football, but the most important aspects of revitalizing your season comes from within.

The Bills have a great fan base standing behind them (though it’s tough) and although some are calling it a season, many (including yours truly, the eternal optimist) still believe this team can win football games. Look around and see the bevy of talent and promise on the Bills’ roster. It’s definitely there.

Buffalo needs to go into every Sunday in full belief they will win. They can’t be worried about protecting their dignity while doing what they can do to lose by only 14, not 21.

2. Run the football—Back to the field. It sounds easy enough, right? A fundamental of the game.

The Bills have come out firing, in probably the wrong situation this season. Though Owens and Evans—on paper, at least—are a dynamic duo, the Bills O-line is young, and their quarterback isn’t exactly a seasoned veteran.

Think about this…the Bills have only reached the 10th rush of the game before reaching the 10th pass attempt of the game once, in a victory against the Buccaneers. What that means is, the Bills have been trying to pass to set up the run. Isn’t that bass ackwards?

Bills football has always ran first to set up the pass.

 

1. Play with some fire—No offense to Dick Jauron, but if you need fire, look elsewhere. He may be a good coach behind the scenes, but I’ve seen more emotion from Ben Stein. I’m a firm believer in the fact that Jauron doesn’t need to grab players by the face mask after a missed assignment, but the golf claps after a punt don’t cut it in the NFL.

Someone, say a veteran like Aaron Schobel, Lee Evans, or in this case, quarterback Trent Edwards must step up, and light a fire under the behinds of the entire team. They need more inspired team efforts like the defense’s play against New Orleans or the offense’s showing against New England. If Buffalo can use passion to form complete team outings each week, the Buffalo Bills will rebound from their slow start.

I’m not expecting every or all of these ideas to be implemented. Heck, they might not change a thing. But if the Bills really believe they can make a playoff run, as crazy as it may sound right now, they need to make some adjustments.

The only thing that’s for certain is, if we’re watching a 10th straight NFL postseason without the Bills, the coach and some of the players will no longer be with us.

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Seen and Herd: Week 4 | Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

The big storyline from a Bills standpoint entering Sunday’s game in Miami was how Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch would split carries.

Presto! Wonderful idea for a piece that would be been filled with stats, analysis, and insightful opinion.

After the game, that column would have missed the point.

For those of you who would like to know, Marshawn Lynch had eight carries for four yards, but did have five catches for 43 yards. Fred Jackson fared much better, gaining 42 yards on nine carries, while catching three passes for 26 yards.

What would I do with these two? I don’t know, but being outrushed by 200 yards is embarrassing—the last thing we need to worry about is which runner will receive more touches.

I’m so sick of our backs combining for more catches than our receivers.

Anyways, on to that pitiful performance the Bills called a game.

 

Lackluster Line

I knew the offensive line would have problems at some point during the year. Boy, did they ever against the Dolphins. Cameron Wake, a former CFL star, had three sacks. Trent Edwards was sacked a total of six times, and was pressured seemingly on every pass play. I never thought I’d say this, but Demetrius Bell’s showings thus far, which haven’t been outstanding, outweigh Kirk Chambers’ “attempt” at blocking by a wide margin.

The running attack was at a standstill, as again, the Bills had extreme issues playing against the 3-4 defense. Adjustments anyone?

From that, we witnessed that Trent Edwards has little to no pocket awareness. The way he buckles when the heat is on, is eerily similar to how Drew Bledsoe collapsed on any blown offensive line assignment.

Ok, that’s taking it too far, he can scramble on a few occasions, but come on, anyone’s more athletic than Drew Bledsoe.

Mushy Defense

Buffalo’s defense is tough to analyze following the 38 points they gave up to Miami. They were without four defensive starters, and were on the field for nearly 40 minutes.

Still, the excuses are getting old. Teams in the NFL suffer injuries, it happens to everyone. The Colts had the ball for less time and won in Miami.

The Bills back-ups however, stunk up the joint. They missed countless tackles, were often out of position, and lacked any aggression whatsoever.

Perry Fewell stood firmly behind his fluffy “Tampa 2” zone coverage throughout, and the Dolphin trio of Davone Bess, Ted Ginn Jr., and Greg Camarillo looked like O.J. McDuffie, Chris Chambers, and Mark Clayton.

Meanwhile, Tony Sparano put faith in his two rookie corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis. They both were alone “on an island” during the tight man coverage they played against two Pro-Bowl caliber wide-outs, Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. For the most part, the youngsters shut Owens and Evans down. Ridiculous.

Chad Henne used the easily completed comeback pass routinely, and the Bills never modified their coverage. Terrence McGee was worried about getting beat deep against slower, less athletic wide-outs and gave up the simple 10 yard completion all day.

The defensive front four again had a wonderful showing, accumulating six sacks. George Wilson oddly led the team with two. Although there was pressure applied to Henne, the Bills never did what was such a glaring necessity heading into the game…blitz.

Ok, they may have blitzed on a few occasions, but Henne was calm, cool, and collected throughout. They let the first time NFL starter ease his way to his first victory. No confusing zone blitzes, corner blitzes. Just Kawika Mitchell up the gut, not disguised at all.

When will this team realize that doesn’t win ball games. Well it could, if your team made plays in the secondary. Too courteous.

 

That’s really all I got for this week. I’m too disgusted. Not I, or any Bills fan for that matter, wants to reflect on this one anymore

I guess I could have thrown in Trent Edwards’ three INT performance, or Dick Jauron’s continual blank stare that lacks assertiveness or tenacity. Should he go? You should know what I think, but that’s for another time. 

Someone’s got to take control, lift the entire team—become a leader. The only problem is, I don’t see anyone stepping up, and this team’s at rock bottom. 

 

Bills/Browns next Sunday at 1. Seen and Herd to follow.

Look for D-Jauron column mid-week.

P.P.S check out Daryl Talley’s twitter posts following the Dolphins game if you get the chance.

The Buffalo

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Posluszny, Whitner and the Banged-Up Bills: Your Injury Questions Answered…

In what has been a crazy two weeks as a Bills fan, a lot of questions have likely popped into your head.

We’ve heard about Terrell Owens and his ongoing verbal battle with the media and now Rodney Harrison. That’s all fine and dandy for ESPN. They love the soap-opera stories on “NFL Live.” 

In reality, however, there are many more questions that need to be answered, mainly regarding the stockpiling injuries in Buffalo. 

Here’s what has got to be on the mind of every real Buffalo Bills fan out there, and hopefully some semi-intelligent answers…

 

How are we going to play well with all these injuries? (Brad Butler, Derek Schouman, Leodis McKelvin, Paul Posluszny, Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott, Demetrius Bell)

To answer your collective question, Bills faithful, I’d start by saying that injuries never help a team. They’re considered setbacks for a reason. Full-time starters are replaced by guys who usually see limited playing time. Let’s start down the line of wounded soldiers, discuss who’s replacing them and touch on how that new starter will fair in his tenure as a first-stringer.

 

Injured: Brad Butler (Season)

Replacement: Kirk Chambers

I know what many of you are thinking. Jonathan Scott played right tackle against the Saints, but it has been Chambers who’s taken the majority of right tackle reps this week in practice while Scott has scooted over to Trent Edwards’ blindside.

Chambers is a five-year veteran known for being a “swing tackle” during his career in the NFL. He won’t devastate you with crushing blocks, but he’s not going to show up on tape whiffing repeatedly, either.

I’d much rather have Brad Butler manning the right edge, but Chambers can get the job done. But expect to see some hiccups.

Drop off: Somewhat severe

 

Injured: Derek Schouman (Season)

Replacements: Shawn Nelson, Derek Fine

Derek Fine is a chip off the old Derek Schouman block, although Schouman had developed a great rapport with Edwards prior to his untimely knee injury. Fine dropped two balls against the Saints and is probably a year away from becoming more than just a blocking tight end. 

Shawn Nelson, who is reportedly going to suit up in Miami Sunday, is a gifted athlete drafted solely on his pass-catching ability. He’s opened eyes with his run blocking, however, and the more polished he becomes cracking helmets with the big boys, the more he’ll see the field.

If Nelson gets significantly more time, I wouldn’t be shocked if he becomes a favorite target of Edwards. It’s about time Buffalo had some talent at tight end.

Drop off: Minimal

 

Injured: Leodis McKelvin (Season)

Replacement: Drayton Florence

Florence was coveted by Buffalo two offseasons ago before he signed with the Broncos. To me, he was a product of a great system in San Diego, but is no slouch when it comes to being a cover corner. He’s a better tackler than McKelvin and has been through two weeks of practice, full-go.

Although many believed McKelvin had turned the corner in coverage, I wasn’t buying it just yet. He still wasn’t able to adjust to the array of receivers’ routes, but his athleticism helped him dearly when he got out of position. He’ll be missed returning kicks more than anything.

Drop off: None to minimal

 

Injured: Paul Posluszny (Most likely, another month)

Replacement: Marcus Buggs

The Bills have dealt with the loss of Posluszny for two games now and although Buggs hasn’t been spotlighted on any huge mistakes, he’s light years behind Poz, as expected.

Though he wasn’t on the field much against New Orleans mainly due to their four and five wide receiver sets, Buggs was a liability. He’s decently athletic, but Posluszny has such great command of the defense and flies all over the field, as sure a tackler as they come. Posluszny’s injury can’t heal soon enough.

Drop off: Severe

 

Injured: Donte Whitner (Week to Week)

Replacement: Jairus Byrd

Whitner has been labeled a bust by some. Considering he was drafted No. 8 overall and has only three interceptions with one sack, those doubters may be correct number-wise. But he’s the team’s vocal leader and has become hungrier attacking ball carriers this season.

Byrd was drafted to do what Whitner has shown he has trouble with: intercepting passes. Byrd’s ball-hawking prowess at Oregon is well documented, but his missing training camp has shown in the first three contests.

He has the ability to be a good safety in the league, but it’ll take time. He needs more aggression.

Drop off: Considerable to Severe

Injured: Bryan Scott (Unknown. Most likely not available vs. Miami)

Replacements: George Wilson, Nic Harris

This is one of the more interesting replacements, seeing that Harris was a college safety at Oklahoma. The Bills had moved him down to linebacker, so now he’s back home. Whether he can move with the increased speed of the NFL receivers remains to be seen. He certainly has the instincts.

George Wilson is probably 1A to Donte Whiter from a vocal leader standpoint.

He’s remembered for his interception for a touchdown against Dallas on Monday Night Football just a few years ago, but isn’t a “centerfielder” by any means.

He’s a converted wide-out, so that helps him dramatically when his lack of athleticism slows him down. Wilson is highly capable of having a solid game and isn’t afraid to bump heads with anyone. I’m just not sure if he’s got the body to do it for an extended period.

Drop Off: Minimal

 

Injured: Demetrius Bell (Day to Day)

Replacement: Jonathan Scott

Bell has had his issues with penalties and speed rushers early in the season, but he’s displayed improvement in the Bills’ first three games.

Scott, who’s bigger than Bell, jumps over to left tackle where he’ll have his hands full with the Dolphins aggressive, blitzing defense. He’s somewhat limited athletically, but has shown great technique coming out of Texas. (He’s not the next Mike Williams disaster)

Alex Van Pelt will do his best to allow Trent Edwards to get rid of the ball quickly, because Scott can’t be trusted for an entire game.

 

Overall, the amount of injuries will probably cause more issues than who’s replacing the starters. Posluszny to Buggs is a considerable drop off, as is the case with Brad Butler being replaced by Kirk Chambers. Get well soon, starters.

There you have it…the banged up Buffalo Bills. Watching the new guys step in will be worrisome, but it’ll be very interesting to see how they play during their time in the NFL spotlight.

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Terrell Owens vs. Media: Cutting Through the Buffalo Bull to Get the Real Story

It’s such a hot topic, my inner Bills fan is demanding I write about it. What am I referring to? You’ve got to know by now.

T.O.

Who else?

His recent comments have been discussed more than the Kanye West/Taylor Swift incident.

Well maybe not that much, but it sure seems like it.

It’s been sizzling on all the sports networks and media outlets. For those of you living under a rock, here’s what T.O. said: (paraphrased of course)

“We missed some chances against New England. There’s always room for improvement. Trent needs to assess what he has in front of him a little better. I like how we played until those last five minutes, and Trent did a great job of managing the game, although we could take more shots down field, utilizing Lee’s and my own abilities.”

Let’s take a closer look. 

Terrell Owens is a competitor. It’s been said that he’s the hardest working wideout in the history of the game not named Jerry Rice. Owens’ former teammates and competitors have the utmost respect for his tireless work ethic. The steadiness he’s shown as one of the league’s elite wide receivers over the past decade proves he demands a lot of himself and his teammates. 

So, when his team loses, and he feels he could have been more instrumental in victory, he has the right to be a little upset. I’m not at all saying his statements display that he’s angry, but a guy like Owens expects the best, and expects to win.

Everything is magnified in a loss. The Bills’ offense put them in great spot to pull off the upset, but a few unfortunate bounces went against Buffalo, and they lost.

What isn’t being taken away from the game is that Owens’ mere presence directly resulted in a monster statistical night by Fred Jackson and the beginning of a possible resurgence of Trent Edwards.

Yes, we know that because Brandon Meriweather was playing deep in centerfield the screen play was viable, but the Bills faced no stacked boxes.

For once.

Imagine that.

The Patriots were deathly afraid of Evans—or in this case Owens—hitting the home-run.

What am I getting at?

Well if the Bills win the game, there’s absolutely no way you hear Owens mutter a word about the lack of looks his way.

Ever think he feels partially responsible—being a seasoned veteran, and most likely a future Hall of Famer—when his team goes down? His competitive spirit isn’t allowed to take over and get upset at a loss? It happened with Jordan. It happened with Rice.

The man speaks his mind. How sick of hearing the same old “Football 101” postgame soundbytes are you? Because I’m beyond sick to my stomach.

“We played hard, but hats off to their defense.”

“We take this season game at a time, and have to get ready for next week.”

Give me a break. Give me something with substance. That’s supposed to be the point of interviews.

The point is supposed to be to get inside the head of what the athlete is thinking. Not what his publicist rehearsed with him after practice.

It sounds to many that T.O. is a self-centered, egotistical player, which he may very well be. But, he’s good. Actually he’s great.

People laugh when Chad Ochocinco says, “throw me the ball, I’m the best option we’ve got.”

But it’s true, isn’t it?

When we signed T.O. didn’t we envision him and Lee Evans tearing through opposing secondaries? Owens has yet to leave out Evans in any of this thoughts about going down field. He knows Evans is good.

I’m agreeing with Owens here, but that doesn’t mean I’m bashing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt or Edwards. They missed a few chances against the Patriots and still had a chance to win, didn’t they?

Developing T.O. and Lee Evans can only help the team right? That’s all there is to it.

Van Pelt will scheme to get the ball to Evans and Owens more often. And believe me, it won’t just be to make Owens happy. He’s still a supreme talent, with years of experience. Van Pelt wants the ball in T.O.’s hands just as much as Owens does.

Lastly, I heard today on the radio that we, as Bills fans, are taking the side of Owens because he’s wearing a Bills uniform.

Don’t believe it.

Yet.

What he said was harmless—heck, Trent Edwards and Alex Van Pelt echoed his opinion on Media Day, Wednesday.

I just want you to be fully aware of the reality of what’s going on here. T.O. hates ESPN and they aren’t to fond of him either.

Don’t let them hypnotize you into thinking something is materializing, when it’s not. 

T.O. unquestionably has shown in the past he’s willing to throw some pretty wicked jabs at his quarterback and offense, but he hasn’t done it yet in Buffalo.

Not even close.

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