Inside The Bills

Fan Friday 9-17

Week 1 in the rearview mirror. Time to get ready for a big test in Green Bay. On to your questions (AskChris@bills.nfl.net).

1 - Hi Chris, What is your take on the Bills’ receiver situation? Do you think that David Nelson is a diamond in the rough? What about Steve Johnson being the number two receiver?

Tony, Daytona Beach, Fl

CB: Steve is locked in as the number two, but I think come season’s end that Roscoe Parrish will have more production. He’s more experienced and often runs routes that are more high percentage throws for the offense.

David Nelson has been impressive since the spring. He rarely drops a pass and has a silky smooth nature to his game. He glides more than he runs. For a guy that’s 6’5” he gets in and out of his routes very well. He’s already part of the team’s four wide set. It’ll be enjoyable to watch his game develop.

2 - Hi Chris,

My question is about Trent Edwards.  Since he is in a contract year do you think he will be re-signed or do you think he will have to play out the year and then the bills will look at resigning him or going another option after evaluating him?

Showtime

CB: I believe the year will have to play itself out before contract is discussed. The only thing that changes that is if Trent lights it up in the first half of the season and the team wins some games over some quality opponents.

3 - Who is going to be the primary kick returner?  I’d love to see McKelvin back there since he’s a hume run threat every time he gets the ball but is his leg ready for it.

Jeff Zier

CB: Chan Gailey has said that the kick return role will be rotated through the course of the season. One will be chosen for each particular game this season. In Week 1 it was Spiller, but he only had one return for 11 yards. He had to take a knee on another and one other went through the end zone for a touchback. For what it’s worth McKelvin is listed behind Spiller on the KR depth chart.

Tony Smith

4 - Who ‘s going to block out Clay Matthews?

Bill C.

CB: That task is going to fall to the two tackles as Matthews will switch sides frequently at his outside linebacker position. I’m expecting Buffalo to use their backs to chip on Matthews in passing situations and their tight ends to assist their tackles because Matthews is a monster. After last week’s leaky protection I think we’ll see more max protect.

5 - Hi Chris,

Could you explain the how & why players are listed as active or inactive for each game?

1) Why are teams only able to activate so many players?

2) Why not let teams dress the whole roster and use players as desired?

3) If a player is inactive for a game, does he still get paid that game check?

4) If he is still paid for that game, why not have him available for the team to use?

Thanks,

Mike

CB: There’s no other way to explain it than those are the league rules. A team can dress 46 players and a 3^rd quarterback on game day. Yes, a player still gets a game check if he is inactive. I understand your point about how teams should have all roster players available, but those are the rules. Look for that to change if the league goes to an 18-game schedule.

Woodson practicing

Packers CB Charles Woodson is practicing today (Friday).

That according to the team’s most recent twitter post.

packers    Charles Woodson back at practice on Friday. Korey Hall, Daryn Colledge sitting out. Updates forthcoming.

He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with a toe injury.

Bills Backers to out eat Packers fans

The Bills Backers will be on the road this weekend in downtown Green Bay where they’ll be in a big time eating competition with Packers Backers the Saturday night before the game. Here are the details if you’re going to be in town.

The eating competition will take place at the Prime Quarter in Green Bay and will showcase Bills fans vs. Packers fans in a competition to eat a 40 oz. steak and sides in the fastest time. The contest is scheduled to kick off Saturday Sept. 18 at 7 pm. The restaraunt is located at 2610 South Oneida St. in Green Bay. Best of luck fellas. Hope you skip lunch.

Practice update

Just a couple of players not participating at practice here on Friday.

Paul Posluszny (knee) and S Cary Harris (hamstring) were the only non-participants. We’ll get a post practice update from head coach Chan Gailey in about an hour.

Challenges of 3-4 transition

A year ago the Green Bay Packers defense was in the same boat as the Bills are now. Making the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, the Packers made the change work come the middle of the season, but early in the year there were challenges in making the switch.

“Well first it’s the personnel and second it’s the ability to grow with it week in and week out because there is volume that might be higher than what you had in the past with the 4-3 scheme,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. ”Just having the ability to get the volume and the communication in and grow week to week especially early in the season we felt was our biggest challenge.”

Green Bay used both of their first-round draft picks in 2009 to address the scheme change defensively drafting B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews to get a 3-4 nose tackle and a pass rusher at OLB. Most of the other pieces were capable of making the switch.

McCarthy also speaks of volume in terms of defensive packages and personnel groupings. Donte Whitner has often talked about how they have several dozen packages that they have in their arsenal, which is considerably larger than the playbook from which they drew in the past. They also have more pre-snap disguises, so mastering all of that takes time.

That being said, their Week 1 performance was pretty solid.

Pack’s McCarthy on Spiller

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy had some rosy comments for Bills RB C.J. Spiller and Buffalo’s offensive backfield.

“I think he’s a pretty talented young man,” said McCarthy. ”I really liked him coming through the draft process. I think C.J. and Rosoce Parrish are some dynamic perimeter players when you put the ball in their hands. That running back group is talented. Very explosive and ability to get on the edge and make people miss. He had some big time plays in the preseason and we’re impressed with some of C.J.’s work from the preseason.”

The Packers gave up 150 yards on the ground last week. It’ll be interesting to see if Buffalo’s more concerted effort to run the ball this week or Green Bay’s more concerted effort to stop it is more successful because it’ll likely have a big say in the outcome of the game.

Fri. radio appearances

Here’s the short list for Bills players on the radio airwaves Friday.

Andy Levitre – Morning Bull; 103.3 The Edge @ 8:00 AM (listen online)

Packers injury update

Two of Green Bay’s key defenders are still dealing with injuries.

CB Charles Woodson, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, did not practice for a second straight day due to a toe injury. We’ll obviously know more about his status for Sunday on Friday when designations on the player’s likelihood of playing is provided.

If he can’t go however, the Packers secondary will be very, very young. Their nickel corner is undrafted rookie Sam Shields, who would presumably step in for Woodson at LCB.

Fourth and fifth corners Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood have seen time in all of 16 NFL games between them. 

Meanwhile it looks like OLB Clay Matthews is being paced through the practice week with a hamstring injury. He’s been dealing with the hamstring injury since the preseason as he did not play in a single preseason contest while recovering.

He didn’t show any rust in the opener with 3 sacks (he was credited with an additional earlier this week) a forced fumble and 4 QB hits. But he was limited for a second straight day.

Also limited in practice for Green Bay were starting LT Chad Clifton (knee), starting DE Cullen Jenkins (hand) and reserve DE Mike Neal (rib). Backup LB Desmond Bishop did not practice for a second straight day.

Bills healing up

Things are looking up for everyone on Buffalo’s injury report with the exception of Paul Posluszny.

Starting C Geoff Hangartner, after missing practice Wednesday, practiced fully on Thursday and is expected to be good to start Sunday.

LB Reggie Torbor practiced fully for a second straight day and looks ready to return to the lineup.

Even special teamer Cary Harris, who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s game could be up for Sunday though he did not practice Thursday.

“With the exception of Paul we’ve got a chance to get everybody fine for Sunday,” said head coach Chan Gailey.

Hangartner back

Bills starting C Geoff Hangartner is back practicing with his teammates.

Hangartner missed practice Wednesday due to a minor ankle injury.

Lynch on trade rumors

Marshawn Lynch was asked if he’s been affected by the trade rumors that continue to exist and circulate about him despite the team’s unwavering stance on keeping him. Here was his response.

“No, because if it’s going to happen then it’s going to happen,” Lynch said. ”What will I be able to do about it? If they say I’ve got to go then what am I going to do, tell them no? If they say I’m going to stay, I’m here, if they say I’m not going nowhere then let’s continue to build on this thing and get better.”

The Bills have maintained a consistent stance on Lynch’s status with the team, which is that they intend to keep him on their roster.

Lynch is more focused on righting the run game after the three-man tandem did not produce the way they wanted to in Week 1.

“It wasn’t what us as a group wanted it to be,” said Lynch. ”The most carries by a back I believe was seven. That’s not good for any running back to get a feel for it. I’m not saying what should’ve been done or could’ve been done. All I know is we’ve just got to do something to get on track with it.”

Nothing’s changed on Lynch

Despite the myriad of reports out there that have tried to connect the dots between the Packers, who lost RB Ryan Grant for the season, and the Bills, who have a stable of talented backs, Buffalo’s stance on Marshawn Lynch has not changed.

Many reports have speculated that Lynch could be traded to Green Bay, but that’s simply not the case. The Bills have maintained a consistent stance on Marshawn Lynch, which is that they plan to keep him on their roster.

“Our intention is for Marshawn Lynch to be here,” said Bills GM Buddy Nix the weekend of the draft. “He is under contract and we think he is a good back. All this trade talk is not coming from us. He is ours and we intend for him to be here.”

Head coach Chan Gailey made his stance clear as well on Wednesday this week saying he wants to have Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller on his roster.

“Everybody has got opinions about what’s right and we feel like having the three we have right now is a very good situation for us,” said Gailey. ”We have to continue to get better with each one of them and see how their roles play out as the year goes on. This is a situation in the NFL where you can’t have too many good running backs.”

And the Bills experienced that first hand in the preseason when both Jackson and Lynch were both injured on the first series of the first preseason game and were lost for three and four weeks, leaving the team with just Spiller.

If anything that situation only further strengthened the team’s stance that they’ll need all three backs to get through the season with their running game not suffering from a lack of capable ball carriers.

Aaron Rodgers on Brohm

This Sunday will mark the first trip back to Green Bay for Brian Brohm since he was signed off the Packers practice squad by Buffalo early last season. Packers starting QB Aaron Rodgers was asked for his thoughts on Brohm having spent a couple of preseasons with him.

“I think Brian is a very smart kid and he understands the game,” said Rodgers. ”He’s been around the game his entire life with his brother being a player and coach. He really got a great opportunity to grow around football and is a student of the game.”

Veek speaks for Keith

Bills LB Kawika Mitchell, who went on I-R last week with a foot injury, was quick to heap praise on teammate Keith Ellison, whose role once again has gotten considerably larger on defense with Paul Posluszny out a couple of weeks.

KawikaMitchell    Keepin Keith Ellison best move Buffalo made n 2010. 56 has always stepped up when needed and produced. And hes 1 of our best Sp.Tms. players

Head coach Chan Gailey had similar praise for the fifth-year LB.

“He’s one of those guys that have instincts. He’s around the ball a lot. He studies. He works at it. There have been a lot of great undersized linebackers in this league. He makes up for his lack of size with savvy and the way he plays the game.”

Thurs radio appearances

Here’s the rundown of player appearances on the radio airwaves locally, in Wisconsin and nationally on Thursday.

Donte Whitner – Morning Bull; 103.3 The Edge @ 8 AM

Lee Evans – The Mike Heller Show; The Big 1070 in Madison, WI @ 3:30 PM

Lee Evans – Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan; Sirius NFL Radio @ 3:40 PM

Matthews limited, Woodson sits

Two of Green Bay’s key defenders could not practice fully on Wednesday.

OLB Clay Matthews, who dominated with 3 sacks in Green Bay’s opening week win at Philly, was limited in practice due to a hamstring injury.

Suffice to say he’s a guy that already has Chan Gailey’s attention.

“He is an excellent pass rusher,” said Gailey. ”He’s an excellent football player. You’ve got to have a plan for him because he’s good enough to warrant that. So we’ll try to make sure that we have people around him and have people sliding to him or people around him to help us a little bit from time to time. Maybe not every snap, but from time to time.”

Also limited were starting LT Chad Clifton (knee) starting DE Cullen Jenkins (hand) and reserve CB Brandon Underwood (shoulder).

If Matthews is still limited on Thursday, he might not prove to be as dominant and dangerous a threat as he looked in Week 1, and he looked good.

Pro Bowl CB Charles Woodson, who tied Bills FS Jairus Byrd for the league lead in INTs last season with nine did not practice at all Wednesday due to a toe injury. If he can’t go on Sunday that’s a huge bonus to Buffalo’s passing game because the Packers are already without Al Harris.

Reserve LB Desmond Bishop (hamstring) also did not practice along with rookie DE Mike Neal (rib).

Rodgers not asked about Lynch

Aaron Rodgers was teammates with Bills RB Marshawn Lynch in college at Cal, and with rumors swirling about the Packers looking to add a running back after losing Ryan Grant to a season-ending ankle injury, he was asked if his club asked him about Lynch as a teammate.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Rodgers said he has not been asked about Marshawn by the front office, but if he was he’d have a three word answer.

“Bring him on,” said Rodgers.

The Packers as an organization can’t say anything about a player under contract with another team, otherwise it’s considered tampering, so no one should anticipate anything public on this front.

Furthermore, Chan Gailey sounded pleased that he has three talented running backs in his backfield.

“Opinions vary as to whether there are too many or not. Obviously in preseason we didn’t have too many,” said Gailey. ”I know Green Bay wishes they had one more than they had. Everybody has got opinions about what’s right and we feel like having the three we have right now is a very good situation for us. We have to continue to get better with each one of them and see how their roles play out as the year goes on. This is a situation in the NFL where you can’t have too many good running backs sometimes.”

Hangartner doesn’t practice

Bills center Geoff Hangartner did not practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.

Head coach Chan Gailey said it was purely a precaution. Hangartner did attend practice, but was a spectator. No word on his availability for Thursday’s practice, but it does not sound like a major issue.

Eric Wood took snaps at center with the first team offense in his place.

Gailey still good with 3 RBs

Seeing Green Bay lose their starting RB for the season in Ryan Grant has Chan Gailey feeling all the better about the situation in his offensive backfield with three backs all capable of starting.

“Opinions vary as to whether there are too many or not,” said Gailey of his running back stable. ”Obviously in preseason we didn’t have too many. I know Green Bay wishes they had one more than they had. Everybody has got opinions about what’s right and we feel like having the three we have right now is a very good situation for us. We have to continue to get better with each one of them and see how their roles play out as the year goes on. This is a situation in the NFL where you can’t have too many good running backs sometimes.”

There has been widespread speculation that Green Bay might make an effort to pry one of Buffalo’s backs away from the Bills to re-fortify their own running back position.

Ellison to handle Poz’s spot

Bills head coach Chan Gailey indicated on Wednesday who is going to be handling most of Paul Posluszny’s responsibilities on Sunday. With Poz out with a knee injury Gailey pointed to a veteran LB as the chief replacment.

“I think Keith is the guy that’s going to have to play the majority of the time,” said Gailey. ”But the other guy will see quite a bit of action.”

The reason Ellison is probably going to see more of the action Sunday is because the Packers are likely going to spread the field with three and four wide sets and Ellison is a better coverage linebacker and a good fit in the nickel and dime packages. Look for Bryan Scott to factor into the subpackage linebacking coverage roles as well.

“This is an old habit for me,” said Ellison. ”Ever since I’ve been here, something happens where I’m forced to play. So, my job is just to be ready and step up for this team.”

The other guy Gailey is referring to recently signed LB Akin Ayodele. Ayodele’s ability to familiarize himself with Buffalo’s defensive terminology will determine how much he does play, but being an eight-year veteran and having experience in 3-4 systems the past four seasons should shorten his learning curve and enable him to contribute on Sunday. He’ll line up in the Bills base package if it’s ever on the field.