Fan Friday 2-17
Tags: 4-3 defense, Bob Bicknell, Chan Gailey, Curtis Modkins, Dave Wannstedt, Fan Friday, Kirk Morrison, Shawne Merriman, Top 10 Performances of 2011
Less than a week before the NFL Combine. Make sure you keep your laptop locked on Buffalobills.com for wall-to-wall coverage from Indy beginning on Thursday morning. Now to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.
1 - Hey Chris,
My question is in regard to Kirk Morrison. I thought he was an above average to good NFL linebacker in Oakland, then what happened? That was only 2 years ago, he’s not even 30, and now he can’t sniff the field? And if it was the Bills system more than his level of play, why has he not been talked about at all as an option in the new 4-3 defense that is expected to be installed more often next season? I believe his contract is up, but I haven’t heard or read his name once.
Thanks again,
Dan
Fredonia, NY
CB: Morrison had a tough time getting on the field for a couple of reasons. First, he was signed days before the season opener so he had some catch up work to do. By the time he was fully adjusted to the scheme Kelvin Sheppard had begun to emerge and locked down the ILB spot alongside veteran Nick Barnett.
What’s going to be interesting is with the defense switching to the 4-3 I think he’s going to be a consideration for the strong side linebacker position. Talking to Coach Wannstedt he did express a desire to get Morrison re-signed. I think he’s capable of backing up Sheppard in the middle while also competing for a starting role at SLB.
2 - Hi Chris,
You do a good job covering the Bills. I do want to ask why the management wants to change from a 3-4 back to a 4-3 when they have spent two seasons drafting the personal for the 3-4? I do not see this as a step forward, but rather a waste of the investment in players they have taken the last two years. Shawne Merriman did not work out, but could be an answer to the pass rush problem.
As a coach I had to change my defense year to year because my players were not always suited to what I did the year before the current season. I made changes in how I played a defense to suit the players I had and schemed to make them more effective.
The Bills right now have players that could play both even and odd front looks effectively given the chance to develop and having all the players able to play. Maybe a more aggressive defense with
good technique containing the outside ( setting the edge ) and new wrinkles, which should come with our new defensive coordinator, will make it all work without a mid rebuilding change of plan.
A suffering fan in Arizona,
Max F. Stolzenberg, Jr.
CB: I think to characterize the defensive change as a prompt to rebuild is misguided quite frankly. The Bills played with four down linemen a good deal of the time, but I’ll let Dave Wannstedt explain.
“We played last year about 65-percent of our snaps in nickel personnel, where we actually had four down (linemen) in the game with their hand in the ground. No matter if we had five defensive backs or six defensive backs it didn’t matter,” said Wannstedt. “The point was, if you looked at us, we were doing a lot of things that there’s carry-over within the 4-3 scheme.”
I think there are a lot of players that offer scheme versatility on Buffalo’s defense. Chief among them are Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams, Shawne Merriman and Chris Kelsay. Williams and Kelsay have already played most of their careers in the 4-3 with the Bills. Merriman has never played in the 4-3 in the NFL, but might benefit from dropping into coverage less as a true rush end and is underrated as a run defender.
Torell Troup played defensive tackle in a 4-3 in college and Alex Carrington played defensive end in a 4-3 at the collegiate level. Spencer Johnson was signed in free agency by this team when they were still playing a 4-3 front under the previous coaching regime.
Sheppard played MLB in a 4-3 at LSU and Nick Barnett is more than capable of playing weakside LB in a 4-3. So I don’t really see a rebuilding plan here. I think most of the pieces are scheme versatile enough to hit the ground running with this scheme.
3 - Hey Chris,
I have a few questions about the 4-3 defense we may run under Wannstedt. If your remember that last time we were a full 4-3/cover 2 defense Byrd had 9 interceptions, now I was wondering how a 4-3 defense differs from a 3-4 as far as secondary scheme goes because in 09 it seemed like we had way more interceptions then in ’10 and ’11. Also i assume that we will target a nice pass rush DE in the draft and that Kelsay will move back to DE also but who will be the DT I also assume that it will be Dareus and Williams with Johnson and Troup that 3rd and 4th but where would guys like Carrington go?
Thanks Chris,
Josh Hubert, Syracuse NY
CB: I think most of your assumptions are right, although Dwan Edwards might be the other defensive tackle alongside Troup in the rotation. I think a guy like Carrington has to prove he can put pressure on the passer at the end position. He did that at Arkansas State as an end in a 4-3 front (21.5 sacks). As far as the secondary is concerned not a whole lot changes going from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The coverages are largely the same, though the means by which they disguise some looks might be different.
I don’t know that you can tie Byrd’s success as a rookie to the scheme. Personally I think Byrd’s best season was 2011. I felt his all-around game was as good as I’ve seen it. He’s not just a takeaway guy, he’s shown he can be more than that.
4 - Hey Chris,
I remember you mentioning that one of the best things the current Bills management has done is to build the front lines. I was just wondering if the Bills found that the best player available in the first round was a DT like Devon Still from PSU, would they consider drafting him and moving Dareus to DE like Haloti Ngata has done at times for the Ravens? Do you think they would draft the DT to continue getting depth at DT? Or would they go to the next best player not at DT?
-Chris
CB: The way the Bills operate is they take the best player on the board when they’re on the clock. If there are a couple of players of comparable value and one is at a position of need then they’ll take the player at the position of need.
Devon Still by the way is trumped at the DT position by some underclassmen. Most scouts I’ve spoken with maintain that Michael Brockers from LSU, Jerel Worthy from Michigan State and Dontari Poe from Memphis are all superior to Still.
5 - Chris:
I always enjoy your interviews and film breakdown with the coaches in your top 10 series. I was wondering if you see a time where Coach Gailey will turn over the play calling to Offensive Coordinator Curtis Modkins, and exactly how much is Coach Modkins involved with the game planning and game day decisions? What are your thoughts on Coach Bicknell being on the radar for other teams as Offensive Coordinator and eventually getting interviews for Head Coaching Positions? I believe he may be on many teams short list soon.
Thanks
Joe
Blasdell
CB: Thanks for the kind words on our Top 10 Performances of 2011 Series. We enjoyed bringing it to you and for the dedicated fan it’s a great way to get some film room insight from Buffalo’s coaching staff. Our last installment of the series will run this Tuesday.
As for play calling duties Chan Gailey when he was hired did say he would eventually hand off those responsibilities to Curtis Modkins, but I don’t think he’s there yet. I think once Gailey feels as though his offense is a smooth running machine week in and week out, only then might he turn over the reins.
With respect to coach Bicknell, it would not shock me if he started drawing interest around the league for OC positions. Knowing he was a successful offensive coordinator in NFL Europe it would not surprise me at all.
Will Bowe make it to free agency?
Tags: Bob Bicknell, Chan Gailey, Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson
We’ve been trying to keep a running tab on the likelihood of some of the bigger receiver names in free agency this offseason and gauge whether they will make it to the free agent market in mid-March or be re-signed or tagged. We’ve seen things flip flop back and forth on Vincent Jackson. New Orleans is so focused on the new contract for Drew Brees that Marques Colston hasn’t been addressed, and Reggie Wayne is definitely not going to be in Indy next season. But what about a big time receiver that has good familiarity with Bills head coach Chan Gailey and is only 27?
Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe is a huge target and touchdown maker and at age 27 would be very attractive to a lot of teams. But he’s worked with Chan Gailey before as Buffalo’s head coach was his offensive coordinator in 2008, a season that still stands as his best in terms of receptions (86), 2nd best in touchdowns (7) and third best in yardage (1,022). He could walk in the door at One Bills Drive and know what to expect in the offense and perhaps even have a head start on the terminology.
Bowe also knows Buffalo’s receivers coach Bob Bicknell, who just moved from Bills tight ends coach to receivers coach after the 2011 season. Bicknell was Asst. offensive line coach, offensive line coach and tight ends coach with the Chiefs over Bowe’s first three seasons in Kansas City.
What’s more SI.com’s Peter King believes there’s a chance Bowe makes it to free agency. When asked on his twitter account by a follower if the Chiefs are likely to re-sign free agent Dwayne Bowe and CB Brandon Carr, King responded as follows.
Peter King RT @KCKID913: Do you think the Chiefs sign both Dwayne Bowe and Brandon Carr? … No. Carr more likely.
Knowing the new head coach in Kansas City is defensive-minded in Romeo Crennel, it’s not unrealistic to think that Bowe might consider other options. Buffalo GM Buddy Nix has stated they wanted another “big time receiver” in addition to Stevie Johnson, whom the Bills need to re-sign. Reports have indicated that negotiations with Johnson have been ongoing with more talks to take place in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine.
Nelson’s Wk 2 next in Top 10
Tags: Chan Gailey, David Nelson, Top 10 Performances of 2011
David Nelson’s big time performance in the Week 2 comeback win over the Raiders is next in our Top 10 Performances of 2011 series. We were fortunate to have the Bills head coach break down this one for us.
So for some interesting insight straight from the film room with Chan Gailey check out some of the better plays in Nelson’s 10-catch performance including the game-winning touchdown.
Fitz’s win vs. N.E. next on Top 10
Tags: Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Top 10 Performances of 2011
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Week 3 performance in the comeback win over New England is the latest installment of the Top 10 Performances of 2011 and we’ve got a special guest to break the film down for us.
Bills head coach Chan Gailey was kind enough to sit down with Buffalobills.com and provide insight on why Fitzpatrick was able to orchestrate a 21-point comeback effort and consistently beat the blitz of the Patriots in the thrilling 34-31 victory, one of just three defeats suffered by New England in the 2011 regular season.
How Gailey’s getting Lee up to speed
There’s always an intense period of study when a player is given the task of learning a new offensive system, but coaches go through it just as often knowing how transient their profession can be. So just how is Bills new QBs coach David Lee getting up to speed on Chan Gailey’s system having never worked with him before?
Simply put he’s meeting with Buffalo’s head coach on a daily basis.
“We meet every day just about going over certain aspects of it and once he sits in the breakdown meetings, in which we go through all 1,100 plays (from last season he’ll have it down),” said Gailey. ”We go through every play and evaluate every play and every player here for the next month and a half or so. By the time we get to the end of that he’ll know it as well as the rest of us.”
Lee knows he’ll have to be able to coach it on the field by the time OTAs roll around in May, but he believes it’s more than enough time for him to master it.
“I’ve been studying and I’ve actually tested myself, run off some tests,” Lee told Buffalobills.com. ”I’m just that kind of learner. I’ve got to study it, pound it and grind it in there. That’s what I’m doing right now and Chan has been wonderful in teaching me along the way in how we read this and how we read that. I’ve got to hear a word and know a concept and where all three guys are going. That takes some time on my part with some hard-headed study.”
Bills still need TE coach
The Bills filled a pair of coaching vacancies Monday on Chan Gailey’s coaching staff, but with Bob Bicknell now coaching the receivers after the departure of Stan Hixon, Buffalo needs a tight ends coach.
Bicknell coached the tight ends each of the past two seasons, but in sliding over to coach receivers there’s still one more vacancy coach Gailey needs to fill. That position is likely to be filled in short order as offseason plans with respect to scheme and such are soon to be formulated.
New QBs coach sees team on rise
It’s not often that a veteran assistant coach like David Lee willingly takes a vacant assistant position after an NFL team has had a couple of sub-.500 seasons, but Buffalo’s new quarterbacks coach believes the Bills are poised to take the next step in 2012.
“Chan Gailey has been a successful head coach everywhere he’s been,” said Lee. ”His teams have always moved the football really well. Being able to coach under him was the difference in my decision to come to Buffalo. I believe the Bills are a team on the rise and will continue to improve. I’ve known Buddy Nix for a long time since our coaching days in the SEC where he was a fantastic defensive coach. Everyone on the coaching staff believes in Chan and Buddy. That was very evident on my visit to Buffalo, and I’m excited and proud to be the Bills’ quarterbacks coach.”
Chan feels it can work w/Stevie
Tags: Bills Radio Network, Chan Gailey, Stevie Johnson
In the wake of Bills GM Buddy Nix saying that the end zone displays that got Stevie Johnson in hot water are behind them, Bills head coach Chan Gailey echoed similar sentiments in an appearance on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550 earlier this week.
Gailey was asked if in fact Stevie re-signs does he feel like he can trust the free-spirited receiver.
“Yes, I am confident we can make that work,” Gailey told the Howard Simon show. ”It’s not me, it’s we. It’s he and I and everybody that’s involved in this thing. It falls on my shoulders I understand that. But if we don’t solve problems with the ‘we’ identity we’re going to make a mistake. Everybody has got some action in this and a sense of responsibility in this.
“If I thought Stevie was a bad person then we probably wouldn’t even be having this conversation. But I know he’s not. I know he’s a good person deep down. I don’t think he wants to hurt the team. I don’t think that at all. I don’t see that being a big issue going forward.”
Gailey then expressed his greatest concern, which would be losing Johnson in free agency.
“The worst thing is you might lose a good player,” he said. ”That’s the worst thing. You don’t want to lose a good football player, so hopefully we can work it out.”
The entire interview can be heard at the WGR550 site.
Gailey to ask league about TD displays
In the wake of Stevie Johnson’s flagged TD display in the season finale at New England, Bills head coach Chan Gailey said he wasn’t in a position to argue the gray area of the rule at the time and had to enact discipline against his top receiver and bench him. But now with the season over, Gailey intends to get in touch with the league on the inconsistency of the celebration rule.
“I did not (ask the league),” said Gailey. ”I will ask, but I have not asked yet.”
Johnson said he thought revealing his undershirt message of Happy New Year would not draw a flag last Sunday since he was not flagged for revealing his Why So Serious? message in the win over Cincinnati last season.
Gailey just as frustrated as players
Tags: Chan Gailey
Bills head coach Chan Gailey held a long season ending press conference with the media. Though he improved the team’s win total by two games in 2011, he is having a difficult time stomaching the losing records in his first two seasons with Buffalo.
“I’m not dealing with it very well,” he said. ”And if I did deal with it very well, I shouldn’t be here. You get in this thing to be the best of the best. The NFL is the world’s best football and you want to be the champion of whatever the best league is. That’s why you get in it and if you don’t get the opportunity to do that and being in the playoffs is the way you get the opportunity to do that, then you don’t feel very good about what you’re doing.”
Gailey does feel that the team can make marked improvement in 2012 with everyone expected back healthy and obviously with a few key additions.
It’s not about limiting Welker’s catches
Likely forgotten by Bills fans in the first meeting between the Buffalo and New England, because the Bills finally won, was the fact that Wes Welker was virtually unstoppable with 16 catches for over 200 yards and a touchdown. But as Chan Gailey sees it the second time around, it’s not going to be about limiting Welker’s receptions.
“You’d like to say just cover him tighter, but you do that and it opens up something else,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “What you want to do is limit his number of yards. I’m not as worried about the number of catches as I am the yards. If you can tackle him when he catches it in that four-yard range then we’re okay. It’s the yards after the catch that really burn you with Wes Welker.”
Welker leads the league in yards after the catch this season with 665 after 15 games.
Hernandez missed 1st meeting
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Bills-Patriots, Chan Gailey
One thing to remember for Sunday’s Bills-Pats season finale is that New England’s high-powered offense didn’t have a key member healthy for the first meeting in Buffalo back in Week 3.
The Patriots were without Aaron Hernandez in that game, who was out with an injury. It was one less passing weapon for the Bills to worry about. Since he’s been back in New England’s lineup Chan Gailey has seen a noticeable difference.
“When he came back they started hitting full stride,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. “He is a big part of what they do. They’ve got the three-headed monster so to speak right now, but those other guys will make plays if you don’t watch out for them too.”
Gailey is referring to Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski as the other two-thirds of his three-headed monster.
Fan Friday 12-30
Tags: 4-3 defense, Antonio Coleman, Buddy Nix, C.J. Spiller, Chan Gailey, Fan Friday, Kamar Aiken, Kyle Moore, Mike Jasper, Robert Eddins, yards per completion
Happy New Year Bills fans! As always I’ll be on the live blog here on Buffalobills.com during the Bills-Pats season finale, so join me during the game for observations, questions and comments. We’re up right before kickoff. Now to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.
1 – Chris,
I would like your thoughts on some of these concerns I find to be “holding” Buffalo back if you will.
Second, with Dareus providing a nice push in the middle of the line, could that help sway our current 3-4 back to the 4-3? Our run “D” is still stale, and with the likes of Williams and Dareus in the middle, teams would very much struggle to establish an effective running attack on us.
Thanks again for all you do for the BILLS!!!!!!
Dan, FL
CB: I wouldn’t be surprised if it were up for debate this offseason by the coaching staff. The thought of Williams and Dareus alongside one another in a 4-3 front is intriguing. Of course without a proven pass rushing right defensive end on the roster it’s a hole that would absolutely need to be filled to pull it off.
I also think figuring out the linebacker situation would be next. Nick Barnett is more of a 3-4 inside linebacker, but in a 4-3 he’d presumably have to be outside (probably weak side) at 230 pounds. Problem there is if Merriman makes a successful return and from what I know the odds of that are better than most believe, then you take a strong run defender out of the equation there no matter who you sit down. Sheppard would likely be the MLB in that front and the strong side would again be a position to be filled, though Moats would at least have the size to play there at 252 pounds.
Buddy Nix said two years ago that you don’t want to be flipping back and forth. You want to commit to something eventually, and he indicated committing to the 3-4 was the plan. Plans can obviously change, but they’ve drafted the past two years with the 3-4 in mind. We’ll have to see if any of that changes moving forward.
2 - Hi Chris,
Thanks for taking our questions.
Since Spiller has been starting, I don’t understand why we give up on the run game so early. A good example would be the Miami game. Spiller had about 90 yards on only 12 carries. Early on in the game he had about 50 yards including 2 carries where he gained about 40 yards and scored a TD. The Bills seem to give up on running the ball when the game was still in play, but after passing took over we had 3 INT’s and another Loss. I realize when you get way behind you need to go to the passing game but the Bills give up on the run way too early. What do you think?
Bob Hammond
Rochester, NY
CB: Chan has been asked about this more than once by the media and I think the answer is simple. Coach Gailey told me earlier in the year they’re a team that uses the pass to set up the run. Their most popular formation is the 4-by-1 set (4 WRs, 1 RB) though they’ve worked in more two tight end sets in the second half of the season.
That is what their identity is so when they fall behind by more than a touchdown on the scoreboard they have no qualms about airing it out.
I’m in favor of seeing more run game knowing how successful the O-line has been this year in opening holes for the backs this season. Combine that with the fact that Jackson was almost unstoppable this season and the emergence of C.J. down the stretch and you wonder if there might be some consideration for a change in offensive philosophy in 2012 though I wouldn’t count on it. I get the sense that the Gailey and his offensive staff feel the run game is so successful because the passing game sets it up. In talking to Gailey he seems to feel if they just get the passing game a bit more consistent they’ll really be rolling, much like they were early in the year.
3 – Chris,
Hi, thanks for keeping us all updated on everything Bills. My question isn’t Bills related but just a general football question. Why do they keep the stat of Yards Per Attempt instead of Yards Per Completion?
Thanks,
Jimmy in Hamburg
CB: They do keep that statistic, it’s just not commonly listed on most quarterback stat lines. Here is the list of the top 10 QBs for yards per completion through Week 16 (prior to this weekend’s games).
1 – Matt Schaub – 13.93
2 – Tim Tebow – 13.91
3 – Eli Manning – 13.69
4 – Carson Palmer – 13.66
5 – Aaron Rodgers – 13.54
6 – Kevin Kolb – 13.39
7 – Cam Newton – 13.2
8 – Michael Vick – 12.96
9 – Tom Brady – 12.96
10 – Ben Roethlisberger – 12.81
For the record Fitz ranks 30th at 10.88 per completion, but because this is commonly not a statistic relied upon to determine QB effectiveness you often do not see it listed. An example of how it’s not an accurate factor in determining QB play is the fact that Drew Brees ranks 24th in this category.
4 – Chris,
With the season winding down, will the Gailey put some of the untested players in as trial to see what they can do. Most of the drafted rookies have played well, but Aiken hasn’t seen any targets at WR. The team picked up Sam Young but he has been inactive most games. In terms of pass rush, Eddins looks fantastic in the preseason and with the release of Coleman, could he be elevated and given a chance? Same goes with Kyle Moore. Most Bills fans would like to see Jasper but he might still be raw.
Thanks,
Josh – Los Angeles
CB: As you probably saw this week, Mike Jasper was elevated to the active roster. I think if he sees time on the field it will probably be in goal line or field goal barring an injury at the guard position. Kamar Aiken could possibly see time with Brad Smith not expected to play this week, but Derek Hagan has been getting more reps of late.
Robert Eddins is still on the practice squad and unless there’s an injury at tackle I don’t anticipate seeing Sam Young either. Kyle Moore did get a lot more playing time last week.
5 - Chris
The team has made some interesting moves onto the roster and practice squad in the last few weeks. They’ve added several TE, a 3-4 DE and waived Coleman.
What do you think is the driving factor for Whaley & Nix behind these moves? Are these driven by injuries/current needs or do you see these guys as players they want for next year? If so – when do the contracts expire for these recent additions (will they be F/A this offseason)?
The DE move and waiving Coleman seemed odd – given we seem to have plenty of DL and no pass rushing OLB. Are there no 3-4 OLB prospects on other team’s practice squads (like Pitt or GB)?
thanks
Tim from Syracuse
CB: I think at this stage of the game the Bills are probably taking a look see at some players they had interest in and want to see what they can do in live games. I believe that was the motivation behind Kyle Moore getting more time on the field this past week. Most of the others have been precipitated by injury.
Most of the contracts of the recent additions expire after this season. However, a few of them are exclusive rights free agents, which make it rather easy for the Bills to re-sign them if they so choose. Some of the younger players can also be re-signed as future free agents, which is done in January to retain those player rights and add them to their offseason roster.
Brown to remain at center
His first series was a little shaky when he had to step in for the injured Kraig Urbik at center, but Colin Brown, who saw his first live action at center in his career eventually settled in and was steady for an offense that found some rhythm in their most recent win Saturday.
“Colin was a little shaky early with the snaps and then he settled down and did a better job,” said head coach Chan Gailey.
With Urbik’s injury considered “not good” by Gailey, the Bills head coach confirmed that the plan is for Brown to finish the season in the pivot on Sunday in Foxboro against the Patriots.
“Right now it’ll be Colin that’ll play in there,” said Gailey.
It’ll be a heck of a first NFL start at center for Brown, who will be facing perennial Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork.
Injury updates
Tags: Chan Gailey, Demetrius Bell, Kamark Aiken, Kraig Urbik, Mike Caussin
Even though the win over the Broncos was a resounding one for Buffalo it did not come without a price.
Buffalo lost OL Kraig Urbik, TE Mike Caussin and LT Demetrius Bell to injuries. Head coach Chan Gailey provided updates.
“Bell doesn’t look good,” said Gailey. ”Urbik doesn’t look good. Caussin doesn’t look good. All of those were knees or ankles.”
Gailey said that Kamar Aiken, who suffered a shoulder injury, did return to the game and believes he should be okay. All four players will be re-evaluated on Monday.
Don’t count on up tempo offense
Buffalo has had some success when they’ve gone to their hurry-up offense, but according to head coach Chan Gailey it’s an oversimplification to say that the Bills offense should go hurry up or no huddle the majority of the time.
“There probably is some merit to that if you get completions,” said Gailey of speeding up the offensive tempo. ”The whole thing is can you get those completions? In a two-minute situation the defenses are playing a lot softer and you know that. Even your screens and draws are better because they’re in total pass rush mode during those times in the game. It’s a little bit of a misconception to go to two minute offense all the time because we’re successful in it. It doesn’t work that way all the time.”
Add in the fact that Buffalo’s defense has trouble stoppping opponents and to put your defense back on the field that much quicker is probably ill-advised. Also the Bills offense hasn’t been getting those completions on a consistent basis as their offense has been out of rhythm. Going three-and-out faster than they have could create a bigger problem than they already have especially against a team like the Broncos that know how to grind out yards on offense with their #1 rushing attack.
2 spies for Tebow?
We’ve seen the running quarterbacks in this league mandate a spy defender with the great potential of them taking off for big time yardage. But with Denver’s Tim Tebow, Bills head coach Chan Gailey says the traditional spy doesn’t apply.
“I think there’s always a form of a spy,” said Gailey in reference to Tebow. ”It’s not your typical spy that people see when a defense is playing against a Vince Young or a Michael Vick. Kordell Stewart when I had him in Pittsburgh opponents would have a spy. The spies (with Tebow) are really the two linebackers on either side because you always have to be aware of him keeping the ball after faking the hand-off coming out the back side, so there’s always that spy on him, but you can’t have just one. You’ve got to have them on each side.”
Chan still hopeful for Chandler
Tags: Bills injury update, Chan Gailey, Scott Chandler, Stevie Johnson
Bills TE Scott Chandler is still moving gingerly on his badly sprained ankle suffered two weeks ago in practice, but he got through a second straight day giving head coach Chan Gailey hope that he’ll be able to go come Saturday.
“Chandler was limited, but he looked good,” said Gailey. “I think we’ve got a decent chance to have Scott this week.”
Johnson has insisted he’ll be fine to play on Saturday as well though he too was limited again on Thursday.
Johnny White (concussion) and Ruvell Martin (hamstring) are not looking good for Saturday’s game after missing practice again on Thursday.
Fitz not opposed to upping tempo
With their offense in a rut for the better part of the team’s seven-game losing streak, the idea has been raised by outside observers to speed up the tempo of the offense. Some of Buffalo’s greatest success as an offense has been in an up tempo style this season, even at times going no huddle. While one can argue that a two-minute offense often sees softer coverage from an opposing defense at the end of halves and games and that’s why there’s more success sustaining drives, Ryan Fitzpatrick, eager to do just about anything to give the offense a spark, is not against the idea.
“We’ve done a decent job this year when we’ve been in hurry up mode and even not hurrying up, but calling plays at the line and seeing what the defense si giving us and changing the play, that kind of thing,” said Fitzpatrick. ”We’ve been successful at that. At times some of it is because of what the score is, some of it is they’re hanging back trying not to give up the big play. Sometimes we work better as an offense at a higher pace. That’s something we’ll continue to look at and something that maybe has some merit. We’re running out of games here obviously but it’s something we’ve been decent at this year.”
The reason that head coach Chan Gailey has probably not gone up tempo more often this season on offense is probably due to the porous play of his defense, which ranks 26th overall, 29th against the run and 27th in points allowed. A hurry up attack if unsuccessful gives the ball back to the opposition that much quicker, something that they probably would prefer to avoid.
Still, knowing the offense needs to rediscover some of its mojo before the season is over, it might be an option worthy of the risks involved.
Fitz not worried about QB drafted
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick
If the Bills were to draft a quarterback this coming spring, it’s not something that Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to worry about.
When posed the question Tuesday Fitz said his only focus is improving his own play because what the Bills do in the draft is beyond his control.
“It’s just something I can’t worry about,” said Fitzpatrick. ”Just like last year I wasn’t worried about hem drafting a quarterback. I’ve sat down with Chan. I’ve talked to Buddy. We’re trying to get this thing going in the right direction right now. It’s a lot of different things. But the thing I can control right now is me playing better. It’s something I have to do, it’s thru practice, it’s through the communication with the guys in the film room and just going out there and doing it.
“For me my main focus and the thing I’ve learned since I’ve been in the NFL is you have to be able to put all your thought into what you can control. I can’t control any of that, all I can control is making sure my guys are where I want them to be, making sure I’m putting the ball where I want to put it and making sure everybody’s comfortable with whats going on. For me it’s been a process this year. I think I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot and hopefully these last two games we can end it on a good note.”
