Inside The Bills

Kickers by the percentages

There are probably more replacement kicker candidates out there available to the Bills, who will hold private workouts Tuesday to find a replacement for the injured Rian Lindell. But here are the career FG kicking percentages for some of the more notable vets out there.

Kris Brown – age 34 – career FG %age – 77.3%
Shayne Graham – age 33 – career FG %age – 86%
Dave Rayner – age 29 – career FG %age – 73.3%
Jeff Reed – age 32 – career FG %age – 82%

Lindell shoulder injury confirmed

Bills K Rian Lindell has a shoulder injury suffered after making a tackle on kick coverage. Head coach Chan Gailey had an update postgame.

“It was his shoulder,” said Gailey. ”We’re getting more information on that as we speak.”

When asked if Lindell was unable to take kickoffs and long field goals after the injury Gailey confirmed that he was. Brian Moorman took a copule of kickoffs for the Bills.

Competition for specialists

Last year there was no competition in camp for the likes of veterans Rian Lindell and Brian Moorman or young long snapper Garrison Sanborn. That won’t be the case in this training camp.

The Bills have signed an undrafted rookie for each of those positions, LS Danny Aiken, K Chris Hazley and P Reid Forrest. The most impressive of the three is probably Forrest, who had a heck of a career at Washington State. For more on this group of newcomers you can check the home page at Buffalobills.com.

Moorman, Lindell working out too

A host of Bills players will reportedly be in town next week as they’ve set up their own team workout regimen, but Buffalo’s long time punter and kicker have been in the Buffalo area working out all along.

Appearing on Morning Bull on 103.3 The Edge, Brian Moorman explained what he and Rian Lindell have been up to thus far this offseason.

“There are a couple of fields that we go to locally and one of the local high schools lets us go out there and we go in between classes because it’s a multi-purpose field and they’ve got lacrosse and everything going on,” Moorman told Morning Bull. ”That’s our routine right now. It’s frustrating. I’d rather go up to the stadium and work, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Moorman also mentioned how Bills players have their offseason workout regimens so they know what they’re supposed to be doing this time in the offseason.

“We have our workout books and we’re following what we’re supposed to be doing,” he said.

Stevie on icing kicker

The timeout right before the snap of the Bills 53-yard game winner in overtime, forced Rian Lindell to take a second attempt and we all know what happened (hit the upright). The question is what should be done with the coach’s ability to try to mess with the kicker?

Bills WR Steve Johnson was asked if he thought the rule is “cheesy” (I didn’t ask the question). Here was Stevie’s response.

“I can’t say it is because both teams are allowed to do it,” said Johnson. ”I can’t say we should wipe that rule out. If it was biased toward any one team than yeah, but both teams can do it and we did it to them and he ended up making his in the end. It’s fair for both teams.”

Johnson is right, Chan Gailey employed the same strategy against Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop, and it can be argued whether it worked or not as Succop pulled a 39-yard attempt wide left.

Personally I’m not a fan of the timeout to ice the kicker. Even Gailey said it’s just a mind game you’re playing. I’d like to think the league is bigger than those kinds of tactics.

Pro Bowl voting ends Monday

Fan voting ends Monday for the Pro Bowl. So make sure you cast your votes for Jairus Byrd, Brian Moorman, Rian Lindell and any other Bills you feel are worthy by going to NFL.com now!

Bills kick game specialists roughing it

Anyone that holds to the old football adage that kickers and punters aren’t real football players need only see what Brian Moorman and Rian Lindell did for practice Thursday.

With high wind advisories and blowing and drifting snow whipping through Western New York last night and today, the Bills practiced inside as there was little they would accomplish in 30-40 mph winds and a foot of snow on the ground. But while the offense and defense practiced inside, Moorman and Lindell went with long snapper Garrison Sanborn out to the grass field, which was adrift with snow and driving winds.

Lindell peeked out the door of the Bills fieldhouse and said, “Oh it’s not that bad.”

To which Moorman replied, “Yeah but you don’t have to sit in it.”

Moorman was referring to his duties as Lindell’s holder. Moorman sits down on one leg for field goal holds, which he was going to be doing in the snow.

Special teams coordinator Bobby April accompanied his specialists out in the elements.

The forecast for Kansas City this weekend is cold, but snow is not expected.

Lindell kickoffs helping too

In today’s top story on Buffalobills.com we took a look at how special teams has had a sharp spike in production the last two weeks, not coincidentally two Buffalo wins. One additional note that should be mentioned with the improvements is Rian Lindell’s kickoffs.

As Lindell has gotten older his kickoffs have gotten better. The most touchbacks on kickoffs that Lindell has ever had in a season is 10, which he accomplished last season.

Lindell has five already this season through seven games, including three in the last two games. He’s on pace to better his best single season touchback total. More importantly it’s helping to keep the kick return average of Buffalo’s opponents down.

“He’s got five touchbacks and the most he’s ever had is 10,” said Bobby April. ”We’re close to the midway point and if he keeps going he’ll be in good shape. His touchbacks have improved. As he’s getting older he’s getting more (of them). He’s kicking better too with pretty decent hang.”

Lindell moves up Bills points chart

Rian Lindell had eight points in Sunday’s win over Carolina moving him into some exclusive territory on the Bills all-time scoring list.

The Bills kicker now has 674 points in a Bills uniform putting him in sole possession of second place on the team’s all-time list behind all-time leading scorer Steve Christie (1,011).

Lindell moved past Scott Norwood (670).

This week’s Bills Insider

This week’s Bills Insider blog was turned in by K Rian Lindell.

Lindell talks Bills, baseball, and how being a pro athlete impacts him as a sports fan.

NASCAR driver to stop by Bills training camp

Greg Biffle driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush–Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be stopping by evening practice at Bills training camp on Thursday.

He’s visiting to promote the upcoming road race at The Glen for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Watkins Glen International August 6-9, 2009.

Lindell brings unique item for camp

Bills players bring all sorts of creature comforts to training camp with them. For some it’s a wide screen tv, for others it’s a special mattress for the dorm room bed. For Rian Lindell it was something completely different.

The Bills kicker brought his electric guitar (see photo below), which is signed by the members of Smashmouth. However, Lindell did not bring his amp.

“I thought about it, but how much stuff are you really going to bring to camp,” he said. “Plus I didn’t want to disturb the other guys in the dorm. So I’m going to be ‘Lindell unplugged’ at camp.”

Lindell says he knows about six chords and is getting there in terms of improving.

Pics from Moorman triathlon

Here are some photos courtesy of Johna Lindell of some of the Bills players who took part in the Town of Pittsford spring triathlon last Sunday to benefit Brian Moorman’s PUNT Foundation, which works to help kids with life threatening illnesses. For more information go to Moorman’s website.

Kyle Williams had the best swim split of the group.

Brian Moorman making swim to bike transition.

John Wendling after his swim and tagging his wife to do the bike and run.

Rian Lindell wrapping up his bike leg with only the run to go.

Moorman finishing with fellow PUNT Team member Andy Simpson. Moorman had best time of the group as his stagger start was behind almost everyone else.

Bobby April bettering his 2008 time by 9 minutes at the finish.

The specialists.

Just finished Pittsford triathlon

As part of Brian Moorman’s PUNT Team a bunch of Bills players participated in a sprint triathlon in the town of Pittsford this morning. Here’s the order of finish for the Team for those that did the swim, bike and run.

Brian Moorman 1:25:16
Andy Simpson 1:28:17
Rian Lindell 1:32:54
Chris Brown 1:37:54
Marty Battaglia 1:38:14
Preston Teague 1:38:18
Mick Morog 1:41:41
Tracie Brown 1:43:02
Bobby April 1:59:52

Team Wendling 1:32:53
Team Williams 1:39:57
Team Moorman 1:59:40

Special props to my wife Tracie who was the only female member of the team to do all three legs.

I’ll try to get some photos up on Monday courtesy of Johna Lindell.

PUNT Team in Pittsford triathlon Sunday

Brian Moorman, Rian Lindell, Ryan Neill, special teams coordinator and other Bills club members will be participating in Sunday’s Town Of Pittsford sprint triathlon.

The PUNT Team will be racing to benefit pediatric cancer research as part of Moorman’s PUNT Foundation.

I’ll be there and let you know how everyone did in the race.

Edwards and Evans to take batting practice with Blue Jays

Trent Edwards and Lee Evans will be taking batting practice with the Toronto Blue Jays and throw out the first pitch on Thursday (May 14) for the game against the Yankees.

Edwards and Evans might already be feeling a bit of pressure as Arizona QB Matt Leinart hit two balls over the fence when he took batting practice with the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this year.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell, an avid baseball fan, hit one out of the Bisons ballpark last summer too, so it will be interesting to see just how much power Edwards and Evans have to drive the ball.

Christie called Lindell

Rian Lindell, who is closing in on Steve Christie’s single season field goal record, got a call of support after his game-winning miss against Cleveland on Monday night football from the Bills all-time leading scorer.

“He gave me a call after the Cleveland game and left a voice mail and told me to keep my head up,” said Lindell. ”That was nice of him to do that. I run into him every now and then.”

Since that phone call Lindell is a solid 11-13 on field goal attempts including his 3-3 outing this past Sunday in the win at Denver, with his most impressive probably being the 49-yarder when the football was more like a frozen rock in the 17 degree temps during the game.

Lindell is the most accurate kicker in team history and obviously has the respect of Christie, who was probably the most clutch kicker in team annals.

Lindell hits right upright successfully again

Rian Lindell his the right upright on a successful field goal last week, proving that the right upright is more kind to him than the left.

In practice today, Lindell again hit the right upright and the ball caromed through for a successful field goal.

Just thought it was interesting to note. I wonder if being a right-footed kicker makes it more likely for kicks off the right upright to go through.

Lindell has talked about how his kick has a little fade to it, but I’m not sure if it has anything to do with getting a good bounce off the upright.

Brown’s Best – Week 12

There was a lot that the win over Kansas City had to offer so here’s the rundown this week.

BEST START: Blake Costanzo – The Bills coverage player came down the field like a freight train on the opening kickoff and forced a fumble on impact, but the Chiefs recovered.

BEST TWO MAN DRIVE: Marshawn Lynch/Fred Jackson – The two backs accounted for all of the yardage on Buffalo’s first touchdown drive. Nine plays, 61 yards, all Lynch and Jackson.

BEST THIRD DOWN STOP: Copeland Bryan – His third down sack at the Chiefs one-yard line not only forced a punt, but ensured that Buffalo would have great field position.

BEST USE OF HELMET: Reggie Corner – The nickel back forced Jamaal Charles to fumble when his helmet popped the ball loose allowing George Wilson to recover the ball.

BEST GAME CHANGER: Leodis McKelvin – His 64-yard interception return was the turning point of the game.

BEST TACKLE FOR LOSS: Chris Kelsay – His stop on Larry Johnson on a 3rd-and-1 forced the Chiefs to punt… again. Kelsay had two tackles for loss in the game.

BEST PASS: Trent Edwards – His 51-yard bomb to Lee Evans was laid out perfectly for the wide receiver despite tight coverage.

BEST ENCORE: Leodis McKelvin – His second interception looked as though he baited Tyler Thigpen to throw it and quickly closed the space between him and the receiver once the ball was in the air to make a play on it.

BEST IMPROVISATION: Trent Edwards – His roll out to the right was partly by design, but he extended the play an extra second or so and completed a 20-yard pass along the sideline to Josh Reed.

BEST GO FOR BROKE MOVE: Trent Edwards – With no timeouts left and the first half clock winding down, Edwards took off for the goal line and leapt up and over two Chiefs defenders for the touchdown.

BEST JOHNNY ON THE SPOT: Marcus Stroud – His deft scoop of a Tyler Thigpen fumble set the Bills up for another field goal deep in Chiefs territory.

BEST HIT: Ryan Denney – His crack on Larry Johnson in the hole stood the big back straight up at the line of scrimmage on a 1st-and-10 play.

BEST SEPARATOR: Josh Reed – Somehow the Bills receiver was sitting by himself in the back of the end zone where Trent Edwards found him for an eight-yard touchdown reception.

BEST KEEPING OF A COOL HEAD: Marshawn Lynch – After Bernard Pollard cracked him when he got up at the tail end of a run play, Lynch wisely did not retaliate. Pollard’s infraction cost the Chiefs another 15 yards and a first down. One play later Buffalo was back in the end zone.

BEST PRESENCE: George Wilson – The reserve safety tied for the team lead in tackles, had a sack, tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.

BEST SPECIAL TEAMER: Blake Costanzo – The coverage man had an incomprehensible six special teams tackles, which was more than the entire Chiefs special teams unit combined and had a pair of forced fumbles.

BEST RETURN: Josh Reed – The Bills possession receiver made a significant impact in his return from injury with five catches for 50 yards including a touchdown, his first in two years.

BEST POINT PRODUCER: Rian Lindell – The Bills kicker had a career high 18 points in the game and now has 600 for his career becoming just the third Bills player in team history to reach that mark.

Hard not to feel for Lindell

In the wake of the crushing Monday night defeat it was hard not to feel for Lindell. The most accurate kicker in Bills history uncharacteristically pushed his 47-yarder wide.

To his credit he faced the music in the locker room after the game. And if you think it’s not going to bother him for a while you’re wrong. Here’s his answer to that question.

“You never forget them,” said Lindell of the big misses. ”I’ll remember this for 70 years, probably but you know you just kind of know what to do with them a little bit more. Our practice plan was good, the focus was there…sleep, carbs, all that. Fluids and all that kind of stuff. I warmed up fine. Just missed the dumb thing.”