Die Hard Sports Fan

The Buffalo Bills not only dropped a heart breaker last night against the Cleveland Browns 29-27 on Monday Night Football but they also ended their postseason chances.

 

Usually in losses like this, there is plenty of blame to go around but this game was not the case.  

 

The offensive line finally stepped up and not only did they not allow a sack but they also looked like they knew what they were doing running blocking.  Marshawn Lynch was able to break the century mark for the first time this year after a 119 yard effort. 

 

The defense wasn’t lights out but they did the job to the best of their ability.  Despite losses in the secondary like starting safety Donte Whitner and corner back Jabari Greer, Terrence McGee stepped up his game and played very well.  Minus a 76 yard run by Josh Cribbs in the 4^th quarter, the Bills run defense also played very well, keeping Jamal Lewis in check.  Overall the defense led up 176 yards through the air and 161 on the ground while also holding Cleveland to 5 field goals despite them having great position through the entire game.  Forcing a team to go 3 for 13 (23%) on 3^rd down isn’t too shabby either.   

 

Special teams proved why they were one of the best units in the game also (despite that final field goal).  Leodis McKelvin finally had his break out game as a returner, showing his great speed and field vision and returned 1 for a 98-yard touchdown.  He went on to average 61 yards on his 3 returns.  Fred Jackson also did very well.  He was getting the ball when the Browns were trying to kick the ball away from McKelvin on line drive or high kicks.  Jackson had 4 returns for an average of 15 yards but remember he was getting the ball on the 30-35 yard line to start his returns.  Roscoe Parrish also had a game changing return to set up a score.  He only got the ball once but when you go 34 yards the other way, that is always a good sign of not only Parrish but the blockers too.

 

The coaching was so-so.  To be honest, I really liked the defensive game plan.  They showed multiple blitzes to confuse young quarterback Brady Quinn and it worked.  He went 14 of 36 for 185 yards. 

 

The game calling towards the end was a little puzzling but I understand where it was coming from.  Instead of passing the ball, trying to get it a little closer for Lindell, they decided to run it for 3 straight plays.  I didn’t really like it but I do understand it.  It got the Browns to use all 3 timeouts and also they didn’t have too much confidence in Trent Edwards after his 3 picks in the 1^st quarter.  Instead of risking a turnover, they keep it with the safe choice.  Again, I didn’t like it at all, but understood where they were coming from. 

 

The coaches did a good job to finally turn the o-line around although poor game management happened again in this one.  The Bills wasted timeouts in places they shouldn’t have but on a plus note at least they didn’t have to challenge anything.  Head Coach Dick Jauron doesn’t know where the red flag is anyways.      

 

So let’s take a look at what worked in this game.  Running game; check.  Offensive line; check.  Defense; check.  Coaching; well not 100% but still got the job done.  

 

So what are we missing?  On yes, the quarterback.

 

Trent Edwards was a complete disaster for the 4^th game in a row.  He threw three interceptions in the 1^st quarter and from that point on he looked scared.  He would drop back to pass, get plenty of time, and then just throw it to check down, again and again and again. 

 

That is what his one touchdown pass was in this game.  He dropped back, looked downfield, held onto the ball way too long and then finally dropped it off to Lynch who made the play.  

 

Edwards looked like a little child who just didn’t want to disappoint anyone and we had to sit there and watch him.  It really looked like he was indeed scared.  He wouldn’t throw the ball down the field at all.  His go-to-guy in Lee Evans was open on multiple occasions but he could not get him the ball.  Evans, the #1 WR on this team had 0 balls thrown his way!  Are you kidding me? 

 

The Browns didn’t even bring pressure in this game either.  They just dropped back into a zone, usually when Edwards excels by ripping apart defenses.  For some reason though he just couldn’t get the ball to his team and lost a lot of confidence.

 

From poor reads to terrible passes we have now watched a guy who was being named for MVP early in the season, to a young QB struggling to make his way into the league and get wins for his team.  

 

Now, I still think Edwards is the man at the QB position but I see why you J.P. Losman fans are now starting to come out of hiding again.  One thing I can agree with you with, at least Losman will get the ball down the field.  What team catches it though is a different story.

 

Hey it could be worse though, we could be Detroit Lions fans.

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Coming into the game against the New York Jets this weekend, the Bills were expected to start WR James Hardy at the #2 WR spot in the offense due to the injury to Josh Reed that will keep him out the next few days.  Hardy took over the spot in the loss against the Dolphins but that might change this week.

A report from rotoworld.com is saying that the Bills will lean towards Roscoe Parrish in this one.  Here’s the quick rundown:

Bills WR Roscoe Parrish has been running with the first team offense in practice this week.
It was thought that rookie James Hardy would take over while Josh Reed was out because Hardy was the one who replaced him in-game after Reed’s injury occurred. Parrish, though, offers more experience and knows the offense better.

It shouldn’t make too much of a difference as Hardy will now be used in the slot to get better one on one matchup with linebackers.  As much as I want to see Hardy step up to be used in this offense more, look for him to make a few catches in the game and possibly even a TD in the red zone. 

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Buffalo Bills pro bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel was in a walking boot during practice today.  He didn’t practice earlier in the week and now that he has on a walking boot, the injury could be serious. 

Schobel was injured during the Bills 41-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.  He missed almost all of the 4^th quarter of that game. 

Schobel said there is no additional injury and nothing is broken. He is just wearing the boot for support. He said just call him questionable for the Chargers and wouldn’t elaborate.    

CB Terrence McGee, CB Ashton Youboty and FS Ko Simpson are returned to the practice field, but all participated in a limited role. 

 <a href="http://WGR550.com" title="http://WGR550.
" target="_blank">WGR550.com had this to say on the injured players:

“Youboty was favoring his left leg. No new players on the field to replace the traded John McCargo. Dick Jauron said only McGee and Schobel did not participate in practice. Simpson said he’s over 90-percent and he thinks he can play Sunday. McGee had no idea if he is going to be able to practice with the team this week. I can say he didn’t seem all that optimistic.”

QB Trent Edwards was also practicing again and looks like he will be good to go come Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.  Slot man Roscoe Parrish was also full go, and it looks like he will be ready also.

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It is being reported by multiple sources that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is being shopped around in the NFL trade market.  The Chiefs are talking to multiple teams about their star tight end, although no one team has been mentioned yet.

 

My question is why don’t the Buffalo Bills try to take a run at him?  So I am here to list my reasons why they should.

 

1. They have the Cap Room

Tony Gonzalez does come over with a pretty nice contract (in the Bills eyes).  He did sign a five year, $35 million deal back in 2006 but $17.75 million of that is guaranteed.  The rest of Gonzalez’s contract calls for him to make $1 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $4.5 million in 2010 and $5.75 million in 2011. 

 

Now the number isn’t exact, but the Bills have about $20 million in cap space that they can still work with.  The Bills have plenty of room to add Gonzalez’s contract. 

 

2.  The Bills Need a Good Tight End

Sorry Robert Royal but you just aren’t getting the job done.  You are a very mediocre tight end that really shouldn’t be starting in the NFL.  You are a good run blocker but are not really a threat in the passing game which is a shame for your QB. 

 

Trent Edwards loves throwing to the guys underneath, like his running backs and tight ends but he doesn’t really have a tight end to throw to.  The 6 foot 5, 251 pound Gonzalez would give Edwards a huge target to throw to and also another red zone target.  Let’s be honest the Bills need another target on offense.  Marshawn Lynch is in a little bit of a slump, and Lee Evans is still drawing double teams with the Bills lack of a true #2 wide receiver (Josh Reed is more of a slot guy, rookie James Hardy still is learning the game, and Roscoe Parrish is out for the next few weeks due to a thumb injury).       

 

3. The Bills have been looking for a Good TE

Not sure if any of you guys out their remember it or not, but the Bills were taking a hard look at now Tennessee Titans TE Alge Crumpler during the off season but were unable to sign him.  They then went after guys like Courtney Anderson and Tim Massaquoi and even drafted Derek Fine in the NFL Draft this year (Anderson and Massaquoi were cut, and Fine has not been activated yet because of a thumb injury).  

 

They know they need a tight end and hopefully they are still looking for one right now.

 

4.  Sure Tony is Getting Older, but He is Still an Elite TE

Sure people take a look at his number this year, 21 receptions for 193 yards and 2 TDs, and say the 32 year old is done but that is mostly because he is on such a bad team and hasn’t had one QB throwing to him this season.  The Chiefs are just throwing random QBs in there each week and Tony’s numbers are really hurting because of it. 

 

Remember this is a guy coming off a great 2007 campaign when he caught 99 passes for 1172 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

He is just off to a slow start and has plenty left in the tank to be elite in the next few years.

 

5. The Bills Could Use a Vet

The Bills are a young team just learning how to win games in this league.  Why not bring in a 12 year vet that has been there before?  The Bills oldest player on the offense is 30 year old Robert Royal who never been on a playoff team.  

 

The Bills could really use a smart veteran like Gonzalez that would not only open up the offense more, but also provide some leadership to the young guys in the locker room.

 

6.  He is a High Character Guy

The Bills love their players to be character guys, who are not only good at football but also stay out of trouble.  Gonzalez is very active in charitable organizations like the Tony Gonzalez Foundation, the United Way, and the Boys and Girls club just to name a few. 

 

Not only is he a great player, but a great person too. This is a guy that the Bills organization would love to have.

 

7.  All of This Could Be Yours for a Draft Pick

It is being reported that all the Chiefs are looking for is a decent draft pick (or picks) in exchange for their star TE.  Earlier in the off-season, Saints TE Jeremy Shockey was traded for a 2^nd round and 5^th round pick, something the Bills could easily muster up (also keep in mind that Shockey is four years younger at the age of 28).  The Bills already have their young, core players on the squad.  This season they can afford to give up a couple picks to better themselves for the next few years with a star TE in their offense.  

 

 

 

Gonzalez is still an elite tight end who currently holds the NFL tight end record for receptions, touchdown catches and yards receiving.  He has also gone to 9 pro bowls in his career and could still make the trip for a few more.  I would love to see the Bills go after him in an attempt to make a run for the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done for over a decade.  

 

Don’t agree at all?  Think I am nuts?  Want the Bills to try to get this guy today?  Please write your reactions in the comment box below or send over an email to buffbillsfan517@yahoo.com.  Your feedback is gr

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With even more Bills injuried, I though today would be a day to bring up the rest of the players not practicing.

DT John McCargo is excused and of course QB Trent Edwards is still out. Watching the pratice today are WR Roscoe Parrish (thumb), CB Terrence McGee (knee), CB Ashton Youboty, SS Ko Simpson, OL Melvin Fowler, DE Chris Kelsay, DE Aaron Schobel and DT Marcus Stroud (who rode the stationary bike). 

It seems like half of the team is out.  Good thing this week is a bye week which will give the players some more time to rest before their matchup against the San Diego Chargers.

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The Buffalo Bills will face the St. Louis Rams today at the Edwards Jones Dome.

TV Info:

Game: Buffalo Bills (3-0) @ St. Louis Rams (0-3) TV: CBS (Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots) Radio: 97 Rock (Buffalo), 103.3 The EDGE (Buffalo), WHAM 1180 AM (Rochester), WNSS 1260 AM (Syracuse), FAN 590 AM (Toronto). All done by John Murphy, Mark Kelso and Paul Peck on the Bills radio network. Time: 4:05 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• The Bills have beaten the Rams in four out the last five meetings, and lead the overall series, 5-4.
• The last game between these two teams ended in a Buffalo win, 37-17.
• RB Marshawn Lynch has scored atleast one TD in each of the first 3 games
• Rams RB Steven Jackson is avergaing just 3.2 yards per carry in a Rams offense that has put up just 29 points in three weeks. It doesn’t get much easier this week as St. Louis goes up against a sixth-ranked Bills defense
• The Bills defense has not allowed a 100 yard rusher in their first 3 games. Let up an average of 93.6 yards per game.
• With returnman Roscoe Parrish out look for rookie Leodis McKelvin to have a huge impact on not only punt returns but also kick returns.
• The Bills are 6-0 when QB Trent Edwards posts an 80-plus passer rating. Edwards is averaging a 96.6 rating through three games this season.
• QB Trent Green of St. Louis is making his first start of this season for the benched Marc Buldger. Green has started three times vs. the Bills, posting a 2-1 record.
• Green is making his first start since suffering a concussion while with Miami in Week 5 last season. The concussion was Grade 3 which is the most severe level. Many thought it would be enough to send Green into retirement. But he’s back for more (which might not be a good thing).
• The Line: The Bills are favored by 8. Over/Under 42.5.

Injury Report:

Bills - Out of Game: TE Derek Fine (Hand) and WR Roscoe Parrish (Thumb). Probable: FB Darian Barnes (Ankle). Rams - Out of Game: WR Drew Bennett (Foot), WR Keenan Burton (Knee), and RB Antonio Pittman (Lower Leg). Probable: G Jacob Bell (Hamstring), DE James Hall (Thigh), RB Steven Jackson (Groin), TE Joe Klopfenstein (Illness), DE Leonard Little (Hamstring) and T Orlando Pace (Groin).

Quote of the Week:

“I’ve always liked to block but I guess what set it off was something Tyke told me a long time ago. He said if you’re going across the middle and a DB has a free shot to take your head off, he will. Plain and simple. It will make him look good and feel good. So that’s just the mentality I take into it. You’re going to try to take my head off, so what should stop me from trying to take your head off?” -WR Josh Reed on blocking

Open Thread:

Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Bills fans from around the world.

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The Buffalo Bills took a hit with the news coming out today that slot WR and return man Roscoe Parrish will be out 4-6 weeks after recovering from thumb surgery.  Parrish underwent surgery on the thumb Tuesday after he suffered an injury in the game Sunday, against the Oakland Raiders.  The exact extent of the injury is unknown although head coach Dick Jauron has come out and said it was a problem with the ligament.  Jauron said, “It wasn’t a bone issue.  My understanding was it was a ligament issue and there’s no support for the thumb if it moves a certain way. Talking to him today he wasn’t in a lot of pain or discomfort with it. We’re just hoping it heals real fast and we get him back on the field.”

The thumb was injured early in the 4th quarter of the game, but Parrish played through the pain and scored a late receiving TD that helped the Bills rally in the 4th to beat the Raiders, 24-23.  Roscoe hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2005 when he broke his wrist in training camp during his rookie season.

Through the first 3 games, Parrish has caught 7 passes for 60 yards and 1 TD.  In the return game, he has 11 punt returns for 167 yards (good for a 15.18 average) and 1 TD.

Rookie Leodis McKelvin will most likely step into the punt returners role which he excelled in  during his college career.  Second string RB Fred Jackson or slot WR Josh Reed could also return punts as all three did so in pratice today.  It will not be known until game day which player will be taking over his duties.

Rookie WR James Hardy and Justin Jenkins are the two players who will step into Parrish’s slot role.  Steven Johnson is a long shot to take over the job.  Jenkins has not caught any passes so far this season, while Hardy has 2 catches for 12 yards and a TD.

My thoughts are that McKelvin takes over the punt returner role, while Jenkins gets most of the playing time from the slot.  Hardy will be used a lot more inside the 50 though, and especially in the redzone where he is a huge target with his large frame. 

 

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Hello Bills fans.  Yesterdays game did not start out the way I thought it would.  Im sure most would agree with that statement.  Although I didnt think we would blow out the Raiders, I did think we would win by at least 10 points.  I wanted to comment on how Trent Edwards is developing.  I know it has only been three games this season but Trent is turning into Captain Cool when the game is on the line.  He had such great poise and leadership in the 4th quarter yesterday.  He reminded me of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.  You could see the look in his eye that he knew we would win the game.  Trent had a tough time in the first three quarters.  The Raiders were constantly blitzing and the Bills o-line could not protect Trent long enough.  There were also a lot of dropped passes and dumb penalties that killed drives.  Once the 4th quarter came, the switch went on and we started to move the ball at will.  Marshawn Lynch also had a monster 4th quarter getting first downs when it looked like he was going to be stopped for a loss.  Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and Lee Evans stepped up and ran great routes.  Reed probably had the best game because most of his catches went for first downs and big moments of the game.  If this team continues to play with heart and have the never say die attitude, this will be a special season.  Go Trent.  Go Bills. 

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The countdown to kickoff has begun.  Only 4 days away until the Bills return to the Ralph to take on the Oakland Raiders.  Similar to last week, instead of breaking down a match up today I invited another guest to the site.  Matt Loede joins the website today.  He is the senior editor at billsgab.com and nflgridirongab.com.  NFLGridrongab.com brings together all of the teams in the NFL.  It is a great site to go to for opinions and news on any NFL team.  Matt has been covering the sports world for over 13 years and this week he is heading to Blog World 2008 this weekend in Las Vegas.  He was gracious enough to stop by and chat a little bit about the Buffalo Bills and the entire NFL (NOTE: Just like last time, my questions are in bold while Matt’s answers are in normal font).  

What are your thoughts on the Bills through their first 2 games?  They beat the Seahawks badly, 34-10 and they came through when they had to against the Jaguars 20-16.  That is two wins against playoff teams from last year.  Sure both of these teams have injuries, but they looked pretty good in both of them.  This is the first time since 2003 that the Bills have started 2-0 to begin a season.

I think the Bills have looked solid through two weeks.  The one thing that has impressed me is the maturity of Trent Edwards, as well as the ability of the defense to make stops when they need to.  Edwards and the offense really came through Sunday when the team was trailing and had two great drives to take the game back over.  Injuries or not, many felt Seattle and Jacksonville would be, and could still be playoff teams.

How do you like the Bills offense through the first 2 games?  It is similar to a west coast offense with some different formations.  It let’s the young QB Trent Edwards make quick decisions and they air it out when the defense starts cheating up.  Not to mention Edwards spreads the ball all over the place.  Everyone gets involved, something as Bills fans we haven’t seen in a while.  Plus they have Lynch that they can ride all day too if needed.

As I said above, Edwards and the offense has looked very good.  Turk Schonert has done a very good job in two games as the new offensive coordinator in putting Edwards and the offense in a position to succeed, and Trent has taken advantage of it.  Marshawn and the running game has been good, and credit also has to be given to the O-line for doing a good job up front.

How do you see the AFC East playing out?  The Patriots looked pretty much like the same team (just less scoring) and the New York Jets looked pretty bad.  The Bills and the Pats are both 2-0 so far this season.  Do you give the Bills a shot?

The Bills have a shot, but injuries and how other teams shape up will determine just how much of a shot Buffalo has come playoff time.  The big difference is they started slow last year and caught their stride midway through the season.  This year they have already started fast, and now need to not have a letdown, as the Pats will not be going away easily as we saw last week vs. the Jets.

What are your “surprises” so far this year?  A lot has caught me off guard so far.

• Titans at 2-0, I’m surprised with.  I didn’t see that team doing anything this year. 
• Colts at 1-1!  What surprises me with that is Peyton Manning doesn’t look like himself (except for the one throw to Wayne ). 
• Broncos at 2-0.   I thought Denver would be fighting for a wild card spot not leading the division (although some calls by refs in your favor help).
• Chargers at 0-2!  Chargers get beat by last second plays two weeks in a row but their defense does not look right to me (and Shawn Merrian is out for the year).
• Vikings 0-2!  Vikings were supposed to be going to the Superbowl according to some experts.
• Jags 0-2.  Jags went 11-5 last year, although they do have some injuries.    

There has been plenty of surprises to go around, some good, and of course some bad.

For the Good - the Bills have to be high on the list, along with the Carolina Panthers, who look like they are going to contend with the Saints for the NFC South Title.  Pittsburgh looks for real in the AFC, and Jay Cutler and the Broncos look like a team that is going to give a lot of teams issues.

On the Bad side - The Browns and Vikings have to top the list.  These two teams were the “sexy” picks by many to get deep in the playoffs, and now they are both having to fight just to not find themselves 0-3 after Sunday.  The Chargers have had a tough start, and the Colts may be 1-1, but they look like they have aged a bit.  Seattle and the Jaguars look like two teams that are going to never be able to overcome already the injuries they have encountered.

While we are on the entire NFL, I have to ask this question early in the season. What are your predictions for the rest of the season (division leaders, playoff teams, Superbowl champs, etc.)?  Sorry if you have gotten sick of this one.

Division Champs:
AFC - New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Denver
NFC - Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, Arizona
Wild Cards - AFC: Tennessee, San Diego NFC: NY Giants, Philadelphia
Super Bowl: Dallas vs. Pittsburgh - Dallas 24-20

Back to the Bills now.  What are your keys to the game for them to beat the Raiders?  The #1 on my list is to stop the run.

Stopping the run is by far and away the most important.  This team ran for 300 yards last week, so yes, that is the biggest key.  On offense, they can’t make mistakes to think the Raiders can sneak out a win in Buffalo.  Take the lead early, pressure Russell and force him to have to win the game

How about them rookies?!?  We say both of them play roles in todays game.  2^nd rounder James Hardy caught the go ahead touchdown pass and even 1^st round pick Leodis McKelvin got into the game a little bit with two returns.  What role do you see the two of them playing the rest of the season?  I don’t see McKelvin beating out Jabri Greer anytime soon for the starting spot.  

I see Hardy and McKelvin playing the roles they have already played, which is to get in the games at various points, but also for Dick Jauron and the staff not to force them into situations to fail.  I like that neither have had to play a lot, but when they have played they have been able to be successful.

A big part of the Bills offense is Lee Evans.  Do you think he gets a contract extension and stays with the Bills for the foreseeable future?

Edwards and Evans finally seem on the same page, which concerned me entering the season.  Yes, I see Evans and the team getting together on a deal that will pay him like the #1 WR that he is quickly showing he can be week in and week out.

How about another WR?  Every year we hear how the Bills are going to get the ball into Roscoe Parrish’s hands.  Do you think this will come true this year?

Right now Parrish is still a mystery as to how much he’ll be used.  He only has four catches in two games, and Edwards seems more comfortable with Evans and Robert Royal.  Parrish will at some point get a shot to make a play, but those may be few and far between.

Where did Aston Youboty come from?  I didn’t even have this guy making the roster before preseason. 

Just goes to show that some players that are not great in preseaosn and practice can show up when the lights are brightest.  That’s the case with Ashton, who seems to have relished his role with the team, with 11 tackles and a sack in two games.  For now, he’s been a welcome surprise.

Prediction time.  What is the score for the game between the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills?

I think the Bills will win, I say 24-13.  They can’t take the Raiders lightly, as this is a team that lost 41-13 two weeks ago only to come out
and physically dominate the Chiefs in a place they rarely win.  Look for the defense to have its moments, and for Edwards and Evans to make a few big plays to secure the win.

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The Buffalo Bills game is of course Sunday at 1:00 (eastern) against the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The next match up that I am going to take a look at is the two teams special teams which will have a huge impact on the game.  The match up is broken down into 3 categories, Punting (punters and punt coverage), Kicking (Place kickers and Kickoff Coverage) and Return Game.

PUNTING

BILLS:

The Bills have one of the best punters in the game with Brain Moorman.  He got a ton of work in the first game of the year.  Punted the ball 9 times for a 46.6 average per punt.  Moorman also had a 19 yard TD pass for a perfect QB rating and he also put the ball inside the 20 3 times.  He really helped the Bills pin the opponent deep in their own territory.  The Bills did struggle a little bit on their punt coverage though.  They let up an average of 13.5 yards on 4 returns.  They didn’t let anyone get a huge return, although there was one punt return that went for 21 yards.  A better job on coverage would really help out the field position battle.    

JAGUARS

Seahawks punter Adam Podlesh was able to put 4 punts inside the 20, despite only averaging a 37.0 average on 6 punts.  He also had one touchback.  The Jaguars coverage team was very well and they will have to continue that this week against one of the most dangerous return men in the league, Roscoe Parrish.  They did do a good job against the Titans.  They averaged letting up 7.5 yards a return (with a long being of 8).  Those kinds of numbers will have to continue if they want to keep the Bills out of end zone on special teams.

KICKING

BILLS

Rian Lindell went 2/3 in field goals so far this season.  One of them was blocked though, something that cannot happen in close games.  The Bills last opponent, Seattle, had a pretty respectable average of 26.5 yards on 4 returns with a long of 39.  The Bills are set in the field goal department but again need to improve their coverage team.

 JAGUARS

Josh Scobee went 1 for 2 on his field goals in their game vs. the Titans.  The Jags kick coverage team was very good in the two times they got on the field, holding Chris Carr (of the Titans of course) to a 16.5 average with a long of 21.  Very nice job there and that will need to continue this week. 

RETURN GAME

BILLS

The Bills are loaded with return men.  The starter on kickoffs is cornerback Terrence McGee while the punts are handled by speeding Roscoe Parrish.  The Bills also have an X-Factor in rookie Leodis McKelvin, their first round draft pick.  McKelvin has yet to return a kick or punt in a game.  He is very dangerous though.  He had 8 return touchdowns in college and 1 in a preseason game this year.  McGee didn’t really stand out in the last game seeing as he had 1 return that went for 27 yards.  He has big play capability though.  You have to watch out for him on every play.  Parrish of course returned a punt for a highlight reel TD last week.  The play went for 63 yards.  Parrish also had 6 returns in total that average 20.0 yards a return.  Another big play threat.  All three of these guys are very hard to contain.  

JAGUARS

The Jags return men didn’t do too bad of a job themselves.  Brain Witherspoon had 2 punt returns for that averaged 22.5 yards (long of 29).  He also had a monster game on kickoff returns.  Had 3 returns for 124 yards!  That is good for a 41.3 yards a return average.  He will need to be contained by the Bills to keep him from breaking a long one. 

 

WHO WILL WIN THIS MATCH UP:

I love the Bills special teams and most weeks I will pick them by a landslide but they might have met their match in Jacksonville.  The Bills overall kicking game is better and I like their return men more but how can you argue with the stats.  It will definitely be a battle for field position all game between these two teams.  It is more of a tossup but there is no way I’m going to call something a tie.  The Jaguars are my pick to have a better game in today’s match up.

 

Remember if you disagree with anything I said in this article, be sure to put your opintions in a comment below.  Have a good night everyone.

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