Reactions from Bills/Pats

What a game today. The first half the Bills forced turnovers that covered a porous defense and inept defensive line. The hoodie must have found a gap we cover poorly. Ridley and and Brandon Boldin both went over 100 yards rushing and Boldin will shoot up the fantasy football transaction list for next week.

Some big problems- I watched Mario Williams give up on numerous plays. Kyle Williams chased Brady to where Williams would have been if he didn’t decide to stop for a blow. I have listened to and read a lot of criticism of Mario’s production. Honestly as long as he is eating up two blockers I consider it a job well done. Not playing to the whistle though is close to unforgivable. It was in the second quarter, when we had mo.

Speaking of Mo that Spiller fumble at the end of the half loomed large. We crumbled against New England, again. It is disappointing what ease two backs were able to go over 100 yards. It wasn’t two home run runs and a cloud of dust. It was six to ten yards. We didn’t adjust and they knew how to beat the defense. Barnett had 15 tackles, most in the Pozlusny zone (five to ten yards past the line of scrimmage. Brady abused Justin Rogers with Welker on the same pattern at least five times. How does that happen? We looked outclassed on the field against New England… again.

I was stunned at how poorly the defensive line played. They were average. There were two plays I noticed, including the touchdown to Woodhead, where they had a shot at Brady and missed him. They need to be better, much better. Our defensive success is linked to their ability to dominate. The Patriots were without Logan Mankins and they still took our line to school.

The bright spots on D? Byrd continues to look and play like a Pro Bowler, though he was injured in the game. If it is the same leg issue from the Chiefs game the Bills are without their best defensive back. Gilmore looked really good too. He had one play where he was a half second too slow for the pick, but he covered Lloyd well.

The Fitz. How does the guy who threw the pretty TD to Chandler in the corner of the end zone also throw so many ducks? He almost got Donald Jones decapitated in a short route deep in the fourth quarter.  I like the Fitz as a leader. Fitz the gunslinger is too erratic at times and the times they are a often. A sign he felt defeated in the game?  He slid in the fourth quarter on a scramble.

Both Spiller and Jackson fumbled. Freddy is usually solid. Losing Glenn and Urbik to injuries was crushing. This team folded. The glow these two running backs brought to start the game was muted by the limited usage of the running game. The injuries to the offensive line were devastating, but good teams overcome these obstacles.

Perhaps it is because I have witnessed at least three other Patriot beatings like this at the stadium in the past or that I am a naive optimist but while this game was disappointing, we are only at the quarter post of the season. The true test comes in the next few weeks. How/Do they adjust to this massive loss. We will find out what kind of team we have soon. Adversity is here and it is time to rise to the challenge. Let’s go Bills.

 

Week 4- Bills/Patriots

Last year the Bills played a near perfect game to beat the Patriots at home. It broke a 15 game losing streak to the Pats. I was witness at the stadium for more than a few beatings and was there when the Sam Adams/Lawyer Milloy led Bills beat the Patriots for the last time in a long time.  I was feeling great about the game until I woke up Friday morning with visions of pumps n go routes on Gilmore sowing doubt in my team.

I think he will be better though. He has to be as do the front four. How the Bills defense deals with Tom Brady will dictate much of the game.  The amount Freddy Jackson/C.J. Spiller can contribute is another factor. While having both would be a luxury I think Freddy is the key. If he can play 75 percent of the offensive plays at 90 percent the Bills have a chance to put up big numbers against a young Patriots defense that has been giving up yardage and points.

While the rain in the forecast already has my joints rattling I hope a steady rain falls tomorrow in Orchard Park.  This is a big game for the team. Discard the tough road haul following this game, the Bills have a chance to put the Patriots in an unfamiliar 1-3 hole.

I think Chan and has staff pull out all the stops.  It could be a sloppy game, but Buffalo prevails.
Buffalo 35 New England 27

 

Week 3- Bills/Browns

I am making a beef stew with homemade stock I brewed up yesterday.  It is a fall classic and I have high hopes the Bills will throw, er run their way to victory today.  The Browns are pitiful against the run. The Bills have excelled at running.  Chan likes to swerve sometimes in situations like this (They will never expect us to pass the first 10 plays against a porous low  ranked rushing defense!) and that is cause for concern.

The Bills have problems with games like this on the road. They have not won on the road since opening week last season versus the Chiefs. A smart road strategy is to run the ball, eat clock and keep your defense fresh while keeping the opposing fans from impacting the game. C.J. Spiller and Tashard Choice should be the main components to the offense today.

Cleveland is starting a rookie quarterback  and a rookie running back who shows flashes of being a top back in the league. They have a stud at linebacker in D’Qwell Jackson, but are very thin, beat up or suspended at most other positions.  Use the road grating offensive line to shorted and win the game.

If the Bills get up early Cleveland will have to try and pass their way back.  The defensive backfield could have a huge day.

If the Bills run the ball –  Bills 30 Browns 14

If the Bills lead with the pass- Bills 35 Browns 27

 

Ah, Fall.

That chill is back in the air. It is crisp, it is refreshing, it is calming.  I love Autumn, Fall, harvest season, whatever you want to call it.  It is combination of many things.

Football has always loomed large in the Fall, whether it was pick up games on the front lawn or park or attending Buffalo Bills games with my Dad and family.  During my high school years we started to get good. Scary good, as another Buffalo institution Rick Jeanneret has been known to say.  Thurman, Jim, Darryl, Kent, the Biscuit all being lead by Marv Levy, it was something to behold.  I was there for many of the big moments (granted the end of the season ones were in winter) and the energy of a crowd of 80,000 mostly like minded people is amazing.  It is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced.

My own families fall tradition is steeped in stews and soups.  Butternut squash, chilis, beef stews concocted with homemade stock.  They are the perfect foods to prepare for a frigid Buffalo winter. With no set schedule my wife and I alternate making them, as we both enjoy cooking.  I wield a sometimes heavy hand with the herbs, though have learned my lessons on salt, both too much and not enough.

Walks in the Fall are a favorite activity. The aforementioned crisp air is a major selling point. I love it almost right up until the freezing point.  I run warm to hot so I am often wearing a corduroy jacket that is my favorite article of clothing even when it dips to the 40s.  It is a fantastic jacket that I adore, but that is showing its age.  It is not aging with any manner of grace at all.

A fall day, a thing of beauty.

 

 

 

 

Bills/Chiefs reaction

The afterglow of a victory is always sweet, especially when it appears there were no major injuries. Jairus Byrd is in a walking boot, but x-rays were negative. Ruvell Martin… who cares, it is Ruvell Martin. Seriously, the guy is a special teams player who is always one shove away from a 15 yard penalty. If there is a Bill in combat on special teams expect it to be Martin. Perhaps that is what is expected of him, but it drives me nuts every time.

The defense as a whole had a monster game.  Nick Barnett’s goal line strip is the type of hustle play that playoff teams make.  I can’t tell you the last time I felt confident with the Bills in a goal line situation on defense, but they played strong and took away points from the Chiefs. Five sacks was wonderful and it was nice to see the one time I noticed them sending 6 on a blitz that it was effective. Much like against the Jets they were stout against the run.

The defensive backs were better, but for some reason Aaron Williams was still giving 8-10 yards in a cushion. Stephone Gilmore had some rookie mistakes, the worst of which was tying his shoe in the end zone after an incompletion. It led to a penalty.  I am sure he will be a great one, but I am dying for some growing pains to abate.

Spiller was dynamic. He has been studying well behind Freddy and it showed- explosive through holes, cutting subtly to gain an extra yard or two- he looks like the real deal.  I can’t wait for Freddy’s return and some Pistol formation.

Fitz was Fitz.  He threw some horrible short arms. Brad Smith bailed him out with a fantastic catch. He also had the great read on Stevie Johnson’s TD (Arm chair quarterback that I am, I had the same play call from section 110 row 24) and the pass to Chandler was nice.  He had a number of solid runs too.  People expect too much from Fitz I think and while more is possible he is not consistent enough.
Cleveland on Sunday…

 

Week 2- Bills/Chiefs

Last weeks game was disappointing. The offense looked bad when the Jets had the oven cranked up, the defense looked bad pretty much all day. It was not what any Bills fan was hoping for.  You would have thought it was week 8 of an 0-8 campaign to witness the hysteria in town.

Howard Simon on WGR-550 (the only sports talk radio in town and the teams new flagship station) has started a college quarterback watch.  I get it Fitz was awful.  How often do people expect Fitz to be dominant? He is my favorite quarterback since Kelly, but he is no Kelly.  A balanced attack with solid defense is the recipe for consistent success.

The Buffalo News also sees falling clouds and stars in much of their coverage. Jerry Sullivan went from they will go 10-6 to this week being a must win.  When I listened to him on the radio this week (on WGR)  I could only imagine how successful he would be in a remake of any disaster movie as the raving lunatic.

If the Bills can fix or show signs of fixing issues in the secondary and the passing game (I do make the big assumption the pass rush will correct itself) while winning I will be content.

I am walking up to what is at least the 20th season opener live in the stands in Orchard Park.  I love the feeling in the air on game day, especially this early in the season.  I will be keeping an eye on-

• Mario Williams- I am curious to see how he handles his early adversity in Buffalo.  I didn’t notice him in week 1, which is a problem.  I see a sack or two with pressure all day long out of Mario.  He will feed off the crowd.
• Defensive back play-  Wow, was it bad last week. I hope they play more bump and run or at least halve the distance they give away at the line of scrimmage.  This is a Bills defensive back issue that transcends coaching staffs- we give a big cushion.  I hate it, especially when we have two corners that stand 6 feet 200 pounds.
• The Fitz-  The Fitz needs to take two or three shots down field in the first 2 series.  The Bills have this 15 yard box that about 80 percent of our pass plays take place.  Defensive coordinators don’t have to respect the long ball.
• Run the ball-  Keep the Chiefs honest.  Their defense is peppered with first rounders including Eric Berry who went down in the season opener against the Bills last year.  He is the safety style the Bills hoped for when they drafted Donte Whitner 8th overall in 2006. Use C.J. and Tashard early and often. Perhaps even sprinkle in Corey McIntyre at HB and put Dickerson in at FB. Just make sure you run the ball.

I don’t know who does the speech in the Chiefs locker room but I hope it is Head Coach Romeo Crennel. He makes Dick Jauron seem like an emotional mess.  I am sure Mr. Crennel is amazing with the X’s and O’s (especially when extra practice film is laid at his feet) but hearing his interview this week reminded of Ben Stein.

 

Both teams need the game.  Home opener, a defense seeking redemption and the 12th man brings me to Bills 24 Chiefs 17.

 

NHL 13

One of my hobbies has always been playing games. I have played every system generation from the Atari 2600 to the current generation (XBOX 360) from the time I was a young child until now.  I remember receiving PItfall for the 2600 with my twin brother for a birthday in grammar school.  We had an inter mural basketball game that day and all I could think about was jumping over a virtual pit of quick sand, not taking jump shots- my form sucked anyway.

While there were times in the last 30 years where gaming has taken a back seat, it has always had presence. I lament some of the marathon sessions of the past, while others (admittedly few) bring a smile to my face.   One facet of gaming that has been fairly absent over the last 20 years is sports gaming with my twin brother.

Time and monetary considerations made me pause when it came time to purchase NHL 13.  My 10 month old is already vying to steal the moniker “Hoover” from me.  In my early teens I inhaled food at a pace that would suggest competitive eating was a viable future. Boy is already showing tendencies of an eating champion.

Time is the big one.  Squandering time has gone from a shrug the shoulders reaction to stomach churning for me.  Earlier this week I figured out that I had breathing room to purchase the game. The remaining quandary was time management.  When the heck am I going to play?  I will figure that out and adjust accordingly.

At the end of the day it helps bridge the gap 156 miles between my brother and I. I am sure when I lace up my virtual skates and pixalatedly smash him in the mouth the time will feel well spent.

 

Post game week one

The New York Jets rookies looked like season veterans as the Bills young players looked lost in the 48-28 pasting that took place today in New Jersey.

Sanchez was poised, Tebow tentative and the Jets offensive line neutralized the much hailed rebuilt Bills defensive line.

Fred Jackson was lost early to a knee injury and while C.J. Spiller stepped up in a big way the team needs both backs to compete this season. Spiller looked quick and started making plays even on plays that looked negative.

Leodis McKelvin is lost out there. Never accused of being a guy who scored high on the wonderlic test today it felt like shiny objects could divert his attention. He was solid as a rookie. His slide into mediocrity and beyond looks close to complete.

Stephone Gilmore had a hard day, but I believe he will learn a lot from film study this week. Fellow rookie Stephen Hill took him to the woodshed.

The Bills ended up outgaining the Jets in yardage and I can’t think of an occasion where the cliche “garbage time stat padding” was more apropos. Fitz ended up showing a decent line, but when the game was in serious contention he was awful. David Lee, we need more reps.

Mario Williams looked like Chidi Ahanotu jumped in a hot tub time machine and suited up in his place. He was invisible. The line was fairly stout against the run, though it looked like a replay of any Jets/Bills game of the last few years- pathetic pass rush.

Why was T.J. Graham a scratch? That is one of my questions. I don’t like the start of the season, but it is one game. We started like wildfire last year and ended like the Hindenberg. Perhaps this season will work the other way around.

 

Week 1 Bills vs Jets

I have been playing Madden football since it was first released.  Yes, that qualifies me as having certain nerdy tendencies, things I made peace with long ago.  Usually I would have motored past week one of the NFL season in game well before the start of the season.  That was before two kids and all of the extra things that come with having them.  Last night I sat down to play my season opener versus the Jets.

Before I delve in I should point out my team is “mostly” like the Bills team for this season. In Madden 13 you go through the preseason and cut players, molding your team.  I kept Tank Carder, who was claimed off waivers by the Browns last week.  I also traded Terrence McGee for three mid to late round draft picks.  There are a few other differences, but for the most part it is the 2012 Buffalo Bills.  Vince Young is still my back up- Tarvaris Jackson was carted off in the 2nd preseason game. I wasn’t resting easy with backup QB either way.

I took the game from the Jets 34-24. Stevie Johnson was hurt fumbling away a ball and I have to try and make my offense work without him.  All of the rest of the teams receivers do not receive much love from the programmers so Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller will be seeing a lot of time in the pistol formation.  I signed Mohammad Massaquoi to a one year deal to fluff up the receiving corps while Stevie’s broken ribs mend.  The in game Rush Limbaugh suggested I was harboring a terrorist with the signing… just kidding, but they do have a Twitter feed with a list of NFL commentators lending their names including ex-Bill Ross Tucker.

Now when it comes to the real deal at 1 PM, I have some nerves starting to roll this morning.  The Bills are on a 6  5 game losing streak to the Jets.  It pales compared to the Patriot streak broken last year, but it is still a hurdle that needs to be jumped before we can be believed to be a playoff contender.

NY looks like a mess.  That scares me. I hope the Bills don’t take too much stock in how poorly they performed in the preseason. Growing up a Marv Levy disciple I recognize how unimportant preseason can be. Just take a look at the Bills preseason record during the Super Bowl years 4-12 over that 4 year span.

Tebow was shut down last year in Buffalo when he was a member of the Broncos.  I think he is a gamer and will use what he learned this week.  The new Bills D-line may be up to the task, though it is the linebackers I am worried about.

Mark Sanchez is under duress.  It could bring out the best in him.  He never had to look over his shoulder since he was in New York, but now the Golden Child is there.  It could break him, though it could also drive him to greatness.

The Jets defense will be without starting nose tackle Sione Pouha which could blow open the Bills running game.  Rex Ryan inadvertently gave away Pouha’s status on Friday and I would be shocked to see him suited up, though he is listed as questionable.

For the Bills it will be exciting to see what they have planned.  Buffalo kept it pretty vanilla during the preseason.  If Eric Wood can stay healthy the offensive line should be nasty.  If the Bills hand it to Freddy Jackson 25 times it should be an automatic win.  I enjoy Chan Gailey as a coach, though I think he often outsmarts himself as well as the opposing coach.  The spread offense seems to work against the strengths of our defense.

Prediction- Buffalo 29 New York 17
Not quite the Arrowhead massacre of a season ago the Bills break the Jets win streak and assert that they are all in this season. Freddy Jackson has 175 total yards.

 

Jimmy Carter

The first Presidential Election I voted in I cast my vote for Jimmy Carter.  I was  at St. Paul’s School in Kenmore, New York.  He was beaten 20 something to 4 by Ronald Reagan in Ms. Schewe’s 1st grade class.He took as bad a thumping from elementary school students as he did in the general election. I can only imagine my parents were for Carter at the time. I don’t know where my support for him would come at 6 years old otherwise. Perhaps it is due to having much in common with Jimmy in regard to a world view *X-Files music* … yeah I am betting it was either rooting for the current guy or parental influence.

More often than not the mention of Mr. Carter’s Presidency is used to deride either Mr. Carter himself or the comparison to him is used to throw stones at the person being compared to Jimmy. Paul Ryan has recently done this and it makes me sad for the state of America. I can see why Mr. Ryan compared President Obama and Mr. Carter- both took over from Republicans who left a wake of recession and inflation that stagnated the country. Being like Jimmy Carter is bad?  I want to be amongst the baddest on the planet then.  Mr. Carter also had to deal with an energy crisis.

Jimmy had the gall to suggest people turn down the heat and put on a sweater.  The nerve of Carter, he also did what he suggested others do and turned down the heat at the White House. No wonder Washington couldn’t stand him- he walked his talk.

He did things Republicans like to do, like deregulate things.  He deregulated the American Beer industry allowing products to craft beer to become available for purchase to all for the first time since the 1920s.  Choke on that when you drink your craft beer on the lake aboard the Greed Machine. He also deregulated the airline industry. How much that lead to Reagan’s pounding of the air traffic controllers can be debated, though it certainly wasn’t Mr. Carter’s intent.

Most people won’t argue with the great things Jimmy accomplished post presidency. A Nobel Peace Prize, The Carter Center, ambassador and diplomat. He is truly a great man. I admire him for his courage of conviction and for being a man who lives what he teaches.  It is exceedingly rare these days, unless you count the exponential rate of Gordon Gecko behavior.

It is sad to me, yet unsurprising that Mr. Carter’s malaise speech on July 15th 1979 was received so poorly. President Carter told some hard truths that viewed years later were sadly ahead of their time on the realities our country faced then and still faces now.  It wasn’t easy to swallow then and probably is no easier to swallow now. But we should start chewing, before it chokes us all.