Lol, he is playing, and he had a servicable game with 3 catches for 31 yds but also had a nice catch over the middle for good yardage that was called back on a holding call. He looks every bit as athletic as he is supposed to be. Missed a good chunk of time in the preseason so he likely needs a little time to get rapport with EJ again. No such luck, sorry my man! lol
In addition, I will say, Robert Woods, the second year reciever and our second round pick last year, is vastly underrated. He's a gamer. Keep your eyes on that guy. So far he is EJ's go-to-guy.
They do not appear to allow me to post a link so if you go to WGR550 .com and click on the "All-22 Bills vs Bears", there is a good write up on the Bills strengths as show cased against the Bears. Written by a well respected beat writer for the Bills.
I really liked Woods coming out. Good player. You guys could be a really good team if Manuel develops.
That's the key! He took a step in the right direction, so we Bills fans hope he can be consistently as good or better. Time will tell.
Manuel seems like a really good kid. I'd root for him if he didn't play for a division rival. Sorry brah!
For me, the formula on beating the Bills is simple. We have to get out to an early lead. And when I say lead, I mean 14+ points. That forces their hand and makes EJ throw the ball more in passing situations. I don't see Miami having a field day against Buffalo's OL, like this past Sunday. This is a game where the offense must set the tone, because if it doesn't, playing the Bills when they can run the football and get stops, always leads to an L for us at Ralph Wilson. Of course small things like run the ball, stop the run, get pressure on Manuel are pertinent. However, Tannehill just needs to play well and score TDs.
Always important when you're away. Especially in the raucous enviornment the Phins are going to run into this weekend with all that has happened this week. There's going to be a lot of emotions flowing.
According to finsiders..Starks is in a boot to get the swelling down from a rolled ankle he suffered in practice. Its precautionary at this point.
Woods + Watkins looks like a great young pair of receivers. Manuel is still growing but he didn't play all that terrible last year (he played like a rookie) and other than the INT Sunday played somewhat efficiently. As well as we ran the ball Sunday they ran it even better. Last year their run defense wasn't all that great and this year Forte had no problem running. Odd fun fact of the day. Rush defense and rush offense Bills and Dolphins are next to each other for both, after the first game. Our run game needs to top theirs and we need to keep Tanny upright. This looks to be a very evenly matched game with Tanny having the edge over EJ Manuel in my opinion. It really could go either way! Hoping Tanny/Wallace hookups happen. Just 1-2 and that could be the game.
This aspect of the game should not be underestimated. Bills fans will go hog-wild, and the team itself is going to be extra pumped-up as well. Lots of emotions going on here. - The Bills were just sold to a local billionaire who ensures the team will remain in Buffalo...he won the bid. - Tribute to Ralph Wilson this week...first home game since he passed away, as well. - First home game since Jim Kelly has been diagnosed as cancer-free. He'll probably be there. - Then there is the fact that it's the home-opener, which is against a division rival to boot. - The team is coming off an emotional overtime win, and they probably generally feel disrespected from the doubt most people have expressed. At any rate, the emotional aspect in Buffalo is going to be completely over-the-top. Coaches and other personnel are playing for their jobs more than usual, I'd say. People in Western New York LOVE the Bills, and there is a hell of a lot going on this week to pump them up...from the fans, players, coaches, to the guy selling hot dogs. It's going to be a rough environment for the Phins to walk into, to say the least. The Bills should be getting back their #1 cornerback (Stephon Gilmore) who missed week 1, and a starting linebacker (Nigel Bradham) who was suspended week 1. The Bears, who the Bills beat last week, have a better offense than the Dolphins, but not as good of a defense. We'll get a clearer picture of who everyone is pretty soon, but the Phins will be hard-pressed to overcome the emotional momentum that is raging in Buffalo right now.
Dont overlook the fact that the Phins very vividly remember getting swept by the Bills last season..including one that kept us from playoffs. If you dont think Miami is going into Buffalo with hate and payback in mind..your kidding yourself. Theres gonna be some serious hittin goin on ..
I'm with ya on most of that...but I'm not sure Chicago's O is "better" than ours. Ours is different...and MUCH different than the 2013 version. We still don't fully know what this offense looks like. We have one game to go off of, but Lazor has made it abundantly clear we've got tons of stuff to use, and it will be different week-to-week. With as well as they did in week 1, I think it's fairly reasonable to expect and upward trend in their play, and could turn into a monster.
The atmosphere is gonna be hyped in buffalo, there's really only one thing that can spoil that and that is a very good offensive coordinator that understands how to take advantage of a defense frothing at the mouth, misdirection is key, gotta move Tannehill of the mark early and often. It's absolutely imperative to have success on first down..
Don't overlook that the Bills DID indeed sweep the Fish last year, though. Absolutely pounded them the second time as well. Skunked them, and it was even worse than the score indicated. With Thad Lewis at QB both times. Granted, that was last year. No more bullies or victims? The emotion is definitely on the Bills' side this week times ten, regardless of anything else. You make a valid point, but this is still true.
You're seriously assuming we'd forget we got swept by the Bills last year? Seriously? 2013 was 2013...entirely new OL, different coaches, different system, several different, fiery players. Won't be the same games as 2013.
I didn't say anything like that; in fact, I said that you make a valid point. I also said "granted, that was last year." C'mon, now. And all these new players and coaches were not involved in the sweep last year, which makes them not so personally involved in it. That would make sense, wouldn't it? Kind of like asking a first-year Bills player to remember 14 years of not making the playoffs...he wasn't there for that. This is a bigger game for the Bills than it is for the Dolphins because of all that's gone down in Buffalo in past week and recently, I'd say. The environment is going to be crazy.
Bills defense is all that we really need to worry about in my opinion. Can't wait to see Moreno take it up the middle for 7 or 8 on these sobs.
Bills play tight coverage. I expect at least 2 ints from RT. Other than that, we should steamroll. I don't expect Bills D to put pressure on RT, they were not dominant at all against the Bears. I don't expect them stop our running game at all.
I disagree. Our guys know FULL WELL how important and impacting it is to start off the season 2-0, especially those 2 being divisional games...it's pretty damn big, and they know it. If this game were in December, I'd be a lot more concerned. All that stuff you're talking about goes away in a few minutes once the game starts and people start hitting each other...unless the Bills pull off some dazzling stuff on the field early, which is certainly possible, but I wouldn't say it's probable. I definitely believe Lazor/Coyle fully realize this.
While the new owner stuff is a big deal on an emotional level, I think wanting revenge for a sweep that kept the team out of the playoffs and a winning record is equally strong, and that emotional high should last for the entirety of the game.
Buffalo is the toughest divisional opponent for this team. A win there would say a lot about their chances this year.
The 2 things I'm interested in seeing is whether they roll Tanny away from the right side of the OL where Shelley Smith is a bit of a liability in pass protection (great run blocker...but he's prone to letting up pressure) and James is facing Mario. I have a feeling Moreno will be asked to help chip for those 2 a lot. I'm also curious to see if the running game continues to be effective from the spread to help slow the Buffalo pass rush and whether we can keep the Bills to around half their Bears output.
I would not base your opinion on that fact. The bears are notoriously fast at getting the ball out quickly, in fact, Cutler was the least sacked last year for this reason. The Bills still have a very very good D line that can get to the QB and put pressure on TH constantly. It all depends on how your Oline plays.
Likewise, I think the Dolphins are going to be our toughest divisonal opponent. I think the Pats are finally on their way down and the Jests, well they're the Jests. LOL
Watching the game, I did not get the feeling Bills D generated any pressure. I also did not think Cutler got rid of the ball quickly consistently. But, even tho he stood in the pocket, Cutler did a masterful job finding his safety blanket at the last moment if he felt the D would get to him. He also made a few plays rolling out of pocket to avoid pressure, even on the int to the LB, I thought he did a good job, the D made an athletic play to tip the ball. So, I thought Cutler stood in the pocket, there were many opportunities for Bills DL to dominate but they did not. I do not expect that to change against the Phins.
I see, you're basing this on last game. Touche, the Bills got only 2 sacks, but there was pressure on Cutler a number of times, other times there was no pressure, but that's more the nature of Schwarts I think. He doesn't blitz as much as Petine, so maybe you're on to something there. The his D is built to stop the run more IMO. On the first pick from the DB Corey Graham, the pressure had gotten to him and he made an errant throw that was easily picked off. The 2nd pick ( which was in fact BIG KYLE WILLIAMS, not a LB lol) was because Cutler was forced to roll out. There was also some mix up on the WRs part apparently. Marrone is big on game planning on a game by game basis, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bills get more aggressive against a not so established QB in Tannehill. Cutler can tear you up at any time. While Tannehil has had some good games last year, he's not at Cutler's level yet. Though, not far off. We'll see on Sunday! Is it Sunday yet?
I just can't imagine wake not getting to ej, and ej not coughing it up. Wake and crew just roughed up a HOFer, our dline controlled the entire patriots game and ej is no HOFer
I wasn't thinking of blitzes. I was thinking strictly of the front 4. Maybe it was just the first game. Maybe it is Schwartz. Bills front 4 will get theirs due to great coverage in the backfield which the Bills have. I also thought the Bills were weak at the left boundary corner. There are opportunities to be exploited there. I would not be surprised if Hartline has a big day.
Last week was impressive, no denying that. However, EJ is not a statue like Tom Brady. Decidedly different in that respect. He rolled out on a few plays very well. Also, the Bills are a run first offense, as evidence by EJ's 17 for only 22 passes last week. We didn't have very much success in the early going with our run game, but with one of the heaviest Olines in the league, the Bills were able to wear down the Bears Dline and pick up some chunk plays. It will be interesting to see how they'll try and stop a beast like Wake.
The Bills didn't send 3 to the pro bowl last year for no reason. The Bills D line, IMO and a few of the national pundits (not that it really matters), is the best in the league. As far as the left corner, we have Stephon Gilmore, who was a scratch last game, back this week which should shore up the CBs. That would leave Graham as the 3rd CB, and Graham was probably the MVP of last game.
I refuse to give the Bills the title of "the best DL" in the NFL. The Phins have that. :-) As far as corners, thanks for that info. I don't doubt Bills secondary, they play really well.
Here is how the Dolphins are going to win. 1. Misdirection - People moving around, Clay, Gibson etc. Not to mention a few timely screens. 2. Ramp up blitzing. Coyle should utilize a blitzer on 90% of the plays. Send an extra man on running downs and passing. 3. Balance once again in rush to pass ratio. Dolphins 27 Bills 15
That sounds a lot like how the Bills should attack the Dolphins, save for the balance, the Bills will likely be very run heavy. The Bills utilized a lot of misdirection against the Bears. I think the Bills will blitz more often against Tannehill.