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Keys to Victory: Bills vs Buccaneers

With Monday night's heart breaker behind us, it's time to cheer for the Buffalo Bills as they make their Ralph Wilson Stadium regular season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Bills will be trying to bounce back from their 25-24 loss to the Patriots, while the Bucs are looking to rebound from the 34-21 smackdown Dallas laid on them. Both teams are searching for win number one.  After the jump are the keys to the Bills' ending that search.

Star-divide

Get after Leftwich: Byron Leftwich is from the Drew Bledsoe school of quarterbacks: big, strong, huge arm, totally immobile.  With a slow windup as part of his throwing motion, getting to Leftwich will completely alter his throws, which will hopefully lead to some turnovers.  His inaccuracy will be apparent if his timing is thrown off by a good rush. The defense cannot let him sit back there and try to pick us apart.  Tampa does have a solid offensive line, so getting to Leftwich might be easier said than done. I'd like to see more blitzing this week, especially more creative blitzes designed to actually, you know, get to the quarterback.  Unlike last week, the Bucs don't have the same caliber receiving options for the Bills' defense to worry about.  It's a good opportunity to go extra hard after the quarterback.

Force Leftwich to beat us: I don't know about many of you, but I'd feel much more comfortable with Leftwich and a mediocre group of receivers trying to beat us than I would if they were handing it to their solid trio of backs.  With Cadillac Williams looking healthy, Derrick Ward providing a quality all-around threat and Earnest Graham as a tough short-yardage option, shutting the Tampa run game down will be priority number one.  With starting center Jeff Faine out with a triceps injury, Kyle Williams' and Marcus Stroud's job will be a little easier.

Start strong: There's nothing worse than coming out flat in your home opener. Many Bills fans want this game to be a blowout.  If that is to occur, a fast start would be welcome.  Like the Bills, Tampa is built to play with a lead.  If the Bills can get up early, that increasees the need for Leftwich to make plays, which should play right into what the Bills want to do.  A strong start also keeps the fans into it and fired up.

Get Evans and Owens the ball: One of the league's best receiving duos combined for just 5 receptions and 71 yards against the Patriots.  For the money these guys are earning, that just doesn't cut it.  The Patriots effectively doubled both of them throughout the game, but offensive coordinator needs to find ways to get them the ball.  Owens is one of the best receivers in the league going over the middle, catching the underneath passes and turning them into big plays; Alex Van Pelt needs to make sure this offense incorporates more of those passes this week (and the rest of the season).  If the offense is able to get T.O. going, there could be more opportunities for Evans deep.  With Tampa's inexperienced defensive backfield, outside of Ronde Barber, there will be opportunities for Trent Edwards to challenge the likes of Sabby Piscitelli and Elbert Mack. Tanard Jackson missing the game due to suspension is also a big plus for the Bills' offense.  It's time to get Owens and Evans more involved; you don't pay these guys big contracts to be decoys.

Continue using plays that work: It sounds so simple, but the Bills really need to continue working screen passes and outside runs into their game plan.  I expect they will.  With an offensive line proving to be athletic enough to move around and lead block for Fred Jackson on the outside, these plays are already looking like strong points in our offense.  Why fix something that's not broke?

Show a sense of urgency: One thing this team never seems to show us is a sense of urgency.  Well, even though it's only Week 2, they need to pick up a win here.  A loss means a two-game deficit in the AFC East already and a blown chance at picking up a victory in a game they should win.  Dick Jauron has to have them ready to play and ready to take it to a team that quite frankly isn't as talented.

Make Special Teams special again: We all know that the Bills' special teams really struggled last week.  Brian Moorman had a 37.5 net punting average, which was impacted by a couple of shanks.  The Patriots averaged nearly 30 yards per kick return, while the Bills averaged less than 25.  Leodis McKelvin fumbled, apparently.  It just wasn't a good performance for Bobby April's units.  But Tampa Bay didn't exactly have a good performance against Dallas, either. They had mediocre return and coverage units, and also allowed a blocked FG. Mike Nugent missed his only other FG attempt, finishing 0/2 on the day.  The two teams ranked No. 27 and No. 28 in Special Teams DVOA last week. For the Bills, that's a major disappointment.  Improvements across the board would really give them an edge this week, something this team should be counting on.  I fully expect McKelvin to make amends for his mistake last week quite soon.

***

This week's keys to victory seem pretty simple... slow the Tampa run game, force Leftwich to win the game, get the receivers involved and play confident, strong football.  That's always easier said than done, however.  Feel free to add your keys to victory in the comments section. Go Bills!

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Scoring more points

is a definate key to victory in this game.

"Next time I get the opportunity I am going to hold on and make a better decision." ~ Leodis McKelvin. (Can't ask for anythitng more than that)

by NolaBillsFan on Sep 19, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions  

I’d like to see more blitzing this week, especially more creative blitzes designed to actually, you know, get to the quarterback

You’ve been making this point for awhile now, and I agree with it. Just sending an extra LB up the middle hardly does much. I’d like to see more blitzing from the CBs or even the safeties.

Jauron has to have them ready to play

I think he usually has them prepared kinda/sorta good. It’s once they get on the field they turn into meh. I wonder how the short week will affect the preparation.

Bills’ special teams really struggled last week.

Really doubt this happens two weeks in a row.

Any guesses on the inactives?

by krytime on Sep 19, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions  

My guess

Poz, Lankster, Chambers, Jenkins, Ellis, Steve Johnson (ugh!), Wendling/Palmer

McCargo might get it too

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 19, 2009 9:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

I just posted mine for the week in a Fanpost.

Poz, Lankster, Chambers, Jenkins, Ellis, Johnson, McCargo are my guesses. Palmer is active as the 7th LB replacing Poz IMO.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Ignoring the grumblings on Rumblings.

by MattRichWarren on Sep 19, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Kill me if i say this

Blitzes aren’t going to work that well against the buc O-Line. You have to force lefty to throw touch passes- which he lacks at and force him to set up screens (again requires touch). Cover Michael Clayton- If he catches it- he is not letting go of the ball. Pair AB with a fast defender and dont let Caddy get any open running lanes.

WHOO, LUKE! LUKE! LUKE!
ALSO! NOW THE HEAD OF THE PUFFY-ROD BANDWAGON.

by 4QB on Sep 19, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions  

You really think Bryant will play, considering he’s listed as doubtful?

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Sep 19, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

He is NOT going to play… Having said that, Clayton looks like he has returned to his form (at least in game one), so we have to keep an eye on him.

"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards

by Jason from OH-IO on Sep 19, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’d think corner blitzes would be a more successful option against the Bucs than against the Pats. I just wish Corner were as good at those as Youboty. I wish Youboty could stay healthy and regain his nickel spot.

Wouldn't it be ironic if this team imploded and it had nothing to do with TO?

by thefourwinds on Sep 19, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

florence should be starting and he’s a very sure tackler in the slot. Not sure on blitzes though…

Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.

by NeverendingOptimism on Sep 19, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

We need to get Youbuty back out on the field and blitzing

Last year he made some nice plays on the blitz before he got hurt.

As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Fewell, common sense says to play UP on the line against the slant.

by WABillsfan on Sep 19, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

Very solid post by you kurupt, and I generally with the majority of what you point out as keys to winning the game. I believe we ought to blitz a ton this Sunday against – as you correctly pointed out – an immobile Leftwich and an O-line that is missing its arguably best and most important player in their pivot man, Jeff Faine.

by BillsfanfromDenmark on Sep 19, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions  

K, Agree with everything, but there is a priority list #1 being:

Continue using plays that work

That being said, it is not critical to:

Get Evans and Owens the ball

I think Monday nigth, made it crystal clear. If the Bucs decide to play a similar defense, we can (and should) dink and dunk it down the field. I feel that was the primary reason we were kept in the game.

The attage if it ain’t broken should be plastered everywhere. There is no need to change plays that are working, on the contrary… But there should be a sense of urgency to change things that are not.

"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards

by Jason from OH-IO on Sep 19, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions  

new invension

“definate” ?..“attage” ? yuz guys definately kneed to uz new invension…spel chek

by fansince60 on Sep 19, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions  

My lack of spelling ability can be directly related to the invention of spell check. Us 30-somethings and younger have become so reliant on spell check we see no need to learn how to spell, this is similar to utilizing calculators. It amazes me how many people will grab their calculators when they have to just add two numbers (o.k., I include myself in that group).

It is simply amazing!

"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards

by Jason from OH-IO on Sep 19, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yep, you know what? If you’re looking for proper spelling, you should probably avoid the Internet. :)

Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Sep 19, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

I totally agree about the blitzing. The Bills blitz plenty often, the only problem is that a mediocre pass rush doesn’t get mch better when you only add one more guy to the mix. I’d be happy if the Bills didn’t blitz often at all (maybe 15% of the time?), but when they did they blitzed multiple players, tested Sean Mahan up the gut or overloaded one side of the OL.

by kaisertown on Sep 19, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions  

can’t wait for sunday

by chaucer on Sep 19, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions  

Your list is dead on what I was thinking we need to do in order to get a win

As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Fewell, common sense says to play UP on the line against the slant.

by WABillsfan on Sep 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions  

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