Buffalo Bills Injury Update: Good News For Demetrius Bell

by Brian Galliford on Oct 17, 2011 5:53 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey spoke with local media on Monday afternoon as the 4-2 Bills embark on their bye week. Here are the notable stories emerging from that media session, which Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 thoroughly and accurately summed up here.

Chris Hairston (ankle) will miss 2-4 weeks after yesterday's injury, but Demetrius Bell is making progress and may be available for Week 8 against Washington.
Gailey deferred to Shawne Merriman on his injury status; Merriman told reporters that he expects to play in Week 8.
No injury update on Kyle Williams, who is undergoing further tests. Torell Troup, however, is not close to 100 percent, per Gailey.
Kelvin Sheppard may not start, but he will now see the lion's share of inside linebacker reps next to Nick Barnett. He'll replace Andra Davis.
Gailey was pleased with the performance of C.J. Spiller at receiver, and indicated that Spiller could continue to serve in that capacity until Donald Jones returns from injury.

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Spiller

Glad to see he’ll be used in SOME capacity. I wouldn’t want to take snaps away from FredEx anyway.

by cappy1510 on Oct 17, 2011 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

It would be so funny if the announcer messes that one up one of these days. “Go online now at nfl.com and vote for the FredEx player of the week.”

by AP22 on Oct 18, 2011 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Mike Sims Walker

Just cut by the rams, but he is 6’2" 215 with a 4.35 40 time. Should the Bills pick him up for a deep threat?

Fitzmagic

by tomcs on Oct 17, 2011 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

also

whats up with Morrison he was a starter for Jax, i havent seen him much on defense

Fitzmagic

by tomcs on Oct 17, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

ummmm....

they signed Poz because they thought he was better. To much hype when we signed this guy, to be strictly depth…

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 17, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

he's Barnett's backup

nothing more

by Fernando brazil on Oct 17, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Davis’ backup actually….

11 years of losing has taught me just a smidge of humility. - k8

by J2 on Oct 17, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

ok

pretty much as I thought. I felt Davis was playing slow, so i am glad Sheppard has gotten more playing time. I wanted either of them to take Davis’s spot.

Fitzmagic

by tomcs on Oct 17, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

The ILB roles in a 3-4 get confused, although we don’t run a ton of 3-4 the responsibilities are actually quite easy.

The Mike or thumper (Davis, Morrison) take on blockers so that the Will (Barnett, Sheppard) can make the tackles. Ideally you’ll only see Davis or Morrison on certain run plays – but I think what happened this past game is the opponent knew Davis was on the field and immediately attacked him – which is why I think Chan made the switch but i’m still confused as to who’s going to take that role when the need for a thumper exists.

Barnett and Sheppard as your LBs in a nickel makes so much sense – but when we’re in a 3-4 i’m guessing Davis will be out there – which really is probably like 5 plays a game.

I’m just going to have to see how they use them and take note

11 years of losing has taught me just a smidge of humility. - k8

by J2 on Oct 17, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

The Bills

The Bills have their version of the 3-4 so screwed up it doesn’t make sense. Just don’t have the personnel for it which is why it is not working, If you have a thumper then Barnett has to cover the entire field, sideline to sideline because the Bills OLB’s are on the line of scrimmage like DE’s. Ideally both ILB’s would flow to the ball. I’ll say it again, Gailey wants to play a 3-4 but doesn’t have the personnel so they come up with these “hybrid” schemes which is nothing more than a cover for lack of personnel. I’ve been coaching football for almost 15 years and would be licking my chops to have a go at the Bills defense. I’ve also run 4-3 and 3-4’s depending on my personnel, I’ve never said I must play this defense or another, but would let my personnel dictate scheme. Frankly the Bills defensive personnel is set-up perfectly for a 4-3. If you want to run a 3-4 you must first have a great nose tackle and until you get one, forget it.

by Coach Bob on Oct 17, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe that's because they have said many times they aren't a "3-4 team"

The Bills have their version of the 3-4 so screwed up it doesn’t make sense.

Listen to Bill Belichick talk about the non-sensical classifications between 4-3 and 3-4. He’s said most NFL defenses will run both even and odd spaced fronts on occasion.

This coaching staff has said multilple times that they want to run a hybrid D. Try to shoe horn them if you like, but you will not be able to.

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Oct 18, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Mike Sims Walker

Does anyone know how old he is and how he’s been playing lately?

by atsnigduh2u on Oct 17, 2011 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Got cut from the Rams, currently one of the worst offenses in the league, with an “elite” QB. Rams had to give up a draft pick to get a better WR.

I’m guessing he is not very good.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 18, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

He had a good year with the Jaguars and was signed as a free agent by St. Louis, but he did nothing there. Would not go after him.

"Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin." - stetzwebs

by DanRoc on Oct 18, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Does this mean that spiller should be seen as a WR now? I would be interested in trading the browns for Hillis (send them a low round draft pick) in exchange. Still believe the bills need a bruiser for 3rd and short

by billsstein on Oct 17, 2011 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

More our emergemcy wr.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Oct 17, 2011 6:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Jasper???

:-)

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 17, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha yeeeeessss!!!!!

"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"

by J0ckam0 on Oct 17, 2011 8:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

3rd down Bruiser.

We have a fullback but he never gets any carries, C. Mc has to frustated by now all he does is block, there has been plenty times when we colud use the services of a hard running ( FB ) big man.

by atsnigduh2u on Oct 17, 2011 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

C-Mac looks good when he gets carries. Right now it seems like we’re barely getting by with the possessions we have but it’d be nice to see some other options at back if they can spare the carries.

by lord gloom on Oct 18, 2011 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

The Bills really need Troup to heal up and to get Kyle back.

Heard looked awful out there. No push at all in the middle of the line. Even when we got pressure around the edges (rarely), Manning could just step up in the pocket and pick his target. Some people think Kyle Williams is having a down season, but I’m of the opinion that he has been getting enough pressure up the middle to force QB mistakesconsistently. Really missed him yesterday.

by APhoenixDestiny on Oct 17, 2011 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

exactly

Hes hasnt had the numbers but i have seen many players where he manhandles the center 3-4 yards into the backfield. We clearly missed that inside push.

Fitzmagic

by tomcs on Oct 17, 2011 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Spiller

Gailey had NYG’s corners set up for a deep strike with all those hitches to Spiller. They were reacting to his breakdown faster each time. I was so hoping to see him fake the hitch and run a go. Maybe in a couple of weekends we’ll see it.

by APhoenixDestiny on Oct 17, 2011 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Shep's time

nice to see Gailey give the shot to the rookie, he’s cleary a improvment over Davis, who i like, but is not at his prime anymore.

by Fernando brazil on Oct 17, 2011 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Davis looked painfully slow out there. It’s a shame to watch a consummate pro not be at his best anymore. Time to pass the torch.

by telka on Oct 17, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Shep's gonna be a star!

by Coach Bob on Oct 17, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Love a couple things about this....

Spiller, though not having the sick moves that Stevie has off the line, could really open this offense up. Think Ahmad Rashad here folks…. College RB turned receiver…

Bell coming back… Dumped on in the off season, but has played really well since the season started. No knock on Harrison, the kid did pretty good filling in, and will be better for it down the road, But Bell is in his contract year, and We HAVE to find out if he can keep it up….

Shep… If it weren’t for the injuries during TC, I think this kid would have come out of the gate the starter, or at least splitting a lot of reps with Davis. Knock on him was speed, but folks, this kid’s got game speed that can’t be measured, and so far, better instincts than any of our current starters…

Speaking of game speed… How ‘bout Naaman??? It sort of sucks we’re so deep in the slot (or were before Roscoe went down), cause this kid is made for the slot, but has enough speed to turn a quick slant into a long gain. If we line Spiller up wide, I’m gonna love Nelson and Roosevelt lined up in the slot!!!! Ain’t a team out there that can cover those 3, and Stevie for more than 1 second regardless of how many they put in coverage…

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 17, 2011 7:56 PM EDT reply actions

agree with you on all but

convert Spiller in a wide out. He could do well here for sure, but not full time. Remenber he was good when get his reps this year.

by Fernando brazil on Oct 17, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

he has to play....

and in space, he’s at his best… there’s no greater space than split wide….

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 17, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree

If you can get open, yeah there’s space, but you start out with a DB right in your face.

Dunno if it’s the ideal place for him to line up regularly, even if he’s fast.

by lord gloom on Oct 18, 2011 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed Re: Spiller Cinga

I recall this summer there were more than a few advocating CJ seeing a lot of WR time this year. For a variety of reasons it makes more sense now. When CJ was drafted some pundits mentioned he could be a 1st rounder as a WR with his skill set and ability. I hope Chan finds out what CJ can do as a WR, so he can determine how he would like to use him in the future.

by WhatGoesAround on Oct 17, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions