Opinion
Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
by Kurupt on Oct 17, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
in Opinion
18 comments
The Buffalo Bills sit at 1-4 as they head to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets this Sunday. If they have any plans of even contending for a playoff berth the final two months of the season, this is an absolute must win. We all know that it'll take more than a miracle for this season to turn around, but this is a game that the Bills can win if they come ready to play. The Jets are coming off back-to-back losses to the Saints and Dolphins, the latter running all over them last Monday night. If the Bills can channel some of that Miami success against the Jets this week, we could be in for a surprise, at least in the sense that they can compete with the Jets. Check out the following keys to a Bills victory:
Don't get abused along the Offensive Line: The Bills will be starting rookie Jamon Meredith, who was added off of the Packers' practice squad a few weeks ago, at right tackle this weekend. That's not exactly a recipe for success against an aggressive, complicated scheme that we'll see Rex Ryan's defense running. Look for the Bills to give as much help to Meredith as they can, and look for the Jets to really bring the heat against him. The Bills have to find a way to stabilize that side of the line this week. It doesn't get any easier for the interior of the OL with Kris Jenkins anchoring the Jets defensive line. Last season, the Bills, with Duke Preston at Center, did a nice job against Jenkins in the second meeting, rushing for 187 yards. It'll be imperative to open some holes early and pick up yardage on the ground if the Bills are to play well enough offensively to win. Demetrius Bell and Meredith will need to play extraordinarily with help from the TE's and RB's, and give Trent Edwards some time to throw.
18 comments | 0 recs |
How the dream of a Buffalo GM could become reality
by Brian Galliford on Oct 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
in Opinion
110 comments
Writing about the Buffalo Bills right now in a unique, non-redundant fashion is borderline impossible. News sources, blogs and fan sites everywhere have the Dick Jauron firing watch well in hand - even though I maintain that waiting on tenterhooks for that to happen will just lead to an increase in your frustration levels. The problems with the 1-4 Bills themselves are also well-documented, and don't change from week to week (i.e. quarterback, offensive line, run defense, special teams, penalties).
In short, talking about anything to do with the current Bills - Jauron, the front office, the team - is rather boring and repetitive. Those types of conversations don't interest me. Since the Bills clearly need fixing, however, it's quite interesting indeed to mull over the ways in which owner Ralph Wilson might do said fixing. That's what I'm going to do after the jump - that's a fair warning to those of you who'd rather not think about the future just yet. Another fair warning: this is going to be long.
And now, the nut graph: I've been told countless times by countless numbers of Bills fans that Ralph Wilson won't hire a GM. I'm going to attempt to explain to you, in my usual long-winded and convoluted way, why I don't think that's necessarily true.
110 comments | 14 recs |
Conversation: 'Beast Mode' is back, but what role awaits?
by jri111 on Oct 1, 2009 10:30 AM EDT
in Opinion
84 comments
jri111: Marshawn Lynch has missed the first three games of the 2009 season thanks to a suspension handed down by Commissioner Roger Goodell this past off-season. The suspension is now over, and Lynch returns just in time to help the struggling Buffalo Bills (1-2) this Sunday against their hated division rivals, the Miami Dolphins. Although Lynch may now be eligible, his old position hasn't just been sitting around waiting for his return. In 2008, Lynch led the team in carries (250), yards (1,036) and touchdowns (8), serving as the team's primary back. In contrast, Lynch's backup, Fred Jackson, had all of 130 carries in 2008. But this is 2009, and Freddie Jackson has been one of Buffalo's top playmakers in the first three games of this young season. Jackson is fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (291), is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and leads the team in receptions (15). As Buffalo's primary back, Jackson has forced defenses to account for him. It is clear that Buffalo's success this season will have a lot to do with Jackson's ability to play at a consistently high level. With Jackson's success, what does that mean for Lynch when he returns to the playing field on Sunday? Will he now play second fiddle to his former backup?
poz: It is necessary to start by acknowledging how difficult it is to send a player who has played as well as Fred Jackson to the bench after such a stellar three weeks of action. Nonetheless, for all the stats you pointed out on Jackson's behalf, its just as difficult to keep a guy like Marshawn Lynch off the field after his two-year performance. Never playing a full 16-game slate, Lynch has still produced at least 1,036 yards in each of the two seasons of his young career, given the team 16 scores, and has only fumbled the rock twice and lost one in each of his two first years. By contrast, Jackson has already fumbled twice and lost a fumble in just three games! Let's also remember that Jackson, for all his numbers, has yet to score a ground touchdown in three games. This is not to put down Jackson; I have a signed picture of him in my house. Rather it's a reminder of how important Marshawn is to this team - he can also break out the big one on a far more frequent basis than Fred, and given our Jekyll and Hyde passing attack, that is crucial. In my opinion, Marshawn should get fewer carries this week, but by the Browns game, it's time for an even 50/50 split. From there, you have to remember one more essential stat to this discussion: Marshawn is only 23 and while Fred's lack of wear and tear makes him a young and fresh 28, he will nonetheless be 30 in two years. Do you risk isolating Lynch by not giving him more carries than Fred?
84 comments | 2 recs |
Why Bills/Dolphins is the NFL's biggest rivalry
by sireric on Sep 30, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
in Opinion
130 comments
I don't care what anybody says. THE biggest NFL rivalry is between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. Over the past decade or so it has cooled a bit; the emergence of the Patriots as a perennial powerhouse has caused some fans from both sides to direct some venom the Patriots' way. And the Brett Favre love-fest of last years New York Jets team, combined with the arrival of new head coach Rex Ryan and his rather large midsection (and even bigger mouth), has swayed some voters that way as well. But the Bills and Dolphins share so much natural hatred it really isn't a contest. There is a long history between these two franchises, which combined with their natural differences makes it THE rivalry to behold in professional football.
130 comments | 1 recs |
Keys to Victory: Bills vs Saints
by Kurupt on Sep 26, 2009 8:45 AM EDT
in Opinion
39 comments
The Buffalo Bills face the New Orleans Saints this week in what could be their most challenging non-divisional game of the season. Coming off a decisive victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bills will be trying to shut down the league's number one offense, led by Drew Brees. It will be a difficult challenge, and one we all hope Perry Fewell and the Bills' defense is up for.
This is a very winnable game - one that would surprise the entire country based on how well the Saints have played thus far. The Bills don't have to be perfect, but they do need to execute and avoid critical errors. How will the Bills beat the Saints? Check out my keys to a Bills victory after the jump.
39 comments | 0 recs |
Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 3 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em
by Kurupt on Sep 25, 2009 8:30 AM EDT
in Opinion
50 comments
Welcome back to Fantasy Football Friday here at Buffalo Rumblings. We're quickly nearing the end of September and the time when most fantasy squads begin proving whether they are contenders or not. It's about the time when we start learning whether all those pre-season fantasy projections and rankings were legit, or just random hopes.
The Buffalo Bills will be facing the New Orleans Saints this Sunday in a game that will be rich in fantasy starters. It's a great matchup for the Bills players who are fantasy-worthy - one of the best they'll have all season. Can they live up to our hopes for a big statistical performance and victory? Let's dive into this week's individual fantasy players of note for the Bills and Saints, and my random advice, after the jump.
50 comments | 0 recs |
Keys to Victory: Bills vs Buccaneers
by Kurupt on Sep 19, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
in Opinion
26 comments
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.
26 comments | 0 recs |
Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 2 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em
by Kurupt on Sep 18, 2009 8:30 AM EDT
in Opinion
64 comments
Welcome back to Week 2 of Fantasy Football Friday at Buffalo Rumblings. Week 1 saw a couple of Buffalo Bills put up nice fantasy performances against the Patriots, while a couple of others were total disappointments (cough, Lee Evans, cough). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Ralph this Sunday for a 4:05 tilt in the Bills' home opener. Once again, we'll be taking a look at the individual fantasy players of note and offering up some generic advice. Check out my suggestions for Bills and Buccaneers after the jump:
64 comments | 0 recs |
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