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Buffalo Sports
I just finished reading a magnificent book titled, “Rockin the Rockpile” by Jeffrey Miller. It depicted, in over 570 pages, the rise of the Buffalo Bills covering the decade of the 60s. I strongly recommend reading this book.
Why? Because you will find out how great a coach Lou Saban was as he led the Buffalo Bills. He was a motivator; designer; communicator. In short, he was a COACH. There is no doubt in my mind that those Bills of the American Football League would have over-powered this 2009 underpowered Buffalo Bills.
After the Bills lost another one Saturday night to the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0, in a second straight embarrassing fashion, I could only hope and pray that the next coach of the Bills will bring back the glory of Lou Saban – especially the two championship teams of 1964 and 1965.
It will be interesting to hear the fans arguing as to who should be the first to go – Dick Jauron or Turk Schonert. And how long will it be before fans will scream for Fitzpatrick to take the helm at quarterback. Or, how long will it be before the fans start screaming at Jauron to order Schonert to let Edwards call his own plays. After all, after the Green Bay debacle, Edwards said that he was “running the plays the coaches called.” Was there a between-the-lines meaning there?
The only way I can envision Dick Jauron and his offensive coordinator Turk Schonert staying for the full season is that once Buffalo, again, fails to make the playoffs and finishes in a dismal position – the front office will seize on the opportunity to generate ticket sales for 2010-2011 by firing Jauron and his staff (except for Bobby April.) They will then have to bring in a coach in the types of Bill Cowher or John Gruden. This will prompt the ticket buyers to go to the turnstiles.
Now to the Pittsburgh game. If getting shutout wasn’t enough, having a chip shot field goal blocked late in the game, shows how inept the Bills performed.
If there was anything that would convince everyone that offensive coordinator turk Schonert should be replaced, it was evident in this game – as awful an offensive performance as it gets. Oh, they’ll say that the players must execute but that doesn’t cut it with fans that remember Ted Marchibroda.
The defense was on the field for over 21 minutes in the opening half. Until very late in the 4th quarter – the Bills had a total of 4 first downs in the game. The other four first downs cam against second and third stringers very late in the game. That’s a total of 8.
As for the development of Trent Edwards? That, too, was as awful as it gets in the first half. His string of not getting the ball into the end zone reached 14 quarters. The 3rd and quarter failures make it 4 games – 16 quarters – that the starting offense has not been able to get into the end zone. How inept was Edwards? He was 4 of 10 for a paltry 27 yards and as brutal as interception as one can see that was returned for a touchdown after Pitt took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Compare that to Ben Roethilisberger who shredded the Bills for 168 yards on a 15 of 19 performance passing the ball in only 2 quarters of play. It was no contest. The reason Big Ben kept moving the chains was that the only rush the Bills had in the first 30 minutes was the rush for the bus.
The defense was on the field a lot because Edwards & Company simply couldn’t get it done. If the Bills continue to play the way they have been in the last 6 quarters, they will get a nickname……”Three-and-out-Bills.”
Look at the time of possession in the first half – Buffalo’s defense was in the field 39 minutes 15 seconds.
The lack of a pass rush allowed the Steelers to pick the secondary apart. As for the Bills run defense – it was respectable but it was the pass that allowed Pittsburgh to put up 17 points in the second quarter to basically end the game.
And how about that offensive line in the first half? 7 rushes for only 28 yards. Moving the chains? Forget it.
The announcers complained about the Bills poor field position. But hold on – Big Ben began a drive on his own 13 and took them all the way in 13 plays for the 87 yards for the final 6 points of the half.
So the Bills got good field position at the 32 to open the second half and – yep – three and out as the offensive line couldn’t hold back the pass rushers. That signaled the end of the day for Edwards who finished…..wow…. 6 of 13 for 31 yards to go with the one interception…….and again failing to lead to the team to a touchdown in the four games he’s started.
Roethlisberger’s day was also over as the second unit came in on the offense on the first drive of the 3rd quarter as Buffalo began to sprinkle in the reserves as well.
Everyone knows that football is a game of numbers, so here we go.
Total yards tells the story as the Steelers pounded Buffalo 340 to 135.
Standing out is the fact that the Bills were 0 for 8 on 3rd down conversions while Pittsburgh was 9 of 15. First downs favored Pitt 8 to 19. Don’t be misled by the passing that shows Buffalo was 14 of 24. As mentioned, Edwards was less than 50% on 6 of 13 for 31 yards while Fitzpatrck mopped up with 8 for 11 for 65 yards.
Pittsburgh? Big Ben and Batch went 24 for 30. Buffalo gained only 49 yards on 13 carries.
We could go on and on but anyone who saw this game certainly has to be scratching their heads wondering how in the world this team will be able to compete against the New England Patriots in two week. The television network is probably dreading the day if Buffalo continues to spiral downward.
Oh well, for those of us who can remember…..close your eyes and watch Cookie Gilchrest and Wray Carlton and Jack Kemp and Jacobs, Stratton and the rest of those guys chew up the opponents in the good old AFL days.
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