Let’s start with an apology as it took a day longer than normal to get to the DVR this week. OK, on to what we can only say was a far more spirited effort than we’ve seen in recent weeks. But still not enough.
Looking for a comedy of errors that typifies the Bills’ season? Try this one on. First and 10 from the Jacksonville 38 midway through the opening quarter. Fitzpatrick is back in the shotgun with Freddy Jackson on his right and Marshawn Lynch on his left. Jonathan Scott, on his second play after getting subbed in for an injured Seth McKinney, gets pushed back while pulling right. Marshawn Lynch takes a bad angle as he comes in front of Fitzpatrick for a fake handoff and forces Jackson, who’s leaking to the left for an inside screen, to slow up and change his path.
As Jackson stumbles to avoid Lynch, he catches the leg of the pulling Scott, and both go flying to the ground.
Fitzpatrick still throws to Jackson, who’s now sitting on the ground.
Loss of one.
Those mistakes on first down force second and long, and the Jaguars send a standard four, but while Andy Levitre swivels his head from side-to-side looking for someone to block, John Henderson snakes his way to Fitzpatrick. The worst thing about Levitre’s mistake is that he’s got three rushers to his right and had help behind him left in Lynch, who finally released because he had nobody to block.
Fortunately, Fitzpatrick responds by hitting Terrell Owens on a deep in that got the Bills down to the Jags’ 15 and Buffalo tied up the contest with a field goal.
•••
We’ve been critical of the Bills’ special teams play this season, hinting that the league has started to gain ground on guru Bobby April.
But it’s tough to make chicken salad out of chicken feed (or something like that).
After the Bills tied it at 3-3, the three guys who circled Jags’ return man Brian Witherspoon were Ellis Lankster, Cary Harris and Todd Johnson. If you can rattle of their uniform numbers without a roster, consider yourself a true fan — and think about getting a hobby.
•••
It’s been tough to tell if Kyle Williams has become a solid interior defensive lineman, or if he’s simply been taking advantage of double-teams on Marcus Stroud.
We learned more this week.
With Stroud out of the lineup on Sunday, Williams finished with five tackles, including two for losses, and a huge second-quarter pop on David Garrard that forced an incomplete pass.
•••
The Bills have tried to weed out bad attitudes, but keeping Roscoe Parrish on the roster makes absolutely no sense at this point. How a veteran returner could field a punt inside his own five proves Parrish simply isn’t in it for his teammates.
It’s time to cut ties completely.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
Bills
BILLS DVR REWIND: Small errors keep killing Bills
- Bills
-
-
Spiller gets the nod as Bills starter
It took a few short months for Bills rookie running back C.J. Spiller to win the starting job and elevate expectations around town that Buffalo’s anemic offense just might have a semblance of a spark.
-
Bills sign McIntyre to two-year deal
For someone who’s bounced around the NFL for nearly a decade, fullback Corey McIntyre finally feels like he’s found a home in Buffalo after signing a two-year, $1.85 million contract extension.
-
Bills lose early lead in preseason finale
Matthew Stafford had an interception returned for a touchdown, but third-stringer Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to lift the Detroit Lions to a 28-23 win over the Buffalo Bills in their preseason finale Thursday night.
-
Secondary struggles are primary concern
In the wonderfully insightful Football Outsiders Almanac, founding editor Aaron Schatz writes that determining how the Buffalo Bills had such a strong pass defense last season “will go down as one of the great unanswered questions in recent human history.”
-
Niagara's Nelson knows Bills rookie well
Purple Eagles point guard Anthony Nelson and Bills rookie receiver Donald Jones are both from Plainfield, N.J.
-
Easley, Batten place on injured reserve
The Buffalo Bills set a franchise record last season by putting 21 players on injured reserve.
So far, they’re on pace to break that record.
-
Bills' Schouman could miss up to 6 weeks
Bills tight end Derek Schouman will be out three to six weeks with a knee injury, leaving Buffalo with only two healthy tight ends on its roster.
-
Window wide open for Roosevelt
With Felton Huggins being waived, 2010 draft pick Marcus Easley needing knee surgery and James Hardy out for at least a week, the chances of Naaman Roosevelt seeing significant playing time in tonight’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins have increased dramatically.
-
Poz resumes transition to new position
Now that he’s back on the practice field, Paul Posluszny can get back to practicing his new position.
-
Spiller gets belated birthday present — a contract
As belated birthday presents go, Buffalo Bills rookie first-round pick C.J. Spiller had no trouble waiting an extra day to get the one gift he really wanted: A signed NFL contract.
- More Bills Headlines
-
Spiller gets the nod as Bills starter
