Kaspers Korner

      Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson is a owner that will give his input when he wants to.  However, he should not be the one that has final say on personel decisions.

     The Buffalo Bills have decided to go with quarterback Trent Edwards against the Baltimore Ravens.  The decision, acording to several different media outlets, was made by the Ralph Wilson.

      It is probably one of the dumbest things to have done, especially with a young impresionable team.  The decision sends a clear signal that no matter if the team is heading into the right direction the owner will make a change if he does not agree with something.

      Also, it tells that the head coach is nothing more than a lame duck, and a coporate schill.  Something that will affect the performance of the players on the field.

     Players will now be second guessing the coaches all the time.  In the game of football there is no time for second guessing only reacting.  That second guessing will get players burned.

     There already was second guessing from the team after the Dallas game.  Now, that will be apparent, especially after something goes wrong. 

     When your team starts to second guesses the head coach then there is only one thing to do. Fire the loser. 

     Great coaches are never second guessed.  Why?  Great coaches put the fear of god into those players that screw up, and get them to do what they want out of that fear.

    The other thing that they get is total control over what personel will remain with the club, and who should go.  The owner should only ahve an opinion, and never should have the final say.  That should reamin with the people that were hired to do those sort of things.

    When a owner has final say he is bound to screw up.  Afterall he does not know the ins and outs of the team.

     Well it should not surprise anybody.  Afterall he would not even give Bill Polian power over the football team, and he is arguably one of the greatest general managers of the game.

     Good going uncle Ralphie screw up the team more,

     With JP Losman now healthy the quarterback debate is on.  However, there should not even be a debate after the coaching job that the Buffalo Bills did on Monday night.

     The ESPN Monday Night Footrball pregame show pretty much sumed it all up when it comes to the struggles of the quarterback position.  Buffalo native Ron Jaworski laid the blame for JP Losman’d woes stright on the coaches. 

     Jaworski is not one to be questioned.  He has access to game day film that nobody else, except coaches would have.

     So, what are the coaches doing that is affecting the quarterback.  How could an offensive coordinator mess up so bad.

     First, the runnning game is a mess.  The scheme that they are running does not even fit the attributes of the offensive line. 

     Also, the zone blocking scheme takes a long time to develop, since the communication that it commands must be on the level of automatic brian functions, like walking and eating.

     Secondly, the play calling of offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild has been conservative, and horrendous at best.  Fairchild’s play calling has not taken the advantages of the offense, especially his superstar wide out and running back.

     Fairchild’s play calling has eliminated Lee Evans from the offense.  Evans even admitted on his weekly radio show that most teams still give him single coverage, most likely to stop the run. 

      Fairchild is lucky that it is Evans and not Eric Moulds.  Moulds would be screaming bloody murder right now, and who would blame either of them for it.  After all superstars are the ones that make plays when they are needed.     

     The last time that the Bills have even attempted a bomb was back in week one on the third down play that would have iced the game for the Bills.  If the Bills go with Edwards they might not even go for another all season

     Coaches have to be conservative with young quarterbacks, because their confidence at that point in time is fragile.  If young quarterbacks consistently lose they will start to think that they do not have what it takes to make it, and then that will become reality.

     Putting Edwards in for the rest of the season would be a horrible move.  The conservative approach of the coaches would ruin Edwards.  

     Defensive coaches now have several game films on the youngster.  At this moment coaches are now making the adjustments that are needed for them to win, and will make Edwards look ordinary.

     That would put the ball into the Bills court again, and who cna trust these coaches to do the right thing after monday night.    

     Also, where is the added responsibility that Fairchild was going to give Losman.  Not once has a quarterback even attempted to audiblize, unless it was a hot route for a blitz.

     The fact is that Losman has what it takes to get the job done.  However, these coaches do not even remotely have what it takes to put these players in position to succeed, because if they did they would have beaten the Dallas Cowboys.

     It is only four games into the season, but Buffalo Sabres Derek Roy has already four goals.  At the pace that he is on he will make the contract that he just signed this past season a bargain for the Sabres.

     Roy against the Washington Capitals scored his third and fourth goals of the season.  Roy scored 21 goals last season.  At the pace that he is in he could easily double that amount.

     The contract that the Sabres signed Roy to was mund boggling to many people at the time.  However, there was one concensus opinion, and that being that Roy’s contract will be a bargain near the end of it.

     Well it looks like that is going to happen after only one year.  With that being said will Roy be happy with the deal near the end of it.

     The question that remains is will this pace hold up all season long and into the playoffs.  Roy is now one the players that the Sabres will depend on night in and out for offensive production from, along with Thomas Vanek.

     Hopefully the pace that Roy is on will remmain throughout the season  Afterall, it would be nice to have a general manager that looks like a genius for once.    

      The National Hockey League season has just begun, and with the start of the season comes questions steming from offseason moves.  However, last nights game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Atlanta Thrashers already answered one question.

      The one question that stemmed from the offseason is the Sabres better or worst without Chris Drury and Daniel Briere.

       The answer to that one is a resounding hell yeah.  Especially, when the Sabres work as a team, and listen to head coach Lindy Ruff.

      The Sabres already posted a shutout this season with the six to nothing win over the Thrashers.  Which, over the last two seasons for the Sabres have been elusive.

      The next question that lingers is can the Sabres be this consistent with their play over the regular season. 

      Most likely the answer is yes.  After all they are now playing for Ryan Miller and his cousin Matt Schoals, who passed away just recently.

     Matt beating lukemia is a reminder to everyone that when you fight with all your might day in and out you can accomplish anything.

     To all the families who have lost loved ones over the years to cancer.  Thank You.  Your loved ones have not died in vain for they have taught us that if you want something that bad you have to fight for it.  No matter how bleak, or tiring the goal may be.

     Two people in interviews following the Dallas Cowboy’s win over the Buffalo Bills had news for fans.  One may be of the past, and one of the present, but both equally powerful.

     Thurman Thomas on his weekly radio interview, during football season, stated that players coming off the field were questioning why the coaches just did not run the ball. 

     On a third down and eight from the Cowboys 11 yard line the Bills called a pas play, which was intercepted by the Cowboys.  The interception cost them points that would have won the game most likely.

     Then later that same day Bills wide receiver Lee Evans stated that JP Losman should be the starter after teh bye week, which is against the Baltimore Ravens. 

    With Evans comments that the offenses play was down right embarassing, and the comments of players overheard by Thomas, one can conclude a mutiny will come.

    A mutiny by the players will come with Trent Edwards being named the starter, and the offense does bad.  Which there is a good possibility of both.

    The coaches are basically drooling over Trent Edwards right now with his solid performance against the Cowboys.  Which, should get him the start agianst the Baltiore Ravens.

    Coaches have tendacies to limit rookies in what they can do on the field.  The same goes for Edwards, eventhough he has displayed that he could handle anything on the field.

     You think by now that the coaches would have realized taht they need to open the offense. However, we are dealing with the Bills, and that can take a while.

     There have been many calls on fourth down that were pretty dumb by the Buffalo Bills.  However, all of those does not compare to the play call that was made on 3-8 from the Dallas Cowboy’s 11 yard line in the fourth quarter.

      Every single expert in the America that saw last nights game said that the pass that Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild called was dumb.  Not even Mike Mularkey’s call of a bootleg pass with Drew Bledsoe even compares.

      The play will forever be engrianed into Bills fans mind.  Even as the weeks, months, and years go by this game will forever be rememered.  During the game they showed a clip of Super Bowk XXV, and that made me cringe.  Now this game will make me want to puke everytime I see it.

     The unkind reality is that everytime Monday Night Football is on  the will show a clip of this game.  A reminder that anything is possible in the National Football League.

     The loss last night was one that has put the Bills fans, and soon the organization, at a crossroads.  Many fans have swore off Bills, and most likely they will not return. 

     Why will they not return, because fans are tired of not having a proven head coach.  The people of Buffalo understand that coaches put players in a position to succeed.  Secondly, the fans are sick and tired of spending money on free agents and players that do not deserve it. 

     The Bills have the bye week to prepare for the Baltimore Ravens.  The Bills betteer come out and blow the Ravens out of the water, because if they do not fans may not comeback.

     Bills owner Ralph Wilson has stated that he will spend money to get players in to win now.  Well now there is only one place you have to spend money on.  That is hiring Bill Cowher to coach the Bills.

     The Buffalo Bills suffered a monumental defeat that will live in infamy.  A defeat where blame falls on clearly on the coaching staff.

     The Bills got touchdowns from the defense and special teams.  Along with six turnovers from the defense the Bills still some how squandered the game.

     How can a team create six turnovers, and still lose.  It is plain and simple bad coaching.  Coaching that with :42 seconds left attemps a 52 yard field goal instead of punting.  Then on 3 and 2 decides to run a reverse; when everyone in the building knows that the kitchen sink is coming through the offensive line. Coaching that does not get the two main weapons on offense in Marshawn Lynch and Lee Evans the ball more. 

     Most of the blame definately falls on offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild.  Fairchild professed getting the ball in the passing game to Lynch more, but only had two catches on the night.  Also, Fairchild apparently forgot about Evans too as he only had one catch for twelve yards.

     The one glaring lack of production within the Bills is once again the offensive and defensive line.  Something that was professed to be strengths with tons of money being pumped in it.

      The defensive line had its share of money pumped into it with huge contract extensions given to defensive ends Chris Kelsay, and Aaron Schobel.  

     However, neither of them had a sack tonight.  Combined they have two and a half sacks on the season.  The leading sacker has almost three times that number.  

     The defensive line does have one stud, when healthy, in John McCargo.  McCargo was consistently penetrating the Dallas Cowboys ofensive line tonight.

     The offense has one clear problem, and that is the offensive line in the running game.  The running game is only averaging 3.8 yards a rush, and about a quarter of those yards is Lynch after first contact.

      There are two bright spots in Roscoe Parrish, and Trent Edwards.  Both have done enough to merrit starting positions.

      Clearly the Bills are not a good football team, but most of that is due to coaching.  The Bills could be 3-2 instead of 1-4, but the coaching is not good enough to get the job done.

      Bills owner Ralph Wilson has only one option fire this staff once the season is done, because the way the season is going Bills fans everywhere will hear this.  With the first pick in the draft the Buffalo Bills select….. 

     The Buffalo Sabres are now paying for the mistakes that the front office made this offseason.  Michael Peca was ready willing and able to sign back with the Sabres, and now they are paying for it.

     The one glaring area is the penalty killing unit.  With just two games played the Sabres are last in the league, and have allowed four goals.  The Anahiem Diucks have allowed nine goals, the Carolina Hurricanes have allowed five, and so have the Calgary Flames.  Only the Flames have played two games  The Ducks have played five games already, and the Hurricanes have played three.

     Everyone in Buffalo knew that the Sabres were going to have trouble with the penalty kill, but not this much.  Could one player mean that much to a unit.

     The one problem with the Sabres is that they do not have enough size with its key fowards.  The only key players on the team that do have size is Paul Gaustad, Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Ales Kotalik.  Only Gaustad is on the penalty kill.

     The Anahiem Ducks that size and realitively good speed will win over great speed.  Why is that?  The answer to tha question is that the game is played a lot in the corners, and along the boards. 

     To win those battles you either have to have good size or a great work ethic night in and out.  If you look at the Sabres that last year consistently won battles along the boards they were either Chris Drury, Vanek, or Gaustad.

     Peca was one of those guys that no matter the night he would win battles in the corners, gave everything he got, and was a leader to turn to.  Yeah Peca is starting off the year on injured reserve, but still would be better for this team than Mike Ryan. 

     Good goin Darcy and Larry.  Care to sit back and screw up this team more.  Mark my words they will do something to screw this team up.  That being most likely letting defenseman Brian Campbell to walk.

     The Buffalo Bills for the first time in over a decade will host Monday Night football.  The expectations of it being a good game is nonexistent what so ever from the national media.

     All the experts on ESPN.com and SI.com are all picking the Bills to lose to the Dallas Cowboys.  The only people that have picked the Bills to win it are people within the local media here in Buffalo.

     The fact is that most likely the opposite will happen.  There is a saying within the sports world that when everyone is picking one team usually the other team will win.

     The Cowboys are off to a fast start being 4-0 on the season.  Their toughest opponent was in week one agsint their divison rivals the New York Giants.  The last three being agsint  the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, and Saint Louis Rams are a combined 2-10.  

      The Bills could get Dallas at the right time riding high.  The offense has been the best unit so far, with quarterback Tony Romo leading the way.

      The Cowboys offense better be careful though.  The one thing that experts point to as the main weak spot is the defense.  the thing is that the defense will be getting reinforcements this week in starting linebacker Keith Ellison, and backup defensive end Anthony Hargrove. 

     The linebackers have been without starter Keith Ellison from the very start of the season.  Ellison suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason, and with fully practicing this week will be making his first start of the season.

      The defensive end position has been even more strained from the start.  The defensive ends in the preseason lost Ryan Denney to a broken foot, and Anthony Hargrove to a four game suspension of the leagues substance abuse policy.  Hargrove’s suspension is over, and will give the ends, along with the defense, a jolt of enthusiasim

      There are only three defensive starters on the injured reserve list.  Them bieng Ko Simpson, Jason Webster, and Paul Puszluzny.  Simpson and Pos being out will hurt the Bills a little, but the Webster injury is a blessing in disguised. 

      The injuries will allow the Bills to take a look at others at starters on the NFL level.  One already might be working out as Jabari Greer was NFL defensive player of the week last week.  Simpsons replacement Jim Leonard has been adequate so far, but is outthis week with an injury.  Also, the injury to Puszluzny will allow the Bills to look at Coy Wire at a starting linebacker position.

      Offensively on the injury to be a blessing front.  Wide reveiver Peerless Price was placed on injured reserve, due in part of having to have neck surgery to repair a disk that was injured over time.  Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish will at least see more time in the slot position, and could be the starting wideout.  Parrish is a threat just being on the field with his speed, and everyone in Buffalo agrees that the Bills need to look at him as the starter, due in part to his talents.

     So, Cowboys fans do notlook past Bills, because under estimating their them can bite you in the ass just like the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets did.

     The Buffalo Bills have some good news on the injury front for a change.  That being starting linebacker is a head of schedule recovering from his injury, and will play this monday night.

     Keith Ellison was expected to return after the bye week. along with several others.  The thing is about the injury is that it has been mostly on the defensive side.  Which, means that the returning players will mostly be defensive players.    

     The return of Keith Elllison is a breath of fresh air for everyone.  Footaball is a brutal, somtimes punishing, game taht can leave you at a disadvantage.  They still may be at a disadvantage with all the injuries, but that is getting smaller.

     Who knows how much of an impact Ellison will have on the game.  There is one thing for sure nerves will be running rampant, but hopefully nobody will get injured this week.