Kaspers Korner

The Buffalo Bills last remaining glimmer of hope went up in flames today as they lost to the Miami Dolphins 16-3.  The Bills season can even be summed up in one play. 

With 2:54 left remaining it was first down and three from the Miami three yard line.  The Bills lined up, and instead of throwing a fade route to wide receiver James Hardy linedup on the other side, the ball was thrown to wide receiver Lee Evans on a fade route.

Hardy was brought in for his height, so the Bills can use that as a weapon in the red zone.  The only time that was used was late in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which Hardy caught for the game winning touchdown. 

Before today, the Bills have ran the route one other time that I can recall, but quarterback Trent Edwards went somewhere else with it.  Hardy on the interception ran the same fade route, but for whatever reason it was not thrown.

Many people, including the media, will say that Hardy was not open.  However, that does not matter for the design of the play is for the wide receiver to catch the ball at its highest point, even when covered, so that they can complete the pass for touchdown by using the receivers height.

The coaching for whatever reason today used the same strategy that was used in the loss to the Dolphins earlier in the season.  The end result was the same thing a loss to the Dolphins, quarterback Chad Pennington looking like a MVP candidate, and the offense looking like crap. 

Coaching is like parenting, and if you are not strict with your players, then you are not going to get good results from your team.  I realized that after reading Phil Simms book Sunday Morning Quarterback. 

Simply, between the head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator none of them are good at coaching.  They are just simply uninspired terrible coaches that should be fired.

However, the Bills have most likely given the head coach an extension, and that means another three years of him.  At the least both coordinators should be fired after the season.

Yes, there are problems with the Bills personnel.  Defensively, they need new defensive ends that can rush the passer.  Offensively, they need to move guard Brad Butler over to center, and draft a guard.

However, with simple improvement in coaching the Bills can make the playoffs, and be an elite team in the NFL.  Afterall the Bills did not go 5-1 for no reason.  They had that record at the start of the year, because the coaching was good enough, and coaches did not adjust yet to the Bills startegy.

However, this is the National Football League, and coaching is a chess match.  Which, you must always adjust accordingly to your opponents strategy.

Unfortunately this coaching staff makes Homer Simpson look like a genius.  At least he would get rid of the dead weight in Chris Kelsay, and Ryan Denny. 

The Buffalo Bills loss today pretty much has ended their hopes for a birth in the playoffs.  The loss also confirmed that the Dick Juaron era is nothing more than a joke.

The loss is clearly on the shoulders of the coaches.  Miike Schoop questioned Sunday wether the Bills have any decent players.  The answer to that qestion is yes.

When managers forecast their sales for the upcoming week they take into account many factors.  One of them is actually the weather.

The Bills coaching staff on the other hand did not take that into account.

Any person that has played high school football understands that when it rains you have to run the ball.  Especially, when it is almost at the freezing point, and when is consistent for a long period of time.

The reason is the ball gets so slick, and it is very hard to control.  Also, when it is raining consistently you have nothing dry your hands on to get a better grip, because everything gets wet.  I know this is true, because I played center in high school, and rain is your worst enemy.

The Bills most likely have multiple dry towels in a bag, but when you are on a long drive the towel gets wet, and you cannot change it.  

The mere fact that the Bills quarterbacks threw for over two hundred yards is amazing.  Of course it would have been higher if Edwards was in there the whole game.

When the Bills coaching staff saw that it was raining they should have thrown the game plan out the window.  However, their own arrogance got in the way, and decided to still pass the ball.

Last week the win gave them so much confidence that offensive coordinator Turk Schonert thought that he could run whatever he wanted. 

The biggest example of this is on fourth down and two from the San Francisco seven.  On the play the Bills ran a crossing route, which was pointed out by announcers was open. 

However, on the replay what they failed to show was when wide receiver Lee Evans was lined up to the left of the formation the corner was off him at least five yards, and a simple audible to a wide receiver screen, or three step drop, would have got the first down, and maybe even a touchdown.

Defensively, the way defensive coordinator Perry Fewell game planned Shaun Hill was pathetic.  The last two weeks Fewell blitzed a lot, and finally last week it paid dividends in a turnovers by the Kansas City Cheifs. 

This week Fewell went back to what he did in the first three loses in the Bills huge free fall.  That being only rush four, with zone coverage.

On the positive side if there was one game the Bills could afford to lose is was this one.  The reason being that it was a NFC opponent, and had no bearing on conference tie breakers.

Also, the Bills got a lot of help from opponents.  The New York Jets lost to the Denver Broncos, and the New England Patriots lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As everyone knows the key to the season coming down the stretch is the rest of their division matchups, and not San Francisco.

So, hopefully this will be a wake up call to the coaching staff, and they will realize that they have to do what the team is good at.  Defensively, blitz people to death, and offensively run the ball, and use playaction off of it.

If the coordinators come in with the same game plan, then they should be nothing short of fired.

Unfortunately, firing Juaron means that you only got two options.  A rookie head coach that Wilson can get for cheap, or a retread.

If there is any retread out there that should be given a chance is Jim Fassel.  He been to the Superbowl, and understands that it is great quarterback play, and good play calling from your coodinators, that makes a head coach good. 

Also, head coaches have to be a jerks.  The reason comes from Phil Sims book.  When a coach is nice players will do what they wants.  So, I realized that coaching is like parenting, and you have to be strict if you want them to do what their suppose to do the first time, and in football you have to excute things the first time. 

So, with it being crunch time for the Bills expect them to crumble, unless the coordinators take their heads out of their rear, and coach better.

In the opening game last year former Buffalo Bills tightend Kevin Everett suffered a career ending injury.  They injury may have happened last year, but the ramifications of it are still being felt today.

Everett last year was the back up to starting tightend Robert Royal.  That would of meant that he would have had a significant role in the offense last year.

Last year the Bills used a lot of two tightend sets.  Which, gave both the starting, and back up tightend a lot of chances to catch balls, and they did just that as both Robert Royal and Michael Gaines had 25 receptions each last year. 

That would of mean that Everett would of had a chance to breakout, and prove that he was deserving of being made starter, and a threat in the offense. 

Thanks to the injury that never happened, and the Bills were set back several years by it.  The greatest example of this was in the Bills four game losing streak, which saw second wide receiver Josh Reed on the sidelines due to injury.

After Reed there is no real threat in the passing game.  Third wide reciever Roscoe Parrish is dangerous, but has yet to fully get down the nuiances of running routes against zone coverage.  Then after Parrish the Bills have two rookies that are not ready yet.

The Bills did draft a tightend in Derek Fine in this past April’s draft, and has shown signs of being a capable tightend.  However, it will most likely be a couple more season before he is fully effective.

In the end that is the nature of the beast in football.  You just lose players, and you have to deal with it.

The Buffalo Bills were coming into Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Cheifs needing a win.  They did that, and heck of a lot more this past Sunday.

The game was simply a blowout for two simple reasons.  First, the Cheifs turned the ball over a lot.  Secondly,  Bills quarterback Trent Edwards gained his mojo back in the game slowly, but surely.

What was the reason for Edwards comeback?  Simply the play calling of Turk Schonert.

Instead of coming out passing the Bills came out running.   Five of the first eight plays on their first drive of the game was running plays, but that is not all.

After that Schonert called plays that called for some quick decisions, and that being the five step drop timed stop play that has been a staple of their offense this year.  This was a huge confidence boost as it was on a crucial 3rd down and seven as the Cheifs were leading 14 to 10.

Obviously, the team meeting helped the game before.  Along with wide receiver Josh Reed saying to put the past behind us.  Saying things is great, but it still has to show on the field.

It was that play that reminded him that he can do it.  That all he needs to do is believe in himself, and his teammates.

Yeah, there are still questions about the offensive line, as they are still hard pressed to get yards in short yardage situations.  Also, the defensive ends plainly stink, and the worst being Chris Kelsay, who was victimized, once on a huge run play by Larry Johnson, and then on a bootleg pass on their own two, and on the very next play.

However, they have a franchise quarterback in Trent Edwards, and as long as he is going well they will always be in games.

The Kansas City Cheifs have supposively found their franchise quarterback in Tyler Thigpen.  So, what will the Bills have to do to stop the Cheifs?

Defensively, pretty much they have to stick to the same game plan.  That being stopping the run, and blitzing the heck out of the Cheifs.

What will the defense need to improve on?  That being more pressure from their defensive ends, which will likely happen when hell freezes over at this point.

Offensively, the Bills will most likely face the same game plan as last week.  Until offensive coordinator Turk Schonert figures out how to do this, then they will face Tampa Cover Two defenses all day long.

So, what they have to do is this.  First, run the living day lights out of Marshawn Lynch.  Secondly, run play action off of that to get wide receivers more space to work with.  Finally, run some frickin three step drop plays, which is what offenses been doing to our defense.

You think that would be common sense.  Especially, after Bills quarterback Trent Edwards admitted that the coverage that they have been facing is the same Tamp Two as they run.

However, this is the Bills that we are talking about.  Common sense is running so rare that a Honus Wagner baseball card looks like a common card.

The Buffal  Bills suffered a heart breaking loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Nite Football.  Many people  today, especially the media, is putting the blame squarely on the shouldes on quarterback Trent Edwards, but when at second glance it fall squarely on the shoulders of the coaches.

Many people are looking to the Bills play calling on the last possession as the ultimate reason why the Bills lost the game.  However, it was play calling that caused the turnovers in the first place.

I must say first that I am not excusing the play of Trent Edwards.  The decision he made on the pass to James Hardy was bad.   Also, he played not to cause another mistake that would cost them the game.

However, the play calling early in the game on two particular plays was horrible. 

First, the opening play of the game was just terrible.  All week long everyone in the world of football knew that the Bills had to do one thing when the game started, and that was run the ball.

Instead, offensive coordinator Turk Schonert decided on a pass. That was just plain stupidity.  At that point in the game you have not run the ball well, and the opening play is a tone setter for the rest of the game.  They needed to come out and just punch the Browns right in the face with a run.

Secondly, the third interception was a horrible play call.  What people are forgeting is that the third interception was on the third down and one, which Schonert called a play out of a Shotgun formation, with no back in the back field.

That should get Schonert fired right there.  If Schonert did have not had his head up his rear, and try to be cute like always, the Bills would have ran the ball.  Thus, Edwards would have never thrown his third interception, and would have played differently.

That was one of the worst calls I have ever seen by a Bills coordinator.  Marshawn Lynch the previous two plays ran the ball for a total of nine yards. 

Good team on third down and one do not get cute.  However, this offensive coordinator has a tendacy to do that.

Even after the third interception the play calling was horrible.  Edwards was scared, and not throwing the ball down the field.  Then, it is a coaches job to adjust, and put Edwars in a better position to succeed.

What Schonert should have done after that is run three step drops to get the wide receivers involved.  Then, when they run five step drops take out the swing pass to force Edwards to throw it down the field, and play action passes usually do just that.

Many people will also say that the Patriots are one dimensional, and people know what they are doing as well. 

However they have three key weapons in wide recievers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and tight end Ben Watson.  Eventually, one will get open, and the Bills simply do not have the skill players to do this, which Schonert does as well.

Edwards will take the blame, which he deserves for the pass to Hardy.  However, Schonert deserves just as much for in incompetent calling on third down.

The Buffalo Bills are in the midst of a three game skid that has wound them up at the bottom of the AFC East.  At this point in the season a lose to the Cleveland Browns would pretty much put them out of playoff contention.

The Bills must win no doubt about it.  The question is can they get the job done considering how their offensive, and defensive lines are playing.

The key to the game for the offense will be to control Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rodgers.  Rodgers is second on the team in tackles with 47, and leads the team in sacks, which is four.

What will happen if the Bills cannot control Rodgers? The same as the last two weeks, which is no running game, and Bills quarterback Trent Edwards being forced into turnovers.

Defensively, the Bills have to shut down the running game of the Browns.  Right now the running game is not going very well, but with quarterback Brady Quinn being the starter now they will surely rely on it to take the pressure off the kid.

In regards to the passing game they cannot let tight end Kellen Winslow get loose.  Winslow leads the team in receptions, with 36 for 362 yards receiving, and three touchdowns.

Also, the Bills must confuse Quinn, with complex schemes, and putting pressure on him.  Getting pressure on Quinn will not be easy with pro bowl guard Eric Steinbach, and tackle Joe Thomas leading the way, so defensive coordinator Perry Fewell will need to be creative.

The team that can execute its keys will win the game.

The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 20-10 to remain in first place in the AFC East.  However, they suffered another devestating injury to a starter that will result in the player missing the rest of the year.

Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomsas is lost for the year as he broke his forearm in the second quarter of the game agaisnt the Bills.  Which, makes it even more head scratching how the Bills did nothing on offense against the Patriots.

The loss of Thomas is a huge blow to the team.  The team has been rotating linebackers for the most part, but now that looks like a thing of the past.

The question now is how many more injuries can the New England Patriots suffer, and remain at the top?

That answere is not much more.  The Patriots are getting older, and fast.  Many people need to realize that the core of the Patriots are in their 30’s. 

It is the same thing that happens to every good team.  Players get older, hurt more often, and then the run is over.

Many experts think that as long as the Patriots have Brady they will always be near the top.  They will only be at the top as long as the offensive line can protect Tom Brady. 

Brady is a pocket passing quarterback, and more often than not he is going to get hurt.  Brady will be 32 next season, and with all the playoff games that Brady has played his body is not going to hold up as long as Brett Farve.

Many people will say they will be back next year.  However, I highly doubt that they will ever be the same.

The Buffalo Bills loss to the New England Patriots revealed some huge problems.  No other bigger than the problems they have on their defensive line, offensive line, and coaching.

Many Bills fans will be looking to blame quarterback Trent Edwards for the loss.  However, it is not his fault, becuase when you do not have a running game all teams are going to do is make you pass all the time.  Which will eventually lead to mistakes.

Free agents that have been signed to fill big hole more often dissapoint, as it has been pointed out by ESPN’s Hall of Fame writer John Clayton.  The Bills did that with their offensive line, and now they are paying.

Simply, the Bills offensive line stink worst than a jock strap that has not been washed for a month.  They couldn’t even run block a old lady if their life depended on it. 

Their defensive line does not fare any better.  Ryan Denny, and fellow starting defensive end Chris Kelsay, are the two most sorry excuses for defensive ends I have ever seen.

Neither of the two leads the teams in sacks.  That honor goes to defensive tackle Marcus Stroud.  Stroud even has more sacks, two and a half, than both of them combined, which is two as both have one sack each.

Just the fact alone that a defensive tackle is leading the team in sacks should prompt some serious changes.  Well that has not happened, as Bills defensvie coordinator Perry Fewell keeps doing the same thing each week.

That leads me to the coaching.  I have never seen a more bullheaded coachs than I have seen here in Buffalo.  Last year it was offensive coordinatore Steve Fairchild, who thankfully took a head coaching college job somewhere else.

Someone needs to be fired if the Bills miss the playoffs after going 4-0 earlier this year. 

The Buffalo Bills are going into a key divisional gamne against the New England Patriots.  However, the Bills defense is going to need a new plan of attack against the Patriots as they lost Ashton Youboty for the season.

Youboty was a key cornerback for the Bills.  The third year cornerback was just starting to blossom, and was a solid against covering slot wide recievers, which is a huge deal this week, since the New England Patriots Wes Welker is the best slot receiver in the National Football League right now.

With the loss of Youboty the Bills have no choice, but to throw rookie cornerback Leodis McKelvin, or Reggie Corner into the mix.  The Bills do have several options though on how to attack the Patriots.

The Bills have been using mostly just rushing the four down linemen in the passing game.  This week should bring an array of blitzes from the Bills as Patriots Matt Cassel has been sacked 28 times so far this season, which is the second most in th league.

The other way the Bills can approach the Patriots defensively is have their cornerbacks assigned to certain wide receivers.  With Terrenance McGee being their top cornerback he will most likely cover Randy Moss.  Jabari Greer is the other starting cornerback, which would leave him Welker  That means McKelvin will be getting to cover Jabar Gaffney most of the game.

The key to this game is the Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.  He needs to take a page from the Bills offensive linemen, and insert the Bills will upon the Patriots. 

After all what has the Bills the last two weeks sat back to prevent the big play, and lost.  Now, is a time for change, and take a page out of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, and blitz the Patriots to death.