Bills look ahead to showdown with Patriots
By: John Kucko
Updated: September 26, 2012
The Bills (2-1) face the Patriots (1-2) Sunday in Orchard Park. On Wednesday, the team talked about practice and this weekend's matchup. Below is a transcript of comments beginning with head coach Chan Gailey:
On if RB C.J. Spiller will practice
today:
No, he is not going to practice today but we are hoping
we will get him maybe a few reps by the end of the week. Do not know. We will
see.
On RB Fred Jackson's
status:
He will practice today and we will see how much he can
do. We will see where is after practice. Really, post-practice and tomorrow
morning will be the key on that after he goes through some football stuff
today.
On the defense being built to beat the
Patriots:
If you want to win the division, it has been proven
lately that you have to beat them. So yeah, everything you do is to win the
division first and the way you do it is by beating them. To say it was
completely thought like that, no I cannot say that. But you have to win the
division. You have to beat them.
On if releasing P Brian Moorman was due to him having
a conflict with a coach:
I do not know if we would go that far. We all talked
about it and we made the decision. It ultimately falls on me, but we made the
decision that it was what we needed to do at this
time.
On if it was a tough decision because of everything
Moorman brings to the table:
Yeah, you think about all of that stuff. You do. It is
never easy. None of those decisions are easy. We all know what a great guy Brian
and his wife are and for the community. It is never easy. I do not like that
part of the job.
On why Moorman was
released:
We were hoping to get more consistency and we were not
able to get it. He had a great preseason; he just was not able to get it
back.
On who will hold field goals and for extra
points:
Shawn (Powell) will practice there. Tyler (Thigpen) will
practice there. We will see as it goes. Eventually Shawn will do it as soon as
he gets some experience.
On DE Mark Anderson becoming a player who can play
the run and the pass:
It is funny, other people expected him to be a one-way
player and I do not think I ever expected that. I thought he could play the run
from what we saw and played against. I thought he could play the run. He has
done a good job of coming in, learning the entire system and understanding how
he fits in the run game. He has played physical out
there.
On the value of LB Bryan
Scott:
He has (helped). Probably the best thing that has
happened to Bryan, and I give Dave (Wannstedt) and Bob Sanders a lot of credit,
they have given him one job. Go be a nickel linebacker. Not try to be safety,
not try to be a back-and-forth kind of guy. He has one job, go be a nickel
linebacker and he has done an excellent job of learning that and learning how to
play that responsibility run and pass. We were bouncing him around last year and
it was not fair to him almost. He has taken to this extremely well and done a
great job.
On the Ravens doing a good job of rushing the passer
vs. New England last week:
That was two weeks in a row to be honest with you.
Arizona did a good job rushing the passer, too. I think there is a common
denominator there that if you can get some pressure on the passer in this ball
game, you up your chances of slowing them down and getting the ball back.
On Patriots QB Tom Brady not throwing the ball deep
very much:
The thing about it is we all know he can and we all know
he has done it before. That is why you have to always be on your guard. You
cannot just say everybody squat at 10 yards. They will never throw it down there
because they will, so you have to guard against it. It is always in the back of
your mind, but you understand what they are trying to do with the football-that
is get it underneath. Hopefully we can take care of both scenarios--not let them
get it deep and have some pressure and tight coverage underneath. That is what
you have to have. You have to have some tight pressure underneath on those
receivers.
On being encouraged by the progress of the run
defense:
We have made dramatic improvements in our run defense.
That is going to allow you, if you can play run defense and play third downs,
you give yourself a great chance to be successful. I think we have improved in
both areas quite a bit. We started bad. The first game was bad on third-downs.
After that, we have played pretty well.
On if that improvement is attributed to personnel or
scheme:
Yes. All of the above.
On how much the run defense opens up things later in
the game:
If you can stop the run and make a team one-dimensional,
you have really helped yourself defensively. Then they get discouraged, too.
When they are discouraged, they do not run it as well. I do not care who you
are. It is a win-win when you can stop the
run.
On WR Stevie Johnson still producing but not
over-celebrating:
You want a guy to enjoy playing. I do not ever want to
take away somebody's joy, but you have to think about the team. You have to give
the guy credit. He understands exactly what he needs to do. He has not let his
play go down and yet he understands for the team he has to handle some things
differently. It does not surprise me that it happened. It maybe surprised a lot
of people, it did not surprise me.
On if either of last year's games against the
Patriots carry into this season:
I do not think so. History you learn from, but it is not
a predictor of the future. Every year is a new year and they are a totally
different defense than they have been since I can remember. Forever. They are
totally different and playing better, to be honest with you. They are vanilla
and they are playing hard. Getting after it. You do not see all the elaborate
schemes you used to see. They are playing well. I think they are fourth (in the
AFC) against the run. They are playing extremely
well.
On having a comment about the replacement officials
impacting the end of games:
No, the biggest thing if you get a big enough lead then
it will not come down to a call. Go get big leads and it will not be an
issue.
On if the play at the end of the Green Bay-Seattle
game reminded him of S Da'Norris Searcy's play against Oakland last
season:
I thought about it. I did. I thought about it and then
let it go. I cannot control that.
On if Moorman's relationship with Special Teams
Coordinator Bruce DeHaven was a factor in his
release:
Not that I know of.
QB Ryan
Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, September 26,
2012
On playing New England after they have lost two games
in a row:
We do not worry about that. We are focused on what we
are trying to get done this week. We know that every time we play them, they are
a good team. They are the ones that have owned this division for a lot of years
now. The division always goes through them. For us, regardless of the record
they have lost two very tough games. We know that this is a very good team, one
of the best in the NFL. We have to come out and play our very best game in order
to compete.
On the Patriots' pass
defense:
They have done a good job to be honest. Their philosophy
is a lot different than it was last year. They have been very stout in the run
game. A lot of times they have two safeties deep and they are still able to stop
stuff with the running game. Pass-wise, they have done some good things as well
in terms of matching up with guys. And in terms of keeping the two deep guys
back there and not letting you get the deep plays-Baltimore hit them on a
couple, which were really nice throws by (Joe) Flacco. They are definitely a
much improved group. They have some new guys over there and they also have a lot
of familiar faces over there for us.
On what the Patriots do different now
defensively:
They played a lot more man coverage last year than they
have so far.
On if he expects the Patriots to blitz a lot as a
change of pace:
I think they go in and they are going to run their
stuff. They are going to give us whatever looks they want to give us. We are
going to go and run our stuff and just go out there and execute. That is pretty
much what we have learned. Everybody kind of does best. Let's keep it simple. Go
out there and do our stuff versus them doing theirs. See who
wins.
On the Patriots not being under .500 since
2004:
Wow. That just goes to show how dominant of a team they
have been-the class of our division, really the class of the league. I think
more than them being 1-2 this year, it shows how good they have been the last 10
years.
On if he feels it is time for him to have a statement
game:
This being a division game, being a home game where we
are going to have the crowd with us, we have to win these games in order to get
back to the playoffs. In order to do all of that stuff, this is the kind of game
we have to win. Like I said, I cannot stress enough that they are a great team
and they are going to be a great opponent on Sunday. It is going to show us a
lot about ourselves.
On not being afraid of the
Patriots:
A lot last year was talked about the streak and the
amount of times they had beaten us in a row. We came out last year, fell behind
early and came back. That showed a lot about our team and the guys we have in
this locker room. Being able to pull out the win in that game, but this is a new
bunch for them. It is a new bunch for us this year. We have got the right core
group of guys in here. Being able to rebound from Week One and how horrible we
played in Week One to what we have done in the last few weeks, we have good
perspective and good leadership in our locker room.
On how much RB Fred Jackson playing would impact the
game:
We will see how he does throughout the week. It is
between him, Chan (Gailey) and the trainers. All of that. We have to prepare
just like we prepare normally. If he is not able to go, obviously the next man
up. If he is able to go, that is a huge boost for us in terms of him being such
a playmaker for us. The way he runs the ball and the way he carries himself on
the sideline and in the huddle. That would be a big boost for us if he can
go.
On if he is shocked by P Brian Moorman being
released:
It is a tough situation. I definitely think the whole
locker room was shocked in terms of that going down after three games and him
being here for 12 years. His locker was right next to mine. He is a guy who over
the last four years I have really gotten a chance to know well. I talked to him
a little bit yesterday, but he is the kind of guy that is going to get picked up
somewhere very quickly. We wish him all of the best. That was a shock in the
locker room when we heard that yesterday.
On that being the way the NFL
works:
Yeah, it is. That is the first thing I thought is it is
just a reminder it is a very fickle business. That is the NFL. Every year you
get one or two reminders of it. Close friends or guys you thought were
untouchable essentially end up getting cut, released or traded. Whatever it is.
It is just a constant reminder every year.
On if the loss of Moorman hurts the team
chemistry:
I do not think so. I think more than anything, he was a
captain and somebody that was really respected in the locker room. He was
someone that was a great friend to all of us. It is the NFL and unfortunately
you move on. I am not saying we forget him, he is not on our team and we will
never talk to him again, but it is what you have to do. Just like with injuries.
We are not the ones who make those decisions. Those decisions happen upstairs.
You roll with it. You move on and you do not try to look
back.
On both games versus the Patriots last year having
big runs for both sides:
I do not know if you can pin it on one thing. It was
very interesting the run of points both ways. I do not know what to tell you
other than for us looking at this game we cannot start slow like we did last
year. For us looking at the final game last year, we came out and we played well
in the beginning but we have to be consistent the whole game. I guess those are
the lessons we can draw on from last year.
On why the Bills have struggled against the
division:
If I had the answers, maybe we would not be struggling
as much. I think you are not going to make the playoffs unless you play well in
your division. We obviously have not been to the playoffs in a long time and you
can look squarely at that as probably being the main reason. That is something
we are looking to change. The only way you go out and do it is to get wins in
your division and play well. That is all I can say. We have to go out on the
field and prove it.
On what Patriots QB Tom Brady is going to be facing
against the Bills' defensive line:
I try not to (think about that), I have so much I have
to focus on offensively. When we brought those guys in this offseason, I think
we brought them in with the mindset that we are going to be able to get after
the quarterback. I think they have done a great job of that the first few games
this year. Hopefully that continues.
On if he intends to trash talk with
Brady:
I do not think I will be talking much trash to Tom.
No.
On this team being better equipped to face a team
like the Patriots:
Yeah, it is the talk. We came out versus the Jets and
there was all of the excitement about on paper we look great and we came out and
did not do it. On paper, I think we look like a better team but we have to go
out there and show it.
On his level of concern over the replacement
officials:
One of the things that Chan (Gailey) has made a point to
us about is these officials are doing the best they can. It is very difficult.
It is a difficult situation for everybody. When it affects the outcome of a game
that is very tough. We work too hard throughout a week and put in too many hours
in the offseason for them to be actually deciding a game, which is what happened
Monday night. It was a tough situation. I think the way that everything is going
to be handled from here on, we just have to continue to go about our business.
Deal with what it is. There is nothing we can do to change it. With players, it
is not an issue with the players (union). We just have to go out there and deal
with it.
RB Fred Jackson
Wednesday, September 26,
2012
Pre-practice
On his status:
It is still pretty much the same thing. I think a lot of
it is going to come down to how practice goes today. Looking forward to that--see
what it is like. I am excited about it to see where it
goes.
On where he is
mentally:
I still feel confident. Today is the big test. Getting
out there, moving around and running against some defenses will tell me a lot. I
will have a better answer after practice.
On if because it is the Patriots this weekend fuels
him to come back:
Yeah. Without a doubt. It is a big game for us, but at
the same time I have to be smart. Make sure I am out there able to make plays
for my team and I am not hindering them. We have guys who can step up like
Tashard (Choice) did last week. At the same time, it is the Patriots. We need
all guys on deck to go out there and get a win for
us.
On how excited he is to have a chance to put the
Patriots in a 1-3 hole:
It does. At the same time, it is one game for us. It is
a big game for us. We have an opportunity to go up on a team two games that has
been known as the champion of this division for a long time. It is a big game
for us. We know they are going to come in and not want to be in that position so
they are going to come out and be ready to play. We just have to come out and
match that. Feed of the crowd and make plays.
On the team releasing P Brian
Moorman:
Not only for us, he was a great guy in this locker room
and everybody respected him. Just what happened and just how he was in the
community as well. A lot of people had a lot of love and respect for him. It is
part of the game. We have to deal with it. Move on. Hopefully we can get better
at the position and see what happens.
On if he understands the
move:
I do not. I cannot say that I do because I am not in
special teams a lot. I do not know what is going on in there, but they felt like
it was a move they had to make so they made
it.
On if it affects team
chemistry:
Not at all. It is part of the business. We know we have
to adjust when they make decisions like that. We will come out and take care of
what we can.
Post-Practice
On if practice went
well:
Yeah, I got some good work in. There are some things
that need to be worked on, but it is good to get back out here and test it a
little bit.
On if practice went the way he felt it
would:
There were some things I liked, but there was a lot of
stuff I need to work on, too. It is a good thing we have a week. We will see how
it goes. Just hopefully continue to get better. Work on the things I feel I need
to.
On wearing a
brace:
I have on the same brace. No running back is going to
like playing in a brace, but it is OK though. I will have to get used to it
because I have to play in it. It is not uncomfortable--just
different.
On how important how he feels tomorrow
is:
I think that what will determine more than anything. How
I am feeling like the next day. If I can come out here and continue to work,
that will help me get better. If I wake up tomorrow and it is swollen or too
sore to do anything, then that will set me back.
RB C.J. Spiller
Wednesday September 26,
2012
On if he is going to play this
Sunday:
We will see. It is too early right now. To really give a
direct answer we will just have to go out there today, do some stuff and see how
it responds. If I feel I can go out there and give my team everything I got at a
high level that I was doing before I got injured then of course I will. But I'm
not going to do anything that is going to hurt me or this team by trying to get
out there and not play at 100-percent, so we will
see.
On if he thought the injury was worse than it really
is:
I was kind of down because I have never had it happen
before so it was something new to me. I didn't know what was going on. I knew
something was wrong because of how I was feeling, but I am glad that it is not
worse than it is. I am very fortunate to be in the position that I am
in.
On how he feels the likelihood is that he will be
able to play on Sunday:
I feel good. This is a division game. These are the big
games that you want to play in. You don't want to be on the sidelines for these
type games. I want to be out there to try and help my team win. And right now
where I'm feeling I feel like there is a good chance that I could be. Like I
said it is early. It is only Wednesday. We will do some stuff today and see how
I respond. And hopefully by tomorrow have a better
understanding.
WR Stevie
Johnson
Wednesday, September 26,
2012
On preparing T.J. Graham for the Patriots tendencies
and coach Belichick's scheme:
Not much you know because T.J. is a good player and he
knows he is and we know he is. He showed what he can do last week and he is
always showing us what he can do through his stay here. He's already ready for
the Patriots this week. All we have to do is play our game not change anything.
Just play our game.
On finishing where he left off against the Patriots
last year:
We just think about getting wins. We beat them early in
the season then we ended up playing them at the end and they ended up coming
back and beating us. We feel we have the team that can make a run for some real
playoff football and this is a team that we have to get through. Hopefully we
show it this Sunday.
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