Buffalo at Miami
Can the Bills be tough enough?
Published: October 04, 2009, 12:49 am
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The Buffalo Bills aim to prove they are new and improved and not the same 'ol Bills today in Miami.
The Bills have lost seven straight games in the AFC East.
They are on a 10-game losing streak against teams that play the 3-4 defense.
Can the Bills say enough is enough against their 3-4 style, division rivals?
"If you like to see good hard-hitting football, this is the game to watch," Bills linebacker Keith Ellison said. "Miami wants to run the ball downhill at you. It's not, "Let's get to the edge, let's trick 'em.' They're going to line up and run it right at you.
"It's going to be a physical game. It's going to be a good one for us in the front seven, because we get to come downhill."
The Dolphins (0-3) are winless and without their veteran leader, Chad Pennington, out for the year with a bad shoulder. Yet Miami presents a major physical challenge for the Bills, because it ranks third in the NFL in both rushing offense and run defense.
The Bills' defense must hold tough with backups up the middle. Marcus Buggs starts for injured middle linebacker Paul Posluszny. Jairus Byrd and George Wilson start at safety for injured Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott.
The Bills' offense will start backups at offensive tackle. Jonathan Scott moves from the right side to the left, replacing injured Demetrius Bell (groin). Kirk Chambers starts on the right side.
The Bills (1-2) know now is the time to make a statement in division.
"This division has gotten more physical," said Bills run game coordinator Eric Studesville. "You used to think of the NFC Central with Chicago and Green Bay as physical. When I was in the NFC [East] in New York, with Philly, Washington and Dallas, those were always big-time physical games.
"This division has gotten to be that way. The Jets are playing tougher, Miami certainly did last year and New England has set the pace for a long time."
The Bills took steps to better match up in division by overhauling the middle three of their offensive line, adding center Geoff Hangartner and guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.
"I told Geoff I think he's a tremendous upgrade for us," Studesville said. "I think he's really improved us. And the two young guys have really come along, they have a tremendous work ethic and attitude, plus they're physical players."
"The two young players you have in there playing guard in Levitre and Wood, in the draft process I really liked both of those players," Miami coach Tony Sparano said. "They're smart, they're tough, they're physical players, and they give you some flexibility."
But will the edge hinder the Bills' attack? Scott faces Joey Porter, who had 17½ sacks last year, four of them against the Bills. Chambers faces Jason Taylor, who has victimized Buffalo for 17 of his 121½ career sacks.
If the protection can hold up, Miami's young defensive backs could be targeted.
"They have played some pretty good quarterbacks, and we are going to need some explosive plays," Bills quarterback Trent Edwards said. "We didn't have many last week. We had a couple against the Bucs. ... They have shown a little vulnerability and giving up those big plays, so hopefully we can do that."
Miami has not shown much vulnerability versus the run. The Dolphins have allowed 68, 61 and 69 yards rushing in three games.
The Bills' run game gets a boost with the return of Marshawn Lynch from a three-game NFL suspension. The Bills ran OK in Miami last year, gaining 119 yards. But they were undone by four turnovers.
Miami's ground game is rolling. The Dolphins gained 239 yards two weeks ago on Indianapolis, which plays the same scheme as Buffalo. Miami held the ball for 45:07, yet lost because of a brilliant performance by the Colts' Peyton Manning.
Last year against the Bills, Miami held the ball for 31:12 at home and 37:31 in Toronto.
"If we are able to stop the run and make the quarterback beat us, then we have a pretty good chance," defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. "Those guys are just like us, they're a couple plays from being 3-0."
The Bills' run defense fared well against Miami last year. The Bills held Miami's wildcat formation to seven tries for 35 yards in the first game and seven tries for 5 yards in the second. It was Pennington's passing that really burned the Bills.
Nevertheless, the Bills must be ready for the wildcat, which outnumbers the opponent at the point of attack.
It's important the defensive end on the play side (the direction the run is going) holds his position and turns the play inside. Then the rest of the defenders must fill their gaps.
"It's kind of like how you play the option in college," Ellison said. "Everybody's got to be disciplined in their assignments. Don't do too much. Just do what you're supposed to do."
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