Bills notebook: Young offensive line holds its own
Published: October 18, 2009, 10:51 pm
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was supposed to be a classic mismatch: The Buffalo Bills' young, patchwork offensive line against the vaunted, blitz-happy New York Jets defense.
On Sunday, the Bills' O-line far exceeded expectations while the Jets failed to live up to the hype.
The Bills' offensive line, which featured four first-year starters, held its own against the Jets. The front five allowed one sack and a few pressures, but it didn't get overrun like a lot of people thought would happen.
So for one game at least, an offensive line featuring three rookies (right tackle Jamon Meredith and guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre), a second-year player (left tackle Demetrius Bell) and a "grizzled" five-year pro (center Geoff Hangartner) can take a bow for a job well done.
"I thought the whole line did a good job," Bills offensive line coach Sean Kugler said. "They prepared all week and they work hard all the time. I knew that they were going to have some rough spots and some rough edges. But [Sunday] I thought they competed the entire game."
"They found out what it's like to win a game just fighting the whole time. That was a good learning experience for them. They're really a great group to work with."
The offensive line has been a major issue since the start of the season. Wood and Levitre were already starting when the Bills decided to cut veteran left tackle Langston Walker and replace him with Bell.
But there has been a revolving door at right tackle. Meredith was the fourth starter at the position already this season as he took over for Jonathan Scott, who had a sprained ankle.
"I was excited for the opportunity to play," Meredith said. "I worked hard to be ready for this, and I just wanted to come in and compete and show that I could play at this level."
From what Kugler saw with the naked eye, he had no complaints about Meredith's performance.
"I give all the credit to [assistant offensive line] coach [Ray] Brown," Kugler said. "When Jamon came from Green Bay, Coach Brown spent a lot of time with him in the meeting rooms and on the field. We sat down and talked about [it] and Ray said, "We've got something in this kid.' "
We kind of took a chance and really felt like he could do the job. Coach Brown believed in him and he just went out and did a heck of a job, as did the rest of the guys up front."
Bills quarterback Trent Edwards' day ended early Sunday when he was sent to the locker room in the first half with a concussion.
The team ruled that he had a concussion caused when Edwards was sandwiched between Jets linebackers Calvin Pace and David Harris on a sack early in the second quarter.
After being checked out on the sideline, Edwards was escorted to the locker room by a member of the Bills' training staff.
Edwards suffered a concussion last season in a Week Five loss to Arizona. The Bills had a bye the following week and he was able to return in their next game.
Edwards was one of several Bills on a mounting injury list.
Safety Donte Whitner, who played with a surgically repaired thumb, left in the first half with an ankle injury. Cornerback Terrence McGee followed Whitner to the sideline with a chest injury after tackling Jets running back Thomas Jones at the end of his 71-yard touchdown.
The team said Whitner and McGee could have returned to the game in an emergency situation.
Defensive tackle Kyle Williams also hurt a shoulder, tight end Shawn Nelson suffered a concussion and tight end Derek Fine had a swollen eye as the result of a punch from Jets defensive back James Ihedigbo, who was ejected in overtime.
Has wide receiver Roscoe Parrish played his last game in a Bills uniform? The five-year veteran was a surprise addition to the inactive list Sunday. He was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday because of a thigh injury, but was listed as probable.
It's possible the Bills held Parrish out of the game because they have a place to trade him. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday.
Parrish has been on the trading block since the offseason. He has been unhappy that his role has been limited primarily to punt returns. His playing time on offense has been reduced even more this season as the Bills have often used two-receiver formations.
Parrish has just one catch for five yards this season. He gained an additional 20 yards on laterals. He has 97 career catches, including 24 last season.
Some kind of roster move may be in the offing because the Bills have six wide receivers on the roster and wideout James Hardy is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list this week now that he's recovered from knee surgery.
Five days after signing with the Bills, linebacker Chris Draft came up with a big play by sacking Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for a 16-yard loss to kill a fourth-quarter drive.
"It felt good to be able to come in and have an impact right away," said Draft, who was signed after the Bills lost linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs to knee injuries. "I just wanted to come in and fit in, so I was happy to be able to contribute something right away."
Bills receiver Terrell Owens on his one-on-one battle with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis:
"He followed me everywhere I went. There were some times where he was in good coverage and there were some times when I really didn't get a good play on the ball. With the opportunities that I got, I felt like I made the most of them. The most important thing [Sunday] is that we got the win."
Bills inactives were Parrish, safety Bryan Scott, cornerback Ellis Lankster, safety Todd Johnson, running back Xavier Omon, Jonathan Scott and defensive end Chris Ellis. Bryan and Jonathan Scott were sidelined with ankle injuries.
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