Bills notebook: Williams is back in limelight as Dolphins' featured back
Published: November 27, 2009, 12:08 am
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The Miami Dolphins ran wild against the Buffalo Bills' defense in the teams' first meeting, rushing for 250 yards in a 38-10 win.
Ronnie Brown, who ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns, is out with a season-ending foot injury but Ricky Williams is showing that he can lead a formidable one-back attack.
He has posted more than 100 yards in each of the last two games, including a 119-yard, three-touchdown (one receiving) effort in a 24-17 win at Carolina. The last time he had back-to-back 100-yard games was the final two contests in 2005.
Williams was named AFC offensive player of the week for his performance against the Panthers. It's the first time he's received the honor since 2002.
"Even with Ronnie being a part of the offense prior to getting hurt, you still had to account for Ricky Williams wherever he lined up on the field," said Bills strong safety George Wilson. "He did a good job sharing the load with Ronnie, but he has proven prior to being out of the league that he can be a starting back in the league. Now he's getting another chance to showcase his talent and ability. He's taking advantage of the extra touches the last couple of weeks."
Williams used to be the Dolphins' feature back before retirement, drug-related suspensions and injuries robbed him of three years. But the 32-year-old is back and looking like the guy who ran for 3,225 yards in 2002 and 2003, his first two years with the Dolphins.
"I am really impressed with the way he's been running the ball," said Bills middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, who didn't play in the last meeting when Williams had 85 yards and a touchdown. "I was watching some tape and that's when I said, "Man, he's still got it.' He can still run, he still has that burst. He's going to be a challenge, just like every week when we face good backs."
After being trampled by nearly every running back they faced, the Bills' defense held Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew to 66 yards on 25 carries. The Jaguars had just 102 yards overall and averaged 3.1 yards per carry.
The 5-foot-10, 230-pound Williams is bigger and stronger than Jones-Drew (5-7, 210). And while Jones-Drew is primarily a between-the-tackles runner, Williams has the speed to get outside.
Two different backs, but the objective will be the same. And given how Miami dominated the previous matchup, the Bills will have plenty of incentive to play well on Sunday.
"There is no way around it, they beat us up the last time we played them down there," Posluszny said. "We've got to remember that game, learn from it and take advantage of the situation we're in right now and just play a physical, hard-nosed game."
Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced for the first time since having minor knee surgery on Nov. 2. McGee got through the limited workout without pain, but he remains questionable for Sunday. He has missed the last three games.
Rookie linebacker Nic Harris missed practice due to personal reasons, but is expected to return to today. Also not practicing Thursday were defensive tackles Marcus Stroud (knee) and John McCargo (calf), offensive tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle). Rookie safety Jairus Byrd (groin) was limited.
Interim head coach Perry Fewell said Stroud and McCargo are day to day. Whether they can practice today may determine their availability for Sunday. Bell and Youboty are not expected to play.
Ted Ginn Jr. has done little as a Dolphins receiver, but the former first-round draft pick has become a dynamic kickoff returner with a league-high 30.4-yard average. In a win at the New York Jets, he returned kickoffs 101 and 104 yards for touchdowns in the third quarter.
It was the first time an NFL player scored twice from 100-plus yards in a game and the first time in 42 years someone had two return TDs in the same quarter. Ginn's 299 yards on kickoff returns in that game is second-highest total in NFL history.
"Ted Ginn has great speed and elusiveness, so we have to do a great job in our coverage schemes to keep him bottled up and rally to the ball," Wilson said.
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