Grading the Bills’ performance on Sunday

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, October 11, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

Buffalo Bills
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On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-14. The victory gave hope to a team that was in definite need of it. Here are the grades for the Bills...

Offense:

Quarterback = B- In his first start of the season, Kelly Holcomb did a solid job and his ability to avoid mistakes was instrumental in the Bills' victory. However, he didn't look as sharp as he could have. Against a better defense, he likely would have struggled mightily.

Running game = C- Bills' running back Willis McGahee ran 31 times for just 86 yards. He did add a touchdown but he also left a lot to be desired. However, he did have a long run called back at the end of the game because of holding. There were instances when he failed to find holes that were open. On the bright side, he never backed down from the solid run-defense that the Dolphins possess.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends = C+ Buffalo's top two receivers, Eric Moulds and Lee Evans, both had solid days. Their performances were reminiscent of the second half of last year when both were reliable targets. Josh Reed was the only other receiver to catch a pass as he caught 2 balls for 15 yards. As for Bills' tight end Mark Campbell, he caught a season best 3 passes. It was the first time the offense really tried to involve a tight end all year.

Offensive Line = D The Bills' line continued to demonstrate why they are one of the worst units in the NFL. The run-blocking was atrocious and Holcomb was pressured on many occasions. They ended up surrendering 3 sacks on the day. If it wasn't for Holcomb's ability to get rid of the ball quickly, the sack total could have doubled.

Overall Offensive grade = C- This was the best the Buffalo Bills' offense has looked since the opening game of the season. However, it still was not all that impressive as they struggled in Miami territory and could have easily tallied more than the 20 points that they got. If they want to improve, they had better learn how to finish inside enemy territory.

Defense:

Defensive Line = C- The Bills gave up 5.7 yards per carry to the Miami running game and the line showed for the fourth straight week that they can't stop the run. They were missing starting tackle Ron Edwards but he was nothing special even when he played. The three-man rotation that Buffalo employed in his absence was unsatisfactory. Nose tackle Sam Adams played his best game of the season as he looked like a force against the run. As for the pass-rush, it was nothing special. Bills' ends Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney each added a sack but both came when the game was pretty much in the bag. The Bills' line did pressure Dolphins' QB Gus Frerotte on a few different occasions but they failed to rough him up.

Linebackers = B- Angelo Crowell continues to show promise filling in for the injured Takeo Spikes. It's hard to complain about anything he's done thus far, especially in this game. Bills' middle linebacker London Fletcher led the team with 8 tackles and really did a solid job. It was perhaps his best performance of the last few weeks. Bills' strong side linebacker Jeff Posey added 3 tackles and looked decent. He continues to be unspectacular and it leaves me to wonder whether he'll make the team next year with the emergence of Angelo Crowell. That decision likely rests on whether or not Takeo Spikes can return at full health next year.

Secondary = B+ It's true that the Bills' secondary allowed 226 yards passing and 2 touchdown passes to Frerotte. However, the group, led by Troy Vincent, Terrence McGee, and Nate Clements on this day, picked off 3 passes and recovered a fumble. Their playmaking was instrumental in the victory.

Overall Defensive grade = B-. Much like the offense, this is the best that the Buffalo Bills' defense has looked since the opener. Their run-defense is still poor as is their pass-rush. The ability to make plays was the key element of the defense's performance on this day. Had Miami called more run plays, the outcome could have easily been different.

Special Teams:

The Bills' special teams unit was virtually perfect in this game. Kicker Rian Lindell converted both of his field goals, punter Brian Moorman was tremendous, and kick returner Terrence McGee was great. The coverage units allowed Dolphins' return man Wesley Welker no breathing room and never gave Miami solid field position. Also, the punt coverage unit forced a turnover as they tackled Dolphins' punter Donnie Jones on a botched snap. Special teams grade = A+.

Coaching:

Bills' coach Mike Mularkey looked like he knew what he was doing in this game more than previous games. However, he still wasted a challenge in the second half and he seemed a little too giddy about the Bills' first touchdown. His facial expression made it look like he just won the lottery. Calm down Mike, this team's got a long way to go. Offensive coordinator Tom Clements did a better job of calling plays as Buffalo called a total of 32 run plays on the day. Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray did a good job of managing his depleted defense and helping guide the team to victory.. The Bills' coach that leaves this game with the least to worry about is special teams coach Bobby April. Over the past two years, he has done a brilliant job leading the special teams. This game was probably among his finest moments as an NFL coach. Coaching grade = B.

The Buffalo Bills may have won on Sunday but they still have a lot of work to do if they want to be known as a contender. As of now, they are just not good enough to be put into the upper echelon of AFC teams. If the offense and defense for the Bills were as great as the special teams, they would be a force to be reckoned with.
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