Buffalo Bills Strategy and Personnel
by Sports Xchange
Coach Dick Jauron has been waiting patiently for his top pass rusher to get healthy. The Bills rank 23rd in sacks with 21 with Ryan Denney, Schobel's replacement, leading the team with four.
"We'll wait and see how he responds and go through the next couple of days," Jauron said. "But he did go through the practice and he did push it, I would say pretty hard."
PLAYER NOTES
--QB Trent Edwards sat out practice with a groin injury and is day-to-day. A decision on his status for Sunday's game against Miami likely won't come until just before kickoff.
--DE Chris Kelsay missed practice for a personal issue. He is expected back Thursday, coach Dick Jauron said.
--TE Robert Royal, who missed last Sunday's loss to San Francisco with a hamstring injury, did not practice. He may still be a game away. He has a career-best 29 catches and the Bills running game needs his blocking.
--SS Donte Whitner, who has missed two consecutive games and three overall with a shoulder injury, returned to practice. He is expected to play Sunday against Miami.
--CB Jabari Greer continues to recover from a knee injury that has cost him his last two starts. He did not practice Wednesday.
--DE Aaron Schobel, who has missed his last seven starts with a foot injury, returned to practice but is still questionable for Sunday's game against Miami.
GAME PLAN: Buffalo's 25-16 loss to the Dolphins on Oct. 26 ignited their 1-5 slide while igniting Miami's 5-1 hot streak. Turnovers were the story -- the Bills committed three in the fourth quarter and squandered a 16-7 lead. It goes without saying, they can't afford a sloppy performance again and expect to win and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Even though the game will be played indoors in Toronto's Rogers Centre and not outside at Ralph Wilson Stadium, both clubs will want to run the ball. The Bills held a 119-52 edge in rushing in the first meeting and Marshawn Lynch is running even better now. A running game will benefit whoever starts at QB for Buffalo, Trent Edwards or J.P. Losman. Defensively, the Bills need to get pressure on Miami's savvy veteran Chad Pennington, who threw for 314 yards the first meeting while being sacked once. CB Terrence McGee, who played on a bad knee that game, was eaten up by Ted Ginn Jr. (seven catches, 175 yards) and he's eager for the rematch. Bills special teams need a rebound game after last week's game against the 49ers. The club's No. 3 and 4 punt and kickoff return units need to make something happen against Miami's 31- and 32-ranked coverage units.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bills run defense, led by MLB Paul Posluszny and DT Marcus Stroud, vs. Miami RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who have combined for 1,202 yards and 13 TDs.
--Bills CB Terrence McGee, who is healthy again and playing well after a knee injury, vs. Miami WR Ted Ginn Jr., who had a big day with seven catches for 175 yards in the year's first meeting.
--Bills C Duke Preston, who has struggled vs. big nose tackles, vs. Miami's Jason Ferguson.
--Bills RBs and TEs in pass protection vs. Miami LB Joey Porter, who is second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks. He had two in the first meeting with Bills.
--Bills KO return man Leodis McKelvin, second in the league with a 29.4-yard average, vs. Miami's KO coverage, which ranks last in the league.
INJURY IMPACT: QB Trent Edwards is day-to-day with a groin injury. Even if he starts, the injury is such that he could tweak it again, as he did late in the second half last week against the 49ers. If the Bills must turn to J.P. Losman again, Miami's good pass rush, led by LB Joey Porter, becomes a greater concern for Buffalo. Losman doesn't have Edwards' feel for the game and pocket sense. In just two relief appearances this year, he's been sacked eight times.
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