Stillers vs.
Bills Pre-season Post-game:
The Stillers
beat the hell out the Bills last night, 20-0, in a game that was not nearly as
close as the score might indicate.�
Buffalo was never in this game; in the 1st half, the Stillers
thrashed them on both sides of the ball.�
The Bills 2nd D-line did have some moments against the
Stiller scrub O-linemen but, really, after the starters departed, the rest of
the game belonged to the Stiller ST.�
Toy went 78 on a PR for the game�s only score and, throughout the 2nd
half the Stiller coverage units showed us all what hitting is about.� The Stillers were the better team last
night; more than that, they dominated the Bills physically.� The last, more than any pre-season box, is
something worth building on.
The Good:
The passing
game may be diversified:� Kordell seemed to be in complete control
leading the Bus-free 1st unit offense on two consecutive 12-play
scoring drives.� These amounted to about
140 yards total-O; the Stillers had the ball for +10 minutes in the 1st
quarter.�
In the 1st
possession, Coach Mularkey opened by calling for (7) consecutive passes
including (3) +20 yard attempts.� In
this sequence, Kordell hit 3/6 including a fine post to Shaw for 39.� The ball was going downfield; as a result,
Amoz had room to rush 3/21.�� The 1st
possession ended when Stewart missed badly on a fade to Spike and Coach Cowher,
as is his wont, brought on Brown to polish his short game.
The second drive
was well executed too; for the first time, the 1st unit put drives
back to back.� Blackwell had a grab for
21 or so; Breuner had a 13-yard reception.�
Kordell closed out at 9/14 or so for something around 100 yards
including (6) completions to WR, (2) to Breuner and a nice checkdown to
Fu.� Of note, at least (5) balls went 20
yards downfield; however, only (2) connected.
The
D-Line:� The first unit absolutely thrashed the
Bills patched-up front.� Aaron Smith had
a sack negated by his flagrant facemask penalty; however, he got penetration on
most downs and made an excellent run stop to close the Buffs 2nd possession.� Kendrick Clancy spent more time in the Bills
backfield than Rob Johnson.� Hampton
stuffed up everything inside and showed some awareness; in the Bills 3rd
possession, Casey diagnosed and blew up a screen left.� Rookie Rodney Bailey continues to impress;
he had his 3rd PS sack whipping golden boy Kris Farris in the
process.�
The back-up CB:� Deshea
had his 2nd INT of the PS and generally showed that he could play
with Moulds.� DeShea forced a fumble but
the replacements ignored this fact.� Hank
Poteat had 7T, 2PD and his 2nd INT of the PS.�
Coverage
Teams:� Monstrous hitting by the Bell brothers,
Justin Kurpeikis and Mike Logan.�
Bobby
Shaw:� (2) catches no drops last night; with (1)
catch and no drops against the Lions, this man�s PS catch/drop ratio is approaching
50%.
The Bad:
The 2nd
O-line:� Okobi was okay; Tharpe marginally acceptable
but the rest of this group just stunk.�
Keydrick Vincent wants to play but rarely locates anyone to block.� Nkwenti looks like an athlete but generally gets
beat.� This man is befuddled by the
simplest twist or stunt.� That can�t be
a surprise; Nkwenti had only 1-year of OT experience at Temple.� He is a project; he should stick but won�t
help this season, at least not early on.�
While Nkwenti has little experience, Mylinski has been in the league 9
years.� Despite that, his play last
night would have made the unlamented �Skates� Brown look like Bruce
Mathews.� Mylinski was awful but he was not
the worst O-lineman on the field; that distinction belonged to Oliver
Ross.� Ross played both LOT and ROT; no
matter, he was routinely overrun on both sides.� Ross gave a fair imitation of Chris Conrad; there is no way
either he or Mylinski can stick.
Jermane
Tuman:� Another catch-free evening for the Stillers
pass-catching TE.� Tuman had a motion
penalty; chastened, he later stayed motionless in his stance as Tee ran for his
life. Tuman�s attempts at pass protection suggested that it doesn�t take a Keith
Brookings to beat this man off the edge.�
��
Spike:� Coach
Mularkey tried to get this man involved but to little avail.� Burress did have (3) receptions for
maybe (20) yards but that�s it.� On the
2nd possession, had a go-route to the EZ; Kordell made an accurate
throw, Spike went up and had the ball briefly until Irvin poked it out.� That�s a nice play by the CB but the Stillers
drafted Spike to win those battles.� Ran
(2) 20-yard turn-ins with Kordell, the passes sailed high.� Ran (2) with Tee, the passes sailed high. Different
QB, �identical results; you�ve got to
wonder about Spike�s routes.
FB/H-back:� Athletically,
there is little difference between Cushing, Janes and Witman.� Cushing is a marginal run blocker and, very
clearly, no threat carrying the ball.�
In a Rudy-like moment, Janes had a TD reception during which he looked a
lot like Witman in the open field.� Big
Jon has the experience but not the health; for that matter, Kreider�s condition
is a question mark too.� The Stillers don�t
have an answer on their roster; the FO should be combing the waiver wire
Sunday.
Bubble
battles:
Sullivan vs.
Hoke:� It has to be Sullivan; Hoke was awful at NT.� If Tez isn�t coming, then the cap room doesn�t
matter. IMO, Sullivan is the #4 DE, Combs #5.
Bell vs. Battles:� Myron
had a very good game; hit on ST and hit in the base too.� Battles did the same; either will do as the #4
Safety.
Kurpeikis vs.
Knight:� It has to be Justin, this man had a
couple big hits on ST, I�d guess (3) TFL in the base defense along with several
other solid stops.� He did get beat in
coverage a couple times but showed great energy and a good deal of development since
the Falcon game.
Blackwell vs.
Brown/Baker:� Will had a couple third down conversions
and played a solid all around game.�
Baker had a couple drops; Brown was nowhere to be found.� I�m guessing the Stillers will carry (6) WR including
the (5) holdovers and Taylor.� That�ll
mean (9) OL with Bobo/Vincent headed to the taxi squad.