Bolts Attack Will Give Bills' a Workout

Mamba · Oct 16, 2008

The Buffalo Bills’ defense is coming off its worst game of the season and likely will be missing a few key parts this Sunday.

The timing might not be perfect for the Bills to face the highest-scoring team in the NFL.

The San Diego Chargers come to town Sunday averaging 29.7 points per game.

“The crazy thing about their offense is whoever touches the ball can make something happen out of nothing,” Bills safety Bryan Scott said.

The Chargers boast the top-rated passer in the NFL in Philip Rivers. They have the 2006 NFL Most Valuable Player in running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Tight end Antonio Gates is a four-time Pro Bowler. Their receiving corps is one of the biggest in the NFL.

The Bills are expected to be without cornerback Terrence McGee, who is recovering from a sprained knee ligament. They also are likely to miss defensive end Aaron Schobel, who was walking around with a boot Wednesday to protect injured ligaments in his big toe. Neither Bills starter has officially been ruled out.

“It’s a big challenge,” Bills safety Donte Whitner said. “You can go on and on about the weapons they have.”

Whitner figures to be a key figure in the Bills’ plan to contain the Bolts. He sees a lot of action close to the line, “in the box,” from his strong safety position. But his versatility allows him to serve as a cornerback on slot receivers and as a free safety in center field.

He likely will see all those positions Sunday, particularly the free safety one.

“Normally I play the strong safety position, but this week I get to play a lot of free safety,” Whitner said. “I get to read where Rivers is going with the football and try to make a play on some of those balls.”

Presuming McGee can’t play, the Bills will line up Jabari Greer and Ashton Youboty at the starting cornerback spots. Both are 5-foot-11, and third corner Leodis McKelvin is 5-10.

San Diego’s starting receivers are 6-5 Vincent Jackson and 5-11 Chris Chambers (“who plays 6-3,” said Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell). The 6-4 Gates essentially serves as the third receiver in the attack, and the Chargers bring 6-5 Malcolm Floyd off the bench.

With that arsenal at his disposal, Rivers has thrown a league-high nine passes of 40 or more yards. He had three in San Diego’s 30-10 rout of New England on Sunday night.

The Bills have had problems with Gates in the past. In games against Buffalo in 2005 and 2006 he combined for 12 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. While Gates has been slowed a bit by a sore big toe, he still has four TD catches and 22 receptions overall this season.

“He gives you a lot of matchup problems,” Whitner said. “If you put a safety or a corner on him, he’ll use his body [to get open], and if you put a linebacker on him, he’ll outrun him.”

San Diego’s downfield passing is set up by the running of Tomlinson. He also has been bothered a bit by a sore toe this year. His average of 67.5 rushing yards through six games is off last year’s pace of 92 yards a game. But he still leads the AFC in yards from scrimmage with 529.

“He’s the No. 1 guy you have to stop on that offense because if he’s going, they’re using their play-action [fakes] off his running, and then you’re on your heels all day,”Whitner said. “The No. 1 goal in this football game is to stop LaDainian Tomlinson and [backup] Darren Sproles.”

Two weeks ago, Miami did a good job on Tomlinson, holding him to 35 yards on 12 carries and keeping him on the sideline much of the game with a ball-control offense. Miami upset the Chargers, 17-10.

“We have to focus on stopping the run and getting the lead so we can get after the passer,” Bills defensive tackle Spencer Johnson said.
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http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/464967.html

Mamba · Oct 16, 2008

I hope we come out gunning like we did against New England. We have to go balls to the wall from the start, give Rivers some protection and let him pick apart Buffalo.

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Bolts Attack Will Give Bills' a Workout

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