Post by highjumper on Aug 19, 2005 13:40:54 GMT -5
Bills' defense has Packers concerned
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
August 19, 2005
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- It was before practice three weeks into camp and safety Troy Vincent was trying to get a handle on how good the Buffalo Bills defense could be.
``I just can't tell,'' Vincent said.
But Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, who got a firsthand glimpse during a scrimmage against the Bills earlier this month, has no problem assessing Buffalo's defenders.
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``I was hoping that we wouldn't play them again,'' said Favre, whose Green Bay Packers head to Buffalo for a preseason game Saturday. ``I say we got whipped. ... I don't know if there's a whole lot of value in getting your butts kicked, but it is a challenge. And how you accept that challenge individually or as a team remains to be seen.''
Although no score was officially kept in the scrimmage, the clear winner was the Bills defense. It would have recorded at least eight sacks had there not been a rule preventing players from touching the quarterback.
The Bills carried their aggressive performance into their preseason opener, a 17-10 win over Indianapolis last weekend, in which Colts quarterbacks were sacked six times. Indianapolis running backs, meanwhile, combined for minus-5 yards rushing and the team committed two turnovers.
``We take it as a compliment. ... But do we stop? Nah. If anything, you're just adding more gas to the fire,'' linebacker Takeo Spikes said of Favre's comments.
If the Bills are to build off of last season's 9-7 finish and end a five-year playoff drought, their defense must lead the way. It must take the pressure off an offense in transition, with last year's first-round draft pick J.P. Losman taking over for Drew Bledsoe at quarterback.
Buffalo's defense is a veteran group, which lost only one player -- run-stuffing tackle Pat Williams -- from a unit that led the NFL last year by generating 39 turnovers and finished second in least yards allowed.
Together, the defense features five Pro Bowlers, not counting cornerback Terrence McGee, a special teams selection last year.
Their modus operandi is an array of blitz packages, something coordinator Jerry Gray picked up two years ago when he was assisted by defensive guru thingy LeBeau, who's now with Pittsburgh.
From scouting Buffalo, Favre figures the Bills blitz about two-thirds of the time.
``And they're good blitzes, not to mention they have good players,'' Favre said. ``It will be a challenge for us.''
Packers coach Mike Sherman is doing everything to prevent a repeat of the scrimmage.
On Thursday, he pulled his team off the field and held a closed-door, 45-minute session inside the team's field house. The emphasis, Packers players later confirmed, was improving their blitz coverage.
Green Bay, coming off a sloppy 10-7 win against San Diego, has issues along its offensive line after losing guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency. It also doesn't help that veteran tight end Bubba Franks is unsigned.
Favre, at least, has been sharp, going 9-of-10 for 91 yards passing and a touchdown against the Chargers.
Favre believes one benefit in facing the Bills is it will help the Packers for the regular season, when they face blitzing teams like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
For Troy Vincent, the Packers game is another tuneup for a defense that still has a lot to prove.
``We weren't a playoff team last year, nor the year before,'' Vincent said. ``We've done a lot of good things defensively, don't get me wrong. But statistics are for losers. I want to be in the postseason.''
