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Re-Tooled Secondary Facing Big Pass Game Challenge
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 10/4/2007 1:38 PM ET
Buffalo's secondary has been bruised, battered and beaten, and that's just the injuries. Once again the Bills defensive backfield will be using interchangeable parts as they prepare for a Dallas receiving corps responsible for the league's third best passing game.
The last line of defense for the Bills is feeling good coming off a successful outing against the Jets. One in which they got a pair of key interceptions to help set up what proved to be the game-winning points and seal the victory in the waning seconds.
But that was against a weak-armed quarterback and a receiving corps that cannot stretch the field. The antithesis of the Jets offense comes to town Monday night.
"They've got weapons everywhere," said Terrence McGee
. "They've got three good receivers with (Terrell) Owens, (Patrick) Crayton and (Sam) Hurd. They've got (Jason) Witten the tight end. They're stacked, they're loaded."
Owens, Crayton and Witten are all averaging better than 15 yards a catch thus far this season, with Crayton the leader with an eye-popping 20.2 yard average.
"They're running a lot of crossing routes where they're running away from the defenders," said McGee of the Cowboys receivers. "A lot of over the middle type routes and basically from the start you're playing catch-up, you're playing chase because they're running straight across the field. So guys are getting open and they also are getting yards after the catch."
Jabari Greer
likely faces the greatest challenge as he's expected to draw Owens as an assignment with Ashton Youboty
hobbled with an ankle injury. Greer is arguably the team's best man-to-man defender. He was assigned to cover Randy Moss two weeks ago and had good coverage on both of Moss' touchdown receptions, but the gifted wideout just made plays.
Matched up against Owens, Greer is looking to make something happen.
"Those big plays that Randy Moss hit on me afterwards I said, 'I faced a big time receiver, one of the best receivers to ever play the game, he caught some balls and made some plays. It's not that bad,'" said Greer. "You get back up there and play again. I'm going to have Terrell Owens, another big time receiver. I don't have to put the emphasis on my back. I don't have to be like I have to stop this guy. I just know as long as I play my technique there's going to be an opportunity for me to make a play."
Bills safety Bryan Scott
has been with the club all of three weeks, and will have a larger role at strong safety this week with Donte Whitner
covering Jim Leonhard
's role at free safety a good portion of the time.
"Luckily with Bryan he's got some experience in the league," said head coach Dick Jauron
of the five-year veteran. "He's not just a rookie, so it will make it a little bit easier."
George Wilson
is also expected to play a role at safety for this game. Regardless of which safety it is who draws Jason Witten it will be a difficult coverage assignment.
Witten is not only one of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo's best friends on the team, but also his favorite target. The athletic tight end has 20 catches and is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with three.
"Their tight end is great," said Scott. "They have a lot of positives on offense so it's a big challenge for us."
The forgotten man in Dallas' receiving corps is Crayton, who stepped into a starting role after Terry Glenn went down with a knee injury prior to the start of the season.
But what the Dallas passing attack is capable of isn't as much of a concern to Buffalo's secondary as much as making sure they've got their new and varied assignments down in a seemingly ever changing lineup.
"They're a great team, 4-0," said Scott. "They're riding really high right now. But it's really about us everyday just getting better so by Monday we're prepared and ready to go."
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 10/4/2007 1:38 PM ET
Buffalo's secondary has been bruised, battered and beaten, and that's just the injuries. Once again the Bills defensive backfield will be using interchangeable parts as they prepare for a Dallas receiving corps responsible for the league's third best passing game.
The last line of defense for the Bills is feeling good coming off a successful outing against the Jets. One in which they got a pair of key interceptions to help set up what proved to be the game-winning points and seal the victory in the waning seconds.
But that was against a weak-armed quarterback and a receiving corps that cannot stretch the field. The antithesis of the Jets offense comes to town Monday night.
"They've got weapons everywhere," said Terrence McGee
. "They've got three good receivers with (Terrell) Owens, (Patrick) Crayton and (Sam) Hurd. They've got (Jason) Witten the tight end. They're stacked, they're loaded."Owens, Crayton and Witten are all averaging better than 15 yards a catch thus far this season, with Crayton the leader with an eye-popping 20.2 yard average.
"They're running a lot of crossing routes where they're running away from the defenders," said McGee of the Cowboys receivers. "A lot of over the middle type routes and basically from the start you're playing catch-up, you're playing chase because they're running straight across the field. So guys are getting open and they also are getting yards after the catch."
Jabari Greer
likely faces the greatest challenge as he's expected to draw Owens as an assignment with Ashton Youboty
hobbled with an ankle injury. Greer is arguably the team's best man-to-man defender. He was assigned to cover Randy Moss two weeks ago and had good coverage on both of Moss' touchdown receptions, but the gifted wideout just made plays.Matched up against Owens, Greer is looking to make something happen.
"Those big plays that Randy Moss hit on me afterwards I said, 'I faced a big time receiver, one of the best receivers to ever play the game, he caught some balls and made some plays. It's not that bad,'" said Greer. "You get back up there and play again. I'm going to have Terrell Owens, another big time receiver. I don't have to put the emphasis on my back. I don't have to be like I have to stop this guy. I just know as long as I play my technique there's going to be an opportunity for me to make a play."
Bills safety Bryan Scott
has been with the club all of three weeks, and will have a larger role at strong safety this week with Donte Whitner
covering Jim Leonhard
's role at free safety a good portion of the time. "Luckily with Bryan he's got some experience in the league," said head coach Dick Jauron
of the five-year veteran. "He's not just a rookie, so it will make it a little bit easier."George Wilson
is also expected to play a role at safety for this game. Regardless of which safety it is who draws Jason Witten it will be a difficult coverage assignment. Witten is not only one of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo's best friends on the team, but also his favorite target. The athletic tight end has 20 catches and is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with three.
"Their tight end is great," said Scott. "They have a lot of positives on offense so it's a big challenge for us."
The forgotten man in Dallas' receiving corps is Crayton, who stepped into a starting role after Terry Glenn went down with a knee injury prior to the start of the season.
But what the Dallas passing attack is capable of isn't as much of a concern to Buffalo's secondary as much as making sure they've got their new and varied assignments down in a seemingly ever changing lineup.
"They're a great team, 4-0," said Scott. "They're riding really high right now. But it's really about us everyday just getting better so by Monday we're prepared and ready to go."
