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Bills vets getting frustrated with Losman
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Bills receiver Eric Moulds is trying to keep his frustrations from bubbling over, hoping quarterback J.P. Losman finally can muster a passing attack.
It hasn't been easy. Moulds is a proud 10-year veteran, paid to be the team's star, accustomed to being the go-to guy, but currently relegated to afterthought status in an offence that's sputtering.
"I'm trying to keep a level head," Moulds said Wednesday. "Back four or five years ago, I probably would've lost it by now. But I told coach I'm going to stick with it and see what happens. But there comes a point where we have to win some games, we have to make plays."
"It's tough," he added. "It's hard for me to sit here and bite my tongue."
His frustrations reflect both his sagging numbers and Buffalo's last two games, losses to Atlanta and Tampa Bay in which the Bills (1-2) had 355 total yards and just 136 passing.
Moulds has managed eight catches for 66 yards in three games. He had 68 or more yards receiving in eight games last year. And it's a far cry from the 2002 season, when Moulds set a franchise record with 100 catches and had five 100-yard outings.
He's currently third among Buffalo receivers in yards, which doesn't say much, considering Josh Reed leads with 101.
The Bills' troubles are mostly the result of Losman, the first-year starter who's still finding his rhythm, poise and consistency.
Losman has completed fewer than 49 percent of his passes, has both underthrown and overthrown receivers, and has acknowledged he's still somewhat hesitant in the pocket. It doesn't help that opponents have pressured him on most snaps, giving Losman little time to get set.
"It hasn't gotten to a frustrating point, but if it drags throughout the year, I'm sure it will get frustrating to everybody," Losman said.
Buffalo's 2004 first-round draft pick is focused on a making a better effort Sunday, when the Bills play New Orleans at San Antonio.
"I want to be that guy for them, the guy who wings it," Losman said. "That's my approach this whole week, to be that guy for them."
The only thing that's working is Buffalo's running game. Willis McGahee had a career-high 140 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 24-16 loss to Atlanta last weekend.
Otherwise, the Bills are having difficulty putting up points. They've produced two touchdowns and settled for nine field goals. They've been particularly inefficient inside an opponent's 20, managing two touchdowns in nine trips.
Moulds was careful to say he still supports Losman.
"I still believe in him, but I think there comes a point where a light has to click on," Moulds said. "He's going to make mistakes. He's not going to make every read right. But at the same time, you have to be on point as far as getting your passes out to receivers and let us make plays."
Coach Mike Mularkey said Losman has to get rid of the ball more quickly. But he also said receivers have to run crisper routes and stop dropping balls.
"I'm sure they're frustrated, and naturally so," Mularkey said. "But they have to continue to help (Losman's) progress. And that is to continue to get better at their positions."
Losman is the seventh starter Moulds has played with in Buffalo. That group includes Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, bust Todd Collins and journeyman backup Alex Van Pelt. And it's been six years since the Bills have made the playoffs.
Moulds worries his career is growing short and his patience even shorter.
"I've been around here 10 years, and I don't want to be one of those guys that all of a sudden just loses it," Moulds said. "I'm at the point in my career where I want to win first. If we go to the Super Bowl and I have 15 catches, that's fine with me. But we're not doing that right now."
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Bills receiver Eric Moulds is trying to keep his frustrations from bubbling over, hoping quarterback J.P. Losman finally can muster a passing attack.
It hasn't been easy. Moulds is a proud 10-year veteran, paid to be the team's star, accustomed to being the go-to guy, but currently relegated to afterthought status in an offence that's sputtering.
"I'm trying to keep a level head," Moulds said Wednesday. "Back four or five years ago, I probably would've lost it by now. But I told coach I'm going to stick with it and see what happens. But there comes a point where we have to win some games, we have to make plays."
"It's tough," he added. "It's hard for me to sit here and bite my tongue."
His frustrations reflect both his sagging numbers and Buffalo's last two games, losses to Atlanta and Tampa Bay in which the Bills (1-2) had 355 total yards and just 136 passing.
Moulds has managed eight catches for 66 yards in three games. He had 68 or more yards receiving in eight games last year. And it's a far cry from the 2002 season, when Moulds set a franchise record with 100 catches and had five 100-yard outings.
He's currently third among Buffalo receivers in yards, which doesn't say much, considering Josh Reed leads with 101.
The Bills' troubles are mostly the result of Losman, the first-year starter who's still finding his rhythm, poise and consistency.
Losman has completed fewer than 49 percent of his passes, has both underthrown and overthrown receivers, and has acknowledged he's still somewhat hesitant in the pocket. It doesn't help that opponents have pressured him on most snaps, giving Losman little time to get set.
"It hasn't gotten to a frustrating point, but if it drags throughout the year, I'm sure it will get frustrating to everybody," Losman said.
Buffalo's 2004 first-round draft pick is focused on a making a better effort Sunday, when the Bills play New Orleans at San Antonio.
"I want to be that guy for them, the guy who wings it," Losman said. "That's my approach this whole week, to be that guy for them."
The only thing that's working is Buffalo's running game. Willis McGahee had a career-high 140 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 24-16 loss to Atlanta last weekend.
Otherwise, the Bills are having difficulty putting up points. They've produced two touchdowns and settled for nine field goals. They've been particularly inefficient inside an opponent's 20, managing two touchdowns in nine trips.
Moulds was careful to say he still supports Losman.
"I still believe in him, but I think there comes a point where a light has to click on," Moulds said. "He's going to make mistakes. He's not going to make every read right. But at the same time, you have to be on point as far as getting your passes out to receivers and let us make plays."
Coach Mike Mularkey said Losman has to get rid of the ball more quickly. But he also said receivers have to run crisper routes and stop dropping balls.
"I'm sure they're frustrated, and naturally so," Mularkey said. "But they have to continue to help (Losman's) progress. And that is to continue to get better at their positions."
Losman is the seventh starter Moulds has played with in Buffalo. That group includes Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, bust Todd Collins and journeyman backup Alex Van Pelt. And it's been six years since the Bills have made the playoffs.
Moulds worries his career is growing short and his patience even shorter.
"I've been around here 10 years, and I don't want to be one of those guys that all of a sudden just loses it," Moulds said. "I'm at the point in my career where I want to win first. If we go to the Super Bowl and I have 15 catches, that's fine with me. But we're not doing that right now."
. You KNOW Moulds has be at least occasionally glancing at Bledsoe's stats this year.
