Interview With Bills Herd

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills Sunday as they try to get back on track after two terrible losses within the division.  To get the low down on the Bills, I sat down with Jon Munoz.  Jon is the Bills correspondent and give you everything you need to know at Bills Herd.

Ryan Jones: Buffalo has had two seasons: pre and post Dick Jauron.  How have things been different under Perry Fewell?

Jon Munoz: Perry Fewell has been a breath of fresh air for the Buffalo Bills.  The biggest difference he has brought is that he is much more decisive with his actions.  He benched starting QB Trent Edwards and went with Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Although not a popular decision, it has proven to be the right decision.  He has much more conviction with his actions and realizes that the only thing that is important is winning, and not making sure certain players are on the field even if it means losing.

He also decided to finally start Fred Jackson.  Jackson started the first 4 games of the season while Marshawn Lynch was serving a 3 game suspension to start the year.  Jackson was a top rated running back through those weeks but subsequently lost his starting position to Marshawn Lynch who did not do anything to prove he deserved it.  Fewell has shown to be a much better judge of talent in his tenure, and players have responded as they now feel like they have a chance to compete for playing time.  Under Dick Jauron that was just not possible.  So the biggest change the Bills players have right now, is that they have hope.

RJ: The amount of yardage the Bills defense gives up on the ground has been historically bad this season (and after the Chiefs lack of pass rush last year I know historically bad defense).  Why are they giving up nearly 175 yards a game when only two other teams in the league are even over 150.

JM: The Bills lack of run defense can be summarized fairly easily.  They are usually playing without the lead so teams will run the ball more to kill time of the clock.  But, there is also one more big reason the Bills run defense is terrible and that is their personnel.  Buffalo uses smaller, but faster linebackers.  The one thing you may notice with the Bills is that they give up a lot of yards on toss plays and really any run to the outside.  The reason for this is that even though the linebackers can get to the ball quickly, they are far too undersized at times to make the play on the ball or to shed the first blocker in order to make the play.

The Bills interior run defense is actually not that bad, but outside the defensive ends is where the Bills have the most trouble.  The Bills are getting really good production from their DEs this year, but in run support they are just far too slow to make an impact or slow any plays down for their faster linebackers to get into position to make a play.  Ultimately they just have a poor mix of players that need to be addressed in the off season.

RJ: There were 12 players on the Buffalo injury report after Thursday’s practice.  Of those players, who would the Bills miss the most if they can’t go Sunday?

JM: I think there are three players the Bills desperately will miss if they can’t go on Sunday, one of which definitely can’t go so it is a guarantee he will be missed.  The interesting thing is that they are all rookies; Andy Levitre, Eric Wood, and Jairus Byrd.  Eric Wood is the only one who has no chance of playing on Sunday at all.  All three of these players have been integral to Buffalo this year.  Jairus Byrd leads all rookies in INTs, but more importantly has been the most consistent presence in the secondary.  But more important have been Wood and Levitre.  The offensive line has been poor at best, but they have been one of the reasons that it hasn’t gotten worse.  Levitre and Wood will be forces for many years to come and have been learning the pro game as they go.  The offensive line was already a last minute, patch work, offensive line.  Losing these two would make a line that already has little cohesiveness and experience a much worse unit.

RJ: My favorite part of every game (other than hopefully winning) is getting to see players I haven’t heard about yet.  What Bills player has avoided any sort of national attention, but will surprise Chiefs fans on Sunday?

JM: Although Fred Jackson has gotten some attention he really has yet to get the national attention I think he deserves.  He has outplayed Marshawn Lynch dating back to last year and has yet to be rewarded with a running back controversy on ESPN.  It may be because Buffalo is in a small market, but even Rudi Johnson got attention when he was taking over for Corey Dillon.  Jackson is a force because he can run, catch, and make people miss.  Jackson will be the one to watch provided he gets the chance to play this Sunday.  Jackson’s biggest detractor has been the stigma that surrounds former number one pick Marshawn Lynch.  It is hard to bench a number one pick for a free agent from Coe College.  It is hard because of the money Lynch is making as well as the pride a team can have when having to decide if they should bench a first round draft pick.  Jackson has all the tools to break out in the same fashion that Priest Holmes did for the Chiefs.  He also has very similar skill sets and could end up being a top 5 running back if given the chance.  Sit back and enjoy the Fred Jackson show if he is given the chance to get on the field.

RJ: What’s your best guess at a final score?  Player of the game?

JM: My best guess at the score?  Well I can honestly admit that this will be a sloppy game that will have everything in it; turnovers, touchdowns, more turnovers.  I think Buffalo takes this game, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a score in the area of 27-13.  As for the player of the game?  I think if Fred Jackson is able to start and not split carries with Marshawn Lynch he is easily the player of the game.  But realistically it would not surprise me to see a defensive player like DT Kyle Williams or DB Drayton Florence coming up and making plays in order to help solidify a Buffalo Bills win.

Tags: Buffalo Bills, Fred Jackson, Perry Fewell