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Scouting the Bills: keeping an eye on the special teams
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Buffalo Bills Brian Moorman (8) celebrates with teammate Rian Lindell after Lindell kicked a game winning FG against the Jets two weeks ago (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
When you hear coaches talk about what it takes to win games, they often bring up the term 'three phases.' meaning offense, defense and special teams.
Special teams is usually the least consideration when fans begin their weekly debates about what it's going to take to win on Sunday.
But in close games, especially during defensive struggles and in foul weather, special teams becomes extremely important.
The reason I bring this up is because the Texans could find themselves in another close game on Sunday, and since it's in Buffalo in early November, there's a good chance that the weather will be foul - by Southeast Texas standards at least.
Right now the Sunday forecast for Buffalo is a relatively balmy 50 degrees but there's a 60% chance of rain showers in the forecast, with winds out of the north at 15.
The game on Sunday between the Texans and Bills could come down to little things, and one of the little things the Bills have going for them is that their punter, Brian Moorman, won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance last week against Carolina.
A few tidbits on Moorman:
- In the Bills 20-9 win over Carolina last week, Moorman averaged 45.0 yards on eight punts and tied for a league-high in Week 7 with four punts inside of the 20-yard line.
- Buffalo’s punt return unit held Carolina to a two yards per punt return average.
- Has recorded a 50-yard punt in seven consecutive games (55 yards in Week 7).
- The past two games, Moorman had eight of his 16 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
- Ranks fifth in the NFL with a 41.1 net average through Week 7.
Before you laugh and say that the more punts for the opponent the better, just keep in mind if it's one of 'those games' where it's like 13-10 in the fourth quarter, the punter becomes an extension of the team defense and if he can consistently pin you down deep in your own end, it becomes increasingly difficult to mount scoring drives.
So as you develop your mental game-plans this week and focus on names like Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Marcus Stroud, Aaron Schobel, and Chris Kelsay, don't forget about this Moorman cat.
Extra points:
- Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd, who recorded two tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed, was a nominee for AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 7.
- You may remember Drayton Florence, who starts at cornerback for the Bills. Florence was fined $15k for an illegal hit on Matt Schaub during Week 8 of the 2007 season when he was with the Chargers. Schaub suffered a concussion and missed a start. Coincidentally, Schaub faced another injury inducing nemesis from that season, Antwan Odom, just two weeks ago at Cincinnati. Odom, then a Titan, ended Schaub's '07 season in Week 13 by dislocating his shoulder on a sack. The Bengals lost Odom for the season during the Texans-Bengals game due to an achilles injury. I'm not sure if that's a good omen for Florence or not.
- Texans assistant head coach/defensive line, Bill Kollar, was the Bills defensive line coach the past three seasons so he should have unique insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the Bills front four.
- Don't forget to cast your Pro Bowl ballot for several deserving Texans players. Click here to vote.
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