You can expect an announcement regarding the Buffalo Bills new defensive coordinator sometime within the next few days and though the betting money is on Bob Sanders getting the promotion, a name people have looked out for is Clemson University defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
Steele almost became the University of Tennessee last month to become their defensive coordinator but unexpectedly pulled his name out to return to Clemson.
By coincidence Steele changed his mind on the exact same day Chan Gailey became the Buffalo Bills head coach. It led to growing speculation Steele could be Gailey’s choice to run the defense.
Continue reading ‘Kevin Steele will not be Bills’ defensive coordinator’
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers, who led all rookies in average ice time per game (24:42) and ranked third in scoring with 10 points (four goals, six assists), has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for January.
Myers edged Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene (6-3–9 in 12 games), Philadelphia Flyers left wing James vanRiemsdyk (5-6–11 in 14 games), New York Islanders center Rob Schremp (4-7–11 in 14 games), Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (6-3-4, 2.26 GAA in 13 games) and Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth (5-1-0, 2.38 GAA in nine games) for the award.
Myers tallied points in eight games and logged more than 25 minutes six times, helping the Sabres post an 8-3-3 record. He scored just 23 seconds after the opening face-off in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 6, recorded his first NHL game-winning goal as part of a three-point effort in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 8 and opened the scoring in a 7-2 win against the Phoenix Coyotes Jan. 18.
Continue reading ‘Tyler Myers named Rookie of the Month’
If you believe Len Pasquarelli of ESPN, there’s a prevailing chance the Buffalo Bills will be trading for Michael Vick sometime before the NFL draft commences in April. Pasquarelli cited a team source saying head coach Chan Gailey is giving serious consideration to Vick and notes it would only cost the team a later round conditional draft pick. Credibility to the rumor was fueled yesterday when the Philadelphia Daily News reported the team told Vick he’d be traded before the draft.
Appearing on the Dan Patrick radio show Monday, Vick said he believes in his heart if given the chance to start he can return to the level of prominence he achieved before his life was turned upside down by legal troubles.
“Top 10, to be honest, I’m confident in my skills.” Vick told Patrick when asked where he ranks himself among quarterbacks. “I know I can play in this league. I know I have a lot of games left in me.”
Continue reading ‘Vick to Buffalo… Could it work?’
Over the past several days, we’ve embarked on the long process of breaking down the Buffalo Bills’ roster position-by-position. With our breakdown of the offensive skill positions out of the way, we’ll start talking about the Bills’ beleaguered and overwhelmed offensive line as our State of the Bills Roster series trucks on.
There are two offensive tackles on the field for your run-of-the-mill offensive play in the NFL. Buffalo played seven different players at their tackle positions last season, including left guard Andy Levitre. Of those seven players, four saw playing time at both left and right tackle. This position lacks top-level talent and significant depth, and aside from quarterback is quite easily the Bills’ most pressing need offensively. Should be a fun review, eh?
Continue reading ‘Bills Roster Review: Offensive Tackles’
Say what you want about Dick Jauron, but going by the way the rest of the league is grabbing his former coaching staff you can’t charge him with hiring incompetents.
Alex Van Pelt was fired the day after the season ended along with the entire staff by Buffalo general manager Buddy Nix. But like most of that crew he didn’t stay unemployed for long. Van Pelt signed Monday to become Tampa Bay’s new quarterback coach and will work with 2009 first rounder Josh Freeman specifically.
He joins a full list of former Jauron hires that’ve had no problem finding employment elsewhere. Bobby April is now the special teams coordinator in Philadelphia. Sean Kuglar is coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line while his assistant in Buffalo, Ray Brown took a lateral position with San Francisco. Tyke Tolbert will tutor wide receivers in Carolina while Eric Studesville is now running backs coach in Denver.
Continue reading ‘BSD Briefs: February 2′
Iona forward Alejo Rodriguez posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and the host Gaels shot 50 percent from 3-point range as Iona dropped Canisius 72-53 Monday night in the Hynes Athletic Center. The win was the Gaels eighth straight and improved the team to 17-6 overall and 9-3 in the MAAC, while the Golden Griffins dropped to 11-12 overall and 6-6 in league play.
For Canisius, Julius Coles, Elton Frazier and Frank Turner scored 11 points apiece in the loss, with Frazier adding a team-high nine rebounds. Tomas Vazquez-Simmons was good for eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the loss for the Blue and Gold, which shot 38.8 percent from the field and turned the ball over 21 times, resulting in 19 Iona points.
Continue reading ‘Griffs dominated at Iona’
