Bills look ahead to Toronto game vs. Seahawks
By: John Kucko
Updated: December 12, 2012
The Bills face Seattle Sunday int heir annual game played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Below are comments from Wednesday's media session, beginning with head coach Chan Gailey:
Q: Will DE Mark Anderson make it out for practice today?
Q: Will DE Mark Anderson make it out for practice today?
A: Yes. He will be on the field today. I do not know how
long he can go because conditioning is part of it. We have to let him get some
reps and let him get his feet back under him. He will be on the field, which is
great.
Q: Does he have to practice for a couple of weeks or
is there a chance he will play this
Sunday?
A: Yeah, there is a slight chance he will play this
week. There is. There is a chance he will play this week. It depends on how he
feels and how he goes through practice. Does he get really sore? You know how
that goes. We just have to wait and see toward the end of the week how he feels
after going through a few days of practice.
Q: Where is C Eric Wood
now?
A: Getting closer. They have not ruled him out for the
last two games, but they have not told me that it is a definite that he will. It
is somewhere between those two. That is one of those definite maybes, one of
those situations.
Q: So he is still out for this
week?
A: Yes.
Q: How does them keeping a linebacker in while
playing nickel impact your thoughts on the running
game?
A: Well first of all, they are a good run defense. It
does not matter who is playing. They play good run defense out of nickel. They
are 10th in the league in rush
defense and third overall in defense. They are a great defense in every respect.
You just have to make a plan for it, be able to try to get on a hat, make blocks
and give C.J. (Spiller) some room to run.
Q: Do you see opportunities against this run
defense?
A: It is what we hope, yeah. We hope there are
opportunities and we hope we take advantage of the opportunities we get to make
some runs.
Q: There is a perception out there that QB Tarvaris
Jackson is not smart enough for this
offense...
A: No. That is the furthest thing from the truth. You go
in and ask him about our offense, he knows what is going on. He just has not had
any reps. The speed of doing things in 20 seconds, he can answer it. He knows
it. It is not like he does not know it. It is just a matter of him getting the
reps at it and there is just no opportunity during the course of a season to get
a guy reps doing things with the speed of the game. You can go out there, let
him throw individual routes and things like that but just the speed of the game
and a new offense is very, very difficult.
Q: Have you utilized him yet in terms of the Seahawks
being his former team?
A: Yes. We have talked to him a lot about personnel more
than anything. Not scheme, but more personnel and what he feels about their
guys' strengths and weaknesses. We have talked to him a
lot.
Q: How much of a factor can that really
make?
A: Probably less than people think. It has some impact
on some things you think about and ways you may set up some run or pass
situations. You really have to go by what is on film because there are some new
people there as well. It has some impact, but maybe not to the extent that
people think.
Q: Do you ever have to alter things when you are
playing against a former player?
A: I do not, but if I get a feel for it during the game
that is a factor then we adjust in the game. You have got something in the back
of your mind that you can go to if you think it is a problem. You do not go into
making adjustments assuming. You go in with your normal stuff and then if you
see that maybe they are over there calling out plays or calling out signals then
you might have to make an adjustment.
Q: Are you going to push hard to resign
Jackson?
A: Buddy (Nix) and I have not talked about that at all,
but I would think that would certainly be in the plans.
Yes.
Q: In the pre-draft process, did you get a chance to
spend time with Seahawks QB Russell Wilson? And if so, what did you think of
him?
A: Yes. Extremely impressed. He is a great leader, he is
extremely smart and he is extremely productive. If you took away the size, he
was right up there with the top quarterbacks. That is what everybody had a
problem with. He had done it in college, but you always have that thing in the
back of your mind. He has proved everybody wrong and proved himself right. He is
an impressive player and an impressive person.
Q: What were your impressions of Seahawks RB Marshawn
Lynch and what are they now at this point?
A: I thought he was a very good running back when he was
here and I think he is a very good running back still today. He has been
extremely productive there and he is running hard. He seems to feel a lot more
comfortable there. I do not know that, you would have to ask him that. It seems
like he has really fit in well and things are going well for him right
now.
Q: Might have there been a lack of comfort here and
that is why he ended up being the odd man
out?
A: I do not know. That happened so fast when I was here.
We were just still trying to evaluate everybody when we made the decision to go
the direction we did.
Q: But he was the odd man
out?
A: Yeah. He was.
Q: Any insight onto why it was
him?
A: I guess we liked those other two guys better at that
point. That is why you normally make a
decision.
Q: How much of a distraction for you has been the
speculation over your job?
A: I get up every morning and do my job the best I can.
I cannot worry about all that stuff.
Q: How much did Lynch's off the field stuff factor
in?
A: If you let that become too much of a factor,
sometimes it can sway decisions that are not good for a football team. You have
to make decisions that are good for the football team based on the talent that
you have and the talent that you have accumulated. We were loaded up there and
we had an opportunity to get value so we took advantage of the
opportunity.
Q: What is it that is making him play so well
now?
A: I do not know. You would have to ask him that, but he
is playing well.
Q: What do you see on film from
him?
A: Well I see the same thing I saw when I got here and
watched film. He is a big, strong man that has better quickness than people give
him credit for. Extremely good balance. He is a really good running
back.
Q: Do you anticipate keeping the offensive line the
same as last week?
A: Yes. We will keep that the same. Try to create some
continuity.
Q: What are your thoughts about going up to
Toronto?
A: That has been an enjoyable trip for me. We are 1-1 up
there. Last year it really felt like a home game. The first year it was a little
bit more of a neutral site, but last year it felt like a home game. That is what
you hope to create and continue to develop where that becomes like a game right
here. If we can get that, that would be great.
Q: Is it frustrating to only have seven true home
games?
A: Frustrating is not winning. Frustrating is not where
you play. Frustrating is not winning, so you have to win wherever you are. You
would rather be at home. Everybody would rather be at home. You cannot play 16
at home so you play the way it is scheduled.
Q: Do you think there should be a deal for you to
play in Toronto?
A: I am not into deal making.
Q: Do you look at Seattle as a model of a rebuilding
team?
A: No. They have done a good job. They have built their
defense and got it extremely strong to this point. Their offense is starting to
come on and they have done a good job overall of where they are. Everybody tries
to say 'Is this a model? Is that a model?' Every place is different. Every
situation is different and it takes a different amount of time. It takes
different people coming together. The right people coming together at the right
time to get that done. I do not know if it is a model, but they are doing it the
way I believe. You get the defense set and then you work to get the offense
done.
Q: Is getting where they are what you hope to
accomplish here?
A: What are they? 8-5? I hope we are better at some
point--a lot better than that.
Q: Did you consider Wilson at
all?
A: Sure. Everybody had a high opinion of him. It is
just where you would have taken him. Everybody had a high opinion of him.
Q: What is your policy in terms of talking to guys
who have questions or concerns?
A: They can come in my office any time. They know my
office is open. I have had guys come in this year and talk about it. Anybody can
come in my office anytime they want to and ask me.
Q: RB C.J. Spiller said he had a great conversation
with you. Is that kind of what you are talking about
there?
A: Yeah. He and I talked the other day. He is a great
guy. He is a true pro. It is great to have him on our football team on top of
being a great player.
Q: Is there anything that Spiller needs to prove
Sunday and over the final couple games?
A: Did you ask him?
Q: I did.
A: What did he say?
Q: He said 'It is not up to me to satisfy Joe-blow
down the street. It is however many carries I
get.'
A: That is a good
answer.
Q: Where did you have Wilson
graded?
A: You know I am not answering that. I know, but I am
not answering it.
Q: Is this team better now than when you first got
the job?
A: I believe it is, but we are in a production business.
Right now we have not produced to that fact, but I believe we are.
QB Ryan
Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, December 12,
2012
Q: What is your incentive for these last three
games?
A: It is one of those things there has been a lot of
disappointment this year. But you kind of think these last three games could go
either way which I know are not going to be the case. But if you quit then you
start feeling sorry for yourself. You finish losing all three games and all of a
sudden you are sitting at 5-11. That is not a good feeling. We have to make sure
that we are professionals and are coming into work. I know that everybody talks
about the playoff picture, but for us we are sitting at 5-8. There are a lot
more things we have to worry about and do. That is not really in our minds right
now. We are trying to finish at 8-8 and getting to the offseason on a much
higher note than we are right now. I think that is what you look at right now,
just going out there and winning these last three games. We have a tough
opponent this week. It will be a tough game for us. We have to make sure
everybody is preparing like we are going to the playoffs and preparing to win
the game. I think we will be OK.
Q: Can you talk about the Seahawks commitment to slow
down the run game and get you in long passing
situations?
A: They do a good job of that and even just bringing an
extra player in the box. You can see they are a big, physical team just in terms
of the size of their safeties and corners. I know one of them is out, but big,
physical team. We are going to have to have some runs that are maybe one, two
yard runs. Try to eliminate the negative plays and then just stay with it. Try
to get some of those big runs out of C.J.
(Spiller).
Q: Given how things have gone, some might say it
might be a benefit to get out of town for a home
game.
A: I guess I am not too worried about that. We are just
worried about going out there and having a great week of practice. The one thing
we know going into this game are the elements. We are not going to be playing in
the weather. I think if there is a bonus, maybe it is that. Other than that, we
just have to go out there and play.
Q: Does Toronto still feel like a neutral site
atmosphere even though you won there last
year?
A: I do not want to make any headlines or be
controversial here. I think there was a radio show about me yesterday. The
atmosphere is different. I think everybody knows that. It's much different than
the Ralph in terms of the noise and the intensity. We have to be able to take
advantage of we are going to have more fans there than they will. We have to be
able to take advantage of that.
Q: Teams have had some success running on the
Seahawks. Do you guys feel like you can do some things in the run game to the
them?
A: Yeah, we think so. That is something we try to focus
on every week. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it does not. With C.J. (Spiller)
now the guy, the guy that is going to get the majority of the carries--he has a
great opportunity and a great challenge. I know he is excited for
it.
Q: What is your mindset about the passing game with
teams who are going to try to load up on RB C.J.
Spiller?
A: This team in particular, they do that a lot. There
was some stuff with Calvin Johnson where they did not do it as much. This is
what they do, no matter who it is. We have to find a way to get some positive
runs out of it. We have to find a way to just continue to give him the ball. As
we have seen this season with him, every game at some point he is going to break
out and have a big run, a big catch or whatever it is and get down the field. We
have to give him as many opportunities as we can to do that.
Q: Do you find that you guys run more effectively out
of spread?
A: I think that is just who we are. Schematically that
is what we do. I think the Jacksonville game was a little bit different in terms
of getting down there and running the ball with bigger people I guess. A lot of
what we do is the spread them out type of stuff and I think that is what we are
most effective at.
Q: Are there going to be some things you do different
so you do not get hit as much as you did last
week?
A: That is part of it and I said it after the game that
I probably could have done a better job on some of those of staying in a little
bit better. I come out of last week with the two guys up front with more
confidence than I had going into the game. I thought they played about
expectations and did a good job. Quarterbacks are going to get hit. You watch
the film, the Seattle film-they get after the quarterback. Whether it is with
their different blitzes and what they do on third-down or first- and second-down
stuff, they get after the passer pretty good. That is just part of the position.
You have to be able to stand in there and deliver. As long as I am able to get
the ball out, the hits are fine. You almost welcome those.
Q: Can guys go in behind closed doors and talk to HC
Chan Gailey if they have a disagreement with play calling or something like
that?
A: A lot of it we, Chan and I, have a lot of discussions
whether it is before a game, leading up with a game plan and all of that. Maybe
mixing things around because I am more comfortable with it. Afterwards we will
always review the tape together and work over situations and talk about what I
did well, what he thinks I could have done better and just things that he thinks
he could have done better. For me and him there is an open line of
communication. I think if anybody else has an issue with it, a lot of it goes
through me.
Q: Is there something that RB C.J. Spiller has to
prove here going up against a stout defense?
A: I do not know if there is anything he needs to prove.
I think he has had a, going back to the end of last year, pretty nice run and
yards per carry and all of that stuff. The Miami game he had a lot of touches
and kind of showed that he can be a guy that can carry the ball, ground and
pound type stuff. I do not know if he is going into this game thinking he has
anything he needs to prove. He might have a little bit more edge to him in this
game because he knows he is going to be the feature
guy.
Q: Is getting into a controlled environment a
welcomed thing for a quarterback?
A: Yeah, I think so just because you know what you are
getting especially home games here in December. We view that as an advantage in
terms of the weather and being able to do better in the elements than teams that
are coming in. But yeah as a quarterback I think you enjoy knowing that you are
not going to have any wind, rain or sleet. With the game plan, too-you can game
plan accordingly and not have to have that backup plan in terms of what happens
if the weather turns south.
Q: A lot of people who call radio shows are asking is
QB Tarvaris Jackson too dumb to master the offense. What is your response to
that?
A: No. He is a bright guy. He has played in the league.
I think we talked about it a couple weeks ago, but he was put in a tough
situation in terms of having to come in when he did and in terms of where we are
as an offense. It is not an easy situation for a guy who has had no experience
in it to not have a training camp or anything to be able to come in with no reps
be able to master an offense.
Q: We did not see RB Fred Jackson and Spiller on the
field together too much. What do you think about how much it happened and the
difficulties of having two running backs on the
field?
A: I think part of it had to do with injuries. Fred
(Jackson) getting hurt right away and C.J. kind of getting a shoulder. Not
knowing if both guys were going to be available for the whole game all the time.
I think that went into it because as soon as you lose one of them you kind of
lose that package. We have not seen it as much this year and it might have been
because of the injury stuff and just the uncertainty of whether you were going
to have them both throughout a complete game or
not.
Q: Do you see Seattle as almost a model you want to
follow in terms of rebuilding?
A: Not really. I am not too familiar with their team
this year and the last few years just because we do not get to see them play a
whole lot. I do not think so.
Q: How much has the talk of your coach's future been
a distraction for this team?
A: Not at all. I think a lot of that stuff, as
professionals, we are just coming in every week and just trying to dive into the
game plan, trying to dive into figuring out how to win next week and the coming
up game. That stuff, all of a sudden in the offseason you start paying attention
to whether it is yourself, your teammates or your coach. Whoever it is, but
during the season it is not much of an issue.
Q: Do you have your Gangnam Style dance
ready?
A: I think you pronounced that wrong, actually.
Q: Is it a little unfair to play just seven true home
games?
A:That might be a little bit above my head. I think Russ
Brandon is probably a better guy to ask about that. It is just we know that it
is something we have to do every year and we have to be able to go there and
whether it is a home game or not we have to be able to go up there and show
up.
Q: Is there anything Tarvaris can provide because
Seattle is his old team?
A: Yeah and most of it is just based on not necessarily
scheme, but different personnel. And he knows those guys inside-and-out just in
terms of whether it is the defense tackles, ends or DBs--just being able to give
a little information here or there that you cannot really pick up from watching
the film. There are a lot of questions that I have asked and that I will ask
this week in terms of certain personnel and certain guys on the field. I think
that is where he can provide the most help.
RB C.J. Spiller
Wednesday, December 12,
2012
Q: Do have any thought to the fact that Marshawn
Lynch running the ball on the other side?
A: He is a hard runner. He is a physical runner. Hope he
has the worst game ever, nah I mean he is a great guy though. I enjoyed my time
while he was here. I really became close with him, really learned a lot from
him, the way he prepared. He's a physical runner. He is one of the best ones
in the league doing what he does.
Q: When you look at Seattle's defense overall from
the games before there is some opportunities to break some runs isn't
there?
A: Well you are just going to have to take what they
give you. You can't go in there thinking that you can break them every time
because those guys are fast, physical and fly around so it is going to be a
crowded box is what I expect. I just have to take what they give me and if a big
one breaks I got to hopefully take advantage of it. I can't go into the game
pressing that is going to be the biggest thing. I can't go into the game
pressing for it.
Q: How do you feel about going up and playing a game
up in Toronto?
A: Well I just was up there a couple a days ago and the
fans are really excited and I'm probably guessing that is due to the hockey
lockout season. But they really got 90% of the tickets sold, but they are
excited, I am excited. To me football is football it doesn't matter where you
play it you still have to go out there and get your job done. It is definitely
different especially this time of the year when you have the bad weather, the
coldness, but for this game I don't think the outside will affect Seattle just
because they are an outdoor team as well.
Q: With all the talk about your coach has that been
distracting to you guys this week or yourself
personally?
A: No, not at all. He is our coach here. He is going to
continue to be our coach. It shouldn't be a distraction to any of
us.
Q: Are you looking forward to playing against
Marshawn Lynch?
A: I'm just looking forward to going against their
defense. He is not going to be out there trying to chase me and make the
tackles. So, I am just looking forward to seeing how we stack up against another
elite defense.
Q: Did you get a chance to talk to coach about what
he meant when he said that you were
winded?
A: Yeah we did, we talked. It is very confidential. I
understood what he said and he understood what I
said.
Q: You feel good about the
conversation?
A: Yeah the conversation went great. It wasn't just
about that it was about other things too as well. I think you should be able to
go and talk to your boss.
WR Stevie Johnson
Wednesday, December 12,
2012
Q: What do you make of this guy (PSY). I mean you
like to put out a few tunes out on YouTube and stuff like that what do you make
of the 800 or 900 million hits?
A: Yeah it is amazing. He came up on a catchy song. It's
amazing though the feedback that he has gotten. More power to
PSY.
Q: Now what about this team that put up 58 points
against Arizona. They have a good defense. What are the challenges for you guys
to move forward?
A: I mean it is a great defense just looking at them.
They strip the ball, they play physical, they move fast and they are athletes. I
know it is going to be a tough one for us. I still think we can take advantage
of their defense. They play a lot of man they play some three and what not, but
I think we can take advantage of it.
Q: Are you okay with this game going up there, you
are losing a home game because of it every year, are you okay playing up there
or does it upset you losing a home game in your
stadium?
A: It doesn't upset me. Our main objective is to get a
win. That's pretty much the first focus, where we play at is secondary. We know
that it isn't home game we know our fans want it to be played at the Ralph. It
is what it is we play up in Toronto and that's it the rest is
whatever.
