From: bittle@niktow.canisius.edu (Jason Bittle)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Buffalo over Dallas 27 - 20
Date: 22 Jan 93 16:56:06 GMT
Organization: Canisius College, Buffalo NY. 14208

In article <C161Lt.D17@fc.hp.com>, gates@fc.hp.com (Bill Gates) writes:

>     1.  Emmitt Smith and Thurman Thomas compare very well, but I think
>         Dallas will run all over the Bills D.  The Dallas OL run-blocks
>         very well.  I believe they are a better overall OL than the Bills'
>         OL.  I expect to see the Moose on more short-yardage plays, and

 Hold on a second here.  The Bills' OL is one of the best in the league, as
rated by such analysists as John Madden (a VERY HEAVY NFC FAN.  (and excuse
the pun)).  I would say that they are equal, and at the least, the Bills are
better.

>     2.  There is no way, contrary to your prediction, that Buffalo can shut
>         down an air attack consisting of Smith, Novacek, and Johnston for

 I will agree with you on this point, because I felt that the weakest part of
the Bills defense is their secondary, and their lack of coverage.  Perhaps
it's Corey's (Def. Coord Walt) lack of imagination on the defense.  But, the
Bills have been playing awesome in the last three weeks (or rather, 2 and 1/2
games) in the playoffs, only allowing 16 points in the last 10+ quarters.
That's less than a field goal a quarter, and that should be more than plenty
to beat any team, if they can be consistant.

>     3.  I feel pretty good about the Buffalo receivers vs. the Dallas
>         secondary.  Sure, the Bills will complete some passes.  But I
>         think Dallas will eliminate the big play.

 Well, they almost blew it in San Fran, giving up your "big play" in the first
quarter, but being called back due to a holding call.  The success of the
Bills will be how effective they are on the running game, producing a good
passing game.  Getting Dallas' LB to freeze on the run, and trick them with
play action passes and screen plays will work.


>     4.  I think the Bills can run on Dallas' D, but I don't think it will
>         be enough if the Bills get behind early.

 Oh, there is no question that the Bills can run on Dallas' D.  It's a
question of how many points will be produced either by the scoring of the
running game, or the setting up of the passing game due to the running game.

>     5.  Kelly is starting.  I'm more afraid of Reich (sp?).

 One of Reich's biggest advantage to the Bills is his ability to not make
mistakes (if there is such an ability).  Okey, he is less prone to make a
mistake than Kelly, but that is because of two things:  (1) Kelly's forcing of
passes where they shouldn't go, and (2) Reich's more conservative offensive
viewpoints.  I have said this, and will say it here for the first time, I do
not believe that Jim Kelly would have led Buffalo back from a 32 point
deficit.  Jim is too much of a big-gun, get it done now player that we might
have came close, but never all the way back.  I liked Reich's attitude about
it - "we'll just take it on play at a time"....  It worked, and the Bills are
still riding that emotional high.

>     6.  The Bills have shown inconsistency in the Colts and Jets games.

 Obviously you have never followed the Bills as closely as we (or I) have.  If
you did, you will realize that the Bills play about as good as their
opponents.  How else can you explain them kicking the wholly $hit out of
Pittsburg, Miami (in Miami), San Fran (in SF), and Denver, and lose to the
Jets, Colts and Raiders?  Not inconsistency, the Bills have had a history in
the past of taking it easy in games that they think are going to be easy, and
not "trying" as hard.  I won't take anything away from the Bills, they go out
there and give their 100% and sometimes more (in the Houston playoff game, for
example), but it's just that that 100% in a 49ers-Bills game is much different
than a 100% in a Jets-Bills game.

> I hate the Bills.  I have ever since that stupid game when Denver ran all
> over them EXCEPT for that miraculous 1:18!!  ARRRRGGH!!!  But, I realize
> the Bills are a solid team.  But there's no way they have the offensive
> power that the 49ers do, and Dallas was able to survive that.

  I'm sorry that you feel this way, for I like the Cowboys.  I think that they
are a gifted, young team and that they are going to be a team to recon with in
the future.  In fact, as I type this, I wear a Dallas Cowboys hat.  You may
say, "hey, isn't that a conflict in interests?" No.  When you grow up in
Dallas (around 7 years ago), you learn to live and die by the Dallas teams.
From the Mavs to the Cowpokes, I loved them all.  But since I have been
transplanted (moved back up here in '84, when the Cowboys were great and the
Bills sucked), I have learned to live for the underdog, i.e.: the 2-14 Bills
(who, as a matter of fact, beat the '84 Cowboys 14-3, on a 85 yard run by Greg
Bell.  I remember because the game wasn't on TV, and I caught the replay on
CBS.  It was near the end of the season, and the Bills basically needed a win
to salvage any hope.  Well, we won that game, but lost the rest: getting the
first draft pick in the '85 draft...Bruce Smith.)
  
> Two things could tilt things the Bills' way:  Superbowl hype pressure on
> the 'boys, and the no-huddle offense.  But I think the 'boys will deal with
> both.

 I'll address both of these topics:  The hype was big enough on the Bills to
cost them to blow the Redskins game (last year), and believe me, it is too
insurmountable to be just 'dealt' with.  It has an overwhelming effect on the
players.  It might be the undoing of the 'boys.

 Since the Cowboys have never seen the no-huddle offense, we will have to wait
until the 31st until we discover if they can indeed handle it.


-- 
ciao,                             
Jason Bittle (bittle@canisius.edu) 
(a.k.a. Pillsbury Dough Boy )