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Chris Brown, Lead Journalist
Posted Jul 1, 2009
Buffalo’s defense made a wealth of improvements in their play last season, but there was one glaring problem that coordinator Perry Fewell saw right away. A lack of big plays.
In 2008 Buffalo tied a franchise low in interceptions (10), managed just 10 fumble recoveries and ranked 27th in the league in takeaway-giveaway margin at minus-8. The Bills also had their lowest sack total since 1979 with just 24 last year.
“We did not have a lot of sacks and we had some pressures and we had a lot of balls on the turf that we did not capture,” Fewell said. “We did not take advantage of that opportunity to get the ball. That’s definitely going to be an emphasis for us.”
Emphasizing it and having the talented players to make it happen however, are two different things. Fewell recognizes this.
“I’ve said often times to my staff in the offseason that we need more playmakers on our defense,” he said. “When the ball is in the air or on the turf do we have a person that creates turnovers for us to put us in a better position?”
Fewell is hoping it’s been added via the draft or a young veteran is ready to blossom this fall. Either way the takeaway numbers have to increase sharply if Buffalo is to contend for a playoff berth in 2009...
Posted Jul 1, 2009
Buffalo’s defense made a wealth of improvements in their play last season, but there was one glaring problem that coordinator Perry Fewell saw right away. A lack of big plays.
In 2008 Buffalo tied a franchise low in interceptions (10), managed just 10 fumble recoveries and ranked 27th in the league in takeaway-giveaway margin at minus-8. The Bills also had their lowest sack total since 1979 with just 24 last year.
“We did not have a lot of sacks and we had some pressures and we had a lot of balls on the turf that we did not capture,” Fewell said. “We did not take advantage of that opportunity to get the ball. That’s definitely going to be an emphasis for us.”
Emphasizing it and having the talented players to make it happen however, are two different things. Fewell recognizes this.
“I’ve said often times to my staff in the offseason that we need more playmakers on our defense,” he said. “When the ball is in the air or on the turf do we have a person that creates turnovers for us to put us in a better position?”
Fewell is hoping it’s been added via the draft or a young veteran is ready to blossom this fall. Either way the takeaway numbers have to increase sharply if Buffalo is to contend for a playoff berth in 2009...
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