Here is the Bills news of note for Saturday, December 10
1. CBS EYE ON TYROD
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is set for his 27th NFL start tomorrow and insisting that he's only focused on the Steelers, not his long term future.
But Taylor's status has been hotly debated all week by some fans and media.
One media member, former Giants QB Phil Simms, weighed in on Taylor's strengths and weaknesses yesterday in an appearance on The John Murphy Show.Simms is in town to provide color commentary on tomorrow's Bills-Steelers game on CBS.
Simms thinks Taylor's biggest issue is hDONe waits for receivers to come open and doesn't anticipate many throws.
"I look at Tyrod and I say, 'OK, he likes to see the receiver open—let's make sure he's open—and then he throws it.' Instead of just trusting his instincts and letting it go. But you only get that way through tremendous repetition," Simms said.
"I don't want a point guard who has three assists and no turnovers," he continued. "I want a point guard who has 15 assists and three or four turnovers. I want a guy wheeling and dealing and going."
Simms believes it will be difficult to make a long-term decision on Taylor's viability as a franchise quarterback without seeing him in a more pass-oriented offense.
"If you want to see who he really is—let's let him go," he said. "Let's let him throw more. You're not going to be the number one running team in the league if you let him go. You're gonna have to throw it more to see if he's the guy for the future."
2. KYLE WILLIAMS WATCH
When the Bills hit the practice field for their Saturday morning walk-through, all eyes will be on veteran DT Kyle Williams.
He missed yesterday's practice after "his back locked up on him," according to Head Coach Rex Ryan. Williams, Buffalo's leader on defense is fourth in tackles and second in tackles for losses.
If Williams can't go, the Bills are likely to activate backup DT Jerel Worthy who was inactive in Oakland last Sunday. And Leger Douzable is likely to play a beefed up role on passing downs along Buffalo's defensive line.
An update on Kyle Williams status for the game could come later today.
3. DON'T CROSS THE MOATS
He's arguably one of the most popular Buffalo Bills of the last decade. And tomorrow, Steelers LB Arthur Moats returns to Buffalo where his NFL career began.
Moats lines up at outside linebacker and he's slated to make his 26th start for the Steelers over the last three seasons. He started 20 games for Buffalo after becoming the Bills sixth round pick in 2010 from James Madison University.
In an appearance yesterday on The John Murphy Show,Moats acknowledged he'll have some fond thoughts about Bills fans and his years in Buffalo when he walks down the tunnel tomorrow.
"When you go back to a team where you played before, you always want to have your best game. That's always in there. But you can't let your emotions get the best of you." "It's going to be cool," Moats said, "but it's going to be a little weird because I was up there playing for those four years. At the end of the day, it's still football and we have a job to do. I'll talk to the guys I know up there but when I'm in there and it's time to play, I have to go to work."
