Preseason Notes: Buffalo Bills-Tennessee Titans

Last night was no different when the Bills and Titans played in the heat of Canton after 2 1/2 weeks of two-a-days practices in camp.

Sure, it’s a preseason game, but I’m telling you this now: They matter.

Coaches, scouts, and personnel men treat these games like gold because the players are in a competitive setting against players they haven’t seen for the past two weeks. Jobs are on the line, and jobs are won and lost based on players’ performances in these games in August.

Plus, coaches know that players are tired and beat up from weeks of contact in practice. It’s a perfect setting to see how they respond when they’re not 100 percent.

Some thoughts about Sunday night’s action…

The fake punt that the Titans ran to perfection was run for one reason—to get it on tape. For the rest of the preseason, teams will run “gadget” plays in the kicking game to force opposing teams to practice against it in the regular season. If you don’t think the Pittsburgh Steelers—the Titans’ first regular-season opponent—won’t spend at least 10 minutes a day working against this play come September, you’re kidding yourself.

Get it on tape and make people spend valuable practice and meeting time coming up with a plan to stop it. And when it works like it did last night, it carries even more weight in regular-season meetings.

You usually don’t pull one off like that against Bills special teams coach Bobby April.

Vince Young looked average at best. He didn’t look comfortable to me, while third string QB Patrick Ramsey—who has starting experience in the league—looked the part.

Sure, you can say Ramsey was working against third- and fourth-string guys, but he was also playing with a third- and fourth-string offensive line and third- and fourth-string wide receivers.

This preseason is huge for Young, and he must get better on the field. Yes, he did some good things, but at the quarterback position in the preseason, you need to be better than average to keep your job. He has four more games to improve, but I would give the nod to Ramsey right now in the battle for the No. 2 role.

Terrell Owens did exactly what was asked of him in the Bills’ offense. Although both of his catches came against off-man coverage—a slant and a comeback—he did his job.

He’ll see more and more press coverage in the regular season, but you have to take what the defense gives to you as a receiver.

Early in the preseason, defensive backs will play a lot of off-man coverage because the coaching staff wants to see how they play their technique and, to be honest, they want to see their players put in the toughest situations possible to see how they perform.

Owens is too good against off-man, but expect cornerbacks to walk up and challenge him at the line of scrimmage by the third or fourth games.

Why is Marshawn Lynch running with the first unit? That took me by surprise when he started the game in the backfield. Lynch will be suspended for the first three games, and Fred Jackson needs to get his preseason work with the starters.

I understand keeping Lynch fresh, but Jackson is the back who needs the work since he’ll line up with the Bills when they open against the Patriots. Lynch, on the other hand, put himself before the team this offseason. He needs to sit in August and get his work in during the second half of ballgames.

I like the Bills’ no-huddle offensive scheme. The offensive line in Buffalo is a work in progress, and any advantage they can create to counter this will work in their favor. You could see the effect on the Titans’ defensive line—they were gassed.

But is Trent Edwards talented enough to produce in this scheme?

Chris Johnson of the Titans looks more explosive to me than he did last season. I expect this guy to have another huge season because, despite the additions Tennessee made to the wide receiver position, this team is still built offensively on the running game.

I love the AFL throwback uniforms, and I want to see them all season long. Add in black shoes and I feel like I’m watching football.

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