Linebacker Takeo Spikes, who has been hampered by leg injuries for the past two seasons, was unable to perform in the Bills' 28-20 loss to the Jets in Week Three. Spikes looked at the September meeting as a missed opportunity, but the Bills get a chance to even the season series Sunday at the Meadowlands.
"Just looking through the film, I understand what the guys went through," Spikes said via conference call Wednesday. "We felt like we had some success with some of the things we did on the field, but at the end of the day, you have to give them credit. Third down - I think for them at the time - they were able to convert and make some plays happen in the fourth quarter that sealed the win for them."
Read below for Takeo Spikes' and Aaron Schobel's complete conference call transcripts*
*Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes, 12.6.06
On the Jets' offense…
When you have someone new come in and implement a new system, especially on the offensive side of the ball, it takes time for people to gel. Taking into account the type of system the Jets have, they have been doing some good things. They look consistent and guys know exactly what they are doing out there on the field. From that aspect, it presents some problems as far as us being exact and knowing all of the exact details as far as on our end.
On the previous Jets/Bills match-up…
We felt like it was missed opportunity because defensively, even though I didn't play, just looking through the film I understand what the guys went through. We felt like we had some success with some of the things we did on the field, but at the end of the day, you have to give them credit. Third down, I think for them at the time, they were able to convert and make some plays happen in the fourth quarter that filled the win for them.
On Cedric Houston…
He is an extra dimension. As soon as we feel like we have something figured out, Chad is playing well and working well with the receivers, now you bring another four-headed monster in there? I am glad that there is only one ball.
On bouncing back from early problems…
I am doing well now. It was tough early in the year because, for the amount of time I put into the achilles rehab, and doing what I was supposed to do, I never would have thought I would have pulled a hamstring. That set me back because I couldn't even go out there and do the fundamentals. Once you get passed the fundamentals, it's the game planning situations. I have been working my way back in slowly, and now I am comfortable in the defense.
On the Jets' offensive line and Nick Mangold…
I haven't seen as much on him as I wanted to since it is early in the week, but those guys are gelling well together and I think it is showing week-in and week-out, especially since the season is progressing. You can even look at last week's game, they seem to be in sync.
On the type of player Jerricho Cotchery is…
He most definitely is. Ever since the game that we played them, we always knew what he was able to do, and he made some plays against us. He is the type of guy where a lot of people may not put him out there, but on a consistent level, it is hard to find players who are consistent and who go hard week-in and week-out, and put up good performances. He is that type of player so he will definitely demand some attention from us.
Buffalo Bills' DE Aaron Schobel, 12.6.06
On the Jets' offense…
They are still getting rid of the ball quickly. They haven't changed much and they're playing pretty good football. They're controlling the ball, that's the main thing.
On the match-up vs. the Jets' tackles…
You just have to keep rushing and putting pressure on them. They get rid of the ball pretty quick and that always makes it harder to get a sack. The main thing is just to keep coming and get in his face, get your hands up and do what you can because whenever they three-step drop, there is not much you can do as far as hitting a quarterback. The main thing is just keep coming and you never know what's going to happen.
On D'Brickashaw Ferguson…
He plays left tackle and I am the right end so there's no question (that we'll face off). He's athletic, he's able to recover. The main thing that helps him is just how fast they get rid of the ball. He (Ferguson) gets beat like anybody else but (Chad) Pennington gets rid of it, so he's a hard guy to sack.
On the Jets drawing their opponent offsides…
I have seen a lot of people jump. I don't remember it being a problem, but I have seen it so I am aware of it.
On the Bills' rushing defense…
The way we play is everybody has a gap and if one guy is out of his gap then they (the opponent) hit it. I don't think its one individual, we have to be more gap sound and disciplined in what we're doing. The main thing is winning ballgames and getting turnovers. You can rush for however many yards you want to rush for, but if you're getting turnovers and you're not on the field it really doesn't matter. You can say what you want to say about stats, it really doesn't matter, the biggest one is turnovers and that's what we want to get.
On their thoughts on their season…
We're pretty upbeat. We have four games, if we win them all we're 9-7 and you have momentum going into next year. The main thing is just to get on a roll and to keep it positive through the off-season. We've done that and we're doing that and we've only been blown out in one game and that was Chicago early. We've been in games and other then the Detroit game we really haven't lost to anybody that had a losing record. We lost to New England twice and the Jets once, Chicago, Indianapolis and San Diego, those are the top teams. That's something that I'm seeing as a positive and I think we're growing as the offense grows and I think we'll be pretty good next year and we'll try to finish this season out with a positive ending.
On Willis McGahee against the Jets…
I remember he has had some good games, but that's his thing, that's offense and I don't really concern myself much with what their doing. I just got to try and beat Brick or whatever y'all called him.
Wednesday Injury Report Jets Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), LB Matt Chatham (foot), Eric Smith (foot) LB Bryan Thomas (shoulder) & S Rashad Washington (illness)
Probable: *RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *CB Andre Dyson (neck), *DE Shaun Ellis (ankle), *RB Cedric Houston (knee), DB *OL Pete Kendall (knee), *WR Justin McCareins (foot), *DL Rashad Moore (hand), *QB Chad Pennington (calf) & *WR Brad Smith (shoulder)
Bills Out: LB Angelo Crowell (fibula)
Questionable: LB John DiGiorgio (ankle), RB Willis McGahee (ankle) & CB Terrence McGee
*Denotes players who participated in practice
