1 - McCoy's ready for resurgence in run gameIt's bizarre that we're in Week Seven and LeSean McCoy is yet to score a touchdown. The Bills are 3-2, so they've managed to stay afloat without his big plays. With the halfway point of the season approaching the team's superstar is ready to return to his old ways.
"We run the ball, that's what we do. Myself, I make big plays, that's what I do," McCoy said. "It's been long enough, this is week eight, seven. Seven? I got to get it back, we got to get this thing rolling."
At this point last season McCoy had seven touchdowns. He finished the season with 14 total touchdowns. That was the second most of his nine-year career.[
Buffalo's opponent in Week Seven is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their head coach, Dirk Koetter, was asked if McCoy still has any juice left.
"I would say so, yeah. [He's] their leading receiver and their leading rusher and he has probably done more damage so far this year as a receiver than he has as a runner, but all you've got to do is see him carry the ball in the open field to see that he still has juice," Koetter said.
The last time McCoy crossed the pylons for a score was on Christmas Eve of 2016. It's closing in on a year since his last TD, and it's certainly something he's not accustomed to.
"Never. Even little league, I mean. It's something that I kind of just [do]," McCoy said. "I've really put my mindset on, getting going and getting back to just playing my ball, finding the end zone, first downs, big runs, big chunks, making guys miss, you know, highlight plays… get back to just playing our football. Buffalo, running the ball, and doing things we do best."
2 - Tampa's coaches commend Taylor's skill sets
In his third season with the Buffalo Bills, its evident Tyrod Taylor is a wizard with utilizing his arm and legs in unison. His mobility and speed and a powerful arm give opposing coaches headaches. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff acknowledges Taylor's deadly combo.
"They've done a great job of not turning the ball over. They've got a mobile quarterback [and] he's got a very strong arm, so that's a deadly combination because if the quarterback gets out, he can throw the ball 60-65 yards down the field," Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith said. "He is very impressive with his arm strength. It's going to be imperative that we first keep him contained because if he can extend the play, he can not only extend it with his feet but he can extend it with his arm. It's going to be very important to keep him in the pocket."
Only six NFL quarterbacks have had consecutive seasons of 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing. Taylor (2015-2016) is one of them, along with: Colin Kaepernick (2013-2014), Russell Wilson (2013-2015), Cam Newton (2011-2014), Mike Vick (2010-2011), and Randall Cunningham (1988-1990). The Bills signal-caller is among some elite company.
Tampa's head coach, Dirk Koetter, realizes Taylor is among the best dual threat quarterbacks.
"This guy is among the best, Tyrod Taylor, at getting out of the pocket," he said. "The thing that is most impressive is that he can flick that wrist and get it 55-60 yards downfield, so number one, you'd prefer to keep him in the pocket. When he gets out of the pocket, extreme danger as far as your scramble rules and you can't let up for a second because he can really put it down the field."
3 - Mike Vick visits One Bills Drive
On Wednesday, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick made an appearance at Bills practice. He was in Buffalo to do a feature story on Tyrod Taylor for FOX Sports. Vick was a mentor to Taylor, as they both are from Virginia and attended Virginia Tech.
Vick joined The John Murphy Show to discuss how far Taylor has come as a QB.
"Tyrod still has a lot of work to do in terms of growth at the quarterback position. I won't saw he's just raw now, because I think he's graduated from that raw ability stage into learning how to play the game from the pocket," he said. "Understanding the game, see the field, make the proper reads. Other than that he wouldn't be starting now. They have to use that to their advantage."
The segment with Taylor and Vick will air Sunday on Fox's pregame show before the Bills and Bucs square off at New Era Field.
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