Offense compliments dominating defensive performance.
by Steve Saslow
All three phases were clicking on opening day, leading to a dominating win. Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:J.P. Losman was very efficient in his first career start. He didn't have happy feet or hold on to the ball too long. He did run six times for 31 yards. Through the air he was 17 of 28 for 170 yards with a nice 89.9 QB rating. There were no interceptions and his first career touchdown pass. Grade A-: One NFL Start, One NFL win.
Running Backs:Willis McGahee seemed like he was having a quiet game but he got stronger as the game progressed and finished with his eighth career 100 yard game. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry with his 117 yards. He didn't get into the end zone on a third down draw play. He also caught three passes. Shaud Williams had seven carries for 14 yards. Daimon Shelton had some punishing blocks and caught one pass for 11 yards. Grade B+: Did the job of running out the clock in the second half.
Receivers:Eric Moulds had four catches for 40 yards. Josh Reed caught a pass on the first play of the game and then never saw the ball again. Lee Evans had three catches for 68 yards, including a 42 yard bomb, one of the few times they went deep. Mark Campbell caught two passes for 18 yards and appears to be a nice safety valve option for Losman. Jason Peters played tight end on the goal line and caught a tackle eligible touchdown. Campbell was also wide open on the play . Grade B+: Did their job in the win.
Offensive Line:Chris Villarial played despite being hobbled by his sprained ankle. He was replaced late in the first half by Duke Preston. The line gave Losman plenty of time to throw allowing just one sack. Mike Gandy and Bennie Anderson opened up nice holes for the running game as did big Mike Williams. Gandy was called for holding once that negated a big play. Grade A: Nice effort gave the young QB time to throw.
Defensive Line:Aaron Schobel was very busy in the Texans backfield, he had two sacks and some pressures. Sam Adams clogged up the middle to help shutdown the run. Ron Edwards was stout in the middle as well. Chris Kelsay had four tackles and a sack. Grade A+: Shutdown the run and created havoc on the line of scrimmage .
Linebackers:Takeo Spikes was his usual disruptive self with five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. London Fletcher led the team, as usual, with 10 tackles and he recovered a fumble. Jeff Posey seemed much more involved then he did last year, he had four tackles. Grade A+: Another year, another outstanding performance from the backers.
Secondary:Remember the days when Bills' safeties never got interceptions? Those days are over now that Troy Vincent is playing there full time. He had two interceptions while his partner Lawyer Milloy added a third for that group. Milloy also recovered a fumble. Nate Clements did an outstanding job shutting down Andre Johnson as he only caught three balls for 18 yards. Terrence McGee also did an outstanding job in coverage. Jabari Greer showed again why he is a play maker, he had a sack . Grade A+: Got to love that safety duo.
Special Teams:Brian Moorman averaged 40.6 yards on five punts, all in the second half. He had a 58 yarder and one inside the 20. Rian Lindell was magnificent as he was 5 for 5 on field goals and hit his lone extra point attempt. Nate Clements had two punt returns for 19 yards as he was the lone man back there on all returns. Terrence McGee and Daimon Shelton each had one return for 16 yards as they kicked it short to keep it away from McGee. Grade A: Lindell was the hero.
Coaching:Mike Mularkey had the team ready and did the right thing in opening the game with a wide open spread formation offense. That loosened things up for the running game. They ran out of timeouts early in the second quarter which cost them a possible challenge of the Texans lone touchdown. Grade A: Nice victory.
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