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| Tuesday, September 17 Reed emerges as another Bills target By James C. Black ESPN.com |
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Josh Reed apparently has no problem playing the same position as a perennial Pro Bowler and emerging league star. Instead of being lost in the shadows of Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, Reed pulled in eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Minnesota Vikings 45-39 in overtime on Sunday. Reed, a second-round draft pick from LSU, is the first rookie this season to have 100 receiving yards in a game.
With Price coming off a career year (55 catches, 895 yards, seven touchdowns), it could easily have been argued that Buffalo didn't need to draft another wideout so high. But Reed has quickly put an end to any second-guessing that might have occurred since April. Drew Bledsoe capped a two-minute drill in the opening half by hitting Reed down the middle for a nine-yard touchdown -- Reed's first -- that tied the score at 13-13. Down 32-30 midway in the fourth, Bledsoe connected with Reed for a 28-yard reception on third-and-8. Four plays later, the pair converted another third-down play -- this time for 16 yards. The drive ended with Bledsoe hitting Price for a three-yard touchdown as the Bills took a momentary lead. Reed would make two more grabs during the contest, including an eight-yarder on the drive that resulted in Mike Hollis' 54-yard field goal that sent the game to overtime. "The sky's the limit for Josh," Moulds said. "The more he plays the better he gets." Each Tuesday from now until the end of the regular season, ESPN.com will review rookie performances. Here are some others who had a significant impact this past week:
Quarterback Quincy Carter had a good outing during the win over Tennessee in large part because of the great protection, spearheaded by Gurode. Carter was sacked only once and not intercepted -- unlike the opener against Houston in which he had a horrendous evening. "The offensive line was light years better than they were in Houston," offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet told The Dallas Morning News.
Fox couldn't have asked for a better situation. With veteran Rodney Harrison sidelined, Fox got to make his first NFL start against former Fresno State teammate David Carr. And he made the most of it, picking off Carr late in the fourth quarter to end one of Houston's better drives. "I saw it in his face (that he was rattled)," Fox told the San Diego Union Tribune. "But that's what we had to do."
Just what Chargers foes want to hear -- there's yet another linebacker on the squad to fear. Leber registered three sacks and forced a fumble in San Diego's thumping of Houston. "This whole experience, ever since I've been here, has been great," the third-round draft pick from Kansas State told the Union-Tribune. "You look around, and I'm learning from Donnie Edwards and Junior Seau."
Shortly after the draft, critics wondered if Peppers would grasp the technique and challenges of playing defensive end in the NFL. On Sunday, he did just fine, sacking Lions quarterback Mike McMahon three times and forcing a fumble during the Panthers' rout. "I found a beat on the quarterback when he was moving his hands before they snapped the ball," Peppers was quoted in the Detroit Free Press. "He was consistent and was doing it every time. That helped me get the edge a little bit." Peppers' three sacks are the most in one game by a Carolina defender since All-Pro linebacker Kevin Greene did it in 1998, according to the Free Press.
Aside from middle linebacker Joey Porter, Randle El was about the only Steeler who had much of a pulse in the loss to Oakland. As he had in the preseason, Randle El caused commotion practically every time he got his hands on the ball. His twists and turns following Oakland's initial kickoff led to a 23-yard return that eventually resulted in a Hines Ward touchdown reception. He would later go on to log a 31-yard kick return, 10-yard rush and 17-yard reception as part of his 127 all-purpose yards.
The Rams clearly have issues on both sides of the ball, and they hope by making Thomas a starter makes a difference defensively. Thomas, chosen to start over veteran Don Davis, had four solo tackles against the Giants.
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, deservedly so, will get a great deal of credit for Buffalo's success on offense so far. But there's a "big" reason why Bledsoe has more time to find his targets than Rob Johnson ever did. Williams, taken with the fourth overall pick in the draft, established a rapport with Bledsoe instantly and has made sure that his quarterback is well protected. Though Bledsoe has been sacked seven times in two games, he has still managed to get off 88 passes. James C. Black is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com. |
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