NFL
Special teams the backbone of Bills
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Punt returner Roscoe Parrish is one of the many reasons the Buffalo special teams rank near the top of the league each year. Photo by Patrick McPartland

The offense is still finding its way with a young quarterback, a new running back and a patched-up line. The defense is filling the holes left by key departures.

But the Buffalo Bills' special teams are once again loaded with enough talent to top the league this year.

The Bills are a special teams powerhouse, after ranking number one in the NFLfor the 2004 and 2005 seasons and third in 2006.

Guys like punter Brian Moorman, kicker Rian Lindell, returners Roscoe Parrish and Terrence McGee, blocker Sam Aiken and coverage man Coy Wire have launched the Bills to the top of the heap.

"We've really substantiated ourselves as being a powerhouse in that phase of the game in the NFL," said Wire, who was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a week two win at Miami last year. "That's tough to do, to become a perennial force. There's a sense of pride that comes with that, and I'm honored to be part of it. It's special. A lot of times, in other organizations, it's not stressed as much as it should be. But here in Buffalo, we feel that we can win games. We feel we're that powerful, that when we play our best game, nobody can beat us."

Special teams don't get near the attention as the offense and defense, but you don't have to go far in the Bills' locker room to hear someone extolling its virtues. Heck, the first move general manager Marv Levy made when he took over as coach of the Bills in 1986 was to obtain Steve Tasker, a career special-teams guy.

That focus on special teams continues to this day with head coach Dick Jauron and has made the Bills dangerous on kicking and punting situations. Buffalo ranked second in the league on punting net yards average at 39.2. The team was also fifth in punt return average (10.8 yards) and sixth in kickoff return average (23.9).

"We've got a group of guys who have played here a number of years, like Sam Aiken, Coy Wire, Josh Stamer, Mario Haggan," Buffalo special-teams coach Bobby April said. "Those guys are real leaders, so it's easy to have a real positive atmosphere. Plus, we've got the godfather of special teams, Marv Levy. So you know it's going to be emphasized throughout the whole organization. We've got a head coach who believes in that area's ability to positively affect the games and create the probability of success 100 percent. So we've got a lot going for us."

That special-teams excellence was on display in Buffalo's preseason win over New Orleans, 13-10, Friday night. In the first half, Aiken made a great tackle to pin the Saints back at their own 2-yard line on a Moorman punt, and newcomer Langston Walker blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt.

"He's the best kick blocker on the league," April said of Walker. "To have him is a plus. That was a huge play the other night. And he did it. He knocked the guy back, got his hands up and did a hell of a job."

In his third year with the team, Parrish has already established himself as an explosive player, even with a 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. He finished second in the league with an 11.4-yard punt return average last year and took an 82-yard punt return in for a touchdown in the week 12 win over Jacksonville, 27-24. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for having 104 return yards, which was also a team record.

"The only knock on me is my size, but that don't mean nothing to me," Parrish said. "I'm going to make the plays. Just give me the opportunity and I'm going to take advantage of it. That's just how I feel, confident. You've got to feel confident when you play this game."

Moorman made his second straight Pro Bowl last year and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice. Signed to a new contract extension in the off season, he's a cornerstone of the Bills.

"We feel that if we continue to grow as a unit, we can put Brian Moorman into the record books as one of the greatest punters ever," Wire said. "That's why we play at a high level. There is no doubt in our minds that he is the best in the game right now. So we ask ourselves why not the best ever."

Buffalo will play its first home preseason game Friday against the Atlanta Falcons.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com