Gilmore: Garoppolo, Brissett different QBs, ‘but do the same stuff’

The Buffalo Bills aren’t worrying about the identity of the New England Patriots’ quarterback Sunday.

They’re focus in practice this week has been on the offensive system that Jimmy Garoppolo or the more mobile Jacoby Brissett will be operating.

‘Pretty much went over the plays we saw them do on film’

“They’re both different, but I think that system that they run, they can both be effective,” Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore told Bruce Murray and Maurice Jones-Drew on the SiriusXM Blitz. “So we pretty much went over the plays that we saw them do on film. Different quarterbacks, but they pretty much run the same stuff. They just get into the formation in different ways.”

What’s the key to having success against the short and intermediate routes the Patriots’ receivers run, given the extensive single coverage the Bills play?

‘Got to be super aggressive’

“You’ve got to be aggressive,” Gilmore said. “These guys, they do a lot of option routes, they run a lot of man on the island. They try to pick you and stuff like that, so you’ve got to be prepared and break down the film by formation. So you’ve just got to be super aggressive and try to get your hands on them and play football.”

 

Mosley on Suggs’ impact on Ravens: ‘He’s not making all the sacks, but he’s affecting the QB’

Measuring Terrell Suggs’ impact on the Baltimore Ravens’ defense was easier to do last season, when he missed all but one game with a torn Achilles.

The Ravens struggled without their star outside linebacker.

Now that he’s back, they are 3-0 and already have gotten three sacks from him, two in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 19-17 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Suggs’ return ‘makes a great difference’

Fellow Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley can see what Suggs’ return means to the defense whether he’s bringing down the quarterback or not.

“It makes a great difference, whether it’s guys going after him on a double team or the running backs chipping,” Mosley told Bruce Murray and Maurice Jones-Drew on the SiriusXM Blitz. “You really haven’t seen him be as flashy as he usually is in his game. But if you watch film, his presence is just known when he’s rushing the quarterback.

‘His presence is just known’

“He’s not making all the sacks, all the big plays, but he’s affecting the quarterback. On the interception I had last week (against the Jaguars), he got his hands in the quarterback’s face and that’s why the ball went up in the air.”

 

Pete Carroll on Jimmy Graham: ‘He’s just a monster out there’

After Jimmy Graham suffered a serious knee injury last season, there were serious questions about whether the Seattle Seahawks tight end would ever have the same high-level production he had with the New Orleans Saints.

In 11 games last season, Graham caught 48 passes for 605 yards and two touchdowns.

‘Did a great job, had a big impact on the game’

Through the Seahawks’ 2-1 start, however, there has been a steady increase in his targets and receptions. Graham ranks second on the team with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. He had six of those receptions in last Sunday’s 37-18 loss against San Francisco.

“We targeted him nine times last week and he caught six balls and did a great job, had a big impact on the game,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan on Movin’ The Chains. “I don’t really care what the number is. Hopefully, when the time’s right, we’ll get the ball to him and he’s going to do something with it.

‘You can’t wait to throw him the ball again’

“He looked great last week and Russell (Wilson) was really on it with him. Without question, this was the best that those two guys have been and it’s because they’ve been working so hard at it. And so it takes time.

“Jimmy’s one of those guys that when you get hooked into him, you can’t wait to throw him the ball again because he’s just a monster out there.”