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Four things to OBSERVE today against Carolina

1. Wide receiver recovery

Against the Jets, the passing targets were primarily to the backfield and the tight ends. Wide receivers were targeted only eight times in quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s 28 throws. The running backs and tight ends saw 19 throws, and Taylor threw one ball away.

Head coach Sean McDermott stated that the offense was taking what they were given as the West Coast offense got the 21-12 win over the Jets. Many following the Bills question if the offense was designed for the short game or the strategy is avoiding the arguably depleted wide receiver corps without Sammy Watkins.

“Well, it’s important from the standpoint of just us evolving as an offense,” McDermott said in Wednesday’s press conference. “That we take what the defense gives us. If the throws aren’t there down the field, then we take what the defense gives us. If the throws are there down the field then we’ll take those throws. We took a couple of them last week and a couple of them worked out. There’s also value in run-after-catch.”

2. Running McCoy rampant

The 29-year-old running back in Buffalo’s backfield was the priority in the team’s offensive success. Running back LeSean McCoy had a whopping 27 touches — both hand offs and catching — and proved he will have a prominent role in the Bills ability to drive downfield.

McCoy, however, proved to be human as he landed on his left wrist down near the goal line and was injured. He noted that it was “numb” as Tolbert powered in the end zone for a touchdown. McCoy returned to the field on the next offensive drive, but can he, at his age, be the bell cow running back?

“I am used to that,” McCoy said after the Jets game. “I don’t take many real shots. You won’t see too many ‘oooo’ hits with me. I am going to get tackled, but I rehab and do other things to prepare myself, physically. I am fine with that. All my tackles are like wrap tackles. … I’ve been playing this way for so long; I’ve been playing undersized. … Overall, I want the ball.”

McDermott confirmed that McCoy’s injury is nothing to fret about and he will play today.

3. McDermott’s run ‘D’

The New York Jets averaged 2.5 yards per run on 15 carries. The longest run for New York was 11 yards by Bilal Powell. The defensive coordinator turned Buffalo Bills head coach proved that there was still a stout defensive line. McDermott had a revolving door, per se, on the line. The depth helped Buffalo keep its starters fresh and without the sacrifice in quality.

“Of course. I like the rotation,” Marcell Dareus said Wednesday after taking only 34 snaps against the Jets. “I like what we got going on. I’m just going to play my role, doing the best I can. It takes a little getting used to, but at the same time we all feel fresh. We’re ready for the fourth quarter. The other thing [is] we’ll be ready later on in the season.”

Carolina, which boasts a running trio of backs Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey and the mobility of Newton, has a much different and more versatile approach compared to the Jets.

“We got to focus on their formations and the different backs they can play, McCaffrey or Stewart,” Kyle Williams said. “So, it’s a whole different challenge.”

4. Taking down Cam

Jerry Hughes had a remarkable season in 2014, before Rex Ryan’s arrival. He took down the quarterback 10 times that season, but dropped the previous two years with only five sacks in 2015 and six this past season.

The defensive line has been a quarterback’s threat. Dareus has used his speed at the defensive tackle position to take down the man under center. In 2014, Dareus matched Hughes’ career year with 10 of his own.

In Week 1, however the Bills did not look like they returned to that form. The team only took down McCown once for an 11-yard loss, which was by first-year Bills safety Jordan Poyer. The defense sees the one-sack performance as a complement to Jets quarterback Josh McCown’s quick throws than lack of defensive production.

“It was different last week,” Shaq Lawson noted. “McCown was getting the ball out. Cam likes to hold it a little bit, trying to make plays. So, we will have a little bit more time to get to Cam than we did last week.”

When it comes down to the aspirations of getting to Newton, the team as a whole reiterates the 1/11th mindset, much like the Patriots with head coach Bill Belichick’s “Do your job” ideology.

“I am just going to do my job, be the 1/11th,” Lawson stated. “Just do my job and help this team win.”

Follow @Kuczkowski95 on Twitter for Buffalo Bills updates throughout the 2017 season.

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