Bills must avoid falling in a depressing depression

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, July 01, 2009  |  Comments( 36 )

Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills couldn’t hold a lead last season. It wasn’t merely on a game-by-game basis: They blew it on a global scale. The squad notoriously plummeted from divisional studs to sub-.500 playoff outcasts; in doing so, the Bills proved that no lead is safe. That maxim applies to whoever tops the AFC East in September as well as to individual contests. Buffalo must remain continually ruthless if it's going to get anywhere in 2009.

Of course, the Bills teased early before breaking hearts last season. Buffalo won 100 percent of the first quarter of games; conversely, the team triumphed in one-quarter of the schedule’s final three-quarters. Starting 4-0 and then finishing 3-9 was at least a novel way to fail considering coach Dick Jauron’s previous tries in Buffalo.

To, sadly, recall: In 2007, they lost four of their first five. Meanwhile, the Bills opened with a 2-5 mark the season before. At the least, starting the year sluggishly and trying to play catch-up is no longer the team’s hallmark under Jauron.

Still, the results are the same: His squads have shown an inability to habitually compete for either an entire 60 minutes or 16 games. The only thing that’s changed has been when the team removes itself from the postseason discussion. Regardless of the method, three times in three tries makes it a trend. The Bills have sagged through one lengthy stretch of the previous three seasons, and at least the franchise knows what must be fixed. Now, what can be done?

Better personnel should of course help. For example, they may be able to finish more opponents thanks to pass-rushing proficiency and tight end competence; it depends on what kind of performance they get from respective key rookies Aaron Maybin and Shawn Nelson.

But even more important than physical aptitude is ruthless leadership. For one, Trent Edwards needs to speak loudly; he must employ forceful words, even if not at high volume. Whether he likes it or not, he’s expected to do more than pass accurately as franchise quarterback. Plus, not throwing so many interceptions in the season’s middle would probably help, too.

Lee Evans/Aaron Schobel-type veterans must also lead, at least with intense examples. As with Edwards, they don’t have to scream in the locker room to make it clear that another four-game crater or 1-7 stretch is unforgivable.

Most importantly, the coach has to set the tempo. Jauron has a tendency to talk like he’s trying to lull caffeinated monkeys into slumber; it doesn’t seem quite inspiring from the outside. But that’s his personality, so he has to use what he has for good. Optimistically, his tranquility could keep the roster from either panicking if they lose or getting swept up in a single win.

He’s not about to develop a new dynamic character at age 58. With that in mind, fans may as well hope that he adapts his entrenched manner in a way that will motivate players. The team’s approach must change even if its coach’s style doesn’t.
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