Commentary /By Larry Felser
Bills’ recent struggles prompt plenty of questions
This is pop quiz day for the Bills.
Yes, the Chiefs are among the NFL’s worst, but Arrowhead Stadium has always been a tough place to play, especially for Buffalo teams of recent vintage. Kansas City’s desperation was on display two weeks ago at San Diego when the Chiefs moved within one point of the Chargers in the last minute but then coach Herman Edwards ordered his team to go for a two-point conversion rather than kick the extra point for a tie and overtime. He knew his beaten-up defense was in no shape for an extra period and gambling was his only choice. He lost the gamble.
For the Bills’ attempt to break their slump today, questions abound:
Was quarterback Trent Edwards brought back into the lineup too quickly after his concussion in Arizona six weeks ago? He hasn’t been the same since. There doesn’t seem to be consensus in the medical community about how to treat recovery from concussions. Edwards had a growing reputation for quick decision-making before the injury but after the debacle against the Browns his reputation is in tatters.
So why is J. P. Losman still on the payroll if the Bills aren’t going to use their backup quarterback when he’s needed? If coach Dick Jauron isn’t 100 percent sure of Edwards, why isn’t he getting Losman ready while the team’s playoff possibilities remain alive — if limp?
Buffalo has winnable games against Kansas City and San Francisco on the next two Sundays. Why wouldn’t Jauron trust Losman in those games and expand his chances of having Edwards completely healthy for the last four, against the Dolphins in Toronto, against the Jets, the Broncos and the home finale against the Patriots?
In building a program where success in every college draft is vital, are the Bills going to whiff on their entire 2008 list? That was a nice 98-yard touchdown return by Leodis McKelvin against Cleveland, but they need him to be a viable NFL corner, not just a kick returner. Speaking of whiffs, rookie cornerback Reggie Corner losing his sense of direction on what would have been a game-changing sack of Browns quarterback Brady Quinn was mortifying.
While they are conducting their ridiculous “did-he-sign-the-contract-or-didn’t-he?” game over Jauron’s future in the head coach’s office, does the Bills’ brass realize he is looking like a skipper who would finish last this year and maybe in the future against AFC East rivals Tony Sparano of Miami, Eric Mangini of the Jets and obviously Bill Belichick of the Patriots? Sparano, a rookie in the position, is a candidate for Coach of the Year. Little more than a month ago Jauron was being showered with praise but the NFL is a “that-was-then, this-is-now” business. Jauron has tripped over game management, use of timeouts, pitching knuckleballs when throwing out his challenge flag and now his use of quarterbacks.
Hasn’t the Bills’ list of priorities to bring about a team upgrading in 2009 grown from “find a difference- making tight end” to also finding at least one pass rusher, a center who might be able to block Kris Jenkins of the Jets and Vince Wilfork of the Pats, plus a wide receiver — tall, medium or otherwise — good enough to push Lee Evans back into the offensive game plans?
Larry Felser, former News columnist, appears in Sunday’s editions.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments