Ryan not promising playoffs
But coach expects team to improve
The Rex Ryan era in Buffalo began as expected: with a lot of talk and bluster.
The results, however, were uneven.
What was most concerning was that the team’s defense — known as Ryan’s specialty — regressed significantly.
But despite some internal griping from players on being asked to perform roles they weren’t accustomed to, such as former defensive end Mario Williams dropping into coverage, the Bills finished 8-8 and were a few poor performances away from competing for a playoff spot.
One theme emerged that the Bills were just a couple of pieces away, and when the franchise appeared to be passive in free agency, some fans complained.
But Bills general manager Doug Whaley stressed that it was all part of the team’s plan.
“We were (active in free agency),” Whaley said recently. “We just signed our own guys. So that is where I think people say we weren’t active in free agency. That is what we want to get to, that we draft so well that you want to pay your own guys and you don’t have to go out and get other guys.”
Still, for a fan base that has seen 16 seasons pass without a trip to the playoffs, this year might be time for results to materialize. After all, this was a team that put out a statement after the end of the season saying Ryan and Whaley were safe for 2016.
In a series of revealing offseason interviews, Ryan showed he seemed to have learned from his first season with Buffalo.
He indicated that a lack of buy-in from everyone in the locker room might have contributed to bouts of inconsistency. And true to his style, Ryan oozed opti- Every week during the offseason, Sports Weekly is taking an indepth look at NFL franchises, analyzing where they stand and what’s in store for the coming season. mism for the future. But he did stop short of making one of his trademark predictions.
“I’ve changed a lot,” Ryan said of his first season with the Bills. “I went back to knowing that, you know what, I’m a guy that believes in myself a great deal and I believe in the guys that are around me. But the way that I grew up, my way of playing defense, in my opinion, is the best way. And I think more than ever it showed me that, and I’m not blaming anything else. I’m responsible for what was on the field last year, 100%. But I’ve also been responsible for every team that I’ve ever coached, 100%. So we’ll see how it goes, but I expect to be really good. I think we’ll be much improved from last year.”
QUARTERBACK
This is Tyrod Taylor’s team — though it might not be for long. Taylor, 26, is entering a contract year, and the Bills seem pleased to let him show one more time that he’s worthy of a long-term deal. But if he flashes improvement from a productive 2015, Taylor could hit the market and command a nice offer next offseason. Buffalo drafted Ohio State’s Cardale Jones, but it’s still far too early to consider him to be a reliable replacement. He should be seen as a project who is still several years away, while EJ Manuel returns as the backup. The Bills remain mostly unchanged at the position, with LeSean McCoy serving as the featured back capable of big plays in both the rushing and passing games. Karlos Williams, who scored nine total touchdowns in his rookie season last year, continues to be the short-yardage and goal-line back.
WIDE RECEIVER
The big blow was the revelation that star receiver Sammy Watkins broke a bone in his foot and had surgery to repair the injury. “We know by the time the season rolls around he is going to be completely healthy,” Ryan said recently. At best, a return for training camp is a possibility. But Watkins’ absence allows Taylor to build more chemistry with players such as No. 2 option Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, Greg Salas, Marcus Easley, Greg Little and