YardRat
11-04-2007, 06:16 AM
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/printedition/cs-pompei-insidenfl04nov04,1,1380129.story?coll=cs-sports-print
The fact the Bills are one game below .500 is an accomplishment of major proportions, and a testament to how well Dick Jauron has held his team together.
The former Bears coach credits his players.
"They're a terrific group," Jauron says. "Lot of good guys. They never stop working and they don't mind working hard. They like each other and it shows."
Consider, for a moment, that the Bills have gone back and forth at quarterback between inconsistent J.P. Losman, who started the season but lost his job when he was injured, and rookie Trent Edwards. This week, it's Losman because Edwards is injured. Next week, it's probably back to Edwards.
Jauron also has had to shepherd the Bills through the emotional trauma of seeing tight end Kevin Everett taken off the field on a stretcher after a serious spine injury that likely will leave him with some form of permanent paralysis. Jauron said the situation was "devastating" to the Bills.
Defensively, the Bills have had personnel losses that looked devastating. They went into the season knowing they would be without cornerback Nate Clements, middle linebacker London Fletcher and outside linebacker Takeo Spikes, top producers and leaders who left in the off-season.
Then, before the season was a month old they found themselves without three linebackers who were starting at the time of their injuries, including second-round pick Paul Posluszny, who is out for the season. They lost starting cornerback Jason Webster for the year. They were forced to use six different starting lineups on defense in their first six games.
They are down to their third free safety -- who actually was playing wide receiver as recently as the off-season. George Wilson now has two interceptions for the Bills and serves as a symbol of what this team has been able to accomplish.
The fact the Bills are one game below .500 is an accomplishment of major proportions, and a testament to how well Dick Jauron has held his team together.
The former Bears coach credits his players.
"They're a terrific group," Jauron says. "Lot of good guys. They never stop working and they don't mind working hard. They like each other and it shows."
Consider, for a moment, that the Bills have gone back and forth at quarterback between inconsistent J.P. Losman, who started the season but lost his job when he was injured, and rookie Trent Edwards. This week, it's Losman because Edwards is injured. Next week, it's probably back to Edwards.
Jauron also has had to shepherd the Bills through the emotional trauma of seeing tight end Kevin Everett taken off the field on a stretcher after a serious spine injury that likely will leave him with some form of permanent paralysis. Jauron said the situation was "devastating" to the Bills.
Defensively, the Bills have had personnel losses that looked devastating. They went into the season knowing they would be without cornerback Nate Clements, middle linebacker London Fletcher and outside linebacker Takeo Spikes, top producers and leaders who left in the off-season.
Then, before the season was a month old they found themselves without three linebackers who were starting at the time of their injuries, including second-round pick Paul Posluszny, who is out for the season. They lost starting cornerback Jason Webster for the year. They were forced to use six different starting lineups on defense in their first six games.
They are down to their third free safety -- who actually was playing wide receiver as recently as the off-season. George Wilson now has two interceptions for the Bills and serves as a symbol of what this team has been able to accomplish.