shelby
11-15-2008, 06:58 AM
As I watched Buffalo's road game against the New England Patriots last week, I was struck by the Bills' lack of emotion. Here they were, coming off two consecutive losses and playing the team that has ruled their division for nearly a decade, and there didn't appear to be any sense of urgency, any fire. They played like zombies.I thought perhaps it was just me reading too much into the situation. But then I heard that injured Bills safety Donte Whitner had noticed the same thing while watching the game on his big-screen TV back in Buffalo.
"Donte could see that from his own couch," Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay said when asked about Buffalo's listlessness.
Emotion is a huge part of football, regardless if it's Pop Warner or the NFL.
Clearly, too much emotion can be detrimental. But too little of it can spell doom.
A month ago, after the Bills had sprinted to a 5-1 start, many of us celebrated the fact this team was an extension of its low-key, even-keeled coach. But now, after three consecutive losses to AFC East rivals, we're thinking it might be time for Dick Jauron to start venting a bit.
I'm not advocating that he drop his trousers, a la Mike Singletary, to get his point across that his team is being embarrassed by the opposition.
But it wouldn't hurt to remind certain players that their jobs could be on the line if they don't start making plays and cutting down on the mistakes that have transformed them into playoff pretenders.
more.... (http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20081114/SPORTS0102/811140352/-1/COLUMNS)
"Donte could see that from his own couch," Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay said when asked about Buffalo's listlessness.
Emotion is a huge part of football, regardless if it's Pop Warner or the NFL.
Clearly, too much emotion can be detrimental. But too little of it can spell doom.
A month ago, after the Bills had sprinted to a 5-1 start, many of us celebrated the fact this team was an extension of its low-key, even-keeled coach. But now, after three consecutive losses to AFC East rivals, we're thinking it might be time for Dick Jauron to start venting a bit.
I'm not advocating that he drop his trousers, a la Mike Singletary, to get his point across that his team is being embarrassed by the opposition.
But it wouldn't hurt to remind certain players that their jobs could be on the line if they don't start making plays and cutting down on the mistakes that have transformed them into playoff pretenders.
more.... (http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20081114/SPORTS0102/811140352/-1/COLUMNS)