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Perry Fewell had just won his first game as an NFL head coach, and he was excited.
Fewell had just spent some time with his team in an emotional Bills' dressing room, accepting a game ball and expressing his gratitude to his players.
It's one win. But Fewell seems very clear on what's required of a successful head coach in this league. Guts. In a six-minute session with the media after the Bills' 31-14 win over the Dolphins, Fewell used the word "gut" seven times. He also made a single reference to another part of the anatomy, but more on that later.
Fewell has very little chance to be the permanent head man. But I'll say this: If it's a long shot, he's sure going to give it his best shot. Fewell is a bright fellow. That much has been evident from the moment he came to Buffalo as the defensive coordinator under Dick Jauron.
He's smart enough to know that he needs to separate and distinguish himself from his predecessor. Fewell needs to put his personal stamp on the Bills, and that means establishing a distinct, vibrant identity for his football team.
So in the days leading up to the rematch with the rival Dolphins, Fewell gave his team a clear directive, a fresh new attitude. "Our thing this week was to be aggressive and attack and dictate," he said.
We've heard such talk before. But Fewell backed it up Sunday. He went with his gut. After weeks of watching Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch underperform as a tandem, he gave Jackson the job he deserved as the featured back. Jackson responded with his best game in two months, accounting for 116 total yards and two touchdowns.
Fewell watched Rian Lindell making field goals from beyond 50 yards in pregame warmups. When Lindell missed a kick in the first quarter, Fewell saw Lindell drop his head. He told him, "Rian, we're going to need you again later.' "
"Later" arrived with 3:40 left to play, the score knotted at 14, and the Bills facing fourth-and-9 at the Miami 38. Fewell listened to his gut. He turned to Bobby April, his special teams coach, and said, "Let's go kick that thing."
Fewell had just spent some time with his team in an emotional Bills' dressing room, accepting a game ball and expressing his gratitude to his players.
It's one win. But Fewell seems very clear on what's required of a successful head coach in this league. Guts. In a six-minute session with the media after the Bills' 31-14 win over the Dolphins, Fewell used the word "gut" seven times. He also made a single reference to another part of the anatomy, but more on that later.
Fewell has very little chance to be the permanent head man. But I'll say this: If it's a long shot, he's sure going to give it his best shot. Fewell is a bright fellow. That much has been evident from the moment he came to Buffalo as the defensive coordinator under Dick Jauron.
He's smart enough to know that he needs to separate and distinguish himself from his predecessor. Fewell needs to put his personal stamp on the Bills, and that means establishing a distinct, vibrant identity for his football team.
So in the days leading up to the rematch with the rival Dolphins, Fewell gave his team a clear directive, a fresh new attitude. "Our thing this week was to be aggressive and attack and dictate," he said.
We've heard such talk before. But Fewell backed it up Sunday. He went with his gut. After weeks of watching Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch underperform as a tandem, he gave Jackson the job he deserved as the featured back. Jackson responded with his best game in two months, accounting for 116 total yards and two touchdowns.
Fewell watched Rian Lindell making field goals from beyond 50 yards in pregame warmups. When Lindell missed a kick in the first quarter, Fewell saw Lindell drop his head. He told him, "Rian, we're going to need you again later.' "
"Later" arrived with 3:40 left to play, the score knotted at 14, and the Bills facing fourth-and-9 at the Miami 38. Fewell listened to his gut. He turned to Bobby April, his special teams coach, and said, "Let's go kick that thing."
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