justasportsfan
07-12-2004, 03:35 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7493395
The Bills hope new coach Mike Mularkey can fix their ailing passing game, instill more toughness on offense, and form a connection with players that his predecessor, Gregg Williams, never quite established in three seasons. That is asking a lot of a first-year head coach, but Mularkey does have plenty of offensive expertise and his background as a highly respected, no-nonsense former player on his side. He also has the help of an experienced staff that includes former NFL head coach Sam Wyche -- whose short-term mission is to rescue struggling quarterback Drew Bledsoe and whose long-term project is to develop Bledsoe's successor, J.P. Losman -- and Jim McNally, who must pick up the pieces of the Bills' woeful offensive line. First-round draft pick Lee Evans should fill the big-play gap created by Peerless Price's departure last year. And it doesn't hurt that the Bills should remain strong on defense. The free-agent loss of cornerback Antoine Winfield is significant, but veteran newcomer Troy Vincent still has enough in his tank to keep the secondary from unraveling.
The Bills hope new coach Mike Mularkey can fix their ailing passing game, instill more toughness on offense, and form a connection with players that his predecessor, Gregg Williams, never quite established in three seasons. That is asking a lot of a first-year head coach, but Mularkey does have plenty of offensive expertise and his background as a highly respected, no-nonsense former player on his side. He also has the help of an experienced staff that includes former NFL head coach Sam Wyche -- whose short-term mission is to rescue struggling quarterback Drew Bledsoe and whose long-term project is to develop Bledsoe's successor, J.P. Losman -- and Jim McNally, who must pick up the pieces of the Bills' woeful offensive line. First-round draft pick Lee Evans should fill the big-play gap created by Peerless Price's departure last year. And it doesn't hurt that the Bills should remain strong on defense. The free-agent loss of cornerback Antoine Winfield is significant, but veteran newcomer Troy Vincent still has enough in his tank to keep the secondary from unraveling.