Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills Head Coach Bio

Dick Jauron coached DBs in Buffalo (1985) and Green Bay (1986-1994), and served as the defensive coordinator of the Jags from 1995-1998. From 1999-2003, Jauron was the head coach of the Chicago Bears. After Chicago, Jauron become the defensive coordinator in Detroit. After Steve Mariucci was fired in 2005, Jauron served as the Lions interim head coach for the final five games of the season. He’s entering his second season as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.  

Dick Jauron played safety in the NFL for eight years (five with the Lions and three with the Bengals). During that stretch (1973 to 1980), Jauron never experienced a winning season. In his seven years as an NFL head coach, Jauron has managed only one winning season.

That lone, super-fantastic year came in 2001. It was Jauron’s third year as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. In the previous two seasons, Jauron’s Bears won only 11 games. In 2001, the Bears shocked the league. The team achieved a 13-3 record, their first division title in 11 years, and a swift upset-exit in the playoffs. Jauron won the 2001 AP Coach of the Year Award. He stayed in Chicago for two more seasons, managing only 11 victories during that span.

If the Buffalo Bills go undefeated in 2007, Dick Jauron will still not have a winning record as an NFL head coach. But at least the guy went to Yale, and no one can take that away from him.

Buffalo Bills Off-Season Moves

Buffalo bored Willis McGahee, and now the loudmouth RB will take his trash talking to Baltimore. The Bills traded McGahee to the Ravens on draft day in exchange for a third and seventh round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, and an additional pick in 2008. Although Jauron might try a running back by committee approach to start the season, incoming rookie RB Marshawn Lynch should quickly establish himself as the team’s number one tailback.   

The Buffalo Bills had some major free agent departures this offseason. Nate Clements bolted for big bucks in San Francisco. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who started every game of his five-year career. Jason Webster was brought in to compete for the vacant job at CB. London Fletcher-Baker took off to Washington. The tiny, overachieving MLB was always good for 100 tackles or so a year. WR Andre’ Davis went to the Texans.

The O-line experienced some shuffling as well. Tackle Mike Gandy, guard Chris Villarrial and guard Tutan Reyes are out. Tackle Langston Walker and guard Derrick Dockery are in.

OLB Takeo Spikes was traded (along with QB Kelly Holcomb) to the Philly in exchange for DT Darwin Walker, who was later traded to Chicago for a fifth round pick.

Buffalo Bills 2007-08 Season Outlook

The Buffalo Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 1999, when Doug Flutie was running the offense. Buffalo has experienced only one winning season since then (2004). Factor in a tough division and a coach who has more loses than victories on his seven-year resume, and the outlook for the Bills this season looks bleak to say the least.  

Large portions of the defense are gone (Clements, Fletcher-Baker, Spikes) and the featured piece on offense (McGahee) is no longer with the team. With holes on defense and a new-look offense, this young team is going to have to come together quickly to make any type of impact in 2007. QB J.P. Losman (who’s steadily improving year after year) will have to rely heavily on big-ballin’ WR Lee Evans and the team’s stable of young running backs to get the offense going. Before all is said and done, rookie running back Marshawn Lynch will become the featured part of this offense. If he gets a ton of carries and opportunities to catch the ball out of the backfield, the Buffalo Bills may be able to devise a potent attack strategy.

Buffalo will need large, instant contributions from young players like rookie LB Paul Posluszny and second-year safety Donte Whitner. DE Aaron Schobel had 14 sacks last season (third-best in the league). If he can continue to apply pressure on opposing team’s quarterbacks, it should allow the rest of the defense to step up and make some plays.

The Buffalo Bills have a painful schedule to start the season, and it could put the team in an uphill struggle from the get-go. Buffalo’s first eight games are against Denver, Pittsburgh, New England, New York (Jets), Dallas, Baltimore and Cincinnati. For a team that hasn’t had a winning year since Flutie, that’s an extremely difficult way to start a new season.

Buffalo Bills Trivia

The Buffalo Bills are one of only three teams to lose four Super Bowls. The others are the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. The Bills and Vikings are the only teams to play at least four Super Bowls without a Super Bowl victory, and the Bills alone are the only team to lose four Super Bowls in a row.

The Buffalo Bills are the only New York team that actually plays in New York State. The New York Jets and Giants play in the Meadowlands in New Jersey

The Buffalo Bills are said to be named for “Buffalo” Bill Cody, a legendary old west showman.

The 1970’s Buffalo Bills offensive line was referred to as “The Electric Company” because they “turned on the Juice (O.J. Simpson).”

Buffalo Bills 2007-08 Roster

Buffalo Bills 2007-08 Depth Chart

Buffalo Bills – Ralph Wilson Stadium

Construction Began: 1972
Opened: August 17, 1973
Capacity: 80,290
Location: Buffalo, NY
Surface: FieldTurf

Named after the Buffalo Bills original team owner, Ralph Wilson, the stadium has been the home of the Buffalo Bills for well over three decades. It has played hosts to teams that have enjoyed Super Bowl berths and many home playoff games. They have consistently renovated this fan favorite, most recently adding the mega HD screen for fans to offer their best assistance to NFL officials. Known once upon a time as Rich Stadium, the facility housed a max. capacity of only 75,339. Continued renovations have added more space, including luxury suites and heated club seats – perfectly necessary for the Buffalo winters.