3-0, Jauron knows there's long way to go

By Kathleen Nelson
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Sep. 25 2008
Few fans in Buffalo, much less an expert on the NFL, predicted a 3-0 start for
the Bills. Yet the team sits atop the AFC East, preparing to meet the Rams on
Sunday, and shares the honor of most surprising start with the undefeated
Tennessee Titans.

The 3-0 record is the best for the Bills since 1992, when they won their first
four games, and the best in the head coaching career of Dick Jauron, who led
the Bears for five years and is in his third season with Buffalo. Just don't
expect Jauron to be turning backflips over the fast start.

"The most critical thing in our business is to play consistent football
throughout a 16-game schedule," Jauron said on a conference call Wednesday.
"We've all seen teams start fast and fade. We've seen teams start slow and
rally. If we had a choice, there's no place we'd rather be than where we are,
but it's very early."

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Buffalo ranks ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 26.0 points, and is
third in the AFC in total offense. The most prominent pieces on the Bills' unit
are running back Marshawn Lynch and quarterback Trent Edwards, both drafted in
2007 and both members of the Pro Football Writers' all-rookie team.

Lynch, a first-round pick, rushed for 1,115 yards on 280 carries with seven
touchdowns last year and has 218 yards on 60 carries with four touchdowns this
year. Edwards was the 29th pick in the third round but started nine games last
year. He has completed 63 of 94 passes with three TDs, one interception and a
passer rating of 96.6 this year.

"I guess I would say I'm not surprised, but we're certainly pleased," Jauron
said of their progress. "Any time you take a player as high as we took
Marshawn, you have great expectations for him. And when we got Trent in the
third round, we really thought it was a steal at the time and we said so, but
it's really worked out that way."

ST. LOUIS MOVEMENT

Former Rams coaches fill Jauron's staff on defense and special teams. Defensive
coordinator Perry Fewell was the Rams' secondary coach in 2003 and '04. Among
his assistants are former Rams defensive line coach Bill Kollar and linebackers
coach Matt Sheldon. The unit ranks fifth in the NFL, allowing 247 yards a game.
Special teams coach Bobby April served in the same capacity with the Rams from
2001-03.

LITTLE EMOTION

Jauron solidified his even-keel reputation in the last two weeks. Buffalo
trailed 16-10 in the fourth quarter in Jacksonville before rallying to a 20-16
victory. The Bills scored 17 points on their final three drives Sunday,
including a field goal from Rian Lindell as time expired, to beat Oakland
24-23. Jauron said that after more than two seasons, he didn't think that his
team reflected his personality. But at least one player said otherwise.

"I would say I do," Edwards said. "If I had a head coach yelling at me, telling
me to do certain things here and there, I don't know if I would have done the
things I did these last couple of weeks. I think other guys on the team would
answer that question the same way, in that it provides a lot of comfort and
allows those guys to do their job."

BILLS INJURIES

Wide receiver Roscoe Parrish underwent surgery on his thumb Tuesday and is
expected to be out four to six weeks. Fullback Darian Barnes did not
participate in practice Wednesday after injuring his foot in Sunday's victory
over Oakland, but an MRI performed Tuesday showed no broken bones.