Rex Ryan loves to talk. We love him for that but for the better part of his career he talks while his teams chokes.
Ryan was hired by the Buffalo Bills to do one thing in his first season, not to win a Super Bowl. It was to beat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots but he failed at that, twice last season, plus missed the playoffs.
When news broke that he would become coach, Bills Nations were calling travel agents, local bars were making extra liquor orders and wives began to look for bigger jugs for the family’s swear jar. It was about to go down.
But his news wasn’t the big one, later the Bills would acquire the services of Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro RB, LeSean McCoy which raised the expectations. The Bills now had their coach and one of the top RB’s in the league, now it was time to end their 15 year playoff drought.
But nothing ever goes as planned.
Tyrod Taylor was to be named the starting QB in his first year as starter over EJ Manuel. Taylor wasn’t awful but you could tell early on this was going to be an inconsistent season for him and the Bills but the hope was that they could ride the strength of their defense and the legs of McCoy to the playoffs. McCoy struggled early and often and never got his footing right as he finished the season below 1,ooo yards for the 3rd time in his career (all injury years). Taylor managed to make the Pro Bowl last season with 3000+ yards, 20 TD’s and 6 INT’s but their team goal was not attainable.
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Ryan put his trust in a defense that let him down time after time as the once feared unit only registered 21 sacks on the season. Mario Williams was a no-show as well as DE Jerry Hughes as they combined for 10 sacks between them. The secondary was beat deep on so many occasions that Ryan was kicking himself for not prying Darrelle Revis away from the New York Jets.
To make matters worst the Patriots were steam-rolling thru the division once again but there was still a shot for the Bills but when losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants come back and haunt you, you start to question your team’s moxy. Ryan holds no punches and fans were left wondering if the proper hiring and trades were just a waste of time.
Ryan speaking with the media after being hired by the Bills per Bill Speros of Boston.com
Rex Ryan on Bills vs Pats:
We’re not afraid of anybody. Certainly not afraid of them. Respect them,” he said of the perennial AFC East-champion Patriots. “I recognize the fact that they’ve won our division the last six years – I think 10 out of the last 11 years they’ve won our division – but that doesn’t guarantee they’re going to win it next year.”
Ryan seemed too concern about the Patriots than he was about the growth of his own team. The Bills entered the season as division favorites but ended where they had for the past 16 season, looking up to winners. A 10-6 record is nothing to scoff at but expectations were higher than this and Ryan made sure that everyone knew. Maybe he had too much faith in his team and they had too little.
2016-17 is a new season, hopefully Ryan keeps his mouth shut and teach his team do to the talking with their play on the field, but this is Rex we are talking about. No one but a target on his team’s back but him. Now it’s time to put up or shut up.