National Football League

Bills hope to put offensive dysfunction in past

Published Aug. 11, 2010 9:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

Receiver Lee Evans can't look forward to the start of this preseason without recalling how dysfunctional the Buffalo Bills' offense was a year ago.

And dysfunctional might not be a strong enough word for Evans.

''It was all that and plus some,'' he said following practice this week at training camp. ''It was pretty much as bad as it gets.''

Evans is referring to a team that fired its offensive coordinator, Turk Schonert, and released its starting left tackle, Langston Walker, within 10 days of the start of the regular season. Then there was coach Dick Jauron's decision to scrap his no-huddle offense by Week 6 before he was fired a month later.

The turmoil and upheaval rendered immaterial the addition of receiver Terrell Owens, who left after completing his one-year contract, and led to the offense finishing 30th in the NFL in yards and 28th in points.

''We were fighting against ourselves just as much as we were fighting against other teams,'' Evans said. ''What can you say? It's a new day, though. That's the good part about this.''

The opportunity to start fresh begins Friday, when Buffalo opens its preseason at Washington.

It's a chance for the Bills' first-string offense to score a touchdown - something they failed to do in 15 series last preseason. And, more important, it's a game in which Buffalo will begin unveiling the new-look offense head coach Chan Gailey has been installing since he was hired in January.

Unlike Jauron, who had a defensive background, Gailey arrived in Buffalo with a knack for offense and a reputation for devising plans that work to the strengths of his personnel. As the Steelers' coordinator in the mid-1990s, he came up with ''The Slash'' offense to suit quarterback Kordell Stewart. As the Dolphins' coordinator in 2000, he transformed Miami into a running team with Lamar Smith as his featured tailback.

The Bills are leaning toward a run-first approach after drafting running back C.J. Spiller ninth overall, adding him to a backfield that includes Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, who split the starting duties last season.

There's hope that Gailey can begin reshaping an anemic attack that's finished no better than 25th in yards gained over the past seven seasons.

''Our goals are set pretty high right now,'' quarterback Trent Edwards said. ''I think we're optimistic with how we've been running the offense, and how we want to run the offense in the future.''

The game against the Redskins will mark Edwards' next step in a bid to reclaim the starting job he lost to Ryan Fitzpatrick in November. Entering his fourth season, Edwards opened training camp atop Gailey's pecking order in a three-way competition for the job rounded out by Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm.

Of the three, Edwards has continued to look the sharpest two weeks into training camp. He's been efficient in getting rid of the ball, and also shown a renewed capability of going long by hooking up with Evans on several deep completions.

That's a significant development after Bills fans last year tagged Edwards with the label of ''Captain Checkdown'' for his inability to complete - or even attempt - a deep pass.

Edwards has also been more forthright in dealing with reporters during training camp after he previously shied away from being critical or discussing touchy subjects.

Without prompting this week, Edwards brought up last year's offensive struggles when asked what he's looking to get out of the game on Friday.

''I felt like last year's preseason was horrible,'' Edwards said. ''We didn't do what we needed to do.''

One question mark revolves around the team's young and already banged-up offensive line.

Cornell Green, projected to start at right tackle, has been out since hurting his knee on Saturday. Left tackle Demetrius Bell only began practicing at the start of training camp after having offseason knee surgery. And left guard Eric Wood didn't begin practicing until late June after recovering from a broken leg.

The line has struggled in pass protection during much of training camp, providing quarterbacks little time to wait for deeper routes to develop.

''It's a work in progress, for lack of a better term,'' Gailey said.

Evans understands that player evaluation and refining team chemistry are top priorities in the preseason.

After what happened last year, Evans has an additional objective, and that's scoring a touchdown.

''Oh yeah, absolutely,'' Evans said. ''There's a lot of young guys and it's going to be a big learning experience for them. But it'll be good to go down and at least get some points.''