Buffalo Bills

Bills players eager to run 'simplified' offense under new coordinator

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:11 p.m. ET

Brett Smiley

In a surprising move last Friday after a 37-31 home loss to the New York Jets, the Buffalo Bills fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and replaced him with running backs coach Anthony Lynn.

It was surprising because the offense led the NFL in rushing last season and the team's bigger problems in 2015 and against the Jets have occurred on defense, which is head coach Rex Ryan's supposed area of expertise.

At least in the first week under Lynn, the Bills (0-2) will look to make some gains by subtraction from the playbook.

“There won’t be a drastic change, but there will be a difference,” running back LeSean McCoy said, via the Buffalo News. “The plays will be simplified a lot. I think the gameplan we have this week is pretty good. Not as much thinking. It’s more about just going out there to play.”

McCoy added that Roman prepared the players to run as many as 80 to 90 plays each week, while Lynn has them looking at a menu of about only 30 to 40.

It's won't be an easy week to execute a streamlined offense as the Arizona Cardinals come to town with one of the league's top rushing defenses.