Things aren’t going that great for Rex Ryan in Buffalo

Bills head coach Rex Ryan appears to be losing his team. AP

By Gary Dzen

October 21, 2015

1 minute to read

Is the honeymoon already over?

Rex Ryan went to two straight AFC Championship Games with the New York Jets before his abrasive personality, coupled with decreased success on the field, did him in. He lasted six seasons as the Jets head coach.

It’s been six games in Buffalo, and there are already signs of trouble. Last week, first-round draft pick Sammy Watkins complained about a lack of targets, telling the team, through The Buffalo News, “you’re making me look bad.’’

Two days ago, Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who signed a six-year, $96 million contract in 2012, complained about not having enough chances to rush the passer, a product of Ryan’s defensive scheme.

“I think I probably set a record on dropping [back] today, but that’s part of the scheme for us to go out and be put in a position to win,’’ Williams said. “Whatever’s called, you have to go out and do it.’’

Monday, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus backed up Williams’s concerns.

“Hey, like [Williams] said, they pay us a lot of money,’’ Darius said, via ESPN.com. “And we want to use our talents the best way we know how. If we’re going to be dropping we don’t want to get questions about not getting sacks. That’s just how it is.

“We want to make some plays. We don’t want fans looking at us crazy. … Hopefully Rex is going to implement it. There’s nothing we can do.’’

The Bills failed to record a sack of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in Sunday’s 34-21 loss. Buffalo is 3-3 and still has a shot to make the playoffs, so it’s not like the team can’t turn it around. But recent events don’t bode well for Ryan’s long-term future in Buffalo.