Bills’ Lorenzo Alexander: ‘We haven’t done what we need to do’
Sep 20, 2016, 10:08 AM
(AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
The Arizona Cardinals will make an east coast swing this Sunday as they take on a desperate Buffalo Bills team.
The adversary is coached by the vehement Rex Ryan, alongside his twin brother, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The Bills front office has not been thrilled about the start of the season, as offensive coordinator Greg Roman was let go after a 37-31 loss to the New York Jets last Thursday night. Other coaches on the Bills staff may face the same fate if the struggles persist.
Rex Ryan is on the proverbial hot seat starting Week 3, but the road doesn’t get any easier for the Bills, as they face the Cardinals this week, then the New England Patriots the week after.
Former Cardinal and current Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander joined Doug and Wolf Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Tuesday morning to discuss the upcoming matchup with the Cards while also gave his thoughts on his new coach.
Alexander expressed his fondness of playing for Ryan, and he reminds him of a certain coach he used to play for.
“He’s similar to (Bruce Arians) in the sense that he’s going to let you know how he feels with ownership. They obviously have different personalities on how they come across, but if they say something, that’s how they feel, that’s what they mean and I love B.A. for the way he was with me and I love Rex Ryan for the same way he treats us, upfront, honest and letting us know, he’s a player’s coach and he takes care of his guys,” Alexander said.
Unfortunately for the Bills, Ryan hasn’t had as much success as his Sunday counterpart. Ryan sports a career record of 54-60, and he is 8-10 as the Bills coach, including an 0-2 start this season. Alexander put the responsibility on the players on Buffalo’s roster to right the ship.
“You only play 16 (games), so anytime you start 0-2, there’s always going to be talks of change, and obviously you already had change with the offensive coordinator. Players changed in and out because they’re trying to figure out a way to win games,” Alexander said. “It’s justified because we haven’t done what we need to do on the field so that he has security.”
With the firing of Roman, it won’t get any easier. Assistant coach Anthony Lynn will be the new interim offensive coordinator for the Bills. With the change in personnel, preparations will be different. Changes this early in the season aren’t good signals. Despite the adversity, the players need to keep playing hard — the only thing they can do, according to Alexander.
“If you are doing anything drastically different as far as how you prepare (for) how you play, then that’s the issue that we have, that’s why we’re not 2-0 right now, because you haven’t been being a professional.”
The Cardinals will play the Bills at New Era Field in Orchard Park at 10:00 a.m Phoenix time. You can hear all the action on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, beginning with pregame coverage at 6:00.