1. Back to basics for the Bills run defense
The Bills run defense had a down week last Sunday against the Eagles. The problems according to head coach Sean McDermott were rooted in fundamentals and execution. That should make the corrections, in the words of Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, simple, but not easy.
"We re-teach," McDermott said. "Whether it's run defense or whatever it is as it relates to performance is re-teach the fundamentals. That's what I've been around for my career and that's what we'll do and continue to do that. We re-teach the fundamentals because if we're not getting the fundamentals we have to go back, re-teach it and make sure it's clear what we expect with fundamentals and technique and then execution.
"That's what we are. We're teachers. We go back and re-teach to make sure there's understanding of what we're looking for and what we need."
McDermott is confident his players will make the proper adjustments to perform better going into this week's game against Washington.
"They understand what we have to get corrected and the process we undertake to get it corrected," he said. "That's what we'll do this week."
2. Why no trade at the league deadline
League-wide there was very little movement at the trade deadline, which came and went at 4 pm on Tuesday. Coach McDermott explained why the Bills, though he and GM Brandon Beane had conversations, did not pull the trigger on a deal.
"Brandon and I had some conversations over the last couple of weeks. He and his staff do a good job looking into things. I think you know we're going to do things in the best interest of this organization short and long term. In the end we didn't find something that would be responsible for us to do.
"I know a lot of teams go out there and just do things. We're trying to do things the right way here and we want to be responsible (in adhering) to that as well. If it's not a responsible move to make, we're not going to make it. There have been way too many years of irresponsible decision-making."
McDermott was also asked if not making a move was an indication about how he and the front office felt about their current roster.
"It says that we are confident in the guys that we have. We expect them to play well."
3. Injury update
Coming out of last week's game, the Bills are relatively healthy. The only non-participant at practice Wednesday due to injury is LB Maurice Alexander, who is dealing with a knee injury.
Fellow LB Lorenzo Alexander is getting a veteran rest day as he typically does on Wednesdays.
Limited in practice today are Kurt Coleman, who missed last week's game with a hamstring injury, Levi Wallace, who left last week's game with a shoulder injury but returned. OL Cody Ford is limited due to an elbow injury suffered in last Sunday's game.
