BILLS: Mitchell moved to MLB; Palmer to start

By John Wawrow

ORCHARD PARK — For a team that’s supposed to be in a state of crisis after a dreadful start to the season, the surprisingly upbeat Buffalo Bills don’t look the part.

Aside from a smiling Terrell Owens running off the field and playfully kidding around with his fellow receivers, there was the rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” the Bills sang at midfield following practice to celebrate coach Dick Jauron turning 59 on Wednesday.

“You can’t just sit here and sulk. You can’t put your tail between your legs and walk away. After Sunday, you think we can do that after the way it turned out?” defensive end Chris Kelsay said. He was referring to how the Bills (1-3) unraveled during a 38-10 loss at Miami, a defeat that raised questions about Jauron’s job security and whether the team is destined to miss the playoffs for a 10th straight year.

“It’s a stressful situation for all of us as players and especially the coaches,” Kelsay said. “So any time we can lighten the mood a little bit, I think it’s necessary.”

Even Jauron managed a smile.

“It wasn’t bad, huh, for a bunch of football players?” Jauron said.

The song was nice, but a better gift would be for the Bills to reel off a couple of wins starting on Sunday, when they host a team struggling even more than them, the Cleveland Browns (0-4).

Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud wouldn’t want to consider the alternative of what might happen with another loss.

“If we keep like we’re playing, we’ll be fighting to save our own jobs,” Stroud said.

The Bills offense has been anemic and their suddenly injury-depleted defense is not much better in dropping their past two games by a combined score of 55-17, including a 27-7 domination by New Orleans.

Though the team is sticking with quarterback Trent Edwards, who has yet to show he’s capable of using the weapons at his disposal in a revamped no-huddle attack, changes are being made on defense.

In a bid to improve a porous run defense, veteran linebacker Kawika Mitchell is shifting over to start in the middle. He’ll replace second-year reserve Marcus Buggs, who struggled the past three games in place of Paul Posluszny, who will miss a few more weeks after breaking his left arm in a season-opening 25-24 loss at New England.

Undrafted rookie Ashlee Palmer, meanwhile, has been promoted to take over for Mitchell at the outside spot.

“Plan A wasn’t working so I had to go to Plan B,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “There were a lot of mistakes that were made and you have to have somebody out there that can take control and run the defense, and have confidence in what you’re doing.”

Mitchell is a seven-year NFL veteran and in his second season with Buffalo. He last played the middle position in Kansas City three seasons ago.

“I feel it’s a natural position for me,” Mitchell said. “I’m excited about it, and it’s not going to be that difficult of a move.”

The move comes after the Bills have allowed 472 yards rushing and six touchdowns rushing in their past two games. It doesn’t help that the defense is also down four starters, including safeties Donte Whitner (right thumb) and Bryan Scott (left ankle), who are likely to miss their second games this week.

Another problem for the defense is that it’s getting worn down because of the offense’s inability to stay on the field.

In their past two games, the Bills have converted a mere 3 of 25 third-down opportunities and managed a total of 23 first downs. In 120 minutes of action, they have a total time of possession of 49:15—including a brief 22:51 against the Dolphins.

Edwards’ numbers are plummeting. In the past two games, he’s gone a combined 34 for 61 for 348 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

“I’m not looking in the past,” Edwards said. “I think we’ve learned from the past and now we need to move on.”

Receiver Lee Evans confidence hasn’t wavered, and says he and his teammates remain loose and upbeat.

“We try to stay tight together as a team,” Evans said, when asked about singing for Jauron. “Good things happen, bad things happen, it’s still early in the season so guys are optimistic of where we can go, where we want to go. So we come out here and act like it.”