Third time's not the charm

Fans who have  stuck with the Buffalo Bills through the first half of the season know what their biggest problem is--offense..or lack of offense. They're only averaging 15-points per game. They've only produced nine offensive touchdowns in eight games. As the second half of the schedule begins, the Bills have focused on fixing what's wrong with their anemic attack.

When they take the field Sunday in Tennessee, the Bills  hope to ramp up their offensive production dramatically. And they've spent time in the last two weeks focusing on one of their biggest problem spots on offense--third downs. They're the third worst third-down team in the NFL, only converting 26-percent of their chances.

"Third down offense--right now we are not very good,"  Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt says.  "We just have to coach them better and have a good design going in, have a total understanding of what we are trying to accomplish, and what we are going to expect."

When you think third down, you think passing down. And the Bills deficiencies in quarterback play and pass protection have made their passing game awful. The offensive linemen know what the goal is.

Rookie guard Eric Wood says the key is to convert third downs.  "Get past the sticks. Everone's got to do their job. We've failed because of the offensive line, we've failed because of drops, we've failed because of missed passes. Lack of running the ball past the sticks. It's on everybody. It's about execution, and moving the sticks."

As for quarterback play, Trent Edwards returns this week. And the Bills think he showed flashes of competence before he got hurt against the Jets last month.

"When we went to New York," Head Coach Dick Jauron says, "when he got injured, obviously we started something new and we thought it suited him better, and it seemed like he took to it. He was five for five when he got hurt, and left the game, so we're hoping that he just picks up from there, and that we pick up from there."

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Five players missed practice for the Bills Thursday, including wide receiver Terrell Owens.  Jaurons says he's "really struggling" with his strained hip. Also out Thursday;  DT Kyle Williams, CB Terrence McGee, LB Keith Ellison, and DE Aaon Schobel.