Bills general manager Doug Whaley is only focused on slim playoff hopes

Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley did not comment on the team’s coaching situation or his job security because the team is focused on trying to clinch a playoff berth.

The Bills are still mathematically alive to clinch a Wild Card spot in the AFC, but they will need a lot of help from other teams. Buffalo’s chances of making the playoffs are slim.

He told WGR 550 in Buffalo that the team is focused on games.

“Let’s put it this way, none of us knows our future,” he said. “We owe it to our fans to focus on Miami.”

When asked if head coach Rex Ryan will be the team’s coach next season, Whaley avoided answering the question directly and said the team has to “take care of business this weekend” against the Miami Dolphins.

“As small a chance as everybody says we have, we still have a chance, so we have to get our focus, not only from our coaching staff, our management, but the whole organization and especially the players to take care of business this weekend.”

In terms of putting together a roster, Whaley mentioned that his relationship with Ryan is “constant communication.”

“During the year, I know he’s always busy, so I’ll wait for him to come into my office. Now in the offseason, I kind of take the lead role, so I’ll go into his office. But it’s constant, and it’s one of those things that I have the 53, he has the game day 46.”

At 7-7, Whaley said, “as that saying says, we are what our record says we are.” The Bills are in the hunt for the playoffs, but he mentioned they need to improve their consistency.

However, Whaley said other areas, especially the running game, has been consistent.

“Obviously we’re always as an organization, as a coaching staff, as players, as management, looking to get better, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Indeed, Tyrod Taylor, the Bills starting quarterback, has not been consistent this season. He struggles with accuracy and making big plays.

But Whaley will wait until the offseason to handle the quarterback situation. They are gong to use the entire season to evaluate the quarterback position.

“I’m a big believer in information makes the decision,” Whaley said. “So why not give yourself a chance to get as much as information that you can so you can make an informed decision, and we’re going to start that process right after the season.”

On the other hand, Whaley did not say whether Taylor is a quarterback the Bills can win with. Buffalo will not make that decision until the offseason.

“Obviously we’ve got some notes, but we want to make sure the final credits are rolling before we make a decision on it or put a decision on it.”

In terms of evaluating the team as a whole, Whaley does not evaluate against other teams. Instead, he said, “you evaluate against yourself.”

“You’re always looking to improve, and you take all that into consideration, everything you said, everything that’s happening in the classroom, on the practice field, in the game situations, and again, we’re just trying to improve and get better and better each day.”

If the Bills do not make it to the playoffs, Whaley is not worried about his job. He said he is a competitor and doesn’t wake up thinking about ways of how he can keep his job.

“No, I wake up and say, ‘What can I do to be the best at my job?’ I think the biggest waste of time [is] worrying, so I wake up every day saying, ‘I have to win today and help our team get better.’”

The Bills will host the Dolphins for a Week 16 matchup at Ralph Wilson Stadium. If Buffalo wants to walk away with a victory, it must continue to run the ball with running back LeSean McCoy. Also, Taylor has to make some big plays with his arm.

Taylor doesn’t commit a lot of turnovers, but he also doesn’t like to take chances down the field. Buffalo will need a big game out of its veteran signal caller.