Rex Ryan has always been known as a players' coach, but apparently some of the Bills were taking advantage of Ryan's philosophies in his just under two seasons in Buffalo.
Bills offensive leaders LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins said discipline among players was lacking under Ryan, who was fired Tuesday.
"I think the discipline has been an issue," McCoy said Friday, via ESPN.com. "Players just (need to take) accountability for their own actions. ... I just think as players, as professionals, we need to step up and play accountable. That's the biggest issue."
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Was Ryan too nice to his players? Watkins wanted to see more intensity from the Bills coaches as well as accountability from players.
"It's discipline," Watkins said Thursday. "Whatever around the locker room that needs to be addressed — on the field, off the field, flags, whether it's a running drill. ... I just think being professional as players (needs to be) fixed first.
"Then the coaches have to be hard on us, not scared of us. Get at us, yell at us, curse at us. Whatever to get the player to do that job the best he can, that's what they need to do."
So what should the Bills look for in their next coach? Someone like Chiefs coach Andy Reid or Clemson's Dabo Swinney, coaches who helped make McCoy and Watkins what they are today.
"(Reid) lets his players show their true emotions, show their true personalities," McCoy said. "I don't think it matters as far as what type of coach you have. As long as you have a respectful coach that wants to win and is doing everything in his power to help us win."
Added Watkins: "Coach Dabo was strict, and that's what I think changed the culture and changed the players. We started winning. We started to expect to win. Every game I came into, I never thought I was going to lose it."