THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Langston Walker has grown so accustomed to the Buffalo's no-huddle attack, the left tackle thinks the Bills offence should use it exclusively.

Introduced in the off-season, Buffalo's new scheme showed encouraging signs in the pre-season opener last weekend against Tennessee. Besides, Walker joked, he wouldn't know what to do in the event the team had to huddle up.

"Where would I stand? We've never worked on that," he said with a smile.

"Oh," said coach Dick Jauron, when informed of Walker's predicament. "I think he'll figure it out pretty quickly."

Still a work in progress, the offence will get a second opportunity to develop its new-look attack Saturday, when Buffalo hosts the Chicago Bears in another pre-season game. Buffalo will be without receiver Terrell Owens, who is day-to-day and nursing a sprained toe that prevented him from practising this week.

The Bears, meanwhile, will unveil a different offence of their own in their pre-season debut. It's a revamped unit now led by Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, acquired in a trade with Denver this off-season, and also features tackle Orlando Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, who was signed in free agency.

"We're right where we want to be going into the first game, and we'll see what happens," Cutler said. "This will be a good change of pace to go against somebody else."

Change of pace is exactly what the Bills were looking to do when they elected to install the new offence at the beginning of spring minicamps.

There were numerous reasons behind the switch, starting with the offence being too predictable last year, when it finished 25th in total yards and 23rd in points scored.

The coaching staff has confidence in quarterback Trent Edwards' ability to handle the added play-calling responsibilities now that he's entering his third season. Owens' arrival helped because he provides an added dimension, giving defences another threat to worry about besides Lee Evans and slot receiver Josh Reed.

And the hurry-up attack also has the potential to take the pressure off of a revamped offensive line, that will feature two rookie starters, guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.

"Any edge that we can get is going to be good for us," running back Marshawn Lynch said. "When you're out there and get into a flow, the defence starts guessing on where you're going to be. And that's when you can come and hit them with something they're not expecting."

That was evident on the Bills' opening possession in a 21-18 loss to Tennessee in the Hall of Fame game Sunday. Facing second-and-7, Edwards hurried the team to the line and -- with Titans tackle Jason Jones looking the other way -- immediately hit Owens on a quick slant for a 16-yard gain. The play had the potential of going the distance if not for a great open-field tackle by cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

It was part of a nine-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Edwards throwing an interception, when he floated a pass intended for Evans near the goal-line. Though disappointed with the miscue, Edwards drew confidence from how the Bills moved the ball.

"I loved it," Edwards said. "This is kind of the up-tempo offence we really want to run here. I know our head coach really wants to catch them off balance, and that second play was a credit to that."

The next step for the Bills is finishing drives, something they had trouble doing last year when they scored 25 touchdowns on 52 trips inside an opponents' 20. Their lone touchdown against the Titans came on an interception return.

The Bears are looking for more production from an offence that finished 21st or worse in total yards, passing and rushing last year. Cutler is expected to provide that spark after forcing his trade out of Denver, and following a year in which he set a franchise record with 4,526 yards passing.

The test for Cutler is redeveloping an offence that has featured a run-first philosophy and a passing attack that's relied mostly on its tight ends.

Notes: Bills GM Russ Brandon said there's been dialogue but few developments in talks with unsigned first-round draft pick, DE Aaron Maybin. ... Bears coach Lovie Smith expects his starters to play into the second quarter. ... Bills WR James Hardy (coming off knee surgery) and rookie S Jairus Byrd (groin) both worked on their own after practice Friday. Brandon said there's still no timetable as to when either will be cleared to practise.