Doug Marrone named HC of Bills (1 Viewer)

[Phenix]

The former Syracuse head coach has agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills.

ETA: Had to wait for a link to pop up somewhere http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/01/doug_marrone_hired_by_buffalo.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Coin Flip]

Doug Marrone is staying in Upstate New York but leaving college for the pros.

The Bills have agreed to hire Marrone, who has spent the last four years as the head coach at Syracuse, as their next head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported and multiple media outlets have confirmed.

Marrone has been the head coach at Syracuse for the last four seasons, compiling an overall record of 25-25. He is coming off a season in which he went 8-5, concluding with a Pinstripe Bowl win over West Virginia.

Marrone’s NFL experience includes stints as the offensive coordinator of the Saints and offensive line coach of the Jets. He was also briefly an NFL guard, playing four games for the Dolphins in 1987 and one game for the Saints in 1989.

The Bills, who fired coach Chan Gailey after the 2012 season, are now the second NFL team to fill their head-coaching vacancy. Five teams still have head-coaching openings.

 

[DiStefano]

Maybe the Bills aren't in a position to hire a great head coach, but it doesn't look too impressive. Of course, every so often, a great coach seems to come out of nowhere.

 

[Phenix]

Maybe the Bills aren't in a position to hire a great head coach, but it doesn't look too impressive. Of course, every so often, a great coach seems to come out of nowhere.

I agree, this is not the answer. Lovie, Wiz, and even waiting for Kelly were better options. Why is it so sexy to go get a guy who has never been a head coach at this level over someone who has SB experience. Not good for installing a winning thought to a losing city for years.

 

[bigmarc27]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

 

[GroveDiesel]

So they went cheap and with a local guy to pander to the fans. Typical Bills. Might as well bookmark this for when they start their next head coach search 3-4 years from now.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I know next to nothing about Marrone other than what I've read in the papers the past few days, so I don't have much of an opinion about this hire. That said, I am a little relieved that we didn't hire somebody who was just fired by another team (ie Reid, Whisenhunt, Smith).

 

[jurb26]

Did he blow them away in the interviews? This seems like a reach for a HC position. I guess you never know. Maybe this guy will be the next great thing at coach.

There was also talk that Clev was highly interested in him. Maybe we're all just not seeing something.

 

[Phenix]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

25-25 as a HC on the college level is nothing worthy of getting a better college job as a HC let alone jump to the NFL as one.Bad hire.

 

[BassNBrew]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

25-25 as a HC on the college level is nothing worthy of getting a better college job as a HC let alone jump to the NFL as one.Bad hire.

But he did amass that .500 record in a tough conference.Can it be any worse that hiring Wanny or Chan?

 

[Steve Tasker]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread, though Lovie + Martz (as was lightly rumored) together would've been tempting cause I think Martz could get a lot out of Spiller.

While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills. If he had a .500 record after the next 4 years with 2 playoff appearances (akin to his 2 bowls with Cuse), he'll be the toast of the town.

I'm not thrilled, but I'll always give a new coach a chance to prove himself, like I did with Gailey.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

25-25 as a HC on the college level is nothing worthy of getting a better college job as a HC let alone jump to the NFL as one.Bad hire.

But he did amass that .500 record in a tough conference.Can it be any worse that hiring Wanny or Chan?

He was actually 11-17 in the Big East.

 

[BassNBrew]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

25-25 as a HC on the college level is nothing worthy of getting a better college job as a HC let alone jump to the NFL as one.Bad hire.

But he did amass that .500 record in a tough conference.Can it be any worse that hiring Wanny or Chan?

He was actually 11-17 in the Big East.

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread

Agreed.

While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills.

I'd be curious to hear from someone who followed the Orangemen. If he really overachieved with a shortage of talent, then .500 isn't bad, at all.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

What type of offense did he run? will he use Spiller as a workhorse guy or committee?

 

[humpback]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread, though Lovie + Martz (as was lightly rumored) together would've been tempting cause I think Martz could get a lot out of Spiller.

While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills. If he had a .500 record after the next 4 years with 2 playoff appearances (akin to his 2 bowls with Cuse), he'll be the toast of the town.

I'm not thrilled, but I'll always give a new coach a chance to prove himself, like I did with Gailey.

Agreed, although it's a tad more difficult to make the playoffs in the NFL than it is to get into the Pinstripe Bowl.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Ehhh you never know. As a falcons fan I was excited about Petrino and ho hum on Mike Smith so... just give it a chance.

25-25 as a HC on the college level is nothing worthy of getting a better college job as a HC let alone jump to the NFL as one.Bad hire.

But he did amass that .500 record in a tough conference.Can it be any worse that hiring Wanny or Chan?

He was actually 11-17 in the Big East.

oof

 

[pizzatyme]

Well, if he can lead the 'Cuse to a .500 winning percentage, Bills fans have to be ecstatic!

 

[Steve Tasker]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread

Agreed.

While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills.

I'd be curious to hear from someone who followed the Orangemen. If he really overachieved with a shortage of talent, then .500 isn't bad, at all.

I follow Syracuse football pretty closely, I'd say. Perhaps not as much as someone who lives in Syracuse, but I watch most of their games and keep up with the news.Syracuse football was in a very bad place when he took over. The team was 10-37 under Greg Robinson and had very little talent. They hadn't had a winning record since 2001 (Marrone took over in 2009). His first year was kinda strange as he had a mishmash of Greg Robinson's former players along with Duke basketball transfer Greg Paulus at QB. Nassib has been the starter since.

The thing that I do like about his teams is that they would show up against good opponents, despite being markedly less talented in many cases. Say what you will about the Big East's quality, but they did beat #19 and #11 WVU and previously-undefeated #10 Louisville during those years. IMO, Syracuse really had no business beating those teams. He seems to get the most out of his players without being a Rex Ryan loudmouth.

One thing that gives me pause is that his Syracuse offenses were, at times, stagnant. For guy with an offensive background, that's not something I like to see. Statistically Nassib did well and they were fine in the running game, but there would be times where they would seemingly drag on and punt the ball every possession. The cynic in me wonders if Marrone is getting out now because once Nassib leaves the offense is going to go to ####.

 

[DiStefano]

In many ways, the college game is very different from the pros; the principal one being that it depends more on recruiting. So it isn't necessarily an indictment of his coaching, it may simply be that he and his staff were not able to attract the top recruits. On the other hand, in the pro game you have the same pool of talent as all the other teams, and you don't have to attract them; you just need to identify them. Sure draft position plays a part, but after you make your pick, 31 other teams have access to the same pool. Different set of skills in some ways, for you and your staff.

 

[Ranethe]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread, though Lovie + Martz (as was lightly rumored) together would've been tempting cause I think Martz could get a lot out of Spiller.While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills. If he had a .500 record after the next 4 years with 2 playoff appearances (akin to his 2 bowls with Cuse), he'll be the toast of the town.I'm not thrilled, but I'll always give a new coach a chance to prove himself, like I did with Gailey.

Were I a Bills fan I'd agree with this. I 'd much rather take the chance on freshness and innovation (not necessarily saying Marrone is this) than the constant recycling of retreads. It's always amazed me how some of these coaches keep getting hired.

 

[kupcho1]

The cynic in me wonders if Marrone is getting out now because once Nassib leaves the offense is going to go to ####.

Even though I'm of the opinion that the Bills job was the least attractive opening available (and yes, I'm including Cleveland), but still... who the hell doesn't leave Syracuse for the NFL regardless of whether or not you're losing a transcendent talent like Nassib (for the record, I did not know the name of the Syracuse QB before opening this thread)?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I don't hate the hiring, but I don't love the hiring. I will say that I am glad they're taking a shot on an unknown rather than just bringing in a retread, though Lovie + Martz (as was lightly rumored) together would've been tempting cause I think Martz could get a lot out of Spiller.While Marrone's record at Syracuse is rather unimpressive, he did inherit an absolute pile of ####. Kinda like he's inheriting now with the Bills. If he had a .500 record after the next 4 years with 2 playoff appearances (akin to his 2 bowls with Cuse), he'll be the toast of the town.I'm not thrilled, but I'll always give a new coach a chance to prove himself, like I did with Gailey.

Were I a Bills fan I'd agree with this. I 'd much rather take the chance on freshness and innovation (not necessarily saying Marrone is this) than the constant recycling of retreads. It's always amazed me how some of these coaches keep getting hired.

I'm also reassured by the fact that Marrone apparently interviewed with several other teams, so this isn't just us pulling some guy off the street like we did with Chan Gailey.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

He may be good-- How many people expected Schiano to do anything?

 

[Ranethe]

The cynic in me wonders if Marrone is getting out now because once Nassib leaves the offense is going to go to ####.

Even though I'm of the opinion that the Bills job was the least attractive opening available (and yes, I'm including Cleveland), but still... who the hell doesn't leave Syracuse for the NFL regardless of whether or not you're losing a transcendent talent like Nassib (for the record, I did not know the name of the Syracuse QB before opening this thread)?

I know you're being sarcastic but I'd guess most of the football fans here know who Ryan Nassib is. Don't play FF or follow the NFL draft I'm assuming?Agree with your larger points though.

 

[ImTheScientist]

I think this is a good hire for them.

 

[Steve Tasker]

The cynic in me wonders if Marrone is getting out now because once Nassib leaves the offense is going to go to ####.

Even though I'm of the opinion that the Bills job was the least attractive opening available (and yes, I'm including Cleveland), but still... who the hell doesn't leave Syracuse for the NFL regardless of whether or not you're losing a transcendent talent like Nassib (for the record, I did not know the name of the Syracuse QB before opening this thread)?

I'm of the opinion that the Bills job is so marginalized that I would not be surprised if a coach chose to stay at a school like Syracuse rather than take the job. I'm very pessimistic about the Bills, though I'm trying to get better.

 

[Faust]

Doug Marrone agrees to terms to be Buffalo Bills coach

By Kareem Copeland

Around the League Writer

Syracuse coach Doug Marrone agreed to terms Sunday morning to become the Buffalo Bills coach, two sources with knowledge of the process told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. The move directly speaks to the organization's offensive issues.

"I think that's a great hire," NFL Network analyst Brian Billick said on "First on the Field." "He brings that pedigree that's kind of popular now, a substantial pro background with that mix of college."

Marrone's most significant NFL experience was three years as the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator from 2006-08. He was the first offensive coordinator hired by Sean Payton when he and Drew Brees went to New Orleans. The Saints made the playoffs in 2006 for the first time since 2000. They posted the No. 1 total offense twice and a Top 5 scoring offense twice in those three years.

Marrone also coached the New York Jets offensive line from 2002-05 and went 25-25 in four years at Syracuse.

The Bills have been a mess offensively, as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has shown flashes but been wildly inconsistent. The Bills have been a Top 20 scoring offense just once since 2004. Addressing the quarterback situation and better utilizing C.J. Spiller will be the first two tasks for Marrone.

A 6-10 record proves that the Bills certainly had their defensive woes, but AFC East teams need a legit offense to compete with the New England Patriots.

 

[Faust]

One of the ESPN radio analysts suggested yesterday that Marrone could end up being a better choice than Chip Kelly (who is the hot choice right now) because of his NFL experience.

 

[T Bell]

"In a no-holds-barred, far flung hunt for a new head coach, the Buffalo Bills ventured outside Erie County, New York to seize Doug Marrone from under the noses of other NFL clubs..."

 

[Shutout]

Double-edged sword. If they go aout and get a guy that has been an NFL coach before, people say "we picked up a retread...someone else's garbage".

If you take the unknown guy, you can't win the argument unless he turns out to be like a Mike tomlin and proves it (and that takes a few years).

I don't know much of Marrone but its always nice to see when a collegiate level coach comes up, he has been in the NFL in some capacity before.

 

[Fiddles]

Mostly positive reaction from everyone I follow

@RapSheet: @BillsObserver I don't know Doug Marrone. His resume is OK. But many smart football people are head-over-heels with him. Like Parcells

@evansilva: Like #Bills Marrone hire. Must find someone to kickstart D but his Cuse offenses were run-based & BUF needs that to maximize Spiller/FJax.

@salmaiorana: When Marrone took job at SU, he said he would be CEO overseeing everything. Delegated duty. That's what Bills need.

@JeremyWGR: Hey #Bills fans...you got a coach where the people losing him are very disappointed. Imagine that.

 

[Dawg Pound 69]

Don't like the hire, but it's not as bad as promoting the accountant Russ Brandon to run the whole show.

Marrone seemed to start getting buzz when Parcells and Payton recommended him.

 

[shader]

You guys do realize he was a very successful OC in the NFL, right?

 

[Mr. Peterson]

I was excited about the hire when I first heard about it. He was #2 on my wish list only behind Chip Kelly. But after hearing more about it and reading more about him, I'm even more psyched. I think this is a great hire for the Bills. Eagles and Browns fighting for Kelly allowed us to swoop in and get one of the top (if not the top) coach candidate out there. It worked out great for us.

 

[GroveDiesel]

The cynic in me wonders if Marrone is getting out now because once Nassib leaves the offense is going to go to ####.

Even though I'm of the opinion that the Bills job was the least attractive opening available (and yes, I'm including Cleveland), but still... who the hell doesn't leave Syracuse for the NFL regardless of whether or not you're losing a transcendent talent like Nassib (for the record, I did not know the name of the Syracuse QB before opening this thread)?

Honestly, it's more an indictment of you that you didn't know who Nassib was than on Nassib/Syracuse/Marrone.

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

You guys do realize he was a very successful OC in the NFL, right?

Very successful. Hopefully he had a big hand in that offense and Payton wasn't just running the show.

 

[Donnybrook]

Interesting, it didn't take long for people to start speculating on who will be the Bills next QB . Marrone, QB Ryan Nassib a package deal?

 

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Eagle homer here. He was getting a lot of positive vibes from guys I respect here. They wanted him more than Kelly. Give him a chance.

 

[Sea Duck]

Because when you've got an opportunity to hire a college coach who has a .500 record at a Big East school, you have to take it.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Because when you've got an opportunity to hire a college coach who has a .500 record at a Big East school, you have to take it.

What was Syracuse's record before he came on board? What were their offensive and defensive ranks? What did their roster look like and what did their recruiting pipeline look like?

 

[Balco]

Don't know how people can already determine this is a bad hire.

He has a history in the NFL, most recently as the O Coordinator for the Saints from 2006-2008. He inherited a woeful Syracuse program from Greg Robinson, and turned them around. He is well respected in the pro and college ranks. Not sure what is not to like at this point?

 

[Balco]

Because when you've got an opportunity to hire a college coach who has a .500 record at a Big East school, you have to take it.

What was Syracuse's record before he came on board? What were their offensive and defensive ranks? What did their roster look like and what did their recruiting pipeline look like?

I don't think people realize just how horrid that Syracuse team was under Greg Robinson. Left the cupboard completely bare.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Because when you've got an opportunity to hire a college coach who has a .500 record at a Big East school, you have to take it.

What was Syracuse's record before he came on board? What were their offensive and defensive ranks? What did their roster look like and what did their recruiting pipeline look like?

I don't think people realize just how horrid that Syracuse team was under Greg Robinson. Left the cupboard completely bare.

 

[MAC_32]

No strong opinion here, but those that dislike it seem to have weak or flawed reasoning. Lots of nfl people like him and Syracuse people are upset he is out.

Feels like a good move for buffalo. On the surface anyway. Still doubt they can be successful under Wilson.

 

[GroveDiesel]

No strong opinion here, but those that dislike it seem to have weak or flawed reasoning. Lots of nfl people like him and Syracuse people are upset he is out. Feels like a good move for buffalo. On the surface anyway. Still doubt they can be successful under Wilson.

Well, Wilson no longer has any say in how the Bills are run. He legally owns the Bills, but no longer will be making any decisions outside of selling or not selling the team.

 

[Mr. Peterson]

No strong opinion here, but those that dislike it seem to have weak or flawed draining. Lots of nfl people like him and Syracuse people are upset he is out. Feels like a good move for buffalo. On the surface anyway. Still doubt they can be successful under Wilson.

Well, Wilson no longer has any say in how the Bills are run. He legally owns the Bills, but no longer will be making any decisions outside of selling or not selling the team.

And this team isn't going anywhere for at least 7 years.

 

[Nucker101]

Don't know a whole lot about him, but from what I've read he sounds like a good hire.

 

[cstu]

So they went cheap and with a local guy to pander to the fans. Typical Bills. Might as well bookmark this for when they start their next head coach search 3-4 years from now.

In before the "Doug Moron" jokes.

 

[Mr. Peterson]

Is he gonna bring in his own QB? Any ideas how he might be at developing good starting QB's? I don't wasn't Nassib at 8. Hope he doesn't go that way.