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***Official 2010 Buffalo Bills Offseason Thread*** (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Aaron Rudnicki
- Start date
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
Scouting department next, please.
http://www.buffalonews.com/298/story/910661.htmlnone of these guys excite me, except for maybe Peterson but I don't think he has any interest in leaving Boise St.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
I hope Jim Kelly is in attendence if we announce that Jim Harbaugh is our new coach.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Ugh. Have we seriously gone from talking about Shannahan, Cowher and Billick to talking about Jim Harbaugh, Jim Haslett, Jim Fassel and Charlie Weiss? 
Mr. Nasty
Footballguy
The Shannahan and Cowher rumblings got me excited. Bummer.Ugh. Have we seriously gone from talking about Shannahan, Cowher and Billick to talking about Jim Harbaugh, Jim Haslett, Jim Fassel and Charlie Weiss?
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
The Bills have been really tight-lipped on the coaching search. I don't think I'd obsess too much over every piece of speculation. But yeah I agree that that list sort of blows. Cam Cameron? Really?
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Hey, maybe they'll really think outside the box and bring Marv Levy back to coach! 
hostile
Footballguy
Jason LaCanfora reporting that Perry Fewell is likely to wind up as defensive coordinator in Chicago.
D_House
Footballguy
Fewell was really good at getting solid production out of an often injury-depleted and talent-bereft defense for 3 quarters. Unfortunately it seemed like the defense would often fall apart in the 4th quarter under Fewell. I think that may have been more of a reflection of the youth and lack of on field leadership of the Bills' defense the past few years than of Fewell's coaching ability. I think he'll have better luck if he ends up in Chicago with Urlacher & Co. Either way, I wish him luck.
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GroveDiesel
Footballguy
That and the defense was on the field way too much and got worn out by the 4th quarter. When your offense is constantly going 3 and out, the defense wears down eventually.
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
I'm hoping that John Fox finds him way out of Charlotte and we can grab him.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
We could have had him instead of Gregg Williams. (Sorry, just wallowing in masochism).
Sammy Traveller
Footballguy
hostile
Footballguy
CanadianNFLJunkie
Footballguy
Why just because he has previous ties to Lovie?Anyone who goes to Chicago next year is a fool. Lovie is on a short leash so why would anyone want to go there for most likely 1 year??
Mr. Peterson
Footballguy
My wishlist at this point would be:Cowher (not gonna happen so I'm trying not to get my hopes up)
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Billick
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M.Shottenheimer
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Grimm
Harbaugh
Rivera (like him but want an offensive coach)
Everyone else
Weis (really hope he doesn't come to Buffalo)
OC Zed
Footballguy
I can't remember ever feeling this deflated as a Bills fan. Even during the worst years of the prior decade (00s), there was always hope for the future. We are now on the fifth rebuilding regime since the Superbowl years, except it's being led by a 70-year old guy who has never had this job before and no definitive track record of prior success. To top it off, our potential head coaching list went from all the marquee names (even if we really just fooling ourselves like the fat chick thinking the jock will dance with her) to all the prior head-coaching failures and B-list coordinators. Young talent? Not really that much of. Quarterback? Nope. But the team is located in a big market giving our owner deep pockets to spend on key free agents, right! Oh, wait...
CanadianNFLJunkie
Footballguy
Did you really think you were going to get someone like a Shanny here, really? Considering the talk about the team potentially moving, an owner who has a past as a tightwad, the "geographical and economic climate" of the area, the lack in talent currently on the roster, what possible attraction would there be for a "named" head coach to come to western NY?I can't remember ever feeling this deflated as a Bills fan. Even during the worst years of the prior decade (00s), there was always hope for the future. We are now on the fifth rebuilding regime since the Superbowl years, except it's being led by a 70-year old guy who has never had this job before and no definitive track record of prior success. To top it off, our potential head coaching list went from all the marquee names (even if we really just fooling ourselves like the fat chick thinking the jock will dance with her) to all the prior head-coaching failures and B-list coordinators. Young talent? Not really that much of. Quarterback? Nope. But the team is located in a big market giving our owner deep pockets to spend on key free agents, right! Oh, wait...
OC Zed
Footballguy
Meh. These are all fair points, but I still think the Buffalo job is a better position than the one he took in Washington. Both owners have their faults, but the Redskins have been a calamity ever since Snyder bought the team. If things change with Shanahan, then it would be the exception to the rule.Did you really think you were going to get someone like a Shanny here, really? Considering the talk about the team potentially moving, an owner who has a past as a tightwad, the "geographical and economic climate" of the area, the lack in talent currently on the roster, what possible attraction would there be for a "named" head coach to come to western NY?I can't remember ever feeling this deflated as a Bills fan. Even during the worst years of the prior decade (00s), there was always hope for the future. We are now on the fifth rebuilding regime since the Superbowl years, except it's being led by a 70-year old guy who has never had this job before and no definitive track record of prior success. To top it off, our potential head coaching list went from all the marquee names (even if we really just fooling ourselves like the fat chick thinking the jock will dance with her) to all the prior head-coaching failures and B-list coordinators. Young talent? Not really that much of. Quarterback? Nope. But the team is located in a big market giving our owner deep pockets to spend on key free agents, right! Oh, wait...
On The Rocks
Footballguy
Brian Schottenheimer decides not to interview with Bills
Holy Crap! The Bills can't get Schotty Jr. to take an interview for the HC position? This might be the lowest time in the history of the franchise. I mean....there are 32 positions like this in the whole world....and he is passing up a chance - that may never come back around again? Good grief. Anyone think this is a short term response where he might change his mind when the Jets playoff season is over? Or is this going to be his firm position?
Mr. Peterson
Footballguy
At this point I would settle for Frazier. I was hoping for an offensive minded coach to come in here and spice things up but this is getting pretty sad. Noone appears to want this job. We're gonna get some low-end guy that noone will be excited about.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I still don't understand why they won't even talk to Billick. From all reports, it sounds like he would take the job. I would prefer him over Frazier. Out of the guys they're talking about now, I'd take Frazier, but that's certainly begrudgingly.
On The Rocks
Footballguy
Reaper
Footballguy
Honestly - Before the last playoff game, I'd bet a lot of Jets fans were 50/50 if they even wanted him back as the OC.... His stock just exploded.
Remember the Buffalo game in NY where it was Sanchez' first game in the cold and the winds were pretty stong, the Jets had a lead and Schotty was calling pass plays all over the place while Sanchez racked up INTS and STILL had the lead for a while.... After that game a lot of people on Jets boards wanted Schotty out and Callahan to take over playcalling.
I like him and I'll be glad if he stays but, IMO, he's still getting his feet wet as a coordinator...
Huge jump from what he's doing to running a team...
I also think it's a wise move for him to stick it out and groom Sanchez - If they have a real good next year he can punch a ticket anywhere.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
Ralph Wilson = Al Davis east.
on top of getting another crappy HC (and cheap crappy assistants) Bills fans get the exact same front office that has screwed up the talent evaluation for a decade.changed a few titles but the Inner CircleJerk remains intact in all of its glory.no accountability from anyone in the organzation
Theres alot of those guys coaching playoff teams right now:Wade = unwanted
Turner = unwanted
Caldwell = who?
Ryan = questionably exciting
Childress = initially exciting, then horribly disappointing
Harbaugh = who?
Payton & Wisenhunt were probably the two most "exciting" signings, and neither had been a HC before...
Frazier's had alot of continued success in this league, and been under alot of great coaches...at the very least, hes not a flash in the pan in the way that Schottenheimer might be.
I want nothing to do with Schottenheimer Jr. Thank god he turned them down.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
You have to admit that getting preemptively turned down by a coordinator doesn't reflect positively on the Bills as a franchise. I can understand Cowher or Shanahan not wanting to come here, but Brian Schottenheimer?
I'm not concerned about that. I think everyone realized this was not an attractive job, or at least they should have. whatever the reason, I'm just glad a guy who would have been one of my least favorite choices won't get any serious consideration.there are only 32 head coaching jobs in the league and there wasn't much turnover this year. I think they'll be able to get someone good once some of these playoff teams get eliminated.
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GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Out of curiousity, who specifically could the Bills have brought in at GM to make you happy? And which Head Coach candidate that actually wants to come to Buffalo would you be happy with?
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Try as we might, it's very difficult to forecast which hires are going to end up great ones. I think the Bills had to make the obligatory offers to the 'home run' candidates, but just because many have said no thanks doesn't mean whoever they settle for won't end up a great choice. Buffalo needs to focus on the criteria of a good coach, not what the fans will think. When the Eagles hired Andy Reid, Eagles fans were baffled (as were pundits). He had never even been an offensive coordinator (he was Green Bay's QB coach), and was given the head coaching job and major control of the franchise. Obviously that worked out well, but there was nothing in Reid's pedigree that would've screamed "GREAT HIRE" by the outside world. But Jeff Lurie talked about how they were far less interested in what a candidate's prior jobs had been and were more focused on whether the candidates were articulate, smart, organized, and had vision. Reid blew all the other higher profile candidates out of the water. He knew exactly what the Eagles needed, he had clear vision on the kind of QB he wanted the team to build around, he had a list of staff hires with backups at each spot in case some of his choices weren't available, and he - apparently - passed every conceivable test they gave him with flying colors.
As a Bills fan, don't sell whoever they hire short. Give them the benefit of the doubt. I would feel a lot better about hiring a hungry, smart, well regarded assistant coach than I would some retread looking at a big payday and yet another seat at the table just because they're bored to tears sitting at home or talking to the TV cameras each Sunday morning.
As a Bills fan, don't sell whoever they hire short. Give them the benefit of the doubt. I would feel a lot better about hiring a hungry, smart, well regarded assistant coach than I would some retread looking at a big payday and yet another seat at the table just because they're bored to tears sitting at home or talking to the TV cameras each Sunday morning.
Gregg Williams had all those attributes as well...and he was a complete disaster as a head coach. Mike Mularkey kind of the same thing. **** Jauron, oof. I'd settle for someone who doesn't suck.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
I'm not sure I agree. Those three guys were accomplished coordinators, sure, but I have no reason to think they possessed all the management and organizational traits that Reid did. Ultimately the head coaching hire is only as good as the folks hiring him. If they don't know what to look for, you can't expect successful hires. GIGO and all.
The Bills have publicly stated they are reviewing and revamping the organization.Yet the only thing they have done is fire ****. remaining are the members of the Inner Circle Jerk who caused the disaster of the last 10 years and are now in charge of this "revamp". They have a baseball marketing guy running the show. This clown show is the biggest reason coaches are running from the Bills "opportunity". 1. Since the Bills decision makers have no football expertise, they should have hired an outside consultant like Rom Wolfe or Ernie Accorsi to identify and vet real GM candidates and evalaute the current on-field and front office talent. This should have been shortly after **** was fired.2. That search for GM candidates would have extended farther than the team lunch room where they interviewed the 70 year Buddy Nix and the token John Guy.3. Assistants from well run teams like Eric DeCosta and Tom Heckert would have significantly upgraded the front office if given control over football operations. 4. With a real NFL front office, the Bills would not be having coordinators turn down job interviews, let alone the top talent.5. Instead of conducting this non-sense dance with Bill Cowher, the Bills (led by their real NFL GM) should have aggressively pursued the guy who the GM and the consultants determined was teh best fit.My preference would have been a package deal to bring in Marty as HC as the turnaround expert with Brian as the OC (and QB guru). The plan should have had a clear transition path for Brian to become HC. This team needs a total attitude adjustment and Marty has proven multiple times that he is capable. Brain also has shown an ability to develop (and hopefully identify) young QBs - something severely lacking in Buffalo since Kelly retired.
"As a Bills fan, don't sell whoever they hire short. Give them the benefit of the doubt"This statement is laughable as it applies to the Bills.i would agree that a top young coordinator may be a good hire. but who in the Bills organization has a clue as to those attributes that you identified made Andy Reid a good hire? Brandon is a baseball marketing guy and Buddy Nix is a 70 year old scout. Ralph couldn't even look past his own lunch room to name a GM because he did not know anybody else.This team does not know they have a problem, let alone a plan to fix it.But maybe Ralph will get lucky
Tom Donahoe said that Williams was the strongest interview he ever had. He was possibly the most organized person in the history of ever. It didn't help.I'm not sure we're disagreeing here. I just think there's a certain amount of luck involved in finding a good HC vs a bad one. It's not always easy to spot the guys that will work out ahead of time. The Eagles hit on a great one with Reid, Steelers with Tomlin, Saints with Payton, etc. But, the Bills now have a track record of consistently making poor choices when it comes to head coaches and QBs. They've failed when picking promising coordinators (Williams, Mularkey) and with retreads (Phillips, Jauron), although I'd be happy to have someone like Wade at this point.
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GroveDiesel
Footballguy
I don't disagree that it wouldn't have been a bad idea to bring in an outside guy to help evaluate GM candidates, but I think that presupposes that Nix will not be a good GM. Obviously he's not a guy that you expect to be around for 10 years, but other than his age I honestly have zero problem with Nix as GM. He's extremely well regarded around the league when it comes to personnel. Maybe his age WILL be a problem. If so, that will soon become apparent. But the GM position isn't as demanding as a Head Coaching position.I don't understand this "non-sense dance with Bill Cowher" argument. Maybe the Bills determined that he would be the best fit and DID aggressively pursue him. And he simply decided he didn't want the job. Are you really going to blame them for that? Having Tom Heckert as the GM wouldn't have changed Cowher's mind. And Marty has flat out said that he's retired and not coming back. Furthermore, there is zero chance that the Bills could have brought Marty and Brian in as a package since there is zero chance that the Jets would have allowed Brian to leave the Jets to go be the OC with the Bills. Plus, you have a problem with Nix's age but would have no problem with bringing in a 68 year old to do a much more demanding job?
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Yeah, I remember that. Gregg Williams had a file on just about every single coordinator and coach in the league. He had rankings of coaches. He had entire playbooks he had created. Tons of player assessments. And he still was awful as a head coach. I really do think that sometimes it's just luck. Look at how bad Bill Belichick was was the Browns compared to how good he is now. How many people thought that he was a great hire when the Patriots brought him on?There's a LOT of factors that go into making a good coach. IMO, these are some big ones:-Ability to assess personnel-Ability to motivate individual players-Ability to motivate team as a whole-Ability/Willingness to adapt to team's personnel-Ability/Willingness to adapt in-game-Creative-Organized-Able to manage coaching staff-Willing to work long but efficient hours-Knowledgeable on how to build a team
Nix is only the GM in name only (says 50 years of Ralph's history) - which is why any coach worth his salt is steering clear of the Bills. They do not have a football guy making the football decisions. If they had gone outside the organization and hired a real GM, real football coaches would be interested.I believe Marty would come out of retirement to coach with his son, if he had the full support of the front office. Permanently retired coaches do not coach the senior bowl. In his regard, Buddy Nix is a big asset due to his prior relationship with Marty and Brian. Rex Ryan has already gone on record that he would let Brian go to coach with his father as OC.The Bills have botched this entire situation because Ralph does not want to give up control nor spend the money needed to get a top flight front office and coaching staff.
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
So true.It would be one thing if the Bills had merely screwed up once with a bad GM or a inopportune coach. Instead, this team has been a trainwreck for several regimes now. This organization doesn't get any benefit of the doubt from me at all until I see some results on the field. This isn't to say that Buddy Nix is going to suck or that whoever we hire is automatically going to flop. I'm rooting for them to succeed. I'm just saying that we don't have the infrastructure in place to consistently make good decisions.
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