Archives for January 2010

‘Giff Smith, a Yellow Jackets assistant since 2004, has taken a job as an outside linebackers coach with the Buffalo Bills and will rejoin former Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey in the NFL. The school has not released official word on Smith’s departure, but after rumors circulated all Tuesday morning, the Telegraph was able to confirm Smith would be leaving after he and other coaches reportedly told current players and recruits that morning that he was indeed leaving.’

‘That said, just because the people selected to fill those positions aren’t popular, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad choices. Both Nix and Gailey deserve the opportunity to succeed … or fail.’

‘Eight days before Signing Day, Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith has accepted a job as outside linebackers coach with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.’

‘The quarterback situation with the Buffalo Bills is in such disarray that Donte Whitner, a defensive back, says the answer to the Bills’ problem is Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Troy Smith.’

‘Defensive end Chris Kelsay and defensive tackle Kyle Williams speak on a regular basis in the offseason and liked what they heard in the press conference last week. “I did speak with Kyle and he’s always interested in what we’re doing as I am,” said Kelsay. “We’re very impressed, very excited.”‘

‘The consensus among a number of people PFW talked to about both teams is that the Bills and Raiders have inherent problems that will continue to bring them down, with perhaps the biggest problems being their well-meaning but out-of-touch Hall of Fame owners, Davis and Ralph Wilson Jr.’

‘The abuse heaped on Gailey by the national media has been exceeded only by that heaped on Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien.’

‘The NFL is designed to promote parity. It is difficult to miss qualifying for the playoffs 10 years in a row. The only current such streaks belong to the Bills and Detroit Lions. That says a lot. Sad to say for football fans in both cities, it is extremely unlikely that the Bills or Lions will make the playoffs after the 2010 season.’

‘Modkins joined the Cardinals after spending the 2008 season in Kansas City, where Gailey was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. Modkins also served an NFL minority coaching fellowship in the summer of 1999 with the Dallas Cowboys when Gailey was the head coach and worked for Gailey at Georgia Tech, coaching defensive backs in 2002 and running backs from 2003-07.’

‘The biggest difficulty is it’s hard to find an elite nose tackle to clog the middle. The 3-4 also ideally puts big men – 285 pounds and up – at defensive end. If they’re 295 pounds, even better. The inside linebackers should be in the 240-pound range. The outside linebackers should be athletic guys in the 255- to 265-pound range.’

‘My advice to the fans is sit back and allow events to follow their course. The Bills have many holes on their roster but also some admirable young talent that needs development. They draft at the No. 9 slot in April, which means there are at least eight NFL teams, a quarter of the league, that are in worse shape, and probably more.’

‘”I don’t know Gailey’s background or anything about him, but obviously we needed a change,” Schobel said. “I feel like in the past we maybe have made too many changes. You’re always starting over, especially in the quarterback position, you’ve got a new guy coming in every year telling you something new. It’s hard.”‘

‘There are many wise men to this day who played and coached for and against Cookie Gilchrist in the NFL who say it’s not Jim Brown who was the greatest running back ever, it was Gilchrist who, because he played his first five seasons in the CFL with Hamilton, Saskatchewan, and Toronto before signing with the AFL’s Buffalo Bills, did not get the recognition of unparalleled records – establishing majesty he deserved.’

‘”On the coaching side I guarantee you he will bring discipline to the team,” said Shaw. “They will be a disciplined group in terms of their play on the field. That impresses me a lot about him. His successes along the way have been documented as far as the offensive side of the ball is concerned. So I’m excited. I’m really excited.”‘

‘"Jim Peters was a man’s man’s man. I have nothing but love and respect and accolades for the man," said Cookie Gilchrist, star Bills running back from 1962-64. "Lou Saban, Jack Kemp, Paul Maguire, Jim Peters, they were men who spoke their mind," Gilchrist said. "I’m on their bandwagon. They spoke their mind, they tell the truth. They are men of character. You don’t find men like Jim Peters. … I’m proud to have been his friend," Gilchrist said.’