Archives for January 2010

‘That’s the problem with new coaches. Even the Bills’ hires know how to say the right things. Gailey said a couple of times that he’d be bringing in assistants who were good teachers. That’s what Gregg Williams said nine years ago. You know how that one turned out. What Williams really meant, I suppose, was that they’d be paid like teachers.’

‘Despite pleas from angry fans who think he’s already fouled up, Nix did just fine with Gailey, a guy who has a proven track record as a solid offensive mind. But that was the easy part. What lies ahead presents a much greater challenge.’

‘”I believe in fundamental football. I believe in toughness and discipline,” Gailey said. “I believe in being organized and eliminating the grey area. That creates accountability because everyone should know exactly what their job and role is. And last but not least, I believe in character.”‘

‘Another non-coincidence: Buffalo has finished between 23rd and 30th in scoring in six of the last seven years. It’s one thing to live through a Buffalo winter; it’s another to love a team that plays into the winter, specializes in failed third-and-eight plays, and signed a 35-year-old Terrell Owens to jazz things up.’

‘”I’ve come into that stadium enough times to know about the fans of the Bills Nation. Who wouldn’t want to come here? Maybe some guys have personal reasons they don’t want to be here. Great. I’m glad because I get to come here.”‘

‘Gailey has spent a large chunk of his career developing young players, having spent nine years as a head coach in college and another two in the World League. That makes him a superb fit in Buffalo, where he inherits a team with the fifth-youngest roster in the NFL.’

‘Part of it is that Jim Harbaugh, Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan reportedly turned down the job, and Brian Schottenheimer, Russ Grimm and Ron Rivera were said to have turned down interviews. Yet, that’s not all of it … The hire of Gailey doesn’t seem all that different than the hire of Dick Jauron a few years back.’

‘The Gailey hiring came completely out of left field, leading me to believe the Bills were simply afraid of further rejection, so they opted to take the not-so-hot option to the prom, rather than tread along stag any longer.’

‘”This guy’s met more of the criteria than I ever thought we could find,” said Nix. “This guy’s won everywhere he’s been. Very few times do you get an offensive minded coach that’s been a coordinator on defense, he’s been a special teams coach in the NFL, and he’s been successful everywhere he’s been. I told you when we go draft a guy we’re going to get a guy that’s got some body of work.”‘

‘Fitzpatrick was signed to be Edwards’ backup but wound up starting eight games after Edwards’ early struggles and his inability to shake his injury-prone label. Fitzpatrick did admirable work (1,422 yards passing, 9 TDs, 10 INT) but nobody’s kidding himself into believing is a viable NFL starter with his limited athletic talents. Edwards’ career is clearly at a crossroads but could be resurrected under the right coaching staff. Brohm, a former second-round pick signed off Green Bay’s practice squad, lost his one start against Atlanta but showed signs that he could challenge for the position in training camp. With rebuilding the offensive line and the defense the top priorities, Buffalo’s new coaching staff may have to live with this trio for a year.’

‘When GM Buddy Nix was head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga from 1984-92, one of his players his final season there was receiver Terrell Owens. “We didn’t see eye to eye my first year,” said Owens, a skinny recruit out of Alexander City, Ala. “I wasn’t one of those All-Americans out of high school assured of playing time. I didn’t get to play a lot my freshman year until the eighth or ninth game, and then I broke my collarbone. Shortly after the season, he was terminated.”‘

‘It’s more than worth noting that Ralph Wilson and Russ Brandon were not at Tuesday’s news conference introducing Gailey. That seems an obvious attempt to distance themselves somewhat for reasons we’ve discussed, and let Nix and Gailey stand alone to represent the future.’

‘”He’s got a whole lot of talent and I think he relates very well to people,” said Reeves. “He knows the game extremely well; he’s coached all phases. He won a National Championship at Troy. When I was at Denver, he was coaching at the Air Force Academy coaching defense. He called me at that time and ended up coming in and coached special teams for me, so he’s coached that and he’s coached offense, quarterbacks, and been offensive coordinator. I think he has a great background.”‘

‘Chan Gailey wasn’t a popular choice for sure, but as I see it, the Bills were actually quite fortunate to be able to land a coach of his experience and other successes at various levels. The jolting reality here though, is that with the Jets and Dolphins improving and the Patriots still the Patriots, the Bills are clearly the fourth team in the AFC East heading into the 2010 season, and even if Gailey is a stupendous coach and the Bills have a great draft, that won’t change overnight.’

‘Even though he can bring the college spread offense into Buffalo, Gailey must find the right person to run it. With the possibility of an uncapped year, the Bills would have to make a trade to get either Kyle Orton or Jason Campbell as a restricted free agent. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen could be an option if he falls to the Bills at the ninth pick, but Wilson might not be patient enough to go with a first-round quarterback. Gailey is in a tough spot.’