Archives for January 2012

‘Lee is familiar with Bills backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen, whom he coached with the Dolphins. He’s also familiar with the wildcat offense, which Bills coach Chan Gailey has attempted to incorporate into his attack over the past two seasons.’

‘”I’m excited and proud to be the Bills’ quarterbacks coach,” said Lee. “Chan Gailey has been a successful head coach everywhere he’s been. His teams have always moved the football really well. Being able to coach under him was the difference in my decision to come to Buffalo.”‘

‘Lee, 58, was offensive coordinator for the University of Mississippi in 2011. He left Ole Miss at the end of the season after head coach Houston Nutt resigned.’

‘A 32-year coaching veteran, Hixon tutored the wideouts for the Bills. He’s had stops with the Washington Redskins and LSU, and he was on the same staff at Georgia Tech with O’Brien from 1995-99.’

‘Receivers coach Stan Hixon accepted an assistant coaching position at Penn State University Thursday.’

‘”I think it’s a decision that we’re going to have to make about where he is physically as to whether or not we do re-sign him,” said Nix. “He’s a good player, a really good player when he’s healthy. He’s done it. We need somebody like that in that position whether it will be him or not I don’t know yet.”‘

‘"Everybody’s been surprised, I guess, about C.J. except us," Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said. "We always knew, I think, what we had. Everybody talks about ‘he’s learned to run, he’s learned how to run,’ and obviously all of them learn things. But with C.J., the opportunity is what he needed and he got it when Fred got hurt and he’s what we thought he’d be."’

‘"Coach Inge was contacted by the Buffalo Bills about joining their staff and has accepted the opportunity presented to him, which I completely understand," Quinn said in a statement. "He set the example of loyalty in this profession, he was loyal to this staff, the players and the program and did a tremendous job for us."’

‘Mularkey’s two-year stint with the Bills (which produced a 14-18 record) was rare: an NFL coach walking away from a job. But it was a complex situation that boiled down to the fact that Bills owner Ralph Wilson fired Mularkey’s boss, team president Tom Donahoe, and installed former Bills coach Marv Levy as the general manager, who then demanded that Mularkey fire some of his assistants. Rather than do that, Mularkey left in what he saw as an act of principle.’

‘He’s the first newcomer to join the Bills defensive staff since Dave Wannstedt took over as coordinator after George Edwards was fired last week. Inge has no NFL coaching experience.’

‘Considering the offense made considerable positive strides in 2011 under established quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and considering the defense has now been handed over to veteran coach Dave Wannstedt, who is likely to get a pass rusher with the 10th overall pick in the draft, Nix is confident the only place the Bills can go in 2012 is up.’

‘Losing Pro Bowler Williams to a foot injury after just five games rocked this group, and it never really recovered. No. 1 pick Dareus started at end and then moved inside in the team’s 3-4 base look after Williams was injured. Dareus finished with 43 tackles and a team-leading 5.5 sacks. He figures to be a fixture up front for years no matter the scheme. Williams is on schedule for a return in 2012. Other than those two, Buffalo could use upgrades at both end and tackle. Edwards contributed 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but meaningful plays were few and far between. The Bills had just 29 sacks and allowed a team-record 5,938 yards, so there is much work to be done in the front seven.’

‘”Right now he’s in the process of rehabbing and getting healthy,” Nix said. “He’ll have a physical this spring, he’ll have another one this summer. If he gets healthy and passes the physical, he’s still ours. We’ll take it from there. We’ll see what happens.”‘

‘In terms of defensive tackles in a four-man look, or the entire line in a three-man front, I think the Bills are all set here. They may look to add a late, late round pick at the position or maybe even an undrafted free agent or two. For the most part, however, this position is set for 2012.’

‘Nix has always been known as a straight shooter, much like Gailey, and he openly admits the Bills weren’t quite as good as their 5-2 record indicated at the time, but its only fair to point out he also thinks the Bills are much farther ahead of where they were this time a year ago than their disappointing drop to a 6-10 record would indicate.’