WhitewalkerInPhilly

Kinda. What I looked up had one DE playing the 9 (likely Hughes) whose job it is to speed rush and one 7 tech who lines up between THE TE and OT, and is in charge of run contain on heavier sets and pass rush on empty sets. That sounds exactly like Lawson.

I am seeing a lot of jumping to conclusions and freaking out because there were "reports" that McCoy MAY follow a guy that we haven't yet hired. Classic TBD You guys are crazy and I love it because I'm crazy too.

I couldn't read the entire thread this morning, but I am hearing a lot of "it's almost a done deal...maybe Mike McCoy." Anything about Lynn staying on as OC? I would really prefer if we kept him over McCoy. McCoy is a passing specialist, and maybe he gets a good year out of Tyrod, but Shady and our run blocking looks the best. IDK, to me, based on the way the contract is set up the best way to get rid of him is to pick up the option, give McCoy a year to inflate some stats, and then trade. Once the option is picked up, we hold the dead cap, and teams get a very friendly contract to him. It's high, but since we take a lot of the cap cost, we could get some very nice picks or players for him. Of course, there's the chance that: A) Lynn is staying and B) If McCoy is the guy, he would want a year to develop Cardale or whoever they draft and use Tyrod as a bridge.

He was. It was a bit before I came out here, but it was the year before Reid got fired. The Eagles then went from 10-6 to 4-12 the next year and Reid was fired. From what I hear about how it went down Reid said McDermott would be back and then fired him 5 days later. To me it sounds like a classic "fall on your sword for the HC" situations.

I hear nothing but good things about him in Philly which is saying something. Also, while a DC shouldn't be too dependant on scheme I did some research. The Jim Johnson 4-3 under scheme plays very well with what we have. Dareus goes back to one gapping more like he did with Pettine. Lawson is almost a perfect fit for a Suggs mold 7 tech DE, and Hughes would return to 9 tech DE. The the backing group Preston had his best year as a 4-3 MLB, and Ragland could be a solid Sam. If you get Zach back, that's a hell of a solid front 7 again. The coverage is zone, which would help out Darby. A Manny like FA pickup or two and a safety high in the draft I think the D would be back on track pretty quick.

That's my guess. Either there is someone they like in the playoffs, and they are waiting to see if they can get a bite at the apple OR They really like one of the two DC's (Kris Richard or McDermott) but they also like Lynn. Lynn's problem is that, even if Bradley were to come here, I don't think he is a good fit for our defense. If no one wants Lynn as HC, he is under contract still for us. Out of the 6 teams that had HC vacancies, Jax has already filled theirs and Denver is going to get the cream of the crop so they could wait it out and see the dominoes fall.

Thanks John. "Break" in that they aren't doing anything or deliver it or they have no other schedule coaching visits?

I like this idea for them better than St Doug. Too bad for us.

Well that changes things a bit, even if we were hearing nothing on Coughlin. Dat Syracuse connection.

Not necessarily. The Bills can still tag Gilmore and a clever GM can work contracts to add phantom years on. For example, in 2016 Norman's franchise tag was worth $13.6M. You could offer another contract for two years with that much guaranteed, something like 2 yrs, for 27.5 M total a year, $10 M signing bonus. 2017 cap hot of $8.6M, $18.6M in 2018. Unless they renegotiate in 2018, he would make it any longer, but the Bills could shop a high quality CB on a one year rental at roughly the cost of a franchise tag from a year before.

Well, the dominoes are starting to fall. Just think, 4 more teams need to pass on Lynn before we can keep him as OC and hire the best DC we can find as HC. Only half joking.

They had a pretty consistent run up until this year. Before 2016, they were top 10 in total defense 4 years running, and 2nd in 2014.

I guess that really is it. I have seen rumors that Whaley wanted to interview within the Steelers, but the Steelers want to keep everyone as long as they are in the playoffs. Any word on that being true?

Thank you John. I was hoping you would duck in here. I know you don't have anything definitively, but do you have an idea about the time frame as to when a decision might get made?

It's funny how this narrative goes. Tyrod is actually more accurate (higher QBR) in 10-20 yards over the middle than on the outside.

Three things: Being a Bills fan, and follower of the Sabres and 76ers, I will say this: years of concerted tanking does not let you decide when to snap back and start being good. It's been two years since the Sabres took Eichel and they are still nowhere near close to really contending. The Sixers tanked for three years straight, and might have finally got a solid core, but they are at least another year away from even competing for a playoff spot. Second, the only reason to tank in the NFL is if there is a QB you are absolutely in love with, and that is a major throw of the dice. Three, with our contract situations, this is the wrong year to tank. Dareus, Hughes, Clay and McCoy all either subtract cap space or give you next to nothing if cut this year. If you are going to do it, wait until 2018 when you can get something for all of them, plus get rid of Incognito because his contract will be almost up. I don't like tanking any year, but the money makes this year a bad one.

So, you'd much rather have Tyrod Taylor than Russell Wilson?

Don't say that in Philly. They are howling for his blood right now. He made a lot of questionable decisions and play calls.

To be fair, I watched a number of games living in the area. He knew how to draw up run plays and knew how to maximize a limited QB in Foles. His play calling wasn't bad. His overall coaching...meh. his personnel skills as a GM? HORRIBLE. But his scheme had some good stuff.

Actually ... You're going to call me crazy. If we have a defensive HC, Chip would be a good pick for OC. I have no idea if he would want to be OC, but he designs offenses well. Tyrod is the closest thing to Mariota/Kaep in his prime that Chip would get. Shady had one of his best years with Chip. It will not work, for a number of reasons but I am not a Chip guy (like buffalo barbarian was at one time IIRC) and I think that he is the best outside OC pick I've seen bandied about for us.

Any news on this?

No. First, Taylor AND Hughes for the 1st overall pick would be incredibly pricy , never mind for the pick they got from the Eagles. Then they are robbing us. Second, Cleveland has been trying journeymen for a long time now. They passed on taking Wentz at 2 to get the Eagles pick. They are going to want to draft someone. Third, teams will want Taylor's contract to go into effect because we pay the bonus and that stays on our cap so we won't get that cap space you are talking about. I am not against trading anyone for the right price, but unless it's Taylor for the 1st overall pick, and you have a QB you are absolutely in love with, I don't see it.

I would believe Vic more if he didn't first say that the Pegula's would "search" and find Lynn. Now it's the reverse end result because it's how he justifies both being right.

I did some digging and I found the workup of McDermott's scheme and I have to say I'm a fan based on what we have: http://www.catscratchreader.com/2012/2/28/2831884/the-panthers-defense-a-treatise-on-the-jim-johnson-4-3-part-i It's closer to Pettine's 4-3 under: Dareus moves back to one gapping the 1 tech. Hughes plays the role of 9 tech DE. They need a 7 tech DE on the strong side, so I would either use Lawson there, or have him be the Sam (which is where the other Lawson used to play). He plays a zone defense so hopefully he can help out Darby. Edit: Looking it over, I would put Douzable at the 7 tech, Lawson at SLB, Ragland or Preston at MLB and Ragland or Zach at WLB. I think that gives us our front 7 back.

He is thought of very highly in Philadelphia, which is saying something considering the enmity they have with departed coaches (they still rip Reid and Kelly). He was a DB coach during a period of very strong defense in the mid 2000s and spent a few years as DC at the end of Reid's time in Philly. There were a lot of calls for the Eagles to take a look at him last season as HC, and fans ripped the ream for taking Doug Piederson over him. He runs a 4-3, and had an excellent defense in 2014 and 15 with the Panthers.