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The pistol is ground-breaking? It's been around for about ten years now. But it's really just a tweak on the shotgun - which has been around since the 1930s - with the QB a couple steps further up. Chan also liked to use the spread offense. So does Chip Kelly. The spread has also been around since the 1930's. Hardly ground-breaking, Chip Kelly's spread is different because he mixes in other elements and does it uptempo. Chan's spread isn't unique - or uniquely successful. But the bigger point is that Marrone and his coaches are a bunch of football geeks, in the mold of Jon Gruden.

One thing I like about Jon Gruden is that he’s a football junkie. He says that last year he seriously considered being Oregon’s OC just for the opportunity to learn Chip Kelly’s uptempo spread offense. He also, by the way, studied what Marrone was doing in Syracuse. Gruden loves analyzing game tape and discussing new ideas with the best football innovators out there. Gailey and Wannstedt are cast from a different mold. Both seemed to just do what they’ve always done in the past. Their attitude seemed to be, “It worked before so why try something different?” Chan was smart enough to tweak some of his outdated ideas enough to create a modicum of success on the offensive side of the ball. Wannstedt, not as bright as Chan, just stubbornly stuck to what he knew and failed miserably on the defensive side. In contrast, the new coaches are true students of the game. From all that I’ve been reading, Marrone, Pettine and Hackett are football geeks like Gruden. They know where various schemes originated and how they evolved over the years. When they hear about a coach getting success with something new, they’ll study game tape to see what they can learn and borrow. Hackett calls it getting your “Ph.D in football.” When Marrone was first hired, he said he wanted coaches who lived and breathed football. I think football geekdom was part of what he was talking about. He wanted guys who obsessively study film and pick the brains of the best coaches out there. Mike Pettine, our new DC, is one of those guys. According to accounts, Pettine is always scouting other defenses for new tactics to confuse and stymy offensive coordinators and quarterbacks. Pettine’s defenses at New York were a varied – and mostly successful - smorgasboard of borrowed schemes. Even Pat Morris, our new Offensive Line Coach, spent this past season with Gruden and his “Fired Football Coaches of America” breaking down game film and learning new concepts. Marrone seems to be putting together a group of thinkers and experimenters. While this won’t necessarily equate to success, I’m getting excited to see what the new Buffalo Bills look like on the field.

I've never heard him say that he'll keep us in a 4-3 base. Maybe the closest he comes to actually saying something like this is in this piece from Chris Brown: Bills new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was asked in a 1-on-1 interview with Buffalobills.com if he’s married to the 3-4 base defense coming to Buffalo. Here was his response. “I’m not. Again it’s a situation where I think people try to compartmentalize too much and just broad stroke it 3-4, 4-3, what are you? And my answer to that question is yes to all of the above,” Pettine told Buffalobills.com. ”We are a multiple front, attacking, pressure-style defense. We’re going to play man coverage, we’re going to play zone coverage. What we’re going to do defensively is take advantage of what our players do well. “I’m not bringing in a defense, this is going to be the Buffalo Bills defense. It’s going to be built around the explosive athletes that are here. Again starting with the front and that’s the solid foundation here and moving to the linebackers and secondary stacked behind them. It made the decision so much easier for me looking at the roster.”

Fair enough. But given that we're built to be a 4-3 team, I would expect Pettine's utilization of a 4 man front to be more common with the Bills (at least in Year One) than it was with the Jets. He seems comfortable enough with the 4-3 that he won't be reluctant to use it if that's where our talent's at.

Pettine deployed the 3-4 only 37% of the time. Here's a good article on the various formations used by the Jets. http://bleacherrepor...se-is-not-a-3-4 In another article this past June when he was still with the Jets, Pettine said he would be using a lot of 4-3 against AFC East opponents: "For the better part of three seasons, Pettine and Ryan have relied on innovative and unconventional tactics to create havoc within the framework of their 3-4 scheme. Although the Jets will retain some of those 3-4 roots, Pettine admitted that “we’re going to be more 4-3” to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2012. The Jets have finished 18th, 7th and 17th in the league in sacks under Ryan. Pettine went so far as to predict that the Jets may not play any 3-4 base defense in their six AFC East games that feature three teams with spread offenses. “We might not play a snap of base defense in a division game this year,” Pettine told me. “If it’s five snaps a game, that’s probably a lot.” http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2012/06/jets-will-rely-on-the-foundation-of-the-defense-and-play-more-four-man-fronts You might say Pettine will run a 3-4 base, but it doesn't mean a lot when we'll be in base less than half the time. It's good to have a guy who thinks creatively, unlike Wanny.

I'm going to take Pettine at his word when he says talk about a base defense (whether it's 3-4, 4-3 or 46) is pretty meaningless since he will use a variety of defensive alignments depending on our personnel and the offense we're playing against. For example, here's an excerpt of an article by Mike Florio on PFT: With 3-4 guru Mike Pettine taking over a defense that has been constructed to operate as a 4-3, the big question for the Bills has become whether Mario Williams will for the second time in three seasons be asked to play outside linebacker. The easy answer is yes. And no. Pettine talked about his new job with the Bills’ official website, and he was asked whether he’ll be using a 3-4 or a 4-3. “The answer is really yes to both,” Pettine said. “We’ll be a multiple front, multiple coverage defense. The trademark of our defense is we’re going to be smart, tough and relentless. How we configure it is more player-driven. I’ve always believed that you don’t fit your players to your scheme, but you fit your scheme to your players. What I see here is a group of explosive athletes and playmakers and we’re going to put them in a position to do just that. We’re going to be in the configuration that gives us the best opportunity to win football games.” http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/11/3-4-or-4-3-for-bills-under-pettine-yes/

I agree. In fact, I started a thread on this very same subject yesterday. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/155256-exhaustive-qb-search/

Oops... I did screw up the probability - not sure what I was thinking. And my by-round odds were probably optimistic in the first place. Both observations reinforce the case for acquiring multiple QBs. Even if we drafted two, our chances of not finding the right guy are considerable. A 31% probability - if your assessment is right - is pretty bleak but far better than 17%.

I've always thought like you. But good QBs are a rare commodity. Other positions are easier to fill through free agency, trades, and lower round draft picks. For example, the Seahawks got their starting RB (Lynch) for a 5th round draft pick. You don't get a good starting QB that cheap. For the most part, you draft them.

Sorry, I somehow I missed your excellent post. You provide a great analysis that reinforces the argument that - probabilities being what they are - we need to draft more than one QB this year. Then maybe get a guy with experience as an emergency backup in case the rookies don't make it.

Yep! When it comes to the HC search, I am drinking the Kool Aid! I believe Brandon, Nix and Whaley began their due diligence weeks - if not months - before releasing Chan. They had already talked to people about their candidates, studied film, etc. So they were hot and ready to go when Black Monday came. The only thing left was to do the interviews and they got those scheduled quick. I'm glad they struck before someone else could nab their man. But that's not the point of the original post. The Bills haven't had a good QB since Kelly. Todd Collins had a good game once - as the back up for another team. Doug Flutie played well sometimes - in the 4th quarter. Rob Johnson threw some NFL caliber passes when he wasn't taking a sack. Bledsoe played some good games before crashing. Trent Edwards completed a high percentage of check downs. JP tossed some beautiful long balls to Lee Evans but couldn't complete a screen or down-n-out. Fitz had a streak last year when he completed a lot of underneath stuff and a few jump balls. But none of these guys ever become our franchise QB. I'm tired of waiting for the next Kelly. As we all know, it's hard to make the playoffs when you don't have a good QB. So I want us to really commit our resources to finding one this year. While I am happy with the HC search, I'm hoping OBD gives me reason to drink a little QB Kool Aid too this offseason!

Russ Brandon said that their HC search was "exhaustive" and I believe him. But what about the QB search? A few posters here have suggested the Bills draft two QBs in this draft and I agree. Our QB search needs also to be "exhaustive." 20% to 50% of 1st round QBs become 'franchise quarterbacks' - depending on your definition of a 'franchise QB' and what time frame you look at. To look at it another way, only about 30% or so of QBs picked in the first round will ever accomplish enough to play in a Pro Bowl. At best, getting a good QB in the first round is a 50-50 proposition. Getting one in later rounds has even longer odds. I don't want the success of the Bills to hinge on a coin toss, at best. For the sake of argument, let's say a first rounder has a 50% chance of success and a 2nd rounder 30%. If we draft a QB in both the 1st and 2nd round, our chances of at least one of the QBs succeeding is now statistically 85%. This is similar to what Seattle did last year. They acquired Matt Flynn but drafted Russell Wilson to stack the odds in their favor. We need to stack the odds in ours. To compensate the rawness of two rookie QBs on the roster, we should furthermore trade for Flynn or Alex Smith if either are truly on the market. Or go after an experienced FA like TJack or Matt Moore. QBs are more important than ever in today's NFL and I'm hoping OBD goes after this position hard this off-season. http://thedctimes.co...il-for-success/ http://bleacherrepor...eed-for-success http://aol.sportingn...disappointments http://articles.sun-...ft-josh-freeman

Good article. The first two lines say it all.... Former 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell is training for an NFL comeback. We'll wait until you stop laughing ... And if that isn't enough info, how about this... The former Oakland Raiders quarterback, who hasn't taken a single NFL snap since 2009, told Yahoo! Sports he's dropped from 320 pounds to 308 pounds and is ready to bury past criticisms. Wow. He lost 12 lbs. He's really serious this time. At least he knows the problem... "People would say (that) I didn't love the game but that pisses me off. People don't know the real you but I want people to know the real me..." Yep, all his actions since he left college scream he loves the game.

I really don't get why so many people are saying the Bills HC search was not "exhaustive." Unless you have inside knowledge, how do you know? I have to assume OBD began their due diligence weeks - if not months - before Chan was canned. They probably studied game tape of the various HC candidates and talked to people who knew them. The interviews we know about are just the tip of the iceberg. Just look at the interview schedule. Russ and the guys hit this with a sense of purpose. They knew just who they wanted to talk to and what questions they wanted to ask- because they had already done extensive homework. Before Chan was even fired, the search could be deemed "exhaustive."

Yep, the author of that NFP article says Nassib is worth a #1 pick. But in the same edition of National Football Post, they rate Nassib the 10th best QB prospect and have the Bills taking Glennon at #8 in their mock draft.

Haste? OBD did plenty of due diligence BEFORE Gailey was fired (I'm assuming). While they liked Marrone from the get-go, they interviewed him 5 times before hiring him. Who else should they have interviewed? Once they found their man, they hired him before someone else did and we ended up with dregs again. Hands off? So what? This means nothing. Some coaches and teams are more transparent that others. I don't really care. I just want wins and I don't think there's any correlation between transparency and win-loss perception. Bottom line, I agree there's not a lot to get excited about. None of the available candidates made me excited. All of them - Chip Kelly included - have question marks and concerns. I just don't see any reason for skepticism either. I think Russ, Nix, Whaley and the staff did massive amounts of homework on their list of candidates. And, based on that, Russ believes they got the right guy to turn the team around. Dungy or Cowher would have excited me. But given the realities of our options, I'm good with Marrone. I would have been depressed if we had kept Chan & Wanny. Now I'm thinking, "Well, at least there's a chance the sun might rise tomorrow."

Mickey Loomis, Herm Edwards, Drew Brees and Sean Payton have all praised the Bills for hiring Marrone. But all these guys have worked with Marrone and, presumably, like him. Their objectivity should be questioned. But Peter King called Marrone a "good hire" and provides some very good reasons why he thinks so: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130108/doug-marrone-bills/ And Jon Gruden - who I don't think is beholden to Marrone - had this to say: "I would be really excited if I was a Bills fan. This is a guy I have been studying for a long time. I competed against him when he was the offensive coordinator for the Saints. He is a tough, hard-nosed and detailed coach. Really has a good command for the game and is really good teaching the game. What he did at Syracuse speaks for itself. He turned that program around. "I think he is on the cutting edge offensively. He has a vast football background if you just check where he comes from and the kind of people he is able to acquire in terms of his staff. I think he did an excellent job at Syracuse of developing young coaches and surrounding himself with a really good brain trust. I expect him to do the same in Buffalo. I think it is a great hire. "I think he is going to win. I think he is going to get the Bills back in the playoffs soon. Obviously, I think Buffalo is on the right track. Buddy Nix did an excellent job acquiring players. I think they are on the right track, but I think Coach Marrone is the kind of coach that can push you over the top. He has won everywhere he has been. I think he is going to continue to do that. He will find a way to get it done." http://blogs.buffalonews.com/press-coverage/2013/01/drew-brees-jon-gruden-among-those-praising-doug-marrone-hire.html?ref=brp No one knows if turn the Bills around. But if smart football folks like Gruden and King think he can, then I don't think we can criticize OBD a lot for this hire.

Okay, I'll bite. According to Football Outsiders (since we Buffalonians are all into analytics now), Morris hasn't been very successful since he left the 49ers after the 2003 seasons.

JW... You are my favorite author of Bills articles. You are informed, objective and possess good writing skills. But I can't share your recent skepticism. Regards the "no stone left unturned" comment. I'm giving Russ and Buddy the benefit of the doubt on this one. I assume they began their due diligence weeks - if not months - before the season ended. Over time, they whittled down the list till they were left with the names we know they actually interviewed. Considering neither Cowher, nor Dungy, nor Gruden were coming out of retirement to take over the Bills, it was a solid list of names. Personally, I'm happy with the choice. The more "proven" guys weren't compelling options. Lovie has only been to the playoffs 3 times in the past 6 seasons. Whise didn't make it once in the past 3. These guys aren't Lombardi. They aren't even Levy. Marrone could be - it's a roll of the dice. And as an outsider looking in, Marrone seems a safer roll of the dice than Chip Kelly. As for Brandon 'marketing' the coaching staff. Of course, Russ is doing this. He's a marketer. It's what he does. The more successfully he sells the coaching staff, the more tickets he sells, the greater the chances the Bills remain in Buffalo. Even Peter King sounds more optimistic about the Bills than you do. I do recall a few people - Bill Cowher noticeably amongst them - praising the Bills move in hiring Chan to lead the team 3 years ago. But it seems to me that Marrone's hiring is getting far more positive buzz from the greater football community. The people who know Marrone seem to genuinely believe he'll be a good HC. I'm not especially optimistic or pessimistic because I personally don't know enough about Marrone, Pettine, et al to confidently predict the outcome of their hiring. I am happy, though, that Brandon & Nix made some much needed changes. And there are enough reasons to believe the new coaching staff will succeed where the old one failed that I'm excited to see what 2013 might have in store for us.

I agree that Hackett will be getting a lot of help from Marrone. But Marrone says he sees himself as the "CEO" of the Bills, meaning he'll spend significant time with the D and ST. Lots of OC's work 12/14/16 hour days. It's a labor-intensive job. We have a rookie coach doing OC duties and the QB Coach job at the same time. Seemingly, something is being sacrificed. Maybe Marrone sees the QB Coach position as superfluous or perhaps even counter-productive (if the QB Coach isn't 100% in synch with OC).

I'm okay with Hackett - despite his inexperience - being the OC because I'm trusting Marrone to mentor him. However, double-duty is a lot for a new, young coordinator. Someone like Frank Reich would have added some seasoned experienced, provided good advice and taken some of the load off Hackett. For the sake of argument, let's say we start a rookie at QB next year. Can Hackett develop the young kid's skills and NFL know-how while trying to outwit the likes of Bill Belichick in a game of X's and O's?

I read it somewhere that Hackett will do both - don't recall where.

Reich was just hired by the Chargers to be their new QB Coach and work with Philip Rivers. http://profootballta...-staff/related/ I would have been happier if the Bills had hired him. Given Hackett's miniscule NFL experience, I'm not thrilled that he's doubling as OC and QB Coach. Reich's experience could have been a great addition.

From CBC Sports, October 2... --Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman's performance has come under fire after Detroit became the first NFL team since at least 1940 (STATS LLC does not have records predating that year) to allow both a punt return and kick return for a touchdown in consecutive weeks. Running back Stefan Logan, whose role with the Lions centers around special teams, says players believe Crossman is still the right man to coach the unit. "Everybody's going to say what they're going to say about him, but he's our coach," Logan said. "We back him 100 percent." Logan did admit that there could be changes to the kick coverage lineup. "We'll see when we look at the depth chart Tuesday if they move some guys around," he said. "I'm sure coaches are going to make some corrections." Schwartz said after Sunday's game that replacing Crossman was not a consideration.

Good research to support your case. You've made me a feel a little better about this announcement. I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt for now.