silvermike

You mean the Seahawks didn't give the ball away -8 times for each opposing fumble or interception?

What about ol' Bum Phillips' son?

Maybe they'd throw in Rivers.

Wait, we hire such crummy, underwhelming choices that those guys refuse interview requests with other teams who have identified them as their top target?

Which coaches have gotten it done with talent?

Our problems haven't come from delaying our coaching moves, it's in hiring the wrong coach with better options on the table.

It's plausible that Nix knows Brian S well enough to decide on him as the choice, absent a formal interview. So the decision might be made there. I don't think this is evidentiary of a good process, but still, it's out there.

I tend to be skeptical of press-conference rumors. Those things tend to get a lot of publicity because, you know, that's the point of a press conference. I don't think there's usually more than 20 minutes before deciding to hold a press conference and announcing a time, at least, for an organization that has its own press room and the media at its beck and call.

I've liked McNabb, but his clock may be striking midnight very soon. I mean, if we got him for Marshawn Lynch, straight-up, I"d happily take the deal and let McNabb start for 2-3 seasons while we built a line a drafted a replacement. If the Eagles decide to hand the ship to Kolb and cut McNabb, I'd eagerly sign him up. But if we're talking first-day picks, I think we should pass.

The suspense! Although officially, we've interviewed Fewell and Frazier, and we can't hire Frazier yet. That's not promising. What's promising is who we've UNofficially interviewed.

HC: Frazier OC: Saunders DC: Minnesota's DL coach. I could buy it.

I really like Al Saunders

Isn't that true of pretty much any coach that has had success in the past? Can Cowher bring Bettis and Joey Porter? Will Marty come with Tomlinson and Rivers?

Not for nothing, but Frazier's defense in Minnesota has been dominant against the run: 2009: 3.9 yards/attempt (T-5), 1394 yards (2), 5 TDs (T-1) 2008: 3.3 yards/attempt (T-1), 1230 yards (1), 10 TDs (T-6) 2007: 3.1 yards/attempt (1), 1185 yards (1), 7 TDs (T-2) For comparison's sake, the 2009 Bills gave up 4.7 yards/attempt, 19 TDs, and 2501 yards. It's about having talent on the defensive line and the ability to use it. If you get two or three great defensive linemen, it doesn't matter what scheme you play behind it. If the Bills hire Frazier, hopefully he's learned that lesson and will lean hard on Buddy to sign, trade, and draft the best DLs out there.

The Tampa-2 Vikings were 2nd against the run this year. It's a system that requires good, powerful defensive linemen to be successful, which is why it's a mystery the Bills have put such a low priority on the position. Minnesota spent a top-10 pick on a DT, signed the top DT in free agency, and traded for an all-star DE. The great Bears' cover-2 teams had a dominant D-line. The Colts defense had a dominant d-line. The great Tampa cover-2 team had a dominant line. The truth about defense is that if you have a great defensive line, it doesn't matter what scheme you run behind it. After that, you play to talent. But Buddy Nix better be able to acquire better talent than John McCargo and Aaron Maybin.

According to USA Today, the Bills' total expenditures on payroll this year (salary, bonuses, etc) was about $112 million, good for 12th in the league. That's more than the Patriots, Bengals, Ravens, Colts, Eagles, Cowboys, and Vikings - e.g. half the playoff teams in the league. We don't suck because we're not spending enough on players. We suck because we choose the wrong players. And so far, there's nobody new in the front office.

Makes sense. Still, there's a lot of ground between "I don't want the job" and "Talk to me after the playoffs."

How did that last experienced hire go? How did that last offensive-minded hire go? If the defensive guy is more talented than the offensive guy, you hire him. If the Cover 2 guy is better than the 46 guy, you hire him. If the coordinator shows more promise than the veteran, you hire him. You hire the best guy. Hiring a coach is about the freaking coach. You find out about the coach by interviewing him and researching him, not by checking two or three factors on a list.

So we shouldn't have let Winfield and Williams go because they're awesome in Minnesota, but Minnesota has a terrible defense?

Grimm can't interview until the Cardinals are eliminated. Or at least, not without special permission. "Rejected" is different than "Said he was busy with the playoffs"

I'm guessing that Carucci *said* it, out loud. So it's possible he distinctly pronounced it the wrong way, but still.

And good coaches pick their players.

The Bills failed in their last three hires: one DC, one OC, and one experienced head coach. None of those strategies is the magic bullet to anything - you go interview until you find out who's going to be the best leader of a team. Frazier has been reported to be one of the best coordinators in the league, and the most HC-ready. Vikings fans don't want to lose him. It's not as simple as deciding on an offensive or defensive guy, then picking your favorite scheme, then hire some dude who runs it. You actually have to go figure out who are good at their jobs.

I want to know that he runs good defenses. He does. I don't care what style it is.

I should note: he owns two Super Bowl rings. One as a player on the 1985 Bears, and another as a DB coach on the 2006 Colts. He's at least seen winning teams.