Chan Gailey's Future

[CSBill]

I think in the beginning of the season, Gailey was a COTY candidate, but now OUR Bills are on a downward spiral. Listen I know we have less talent than 30 other teams in the league right now, but I have not seen Chan adjust his game-plan to fool other defenses, and the George Edwards hiring should automatically put him on a very tiny hot seat. I was never really a fan of his due to his failure to have elite teams at GT (Usually had a Top 25 recruiting class year in/out) and failure to go deep in the playoffs with a stacked Dallas team (Aikman, Smith, and Irvin (1 year)). I'm not saying fire him this year, but next year if he gets of to a slow start a la Dick Jauron should we fire him. I mean he is 60, so he could retire soon. So what do you guys think.

 

Look, if Fitz and Stevie connect on just one of those three opportunities they had in the last 30 seconds, we're talking about what a great coach he is for keeping this team together through all they been the past few weeks.

 

Perspective Dude, Perspective.

[Mr_Blizzard]

I think in the beginning of the season, Gailey was a COTY candidate, but now OUR Bills are on a downward spiral. Listen I know we have less talent than 30 other teams in the league right now, but I have not seen Chan adjust his game-plan to fool other defenses, and the George Edwards hiring should automatically put him on a very tiny hot seat. I was never really a fan of his due to his failure to have elite teams at GT (Usually had a Top 25 recruiting class year in/out) and failure to go deep in the playoffs with a stacked Dallas team (Aikman, Smith, and Irvin (1 year)). I'm not saying fire him this year, but next year if he gets of to a slow start a la Dick Jauron should we fire him. I mean he is 60, so he could retire soon. So what do you guys think.

 

I think Gailey is a pretty good coach. Buffalo is the least penalized team in the league (how many years has it been since you could say that??)

 

The team is way ahead of where is was a year ago. Given the fact that the talent cupboard was bare last year, and only moderately better this year, I give Chan 2 more years. In this division, even with a solid roster, it's going to be tough to sweep N.E. and the Jets. The bills are at least one (if not two) off-seasons away from acquiring the talent needed to beat the best teams in the league.

[jr1]

He'll get 2 more years to turn things around

[Buffalo Barbarian]

I think Gailey's mostly been good this year. My biggest complaint has been not giving Freddy more carries in a few of the games. But the biggest question - what in the world is Dave Wannstedt doing? I honestly don't know. Is he just tearing his hair out because we don't have the talent on D or is he not the defensive specialist I was hoping he'd be?

When was the last time Wanny did anything in football.

[billsfan714]

When was the last time Wanny did anything in football.

 

He started Tyler Palko over Flacco at Pitt, nuff said.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

My sense is that Cynical is an INTJ. If I'm right about that, it means that he's a) intellectually rigorous, and b) typically more focused on the cerebral part of any given discussion than on the social aspect. His focus was likely not on you so much as it was on eliminating what he saw as ill-considered and inaccurate opinions. INTJs will typically praise what they feel are accurate opinions, and demonstrate the flaws of what they feel are inaccurate opinions, regardless of the source of the respective opinions. Their objective is to demolish inaccurate ways of thinking, while promoting intellectually rigorous and accurate alternatives. Don't take it personally.

 

The best way to get along with INTJs is to do the following: 1) Try to avoid giving unsupported opinions. Explain why you believe what you believe. A good way to earn an INTJ's respect is to demonstrate an intellectually rigorous thought process. 2) Where possible, try to avoid becoming personally invested in particular opinions. If you think of something as your opinion, then an attack on that opinion will seem a lot like an attack on you. INTJs aren't shy about attacking what they see as incorrect opinions, so becoming too attached to your opinions will, sooner or later, cause you to feel personally attacked. 3) Always be ready to abandon an opinion if new evidence or a new thought process is brought to the discussion.

 

Your reasons for being here are probably very different from Cynical's reasons. My sense is that you're here because you want to shoot the breeze, engage in friendly conversation, perhaps make a friend or two, stuff like that. Unless I'm mistaken, Cynical's reason for being here is because he sees intellectual rigor as a fun challenge and an end in itself, and sees it as a form of mental exercise akin to physical exercise. The difference is every bit as big as the difference between someone out for a casual jog and someone training for an Olympic marathon. Both you and he have perfectly legitimate reasons for being here.

Not often you read a post around here and feel smarter afterwards.

[thewildrabbit]

I think Gailey is a pretty good coach. Buffalo is the least penalized team in the league (how many years has it been since you could say that??)

 

The team is way ahead of where is was a year ago. Given the fact that the talent cupboard was bare last year, and only moderately better this year, I give Chan 2 more years. In this division, even with a solid roster, it's going to be tough to sweep N.E. and the Jets. The bills are at least one (if not two) off-seasons away from acquiring the talent needed to beat the best teams in the league.

Gailey gets high praise just for the fact that his team doesn't cost them stupid penalties, especially considering all the young and new players on the team. Plus the fact that the team played reasonably well against the Jets this week with what, 10+ starters on IR?Those two factors alone show he is a better the average head coach.

 

Now for the player talent, Nix and Gailey have had 2 years to restock the team in the draft and free agency. Many other teams have shown that it doesn't take more then two years to build a competitive team. In 5 years will fans still be bitching about Jauron - Levy screwing the team?Buddy Nix thought the team was close or he wouldn't have made the statement "we are not that far away" the team screwed themselves in their draft choices no question.

 

Lets face facts, I could shiv two gits about best player available in the draft. Its all about what the team needs to go forward and function to its utmost ability. This team should have drafted a LT & RT with a top 3 pick two years ago. They win more then 4 games last year with a better line, and would have won more then 5 this year with a better line. I suppose Nix gets a reprieve for the 2010 draft because Tom Modrak was still head of scouting, so its like this is Buddy Nix's first year, and he will be going into his second draft and free agency.

 

The team needs to be more involved in free agency in finding top talent instead of just picking up other teams cast offs. They showed they knew the O line needed help in the fact they went after Tyson Clybo, but were foolish not to secure more talent for that line. Dem Bell has been hurt every year he has been in Buffalo and I look at the guy as a decent back up because of that fact. The Bills screwed themselves when they cut Geoff Hangartner before the season.

 

I give them both one year as they just seem intent on making stupid mistakes all over the place in regards to player personnel.

[thewildrabbit]

Actually they drafted D heavily this year. Last year, the Bills had 8 draft picks. 4 went on the defensive side of the ball, and 4 went on the offensive side of the ball.

But more on that in a moment.

 

 

 

You are correct. They are responsible for the lack of depth on the Oline.

But Nix/Chan cannot fix everything in 1-2 seasons that Jauron spent 4 years ripping apart. This cannot be stated enough.

 

 

 

Top 5 pass defense his last 2 years? Based on what criteria?

According to the NFL, the Bills pass D from 2010 to 2006 was ranked as follows:

2010 - 3 (Chan's first year)

2009 - 2 (Jauron's last year w/ Fewell)

2008 - 13

2007 - 29

2006 - 7

 

As for the 7-9, you do realize one of those years happened when the Bills ended up with the 2nd easy schedule in the NFL!

 

 

 

And Jauron's 2007 team was the worst offense in team history. His 2008 and 2009 teams were not much better.

 

 

 

1.) Chan has not had 2 years "already". We are still in his second year.

 

Before I start up on the drafts, let me re-state something:

Nix/Chan cannot fix everything in 1-2 seasons that Jauron spent 4 years ripping apart.

When Nix/Chan took over, the foundation of players they had to build with are players Jauron spent the previous 4 years acquiring.

You want to see bad drafting? Here's bad drafting:

 

In 4 years of drafting, Jauron spent 19 picks on D, and 14 on O.

 

Defensively, 10 were DB, 4 were LB, and 5 were DL.

Offensively, 6 were OL, 5 were WR/TE, 1 QB, and 3 RB.

Just absorb those numbers for a second. 10 DB out of 19 picks.

One of the 4 LB taken was projected to play as a DB at the NFL level

Of the 6 OL taken, only 2, Wood and Levitre, were taken in the first 3 rounds. None of the other 4 were taken before the 5th round.

Out of the 2006 draft, only 1 player remains, nobody from the first 3 rounds

Out of the 2007 draft, none of the players the Bills drafted remain on the team.

2008 - 4 players remain, only 1 from the first 3 rounds remains.

 

From 2006-2009, they Bills had;

6 first round picks (2 remain, Wood & McKelvin)

4 second round picks (2 remain, Levitre & Byrd)

3 third round picks (0 remain)

 

This is the current Bills foundation as left by Jauron.

Yet, people wonder why Nix/Chan haven't "fixed" everything in 2 years.

Stop making excuses for these men, other teams have been worse and were rebuilt quicker. Stop blaming it all on Jauron

 

(The Dolphins 1-15 2007 to 11-5 2008 in ONE year!) (The 4-12 2007 Falcons to 11-5 in ONE year.) ( The 3-13 Saints 2005 to 10-6 in ONE year). (The 5-11 Ravens 2007 to 11-5 in 2008 in ONE year) (2005 GB packers 4-12 to 8-8 in ONE year, then 13-3 the SECOND year) ( 2009 KC Chiefs 2-14 to 4-12 in ONE year to 10-6 the SECOND year) all these teams got better under a new HC and staff. So in reality it doesn't take 3 years

 

 

First let me state that currently the ONLY star players (save MD) on this team ....were brought in under Jaruon! All pro Kyle Williams- Eric Wood- Andy Levitre- Ryan Fitzpatrick- Stevie Johnson- Fred Jackson-George Wilson. As bumbling as Jauron may appear, it certainly looks like he has done a better job at finding talent then has Nix has so far. in 2 drafts & 2 free agency periods! How many starters has Nix found in 2 drafts that started day one and not because of injures? You complain about the state of the franchise that Jauron left it in, and yet the team still has the many stars that were brought in under Jauron. You can't have it both ways! Name one star player that Nix-Gailey have brought in so far besides MD ( the #3 overall pick), that has started and excelled at his position! Just one!

 

This regime has had TWO YEARS, the draft, free agency and deadline for trades are long over for this season. TWO YEARS!

 

Second, the reason the Dolphins got better so quickly was they drafted a top LT AND hired a top DC in Mike Nolan. Along with some experienced assistants. Gailey hired mostly college coaches for his assistants and a man who had never been a DC before, but a LB's coach for the Dolphins

 

Buddy Nix KNEW this team needed more talent on that line this off season, and after the draft, its the sole reason he went after Tyson Clybo!! This team would have been better then 4-12 if they had added a LT & RT in their first draft, or at least someone in free agency better then Cornell Green, and scrub cast offs off the waiver wire It also would have been better if they had kept Geoff Hangarter, it would have been better if they had found better talent for that line the last 2 years at LT-RT-G. The 5th and 7th round picks drafted for the O line Nix drafted his first year have both been cut. I think they miss Lee Evans and Marshawn Lynch on offense right now and it is looking rather stupid to get 2 #4 picks for those two players when they could have made a playoff run THIS YEAR!. So yeah, like I stated in my earlier post, this next draft will be key as to see if this team ever becomes a competitive playoff team or not under Nix-Gailey.

 

 

In 2010 under gailey the Bills were 3rd in the NFL in passing defense, but were the worst defense against the run in franchise history and last in the NFL. Now this year with the changes they made to the defense the Bills are 24th against the pass and 22nd against the run. So in effect the Bills got better in stopping the run but made the defensive secondary bad by doing so. Face it, the Bills defense sucks. They have no pass rush with only 15 sacks all year. If not for all the lucky takeaways the first several games this year this team might not have won 5 games.

 

 

 

Bottom line is: Dick Jauron stepped in and took a 5-11 team and took them to 7-9, which made the team better by 2 wins, Chan Gailey took over a 6-10 team and made them worse at 4-12 by two more losses.The offense under gailey may look more exciting to watch in some games, but at the end of the year its about wins and losses. Right now as bad as Jauron and his inept staff with OC Turk Schonert & AVP were, they have done better then Gailey has so far.

Edited November 28, 2011 by Fear the Beard

[BiggieScooby]

I'm waiting till January 2013 to judge Gailey. But if he performs as I expect I will nail his ass to the wall.

[BringBackFergy]

When was the last time Wanny did anything in football.

Exactly. We got Wanny off the discount rack from Pitt, he failed in Miami, was mediocre as an assistant elsewhere, and suddenly everyone thinks he is the heir apparent to Edwards for DC....maybe, just maybe, the problem with our running defense and lack of pressure on the QB is attributable to our linebacking corps and/or the inability of Wanny to coordinate which LB's should play in certain situations. I think Gailey is a solid coach...with a younger DC with experience and some originality, we could succeed....but Wanny is not necessarily the answer. be careful what you wish for fellow fans demanding Wanny as DC.

[garchat80]

Truthfully, Chan has made Freddie..

 

Oh yeah, let's give this awful play-caller another year to demoralize our faithful fan base. A healthy Fred Jackson is what made Chan and Fitz look like superheroes. They are not. If it were up to me, him, his DC, and his franchise QB would be GONE at seasons end. Regardless of the outcome.

[thewildrabbit]

Truthfully, Chan has made Freddie..

BS, both Fred Jackson and Fitz have made gailey look like he knows what he is doing.

 

Lets not forget that Lynch was the starter before they traded him away... that Spiller was named starter in his first game over Fred Jackson. (that lasted 3 plays until Chan saw that Spiller couldn't block, couldn't find a hole, couldn't run a route and was promptly benched!!) that Jackson then needed to enter the game with a cast on his hand to replace Spiller....Edwards threw him the ball, and he caught it! ....that Gailey spent his entire first preseason grooming Trent Edwards to be the starter.

 

Chan Gailey didn't even know what he had in Fred Jackson, if he did he never would have wasted a #9 overall on CJ Spiller!!

 

Chan Gailey didn't know how much better Ryan Fitzpatrick was then Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm or he would have never wasted OTA's and mini camps on those 2 clods!!

Edited November 28, 2011 by Fear the Beard

[Dorkington]

If we can't beat DJ's records, I'm going to be irked.

[BuffaloBill]

I think it is way too premature to be calling for Chan's job. Injuries have been extremelly problematic this year. I think he gets a bye for this alone. Consistently changing coaching staffs is not productive.

 

If he does not make a change at D-CoordinatorI will be very dismayed.

[8-8 Forever?]

Nix needs to realize that this isn't the 80's it's 2011. I look at his resume in San Diego and I am impressed, but I heard that this recent draft is his first one with full control...so I'll be patient...for now, but we'll see.

 

two more years. I want to see this team in 2013 with a salary floor where they have to pay out pretty much the entire salary cap in salaries. then Ralph cannot cheap out and might as well pay his players. with no free agent losses and maybe a couple adds, you get the real team. If we are still a 8-8 team in 2013, then you switch and "start all over again". Plus Ralph probably passes before then anyway and the whole thing is up for grabs , from players to coaches to owners.... so lets keep today's group together and win some games ... since it all gets blown up when ownership changes, why blow it up now just to blow it up again in 3-4 years when ownership changes...

 

Truthfully, Chan has made Freddie..

 

Wrong. Eric Studesville, the best RB coach in the league bar none, made Willis McGahee what he was, Marshawn Lynch what he is, Fred Jackson what he is and now with the Broncos what moreno and MaGahee wha t they are now. McGahee is like a new man in Denver.. best play in years. Getting rid of Jauron was good,. losing Studesville, Koogs and the other fantastic assistants he had was a tremendous loss. Spiller would benefit greatly from Studesville...

[Beerball]

Chan Gailey didn't even know what he had in Fred Jackson, if he did he never would have wasted a #9 overall on CJ Spiller!!

 

Chan Gailey didn't know how much better Ryan Fitzpatrick was then Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm or he would have never wasted OTA's and mini camps on those 2 clods!!

Those two things irk me. Add in the fact that he decided that we needed to switch to a 3-4 (without the proper personnel) and you end up where we are. They better nail this offseason.

[Since 1972]

I think it is way too premature to be calling for Chan's job. Injuries have been extremelly problematic this year. I think he gets a bye for this alone. Consistently changing coaching staffs is not productive.

 

If he does not make a change at D-CoordinatorI will be very dismayed.

Injuries are problematic foe this team Every Year! Wonder why?

 

He'll get 2 more years to turn things around

And then we rebuild,again?

 

Look, if Fitz and Stevie connect on just one of those three opportunities they had in the last 30 seconds, we're talking about what a great coach he is for keeping this team together through all they been the past few weeks.

 

Perspective Dude, Perspective.

If, If ?? If you didnt write that I wounldnt be responding.

 

They DID NOT make one of those plays in the last 30 sec. Nice theory, though.

[3rdand12]

The whole head staff since Chan has started has made errors. some were big imo.

One that was just astutely pointed to is Beerball'ses. The switch to 3-4 has been very painful. We were in no postion to make such a dramatic statement as unprepared to actually accomplish it last year. We are still in pain because of someone upstairs, epiphany.

We have made it all the way to Hybrid! Yippee.

But this has been a convuluted (?) experiment called the Buffalo Bills. Even though we have shown our naked asses to the NFL these last 3 weeks or so there has been progress. And stupidness. Yesterday showed we still have a team to hope/root for.

and my strong opinion is that in the last half of last year we have been developing an NFL personality. We were on the radar! The team is learning. albeit slowly and brutally rough spots for sure. Chan has alot more to get done to be considered yea or nea IMHO but lets let him have the reins for two years. We can discuss Edwards and where is Wanny? at the end of this year. we will have plenty of time for that soon enough.

[MacAddict104]

Every team has injuries. It's the job of an NFL coach to overcome and to win. If Chan can't win, he needs to go.

 

The bigger problem of course, is the front office at One Bills Drive which fosters an atmosphere of losing. Any coincidence that the past 4 coaches have been unsuccessful?

[thewildrabbit]

I think it is way too premature to be calling for Chan's job. Injuries have been extremelly problematic this year. I think he gets a bye for this alone. Consistently changing coaching staffs is not productive.

 

If he does not make a change at D-CoordinatorI will be very dismayed.

 

Yea, I'm not calling for his head just yet!

 

Its the personnel decisions by both Gailey and Nix that have been very very questionable over the last 2 years. They even knew what they needed to help but essentially didn't make the proper moves. But then, like I stated earlier Tom Modrak was still head scout Nix's first year here. So by my thinking that first year he was getting some disinformation from Modrak ...Cornell Green...Spiller. Troup.

 

Anyway, the DC and the 3-4 both need to go in my view. Marcel Darius would be a wrecking ball in a good 4-3 with KW next to him. Kelsay on the end at DE where he should be. The thing about the 3-4 defense is there are only a handfull of DC's that are actually good at setting it up,finding the right players and calling it. Right now its in vogue again because the Steelers, Jets & Ravens run it so well. But what people don't realize is you need top play callers to scheme it and call it, but then even the great 3-4 play callers have their bad days/weeks Wade Phillips-Mike Nolan-Rex Ryan-Dom Capers-Dick Lebeau. Currently the Bills have better D linemen then LB's from what I see. If they had drafted Von Miller then the 3-4 things would be different.

 

The Ravens run a hybrid 3-4 with Suggs on the line in a down stance and state he is an OLB so they don't have to pay him DE money

 

The Buffalo Bills need to dedicate themselves to a 4-3, put Wanstache in charge to see if he can get things working better before the season is over and if not get a new DC in the off season. I just don't get why coaches try and make stuff work when they clearly don't have the proper players for it. Plus what does it tell you when this staff couldn't make Maybin work. He got 2 sacks on Fitz this Sunday and has 5 on the year so far with the Jets...

Edited November 29, 2011 by Fear the Beard