dezertbill Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) Lineage aside, I believe Kyle Shanahan would be the perfect choice for the Bills organization moving forward as their next Head Coach. Here are my reasons why: TRACK RECORD Its not often that you have a shot at hiring the OC of the highest scoring offense in football. This season Shanahan is 1st with 502 points scored and 2nd in total yards. Thats 65 points higher than the 2nd leading scorer, the Saints. Their 33.5 average per game is 4 points more than the Saints. In 9 NFL seasons as OC, his offense has been in the top 10 six of those seasons, with four finishing in the top 5. Although he is a pass-happy coordinator, that wouldnt necessarily spell bad news for LeSean McCoy. The Falcons are ranked 7th in rushing yards and 3rd in rushing TDs this year. Devonta Freeman only has 14 less carries than Shady and has the exact same amount of receptions. So you wont see Shady pouting about not being used. The Falcons are also 6th in rushing 1st downs and 4th in runs of 20+ yards or more. So there isnt a huge drop-off there. Shanahans offense takes care of the ball only having lost 3 fumbles all year, tied for 4th. In contrast, the Bills have lost 10, ranking them 28th. Shanahan has also been successful with a running QB as well. In Robert Griffins rookie year 2012, the Redskins offense ranked 1st in rushing yards and 2nd in rushing TDs. They also finished 4th in total points and 5th in total yards. Washingtons 2013 campaign of 3-13 was due a porous defense and RGIII not being in fully healthy. Redskins still finished 9th in total yards and 5th in rushing yards. So his arrival wouldnt necessary mean bad news for Tyrod Taylor. If anything, it might boost his career if the Bills are able to resign him to a cap-friendlier deal. ATTENTION TO DETAIL Reading his Wikipedia page, Shanahan is quoted as saying, I studied every potential Xs and Os play and issue possible. I spent my whole life working on that. My goal was that any question a player could have about anything on the field, I'd be able to answer it. He is a student of the game having grown up around the most successful offensive mind in football, and his preparation and attention to detail rivals the best. A great MMQB piece outlines how he has developed and grown over the years as an OC from Peter King: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/06/ Another great piece by the Washington Post outlines how his time in Washington made him ready for a HC opportunity. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/11/01/the-worst-period-in-kyle-shanahans-career-may-have-been-the-best-thing-for-it/?utm_term=.baea9f111b60 Another example of his attention to detail was his departure from Cleveland. When he was fed up with the dysfunction of their front office shoving Johnny Manziel down his throat and the different voices telling him what to do between ownership, the GM, and Pettine; Shanahan wrote up a 32-point presentation as to why Mike Pettine should let him out of his contract. Who does that? Although Pettine later admitted he didnt need 32 points to know when a coach doesnt want to be around, the presentation was presented to ownership and it worked. He was able to escape the Browns and take the OC job in Atlanta without the Falcons having to give up any compensation to hire him for the same position. Unheard of. Here is the piece: http://www.businessinsider.com/kyle-shanahan-presentation-2015-2 It seems the move worked out pretty well for him. DEFENSE The biggest question is how the defensive side of the ball will look with Kyle as HC. I look back to his dad, who even while running the greatest offense in the NFL in his prime, Mike Shanahans defenses ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed in eight of his fourteen seasons, five of which were in the top 5. He ranked top 10 in passing yards allowed in seven of those seasons. Mike knew the importance of defense, and being such a detail oriented person himself, Im very confident that Kyle will find a defensive mind that can provide similar success. OVERALL At 37 Kyle Shanahan has been calling plays for almost a decade. This is a guy who can come to Buffalo with a lifetime full of football knowledge and coach for 20-25 years. Unlike a Coughlin who at 70 has only a handful of years left in the league. Great football minds like Belichick dont come around very often. But they usually derive from coaches who started very early in the game and were top notch in preparation and attention to detail. Although by no means am I currently ranking Kyle Shanahan with Bill Belichick, its young coaches like that who have the best chance of becoming the best the game has to offer as a new wave of young HCs hit the league. If Im Buffalo, I jump at youth, energy, experience, attention to detail, result-proven success, along with lineage; and name Kyle Shanahan our new HC. Edited December 28, 2016 by dezertbill
GunnerBill Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 Shanhan is certainly a hot candidate. Whether he sees the Bills as a stable enough organisation - given what happened with the Browns - I don't know. For me Kyle Shanahan's interview has four key questions: 1. What are your options at Quarterback? 2. Aside from Quarterback are you comfortable leaving player personnel to the front office? 3. Who is your defensive coordinator? 4. Are you intending to hire your dad? It is the answers to #s 3 and 4 that bave stopped him getting Head Coaching jobs in the past. I want no part of Mike I want Kyle to be doing the job not Mike back seat driving and the names he has had in the past for DC have not impressed people.
Hapless Bills Fan Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 You make a compelling case sir. He does make a good case, but here's my question: where Shanahan has succeeded, he had at least a competent QB (Schaub when he was good, now Ryan). When he had ??? at QB in Washington and Cleveland, not so much. We'd love Matt Ryan, but we don't have him. How would Shanny do with a "meh" guy calling his plays? Would he adapt, and what's the evidence for that? Or would he pull a Chan, where he used to drive me nuts by calling a Brees-quality passing game with a Fitz under center?
GunnerBill Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 He did a pretty good job with Hoyer in Cleveland they were 7-6 when the FO dictated he be benched for Manziel and that played a part in Shanahan leaving.
Fan in San Diego Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 He does make a good case, but here's my question: where Shanahan has succeeded, he had at least a competent QB (Schaub when he was good, now Ryan). When he had ??? at QB in Washington and Cleveland, not so much. We'd love Matt Ryan, but we don't have him. How would Shanny do with a "meh" guy calling his plays? Would he adapt, and what's the evidence for that? Or would he pull a Chan, where he used to drive me nuts by calling a Brees-quality passing game with a Fitz under center? Personally I think TT is a decent QB. Maybe with KS , TT would get better with more pieces around him.
MAJBobby Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 He does make a good case, but here's my question: where Shanahan has succeeded, he had at least a competent QB (Schaub when he was good, now Ryan). When he had ??? at QB in Washington and Cleveland, not so much. We'd love Matt Ryan, but we don't have him. How would Shanny do with a "meh" guy calling his plays? Would he adapt, and what's the evidence for that? Or would he pull a Chan, where he used to drive me nuts by calling a Brees-quality passing game with a Fitz under center? More wins than losses with Cle And Hoyer
Nihilarian Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 Preaching to the choir on this one. Perhaps sign Kirk Cousins too.
Big Turk Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 I'd be cool with that... The crazy thing about Atlanta is they've played the hardest defensive schedule according to Pro Football Outsiders(Bills are 7th hardest) and are just lighting people up like Christmas trees...
Fan in San Diego Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 Preaching to the choir on this one. Perhaps sign Kirk Cousins too. I'm still irritated that Washington drafted Cousins one pick before us in the 4th round if I remember correctly. I was watching the draft saying Cousins is still on the board just before our 4th round pick, getting excited Buffalo would draft him, then boom Washington took him, I was like WTF? they drafted RGIII in the first round, those QB hogs!
Prickly Pete Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 I want Shanahan. !@#$ the rest of 'em.
Big Blitz Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 No one is taking this job. No QB. No OC is making this his first job. No way. Same issue when Marrone left. But a great D Coach will take it. Preferably one that runs a 4-3. Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk
fridge Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 What a great, insightful post. You've convinced me he is a legitimate candidate, and I am open to hearing more about Kyle. Aside from the issues in Washington and Cleveland, anyone have a list of cons with his offense?
808 Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 id be pumped if they added kyle with bradley at DC. i could also be ok with coughlin if lynn stays and we got bradley at DC
MAJBobby Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 No one is taking this job.No QB. No OC is making this his first job. No way.Same issue when Marrone left.But a great D Coach will take it. Preferably one that runs a 4-3.Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk No QB hmmm coach has a QB or can say nah. HC picks own staff so who cares if there is no OC.
Buffalo Barbarian Posted December 28, 2016 Posted December 28, 2016 I'd be cool with that... The crazy thing about Atlanta is they've played the hardest defensive schedule according to Pro Football Outsiders(Bills are 7th hardest) and are just lighting people up like Christmas trees... That is impressive. We don't have the QB for it though.
dezertbill Posted December 28, 2016 Author Posted December 28, 2016 Although Lynn seems to be the "hot name" in league circles I honestly feel he doesn't have a fraction of the experience Shanahan has nor has he been "battle tested" as a coordinator in this league. Shanahan has had 9 years to learn how to utilize different personnel and adjust on the fly in certain situations and still experience success. Lynn only has 14 games as OC on his resume, all with the same players, talent, and scheme. My only fear is Whaley may lean towards a more gm-friendly choice like Lynn so that he can have more job security and control, using that "one Buffalo" crap claiming that Lynn is more of a "team player" and easier to get along with (I.E. more likely to allow Whaley to run the show without being questioned). I hope that isn't the case. If it is, it will just make it that much more difficult to create a winning culture and break our ridiculous playoff drought.
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