New DC assistant hired / Carolina ReTread

[GunnerBill]

Al is a pretty highly regarded coach. His stint in Arizona as Steve Wilkes' DC in that ill fated one and done definitely knocked his career back a step or two. But his stint as interim DC at the end of last season in Carolina was better. 

 

I get the snark on the Carolina connection, but this is a pretty good coach added to the staff. It can't hurt. 

[GunnerBill]

9 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Could also point to people like Dan Morgan (SEA), Joe Schoen (NYG) 

 

 

Don't disagree with your overall point, but Schoen and Morgan were Carolina guys. Morgan played for them there, Schoen was an intern with Beane and then an area scout. Never worked with McD there but his relationship with Beane comes from Carolina

[Buffalo_Stampede]

8 hours ago, schoolhouserock said:

Holcomb has been a DC before - on two different teams.

 

This is the exact opposite of desperation. It is forward thinking/contingency planning. Frazier won’t be here for forever.

 

I don’t see how folks think this is a bad hiring.

They now have 5 DC’s on the staff. McDermott, Frazier, Washington, Butler, and Holcomb.

 

Carolina LB Shaq Thompson a likely release In Carolina. Could be Edmunds short-term replacement.

Edited February 9, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

10 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

Wow!    I can’t believe the emphatic negativity about a guy nobody knows much about.   He may end up being a good addition to the staff.   None of us is in a position to know otherwise.

At least until week 2 of next season...😁

Edited February 9, 2023 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[Buffalo_Stampede]

10 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

Wow!    I can’t believe the emphatic negativity about a guy nobody knows much about.   He may end up being a good addition to the staff.   None of us is in a position to know otherwise.

Well, when we hired McDermott all the talk was about Carolina’s LBs. This is the guy that coached the best unit in football Keuchley, Davis, Klein, and Thompson.

 

He didn’t do much as a DC though.

 

Holcomb could be a sign they’re going with a young LB group next year and need his help developing and preparing a young group.

Edited February 9, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[TAinLack.]

12 hours ago, Chaos said:

What does a senior defensive assistant do?

Getting ready to replace Frazier after next years playoff failure.

[JGMcD2]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Don't disagree with your overall point, but Schoen and Morgan were Carolina guys. Morgan played for them there, Schoen was an intern with Beane and then an area scout. Never worked with McD there but his relationship with Beane comes from Carolina

Fair enough, I didn’t remember the Schoen connection. 
 

Morgan didn’t play for McDermott… he was a scouting intern with Seattle when McDermott was still with Philadelphia… but Morgan was a player at the same time Beane was a personnel assistant. I’m not sure how much of a relationship there was, but you can draw a connection. 
 

Appreciate you fact checking me. 

[Back2Buff]

Would be smart to get rid of Frazier and make McDermott the DC, with Holcomb as his assistant.  

[Royale with Cheese]

10 hours ago, balln said:

Here’s the analogy folks …… Nate Hackett hired a senior assistant Hc or offensive senior assistant when he botched the first 3 games this year in Denver 

 

let that sink in
 

 

 

Yeah it's an analogy and it's pretty stupid.

11 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

You made the comment they have a tough time going out of their comfort zone/circle with the Carolina connection. You really want me to do this?

 

The Bills have 26 members listed under their coaching staff (not including McDermott)… Al Holcomb will be #27. 
 

These are the guys who crossed over in Carolina (6):

 

Ken Dorsey

Bobby Babich

Mike Shula 

Eric Washington

Matt Worswick

Al Holcomb

 

These are the guys who don’t have any Carolina connection (21): 

 

Leslie Frazier

Matthew Smiley

Rob Boras 

Joe Brady

John Butler

Joe Danna 

Chad Hall

Aaron Kromer 

Jaylon Finner

Austin Gund

Cory Harkey 

Marc Lubick

Kyle Shurmur 

Kelly Skipper

Ryan Wendell

Marcus West

Eric Ciano

Will Greenberg 

Hal Luther 

Nick Lacy

Jason Oszvart

Looking at the front office quick… they have 9 people with VP, Director or Assistant Director titles in football operations. 

 

No Carolina connection (9):

 

Jim Overdorf

Kevin Meganck

Brian Gaine

Terrance Gray

Malik Boyd

Matt Bazirgan

Lake Dawson

Chris Marrow

Curtus Rukavina 

 

So what? 36 people across coaching and football operations and 6 of them have ties to Carolina. 

 

Could also point to people like Dan Morgan (SEA), Joe Schoen (NYG) and Brian Daboll (NYG) as guys outside their comfort zone who were brought in to fill roles on the staff. There’s also David Culley, Bobby Johnson, Shea Tierney, Bob Babich, Jim Salgado, Danny Crossman and Heath Farwell. 
 

 

 

Ask him how much he loved Daboll.

[NastyNateSoldiers]

27 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

Would be smart to get rid of Frazier and make McDermott the DC, with Holcomb as his assistant.  

Yup it’s time for McD to start holding a play chart like all the other good coaches do. 

[Back2Buff]

1 minute ago, NastyNateSoldiers said:

Yup it’s time for McD to start holding a play chart like all the other good coaches do. 

 

I would love to see if the issue is Frazier or if Frazier is just a puppet to McDermott and his D is really the issue.

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

I had no idea who this guy was when I saw the news but told my wife he was probably from Carolina....low and behold.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

46 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

Would be smart to get rid of Frazier and make McDermott the DC, with Holcomb as his assistant.  

And for HC? 🤔

*
WGR already had a jingle written for Sal Capaccio.  Maybe a TBD-TSWer as a 'HC of the Week'? 🤔

[Jerry Jabber]

11 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

If you know he's horrible and you know he's done then why waste a final year with him calling the same crap?

I agree. Just my guess, McD is giving Frazier a pass with the season ending injuries to Von Miller and Micah Hyde. 

[Back2Buff]

1 hour ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

And for HC? 🤔

*
WGR already had a jingle written for Sal Capaccio.  Maybe a TBD-TSWer as a 'HC of the Week'? 🤔

 

Many HC also runs their respective sides of the ball, including the two teams in the Super Bowl.

[Livinginthepast]

15 hours ago, Success said:

I wish there was not a Carolina connection.  It really begs the question - are you only comfortable hiring guys you already know?

McCaffery played for Carolina but somehow we didnt have any interest in getting him.  But If Carolina offer anything from the clearance bin, we seem to jump at the chance!

[Fleezoid]

[Jauronimo]

15 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Again who?

How many senior defensive assistants can you name off the top of your head?

[Beck Water]

15 hours ago, Chaos said:

What does a senior defensive assistant do?

 

Probably something similar to what a senior offensive assistant named Mike Shula does

[teef]

anger!