Leslie Frazier "taking a year off from coaching" per Bills PR

[T&C]

Sal Capaccio 🏈 Retweeted
Jay Skurski
@JaySkurski
·
25m
Brandon Beane confirms that Leslie Frazier would have been the defensive coordinator in 2023 had he wanted to coach. #Bills

[Nephilim17]

On a purely personal level I hope Leslie and his family are all healthy — I'm a little concerned as taking a one-year break at his age isn't to watch his kids grow; there's a reason. I hope it's simply a rest for him.

Regardless of what you think on a football level, Frasier is a good man and I respect him as such and wish him the best this year.

[nucci]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

The man deserves privacy, but it's possible he has a medical issue either for himself or for a family member, and realizes he can't do justice to medical treatment/support AND coaching.

 

or he turned down a contract from the Bills or the Bills didn't offer him one. No one is infringing on his privacy

[ngbills]

14 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Huh? Frazier already was a head coach for multiple years and made the playoffs one year with Christian Ponder at QB.

People seem to forget Frazier has a ton of experience. May not like him but lack of experience should not be your reason. He has much more than Holcomb. More than even McD. 

[Billz4ever]

12 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

It was 17-10 in the 3rd quarter.  

 

Buffalo needed to score on the 2 minute drill before the half to put some pressure on.  They failed.  They needed 7 coming out of the half.  They got 3.  If they scored on both of those drives its 21-17, or tied etc.  The defense gives up 7.  24-10 - we 3 and out with 2 deep passes. 

 

 

 

Cincy had 30 first downs. 240 through the air and 172 on the ground.  When were these defensive stops going to happen that would keep the Bills in the game?  

 

Cincy wasn't playing aggressively in the second half because they didn't need to.  They chewed the clock and they did so because the defense couldn't stop them. +8 minutes time of possession for Cincy.

 

Pure domination at the line of scrimmage.  Barely sniffed Burrow all night long against a backup O-line.  Unacceptable.  

 

DBs lining up 7 to 10 yards off the ball on a 3rd and 5.  Unacceptable.

 

And we already knew our O-line sucks, so pointing the finger at the offense to deflect away from a total defensive collapse is not a valid excuse.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Billz4ever

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

Frazier had his chance here and don't mind that he's gone.  I echo previous posters, you can win a SB with a 15th ranked defense.  This org needs to pour money into the offense.

[ngbills]

2 minutes ago, T&C said:

Sal Capaccio 🏈 Retweeted
Jay Skurski
@JaySkurski
·
25m
Brandon Beane confirms that Leslie Frazier would have been the defensive coordinator in 2023 had he wanted to coach. #Bills

I think there could be something to it. Maybe he is not pleased with what he is hearing about offseason plans. 

[Brand J]

2 minutes ago, T&C said:

Sal Capaccio 🏈 Retweeted
Jay Skurski
@JaySkurski
·
25m
Brandon Beane confirms that Leslie Frazier would have been the defensive coordinator in 2023 had he wanted to coach. #Bills

Wouldn’t expect him to say otherwise. It’s akin to asking “was this decision entirely Frazier’s?” Of course the Bills (and Beane) are going to say yes, even if it wasn’t.

[Beck Water]

2 minutes ago, ngbills said:

McD can be def coord. Use the resources to bring in a sr off asst.  

 

Historically, it doesn't necessarily work well when a HC takes on coordinator responsibilities.

See Pederson, Doug  for one recent example.

 

Probably the smartest thing Daboll did was hire a real OC, because I guarantee Mike Kafka didn't leave QB coach/pass game coordinator for the KC Chiefs to be Daboll's dingleberry.

 

However, my guess is that Senior Defensive Assistant Al Holcomb will take on the role of DC

 

Also, we already have a Sr Offensive Assistant in Mike Shula.  I don't think we need 2.

 

3 minutes ago, nucci said:

or he turned down a contract from the Bills or the Bills didn't offer him one. No one is infringing on his privacy

 

It was corrected that the rumors he was not under contract are incorrect.

 

Brandon Beane just stated that Leslie Frazier would have been the 2023 defensive coordinator of the Bills, had he wanted to coach.

[nucci]

1 minute ago, Beck Water said:

 

Historically, it doesn't necessarily work well when a HC takes on coordinator responsibilities.

See Pederson, Doug  for one recent example.

 

Probably the smartest thing Daboll did was hire a real OC, because I guarantee Mike Kafka didn't leave QB coach/pass game coordinator for the KC Chiefs to be Daboll's dingleberry.

 

However, my guess is that Senior Defensive Assistant Al Holcomb will take on the role of DC

 

Also, we already have a Sr Offensive Assistant in Mike Shula.  I don't think we need 2.

 

Pederson, Doug did a good job as Eagles HC calling the plays and winning a Superbowl as well as turning the Jags around this year. Not a great example

[nosejob]

13 minutes ago, SCBills said:

100% sounds like Frazier was done after the season and the plan is to have McDermott take over play calling.  

 

This obviously didn't just come about over the weekend.  They simply waited until now to make the announcement. 

Yep. He's got Holcomb to fire up players on the sideline. They knew all along they weren't gonna give Frazier a new contract and this was the best exit.

If they were gonna actually look for a new DC, they wouldn't have waited this long. I'm okay with McD calling the Defense.

[streetkings01]

2 hours ago, harmonkillebrew said:

What quality DC is going to accept a job for one year??  This is an odd move. If they're serious that he'll be back in 2024 then they'll probably just look to fill his shoes from within.  This is so weird its almost dysfunctional. 

Man shut up…..I don’t how you got too where you got too but it makes no sense!

 

Where in that article does it say he’s coming back to the Buffalo Bills in 2024? It says a year off from coaching and will return to coach in 2024…..never says return to coach the Bills defense in 2024.!

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

49 minutes ago, muppy said:

WHOA. Who gives up a DC job in the NFL to take some time off? It smells of trouble of some sort. Not a decision I would expect unless it was an issue more important than football.

 

Well Now our team Does need to hire someone new. Im surprised personally. I hope all works out okay with whatever caused this decision.

 

 

“Trouble” seems a stretch to me.  Additions were made to the defensive coaching staff over the past few weeks, and coupled with the expiring contract, seems more like a professional organization and professional people doing professional things.   
 

With luck, we rebrand a good defense into a great defense.  

[Dick_Cheney]

Just think, if defense has a lights out year, we don't have to deal with Frazier ever again. Really really hoping somebody aggressive takes this over for the coming season.

[BillsFan4]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

THIS. Bills give up more yards and points when they play the other two elite AFC quarterbacks than when they don't. 

 

Well hold the ***** front page!!!!

 

The Bills sucked against Cincy. All three phases, all game, no question. But as ever the man who got blamed here is Leslie Frazier. The guy who coordinated four top 10 defenses in 6 seasons. 3 of them top 5. 

You don’t think the defensive game plan, play-calling, lack of adjustments and playing a safer defensive style was a major issue in the Bills playoff losses? I do.

In his time as DC I feel like I can only point to a handful of games against good teams where the defensive game plan really impressed me (like the ravens game where they shut down Lamar, the KC game in the regular season following the AFC championship loss, and the KC game last year as well as a few others).

 

I do think Frazier did a good job here overall. I have a lot of respect for Leslie Frazier the person and for what he did in his time here. But I do think it was time for a change.

 

I think the defense kind of changed as time went on. I think McDermott was more hands-on with the defense in his early years here. But as time went on and Frazier took more control and really started pursuing a head coaching job I think he started to play things too safe. Honestly, sometimes I felt like he was more concerned about good statistics than winning the game, and the defense often felt more like a paper tiger than an actual top 5 defense. The Bills also poured an awful lot of money and resources into the defense to get those top 5 (on paper) results.

 

 

 

Also, for as good of defensive statistics as Frazier had, I think it’s somewhat telling he never really got head coaching interviews. Now maybe that’s just because of his age or because offensive head coaches are a hotter commodity. I think we will learn a lot next season by whether Frazier is in high demand by good contending teams to be their DC. If he’s a top 5 DC in the NFL I would think a number of good teams would come calling, not just mediocre/poor teams.

 

I do feel somewhat sad that his time here is over, and they always say be careful what you wish for. But I think we also needed to make a change. You can’t keep doing the same thing every year expecting different results, and I think the defensive game plan and play calling was suspect enough to make that change.

We also need to find out if Frazier was part of what was holding them back in the playoffs or if it’s actually McDermott. My hope is obviously the former.

Edited February 28, 2023 by BillsFan4

[Taro Nimbus]

All you will be thrilled when the Defense will be worse this year.  But hey, you get what you ask for. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[JMM]

10 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Wouldn’t expect him to say otherwise. It’s akin to asking “was this decision entirely Frazier’s?” Of course the Bills (and Beane) are going to say yes, even if it wasn’t.

Exactly. This was at the very least a mutual decision. 

[LABILLBACKER]

12 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Frazier upset after being told edmunds and poyer will not be resigned? Doesn’t want a rebuild year on d? 

Good!....Poyer is getting up there in age and the injuries are increasing.  Edmunds just doesn't generate big plays. No way we're keeping either nor should we.  Hopefully Holcomb can generate a more aggressive style of this "bend don't break" nonsense.  Every playoffs we break.  Wish Leslie the best but he's not coming back. 

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, Dick_Cheney said:

Just think, if defense has a lights out year, we don't have to deal with Frazier ever again. Really really hoping somebody aggressive takes this over for the coming season.

 

I think McDermott is taking over the defensive play calling, and the good news is that he now knows there are no more fingers to point if they don't step up in the Playoffs. 

[RunninRebel37]

I don’t get the hate with Frazier. Bills defense under his tenure have always been…what top 10 - excluding 2018 and 2020 - with them being top 2 two different seasons. Their play in the playoffs has been sufficient too given their talent. The Bills lost to the Bengals for a variety of reasons, primarily the offensive line breaking down, receivers not getting open or making plays, and the OC not scheming anything up. 
 

Wish him the best and hope his contributions are remembered fairly and appreciated. Sean McDermott wouldn’t be who he is today without him.