Bills Hire Ryan Nielsen Senior Defensive Assistant.

[OldTimer1960]

17 hours ago, JohnNord said:

…and I was told McDermott would never hire assistants with a different philosophy.

 

Nielsen ran a ton of man defense in Jacksonville.  IIRC, he was so stubborn he refused to change his approach versus Josh Week 3 and got torched.  

I’d bet anything these still run zone but this is going to give them more flexibility depending on the opponent - almost like KC’s defense.

 

It’s a strong indication Rasul Douglas is not coming back IMO

And likely that a CB will be an early pick in the draft.

[MrEpsYtown]

I like this one too. He had a big hand in developing Trey Hendrickson, and, as others have mentioned brings a different perspective. 

[Magox]

19 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

And likely that a CB will be an early pick in the draft.

 

Possibly but I don't believe likely.  I believe it's more likely that they seek their starting CB to pair with Benford through FA.    The Bills are too close to winning it all to entrust a rookie in that critical role.   I think there is going to be more of a sense of urgency from Beane this year.

[OldTimer1960]

1 minute ago, Magox said:

 

Possibly but I don't believe likely.  I believe it's more likely that they seek their starting CB to pair with Benford through FA.    The Bills are too close to winning it all to entrust a rookie in that critical role.   I think there is going to be more of a sense of urgency from Beane this year.

I would like it if they could do that and use early picks on edge and DT - 2 needs and 2 strong areas of the draft.

[Warriorspikes51]

7 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I like this one too. He had a big hand in developing Trey Hendrickson, and, as others have mentioned brings a different perspective. 

interesting.  I'm not a fan of the guy but if we can't land Garrett or Crosby.....could he be a possibility assuming Bengals don't give him a new deal

[SoCal Deek]

11 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

McD keeps saying the ball comes out too quick with these elite QBs to get any pass rush.

A switch to tighter man coverage may be a way to get them to hold onto the ball longer. 

Like most things it comes down to cause and effect. One of the main reasons the ball comes out quickly is because the Bills secondary is gifting the opponent a quick hitter on virtually every down. So, yes, we definitely need to tighten it up, and then the pass rush will look decidedly much improved. 

[SoTier]

18 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Someone to maybe help Babich out. A former DC. Would figure this is a warning shot to Babich to pick it up a bit faster.

 

Why do you view this hiring as some kind of negative reflection on Bobby Babich?   I simply don't see McDermott as the kind of person who would hire an assistant coach with the idea of pressuring another of his assistants because he (McDermott) didn't think that assistant wasn't working hard enough.   It seems to me it's more likely that McDermott saw an opportunity to give Babich some additional support with an experienced former DC.  I believe the Bills also added another defensive assistant for the DL.  What all this signals to me is that Beane and McDermott are going all in on improving the Bills defense first by bolstering the defensive coaching staff and then, hopefully, significantly improving defensive talent.

Edited February 7 by SoTier

[GunnerBill]

My Jags correspondent friend tells me Pederson was under extreme pressure internally to fire Nielsen in-season this year for the terrible defensive performance but resolutely defended him, insisting that coaching was not the reason for their struggles. 

 

Not sure what to take from that but found it interesting. 

[MikePJ76]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

My Jags correspondent friend tells me Pederson was under extreme pressure internally to fire Nielsen in-season this year for the terrible defensive performance but resolutely defended him, insisting that coaching was not the reason for their struggles. 

 

Not sure what to take from that but found it interesting. 

I take from that Doug Pederson is a good dude.  Lots of guys just fire everyone when they are told to in order to save their own ass.

 

good for pederson for not being a stooge.

[MJS]

1 hour ago, Gigs said:

McDermott is probably helping him out more than a warning. Looks more like McD was told to stay away from defense and focus on the whole of the team. 

McDermott was "told" by whom? Pegula? Yeah, I highly doubt that.

[MrEpsYtown]

22 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

My Jags correspondent friend tells me Pederson was under extreme pressure internally to fire Nielsen in-season this year for the terrible defensive performance but resolutely defended him, insisting that coaching was not the reason for their struggles. 

 

Not sure what to take from that but found it interesting. 

 

Yeah read the same about Press Taylor. I gotta say I respect Pederson for sticking up for his guys despite the fact that he lost his job because of it. 

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Yeah read the same about Press Taylor. I gotta say I respect Pederson for sticking up for his guys despite the fact that he lost his job because of it. 

 

Yea the same. If you honestly don't believe it is a coaching problem you should have the courage of your convictions and say that. 

[Low Positive]

48 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

My Jags correspondent friend tells me Pederson was under extreme pressure internally to fire Nielsen in-season this year for the terrible defensive performance but resolutely defended him, insisting that coaching was not the reason for their struggles. 

 

Not sure what to take from that but found it interesting. 

I would be concerned about this if the Bills were hiring him as DC. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 hour ago, SoTier said:

 

Why do you view this hiring as some kind of negative reflection on Bobby Babich?   I simply don't see McDermott as the kind of person who would hire an assistant coach with the idea of pressuring another of his assistants because he (McDermott) didn't think that assistant wasn't working hard enough.   It seems to me it's more likely that McDermott saw an opportunity to give Babich some additional support with an experienced former DC.  I believe the Bills also added another defensive assistant for the DL.  What all this signals to me is that Beane and McDermott are going all in on improving the Bills defense first by bolstering the defensive coaching staff and then, hopefully, significantly improving defensive talent.

What I see is this. Much like the Joe Brady hiring, it's first and foremost to put together the best staff possible. Yeah he's there to assist Babich. McDermott certainly wants Bobby to succeed. We all do. 

 

But also like Brady, I view it as filling the pipeline with a former coordinator that could take over if needed. Past action has shown that McDermott will make an in season change if needed. 

 

If I'm Babich, I view it both ways. Number one this could help me be successful. But also there's a guy in place with more years experience doing my job and I need to step it up.

[MikePJ76]

39 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Yeah read the same about Press Taylor. I gotta say I respect Pederson for sticking up for his guys despite the fact that he lost his job because of it. 

The Buck Showalter thing.

 

Steinbrenner came to him and told him to fire a number of coaches at the end of 95, I think he wanted nardi contreras and rick downs fired, and showalter told him to get out of his office he will run the team. 

 

Showalter was fired along with everyone else, then Joe Torre got hired and hired some new guys specifically Mel Stottlemyer and with the organization that Showalter and Gene Michaels built oversaw a dynasty!  

 

Takes guts to walk away on principle from something you had a major hand in building.

[MrEpsYtown]

Diving in some, Nielsen is a more connected hire than Rebrovich. 

 

Nielsen played for Pete Carroll at USC and started his coaching career there as well. He was a UDFA in Philadelphia when McDermott was a defensive assistant. He spends some time working in college under Ed Orgeron. Then spends a bunch of time working for Dave Doeren at NC State and Northern Illinois. Doeren is one of the "McDermott inner circle" strong college connections which also include Dave Aranda, Manny Diaz, and Bob Shoop. Nielsen would have had a hand in developing Bradley Chubb and BJ Hill at NC State as the D line coach.

 

Nielsen also crosses over with Joe Brady and Ronald Curry in New Orleans. 

 

To me, what is most interesting to me is the number of different guys he has worked for/been around. Jim Johnson, Steve Spanolo, McDermott, Mike Nolan, Jerry Gray, Dennis Allen, Aaron Glenn...guys with some different philosophies. While he is a 4-3 base coach, he has been around some 3-4 guys and plays good amount of man with zone. It seems the name of the game with him is being multiple. Results have not been good as a DC, but he seems to have a pretty good amount of knowledge and seems like a good addition to the room with some possibly fresh ideas. We shall see how it goes. 

[Bangarang]

Great mustache. Not so great DC.

[MrEpsYtown]

18 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

side note to the discussion here but.

 

I wonder if Nielsen will have a positive report on Jaguars Safety Andre Cisco.  He is an undrafted free agent and played at SU.  A 3 some of Rapp, Bishop, Cisco could be a good one.  I mean its not a 3 some as good as like one with Tiffani Thiessen and Cindy Crawford...but it could be pretty good.  Plus I guess add in Cam Lewis.

 

He is a veteran that will have some idea of playing in buffalo and living in the climate, also a NY guy from Long Island.

 

Getting a vet in that wont break the bank to go with Rapp and Bishop could maybe give them more options on draft day.  Not that he or bishop or rapp should ever stop them from drafting a true difference maker if one is there when they pick in the top 100.

 

just putting it out there.

 

To me Cisco is a great fit for what we need as he is a true FS fit alongside Rapp and Bishop. Won't be as good as Jevon Holland but also won't be as expensive. Cisco was actually a 3rd round pick who should have gone way higher if he didn't come in with a torn ACL. I love the fit and Joe Danna would have been a big influence on him and his development. 

 

The question as you mention is how does Nielsen feel about his game? 

 

Some good stuff: 

 

 

 

[bmur66]

Seeing and admitting that what you are doing isn't working, and seeking help is a good thing! Go Bills!

[Livinginthepast]

22 hours ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Just anyone from the outside to start changing the ideas in the Defensive room. Anything to get away from this zone

Playing non stop soft zone with our personnel in the secondary and our lack of pass rush, was one of the dumbest ideas of the McD era. Hopefully this represents a big change in philosophy!