Archives for January 15, 2004

‘The hiring of Mularkey could also have an impact on the Bills defense, as it’s expected Bills Assistant Head Coach Dick LeBeau would remain on the Bills staff. LeBeau was in Pittsburgh Tuesday talking with Steelers coach Bill Cowher about the Steelers defensive coordinators position. Currently, Jerry Gray remains the Bills defensive coordinator, although there is speculation he’ll join former Bills coach Gregg Williams in Washington once it’s official Gray didn’t land the Bills head coaching job.’

‘The new Bills boss has wasted no time in putting together a coaching staff. Gone are Kevin Gilbride and Pat Ruel, replaced by Tom Clements and Jim McNally, respectively. Clements also comes from Pittsburgh, where he was quarterbacks coach, and will serve as offensive coordinator here in Buffalo.’

‘The Buffalo Bills introduced new head coach Mike Mularkey at a Thursday afternoon press conference.’

‘“I know the opportunity that’s in front of me,” Mularkey said Thursday at a news conference introducing him as the Buffalo Bills’ new head coach.’

‘In two years at Buffalo, Gilbride had his ups and downs, being credited for rejuvenating the offense in the Bills’ 8-8 season of 2002, while taking much of the blame for Buffalo’s 6-10 season of 2003. On Wednesday, Buffalo hired a new head coach, Mike Mularkey, who is the former offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Gilbride is still technically listed as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, he is not expected to be retained.’

“In retrospect, of course, we know that the talk barely lasted through training camp, as Williams’ bravado quickly wore on veteran players, while his cockiness did not endear longtime followers of the franchise. Still, as Williams’ competition for the job also included untested names, the wait-and-see outlook on the coach’s performance was permissible. But, it soon became clear that despite professing the intense scrutiny of minutia, Williams failed in the basics of team oversight and game day management. Then after John Fox and Marvin Lewis proved to be more capable coaches, the inevitable end to the Gregg Williams era came to its merciful end. “

‘How the defensive assistants will shape up remained uncertain Wednesday night. The Bills and Steelers were waiting for a decision by Dick LeBeau. Both teams would like LeBeau as defensive coordinator. LeBeau was assistant head coach under Williams in 2003, but his contract is up. If LeBeau returns to the Bills, there will be no spot in Buffalo for defensive coordinator Jerry Gray. If LeBeau picks Pittsburgh, it’s uncertain what that will mean for Gray. Gray could become a candidate for one of the other open defensive coordinator positions in the NFL if the Bills let him out of his contract, which runs through 2004.’

‘Cowher had grown unhappy with the lack of productivity in the Steelers’ passing game under Gilbride. Pittsburgh ranked 29th among 31 NFL teams in 2000. Besides juicing up the passing attack, Mularkey’s charge was to rehabilitate quarterback Kordell Stewart, who had suffered a complete loss of confidence and focus with Gilbride’s complicated schemes. Under Mularkey and new quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, Stewart had his career-best passer rating (81.7) and passing yards total (3,106), and had 14 TD passes and 11 interceptions in 2001.’

‘Bills fans aren’t sure what to make of Mularkey just yet, but those who played and coached with him in Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Tampa Bay say that will change once fans get to know him.’

‘He’s a native of Kenmore, a graduate of the University at Buffalo and a lifelong Bills fan.’

‘Time became a foe of teams seeking head coaches, and that was no fault of Donahoe. He’s facing the prospect of losing Dick LeBeau, his assistant head coach, to the Steelers, who want to make him defensive coordinator. Mularkey also is partial to LeBeau, and sources say Weis would have been, as well. The longer the vacancy existed the greater the chance LeBeau takes the sure thing and flees to Pittsburgh.’

‘Wilson, former Bills special teamer Steve Tasker and Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell were among the 25 semifinalists who did not make the list of 15.’

‘Buffalo chose Mularkey despite the Steelers’ drop in every major offensive statistic this season. A year after ranking fifth in the league in total offense, the Steelers were 22nd this season, including a rushing attack that ranked 31st. But Mularkey is also a favorite of Bills president Tom Donahoe, a former director of football operations for the Steelers. Donahoe signed Mularkey, a tight end, as a player in 1989, and also led the push for Cowher to hire him as a tight ends coach in 1996.’

‘”Hines Ward said great things about him,” Moulds said Wednesday after the Bills confirmed that Mularkey, the Steelers offensive coordinator the past three seasons, had been hired as the new head coach in Buffalo. “So I’m interested to see what he has to say.”‘

‘It’s known that most of Williams’ offensive assistants won’t be retained – the Bills ranked 30th in points scored. Beleaguered coordinator Kevin Gilbride has already interviewed for the head-coaching opening at Cornell University. Offensive line coach Pat Ruel and tight ends coach Pat Neal also will not be retained.’