vincec

Well, Fox's career record is 71-57 (.554) and 5-3 in the playoffs, so he must know something...

He seemed to have good rapport with the players and they liked him but, like many others who've posted here, I didn't see much development from any of the young receivers. I think that he will do well with the Carolina vets, but I wouldn't expect any new guys to emerge.

Williams can't play end (at least he couldn't the half dozen times he tried this season) and I think Schobel will retire before trying to learn a new defense, so Kelsay and Denney?. Even assuming that Buffalo can get a NT and find some ends, who are the OLBs? They are the key positions in the 3-4 along with the NT. Maybin and Mitchell? I don't think so. A switch to the 3-4 would mean 2 to 3 years of rebuilding the defensive front 7, almost from scratch. Given how weak Buffalo's offense has been I think you'd be looking at a couple of very lean seasons. IMO, the Bills would be better off keeping the 4-3 and trying to pick up one or two new starters to bolster the front 7.

No. Maybe Seymour, but never Wilfork.

If Maybin can't rush the passer as a DE, then why would he be good at rushing the passer as an OLB? He'll still be going against a tackle most of the time... and the times he ends up on a RB or TE will be offset by the times he's got to drop into coverage or pick someone up man for man. Playing OLB might help his run defense, but that's it.

What has been doing for the last 6 years and why can't he hold a job? I guess that he must just be unlucky like Jauron was...

This info from Wikipedia (yeah, I know...) sounds encouraging: "In early January 2007, Bates was signed on by the Denver Broncos to replace Larry Coyer as the defensive coordinator. However, Defensive Backs coach Bob Slowik was promoted to the defensive coordinator position (nominal), and Bates was named "Assistant Head Coach/Defense." In the 2007 season, the Broncos defense went from 9th ranked in the league in scoring in 2006 to 29th in 2007 as of week 13. On January 8th, 2008 Bates announced he was leaving the Denver Broncos. On January 22nd, 2009 he was announced as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator, working with new head coach Raheem Morris. After a 1–9 start into the season, Bates was relieved of his duties by Morris on November 24, 2009."

My bad. That's mixed news because Haslett isn't going to do bupkis, but now the Bills have to deal with Nolan twice a year...

Mike Nolan would've been huge. Now that he's gone, I have to say that no one else that has been mentioned in this thread excites me. They are mostly rejects. PS- The Shanahan-Nolan partnership with Snyder's $$ is going to yield big results in Washington... mark my words.

Who is Schopp?

How does he know? Was he in the room during the conversation? It's just he says/she says at this point and really, who cares anyway? Gailey is the coach. Let's move on to finding a staff and then free agency.

I don't want to say too much here, but modern QBs look a lot better than their predecessors for a variety of reasons. Everyone knows that the relaxation of pass interference rules led to a massive improvement in passing statistics and the birth of the modern passing game, but the incredible protection that today's QBs get from physical punishment (can't hit them high, can't hit them low, can' t hit them even a split second late, can't lead with your head, etc) and the help that OL get (holding basically ok, no head slaps, etc) mean that it's very difficult to intimidate a QB and that today's QBs can play into their late 30s or probably even early 40s effectively. Manning and Brady could probably play until their 45, if they don't quit for other reasons. This doesn't mean that today's QBs ARE better, however. How would today's great QBs fare if they played under the 1960s or 1970s rules? I think many of them would be in trouble. I don't know who's the greatest, but three of my favorite QBs: Steve Young. If I could take 1 QB to lead my team, he'd be the guy. Could do it all, throw for high % and run it. Unbelievable physical ability to play the position. Kenny Stabler. Him completing 66% of his passes in 1976 is like someone completing 80% today. Plus, his leadership skills and toughness were lights out. One tough SOB. Roger Staubach. Could do it all. A strong passer who could move around but would also hang in the pocket and take big hits to make plays. Incredible leadership skills. Cowboys were never out of a game with him behind center.

North Dallas Forty should get some love.

Or Whitner for Rivers straight up.

Dallas was the healthiest team in the NFL... no one on IR. So it's pretty tough to blame injuries for a poor performance. Minnesota was playing with a rookie MLB starting his 4th game. They didn't use that as an excuse.

I don't agree with this. The Cowboys have as much talent as anyone in the league and have for a few years now. They were out coached in this game and losing Adams didn't help matters. I don't say that this is all Phillips fault, but his team didn't make the adjustments and laid an egg in this game. That has got to reflect somewhat on the coach.

Not 4th and 1. If he would've gone for it on 4th and 3 or more, then I would've said he's crazy.

I wonder how Nate Kaeding feels?

I go for it. Chargers haven't stopped the Jets in short yardage yet.

FG? Go for it? Punt?

I seriously doubt it!

Of course. Give yourself 2 chances to get the ball back.

See other thread on exact same topic...

For some reason this all reminds me of when Pat Riley took over as the LA Lakers head coach in the early 1980's. Magic Johnson didn't like Paul Westhead so he was fired and the Owner (Jerry Buss) scrambled to find a new coach, initially naming Jerry West only to have West decline the offer. He finally named Pat Riley (a nobody) and Riley went up to the podium at his press conference and said sarcastically that if no one wanted the head coaching job of the LA Lakers (a proud and storied NBA team), he would take it. The Bill's head coaching position may not be perfect, but it is an NFL head coaching job (1 of 32 available in the world). You would think that there are a lot of professional coaches that would jump at the chance, as the opportunity doesn't come to many. Part of me wanted the job to go to Fewell because he actively campaigned for it. That's worth something in my book.

That is obviously the case. Specifically, it's about not wanting to spend top money on players ("cash to the cap"). Sounds like that was the problem with Shanahan and Cowher. That being the case, it's still very surprising that assistant coaches don't even want to interview with the team. I know that when I've been looking for jobs, I never turn down an interview unless it's a totally upsurd situation. It improves your interview skills, raises your profile to other interested parties and gives you a sense of what is available in the marketplace. To not want to interview is very strange (especially for a guy like Harbaugh that isn't getting ready for a playoff game).