Rockinon

If Kubiak gets a job, he'll throw Marrone a bone.

Ok, not in front of media. Right. However, Roman will still make the biggest impact as a coach. His philosophies are why he was hired. Yes, Kromer will certainly have some input. That isn't a bad thing. Many of the recent coaching hires of the Bills have been coaches that previously were in higher positions. I am not saying Kramer is or isn't the answer. I am just seeing a lot of people jumping the gun with off the cuff remarks. So far, I think the guy has a great resume. He may be a bit like Marrone, butting heads with wrong people though. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. Our OLmen might need a bull headed OL coach. On the other hand, he may be exactly what they don't need. Either way, it looks like a typical Rex Ryan hire. Boom or Bust. Can't argue with that either.

Another thing a lot of folks are overlooking, the OL coach is the guy who will be in the ear of the OLmen harping on things like technique. He's more like a drill sergeant and doesn't really design the plays. The big difference maker in that department is going to be Greg Roman. He is the one who will be drawing up plays. Kromer is just going to make sure that that the linemen are in position and using sound blocking techniques.

^^^^This. ^^^^ A coaches job is to identify problems and address them. Cutler is a tool and needed to be called out. Kromer's only mistake was doing so in front of the media instead of in front of the team. He was pissed and lashed out. Just because he didn't go about it the right way doesn't mean didn't have a legitimate beef. Of course none of us here have ever said something to the wrong person when we're pissed.

Brandon reports to Terry Whaley reports to Terry Rex reports to Terry Doesn't get any simpler than that. All of them will work together and in all likelyhood will occasionally disagree. Nothing wrong with that. Don't understand why people think this is a disorganized mess. There is one person at the top that makes a final decision if two parties cannot resolve an issue on their own. I have no problem with this structure at all.

What makes you think it's cronyism? I am sure that any coach who hires assistants and feels they have been doing a great job, would want to bring them over from his previous job. It's not just because he knows them. It's also because he has first hand experience working with them and because he trusts them. If there is an assistant he didn't like.....well then it makes sense to find someone else. Also, the coach hired them in the first place. He likely feels some responsibility to look out for them. That to me is returning loyalty for being loyal. He had a working relationship with them and owes them for the loyalty that they gave him. The only time when that isn't true is when that assistant did not perform up to expectations. Cronyism? No.

I remember seeing some read option plays where EJ handed the ball off but if he had kept the ball and run himself, he had a lot of room to take off. Meanwhile the poor RB ran right into a wall of defenders. Gotta agree with Rex on that one.

This discussion is giving me a headache. But you guys have at it.

The thing I don't like is how he regurgitates the same news over and over on twitter. Got so annoying(had to unfollow him) because he is never the 1st to report anything and then he would post on twitter what someone else found. Ten minutes later he copies and pastes it again. Sometimes several times in a day. The guy just lives on twitter.

I see the Bills site is now saying Roman is named OC. Guess it's officially official. Looks like Chris Foerster(Forester?) for OL coach. Chris Russell ‏@Russellmania980 1h1 hour ago #Redskins MT @AdamSchefter: Interesting: Washington granted permission to Buffalo to interview Redskins offensive line coach Chris Foerster. Chris Russell ‏@Russellmania980 56m56 minutes ago Check that...My bad...I forgot that Foerster and Greg Roman worked together in Baltimore.....Relationship cemented then. #Redskins

Very true. Look at what our own defense does to running QBs like the ones on the Jets. Defenses push the edges so the QB is hemmed in to the pocket and can't escape. Generally, this gives the QB more time, but if they can't read the defense and find an open receiver they are screwed. And if they hold onto the ball too long they are doubly screwed. The NFL is catching on to all of the read option stuff that was hot for a while as well. You cannot expect it to last forever. The best QBs in the league are pocket passers because they are good at finding an open receiver quickly and getting the ball out to them. If they can pass on the run or take off on designed runs, well that is just a bonus. It however, is not something you can expect to succeed all the time

The power run game is about the blocking.

Roman is really growing on me. The more I read about the guy, the more I like him. Many knowledgeable football people think he should be a HC by now. The guy is not only innovative, he actually takes that innovation and employs it on the field. The guy is not afraid of trying something that has never been done before and I have always felt that Marrone's problem was that he only wanted to do what has all ready proven to work. Ryan is just a figurehead as far as I am concerned but I have seen some things the Jets have done under him that have really surprised me. He should make a good leader. I think the real change for this team though is going to come from an innovative OC and a couple more pieces on offense. We have seen some real progress all ready. We have a top notch defense and special teams. The offense has not been all bad. We know we have some talented receivers, some good RBs and a couple of good OLmen. The TEs have not been all bad. A couple of pieces and a little innovation will go a long way. This team is closer than many think. The QB position is the biggest question mark by a country mile. However, we may be surprised the difference a good OC can make. We may also be surprised by who we end up keeping. Schwartz I think stays. Hackett is likely gone but then again don't be surprised if he is asked to stay on. Maybe the FO decides to keep him, Roman becomes assistant HC. You never know how this will play out. Maybe Hackett is demoted to an offensive assistant. It's going to be a wild ride either way. One thing I am pretty sure of, though. We are going all in. The Pegulas are looking for a championship.

Me too. I really think the Bills can be effective passing too if the running game improved.

I would like to know how the media found out about his contract opt out clause. Remember when Marrone said that he never discusses his contract? So how did the media know about that? Did Marrone lie about it? Hmm.....

Maybe it was one of Marrone's kids.

Good point that Whaley is young in his position. I think the Pegulas know that too. That is probably why all of these interviews are being conducted. The Pegulas, Whaley and Brandon are all going to gain some valuable experience from all of this. They are scouring the entire league and actually speaking to some of the top football minds in the world. How can they not learn from all of this. Each of them in their own way? Maybe it's not really about who is front and center and more about rolling up their sleeves and trying to get the job done, together. Gaining experience in the hiring process and learning about the NFL and picking the brains of all of these candidates is a great bonus.

I honestly think TP is doing everything in his power to ensure that Buffalo gets the best HC available, including listening to as many people with experience as possible. It is his franchise, so I am not really going to split hairs over who should have final say. He owns the team and it really is as simple as that, however from previous interviews with the Pegulas, it does seem that they know they are not experts in all matters pertaining to football. They really have no choice but to lean on the advise of those who know football. And I am not upset that the HC will report directly to TP. That to me is TP taking ownership of his decision. That is what good leaders do. He is saying that he is responsible and I like that about him. Whether I am going to feel the same way next year remains to be seen. I guess that depends on if he made the right decision.

I have a hunch that Tim is simply assuming that because TP is the owner, that his word is final. Which it is. TP I am sure is smart enough to use what ever resources at his disposal, including using the experience of those he surrounds himself with to make a decision. What we do know is that the HC will report directly to TP. That doesn't necessarily mean he and he alone will make the HC choice, just that his word will be final as it should be. I mean he is the owner.

I think a lot of people are overstating the possibility of Schwartz leaving. With what the Bills have done defensively over the last two season, I think any coach would want to retain his services as an DC. Also, I think Pettine is feeling some pain right now in Cleveland. Schwartz may very well be satisfied as an DC for the time being. If he is able to stick with Buffalo another year and take them deep into the playoffs next year, he will then be a hot topic as a HC again. Whoever is brought in for the HC job is likely going to love what the Bills have done on defense over the last 2 years. Don't forget also that Schartz has gained interest as a DC elsewhere, but as far as a HC the interest just is not there. I think he would be smart to simply ride it out here in Buffalo and wait. He'll get another chance as HC candidate when the Bills take the next step forward. The Bills may seem to be in disarray right now, but we all know the talent is there for this team. All it needs is a couple of pieces and they will then send a message to the rest of the league with a knockout punch to the NE Patriots. And any other playoff team that gets in their way for that matter. We don't need a complete overhaul here. Just a little competence on the offensive side of the ball.

Yes, but the very next game, the Bills switched to a 3-4 with Kyle Williams as the nose tackle and they did very well. That would have been one hell of an in game decision to change the defensive front like that. He recovered but expecting him to do so in game like that is kind of ask a lot. I'm not so sure. Rex really likes the players on this team. Loves Sammy.

Yep....Shannahan's zone blocking schemes require smaller, quicker OLmen. Don't believe me? Read this: http://www.sbnation.com/2014/7/25/5928877/alex-gibbs-seahawks-broncos-texans-nfl-zone-blocking

That kind of makes Hackett look pretty good considering he had EJ and Kyle Orton behind a horrible OL.

Oh god, don't get me started on the OL. Marrone's stubbornness is why the OL couldn't get anything going all year. I am not even certain that we don't actually have some good talent on that line.

Amen to that