eball Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Unless the Bills win out to go 10-6 and sneak into the playoffs, I have to conclude one of two things will happen in the offseason: (a) Marrone will be retained only if he hires a new OC (b) Marrone will be relieved of his duties If option (b) occurs, I think it's crucial to try and maintain consistency in the defensive coaching staff. Would they elevate Schwartz to HC? Will he stick around if they don't? This defense is already elite and could be even better next season. Interested in thoughts on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Holy cow--another Schwartz as HC thread? If Pegula is looking ot get rid of one effective HC why on earth would he hire another one to replace him?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 If they want a new HC and want to keep Schwartz as DC, they'd have to hire a veteran coach with a rep like Cowher or Harbaugh. Otherwise bringing in a younger coach with less experience would be a dis on Schwartz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsVet Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 The problems are larger than the coaching staff. It's the people hiring the coaches and the GM's who need to be escorted out and then replaced by competent types. I recognize that's hard for much of the fan base to understand, as personnel executives are infrequently seen or address the media. I can't remember the last time I've seen Doug Whaley speak in public, although Brandon's always find himself in front of the camera. That said, it's time for things to be re-structured at the top. The coaches are a symptom of the dysfunction, not the disease itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 The problems are larger than the coaching staff. It's the people hiring the coaches and the GM's who need to be escorted out and then replaced by competent types. I recognize that's hard for much of the fan base to understand, as personnel executives are infrequently seen or address the media. I can't remember the last time I've seen Doug Whaley speak in public, although Brandon's always find himself in front of the camera. That said, it's time for things to be re-structured at the top. The coaches are a symptom of the dysfunction, not the disease itself. Yes, I presume the removal of Marrone will come as a part of whatever restructuring is done after the Pegulas have their consultant analyze the operation from the top down. The bottom line, however, is that the talent level of this defense -- and much of the offense (WR, LT, C, RT, RB) -- is high and you don't want to create another total re-boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumblefish Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 doubt the HC will be replaced unless he will not follow instruction from above, when it comes to coaches and players after all the teams is playing better as a whole than his first year and could still end with a winning season, something not seen here in along time Bottom Line: Marone will stay if he follows orders, like any loyal employee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Dokken Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 If they want a new HC and want to keep Schwartz as DC, they'd have to hire a veteran coach with a rep like Cowher or Harbaugh. Otherwise bringing in a younger coach with less experience would be a dis on Schwartz. Something tells me Schwartz would not love the idea of working for Harbaugh, but I agree with the sentiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PearlHowardman Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 The problems are larger than the coaching staff. It's the people hiring the coaches and the GM's who need to be escorted out and then replaced by competent types. I recognize that's hard for much of the fan base to understand, as personnel executives are infrequently seen or address the media. I can't remember the last time I've seen Doug Whaley speak in public, although Brandon's always find himself in front of the camera. That said, it's time for things to be re-structured at the top. The coaches are a symptom of the dysfunction, not the disease itself. This^ Additionally, the Buffalo Bills are in dire need of a NFL caliber quarterback and an NFL caliber offensive line. Without these two components the Bills end up 3rd best in the AFC East - at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 If I'm guessing, I think the team finishes 8-8 and Marrone gets canned. Whaley stays on account that Mr. Pegula understands that he's highly respected as a personnel guy around the league. Brandon stays in his business role. New HC, makes the call on the defensive staff and the new QB. If they hire someone like Gus Malzahn or Art Briles, it's very likely they'd keep the DC in place because it's one less factor in the NFL transition that they have to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Unless the Bills win out to go 10-6 and sneak into the playoffs, I have to conclude one of two things will happen in the offseason: (a) Marrone will be retained only if he hires a new OC (b) Marrone will be relieved of his duties If option (b) occurs, I think it's crucial to try and maintain consistency in the defensive coaching staff. Would they elevate Schwartz to HC? Will he stick around if they don't? This defense is already elite and could be even better next season. Interested in thoughts on this topic. Knowing the Bills, if they fire Marrone, they will bring in a defensive-minded head coach, and we will have to fire Schwartz and be back to square 1 on the offense. I am actually hoping what they do is keep Marrone and force Marrone to fire Hackett (or better yet, Marrone would do it on his own initiative). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talley56 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 If they want a new HC and want to keep Schwartz as DC, they'd have to hire a veteran coach with a rep like Cowher or Harbaugh. Otherwise bringing in a younger coach with less experience would be a dis on Schwartz. I don't think it would be a dis on Schwartz but I agree he may see it that way. But also remember after Cowher left the Steelers instead of promoting an experienced Dick LeBeau to HC they hired Mike Tomlin and he's seemed okay with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Knowing the Bills, if they fire Marrone, they will bring in a defensive-minded head coach, and we will have to fire Schwartz and be back to square 1 on the offense. I am actually hoping what they do is keep Marrone and force Marrone to fire Hackett (or better yet, Marrone would do it on his own initiative). I don't mean this as a shot at you, just an honest question: off of what are you basing this line of logic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 stability only begins when you have a franchise QB. it's Head Coach musical chairs until that happens. pegula will hire a czar. I assume whaley gets one more year to fix the QB situation or the czar will recommend his replacement. if whaley is replaced, the entire coaching staff is canned as the new regime will want their own people. start the music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VirginiaMike Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 I believe that Marrone will be back next year. He will have taken this team to a .500 record with a sub-standard O-Line and QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PearlHowardman Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Replace Marrone with whom? Replace Hackett with whom? Just whom is this "consultant" going to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsVet Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 If I'm guessing, I think the team finishes 8-8 and Marrone gets canned. Whaley stays on account that Mr. Pegula understands that he's highly respected as a personnel guy around the league. Brandon stays in his business role. New HC, makes the call on the defensive staff and the new QB. If they hire someone like Gus Malzahn or Art Briles, it's very likely they'd keep the DC in place because it's one less factor in the NFL transition that they have to worry about. Not looking to pick a fight here, but I'm not sure Whaley is as highly regarded around the league as you note. The trade for Watkins, the selection of Manuel (despite what some suits say) and clumsily handling the QB position make me think his talent evaluation is mediocre. He's been a part of this team for going on 5 years and in that time the Bills are 28-49. Certainly not all of that is his fault, as Nix's disastrous decisions impact this team, but there's still major personnel decisions he's gotten wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TH3 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Can someone locate an occasion when the HC was fired - and the new HC did not bring a whole new staff in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 I don't mean this as a shot at you, just an honest question: off of what are you basing this line of logic? Just a bit of sarcasm by me-- i.e., the Bills seem to do the opposite of what they ought to do, in all things. That said, as I thought more about it, there is some truth to it. To give a concrete example, what about Greggo's hire? The Bills have a top-5 defense with Wade Phillips. They go out and hire Greggo, who blows the defense up, and implements his 46 defense, which is terrible for 3 years. One would think they would have gone with a more offensive-minded coach there. The defense eventually gets to a repsectable level under Greggo, when they decide to fire him and hire Jauron-- who blows the defense up to implement his "Tampa 2." Again, I think the conventional wisdom would have been to go offensive-based hire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Knowing the Bills, if they fire Marrone, they will bring in a defensive-minded head coach, and we will have to fire Schwartz and be back to square 1 on the offense. I am actually hoping what they do is keep Marrone and force Marrone to fire Hackett (or better yet, Marrone would do it on his own initiative). Yes. We need to maintain some form of continuity. Getting a new OC is preferred; if you clean house every two years you not only lose continuity in what has been built (great defense, good team morale) but you gain a reputation as a see-saw organization that can't get its **** together. A new OC with some NFL experience would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Not looking to pick a fight here, but I'm not sure Whaley is as highly regarded around the league as you note. The trade for Watkins, the selection of Manuel (despite what some suits say) and clumsily handling the QB position make me think his talent evaluation is mediocre. He's been a part of this team for going on 5 years and in that time the Bills are 28-49. Certainly not all of that is his fault, as Nix's disastrous decisions impact this team, but there's still major personnel decisions he's gotten wrong. While I think there's some merit to what you're saying, I can only speak to what I know. Folks I've spoken to that work (or in one case used to work) for other organizations tell me that Whaley would very likely get another GM job in short order if he weren't retained here. As to his handling of the QB position, that's a tough one. I understand why he picked EJ. When he was given control in January of 2013, there was nothing resembling a possible franchise QB on the roster. He understands that drafting a guy is the best chance, so he uses his 1st draft pick to take a shot at the guy he thought had the best chance to become a franchise QB. So far, it looks like he picked (a) a guy that probably won't become one, and (b) the guy that probably did have the best chance at becoming one (based on skill set anyway). There's also some divergence of opinion from inside the organization regarding who wanted/didn't want to bring in another QB prior to the 2014 season. As for Whaley, I think when you look at the whole picture, he's done well to increase the talent on the team significantly. It's more than just what they do with their 1st round picks...netting players like Kiko, Woods, Brown, and Henderson in later rounds, and getting Jerry Hughes in a trade are savvy moves. We shall see though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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