The Underappreciated Genius of Chan Gailey

[Punching Bag]

10 hours ago, MJS said:

Good OC. Just not a good HC. He shouldn't be making personnel or organization decisions, but he can call a good came on offense.

 

He would be a good play designer without needing to be on the sideline.

[HomeTeam]

3 hours ago, The Bills Blog said:

"Great, great Buffalo fans. Great football town."

 

"This is the only team that ever fired me that I'll pull for."

 

And he said both while choking up. This is how I recall it.

Here is his exit statement.

 

 Chan's Final Statement to the Bills

 

He was a class act all the way. I enjoyed his tenure here. Even though they did not get the job done, you could always tell that they were doing the best with what they had. 

 

Bless the guy. I hope he's doing well. 

[sullim4]

32 minutes ago, HomeTeam said:

Here is his exit statement.

 

 Chan's Final Statement to the Bills

 

He was a class act all the way. I enjoyed his tenure here. Even though they did not get the job done, you could always tell that they were doing the best with what they had. 

 

Bless the guy. I hope he's doing well. 

 

I agree, Chan is a good guy.  I think he did a good job considering the talent level he had to work with.  The defenses were awful but the offense was equally devoid of talent and was at least competent.  He got the most out of Fitz that he could.

 

Gailey is one of those guys that adapts his playbook to the personnel he has on the roster.  That makes him a lot more flexible than the "system" guys that get run out of the league once defensive coordinators figure their playcalling out.  I'd hire him as an OC, but not as a HC.

[Jay_Fixit]

He believed it was a tuff gayme for tuff payple.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

You have to admit, nobody ever rented a billboard over Chan.

11 minutes ago, Jay_Fixit said:

He believed it was a tuff gayme for tuff payple.

Shallow of me, but I cannot picture listening to back to back press conferences by Nix and  Gailey.

[BillyWhiteShows]

I’ve thought about this a lot.  First off, Chan was a bad hire to start with.  They hired him because he was unemployed after getting fired from Georgia Tech.  His pal, Bill Cowher told them they should hire him so they did.  Don’t buy the whole “no one else would come to Buffalo narrative.”  Maybe it would have been hard to land a Shannahan or Cowher but they easily could have given a shot to an assistant like Perry Fewell who did a decent job coaching after Jauron was fired.

 

Still, to his credit Chan did get an awful lot out of a very limited Bills roster.  His spread offense was ahead of its time and it helped put a little known QB like Ryan Fitzpatrick on the map.  He also made the best out of low draft picks or UFA’s like Fred Jackson, Stevie Johnson, Scotty Chandler and Donald Jones.

 

But his downfall always has been defense.  I might argue loyalty was his biggest weakness.  I remember he brought it George Edwards to be his DC and it was a flipping disaster.  Chan should have fired Edwards after his first season but he made, perhaps, the biggest mistake of his career and retained him.  The next season the Bills defense regressed even worse.   He ended up replacing Edwards with Dave Wannstedt who was a very bad replacement.

 

In the end Chan was fired and deservedly so. How can you possibly make the argument to retain him?

 

Still he was a great offensive mind and a very good person.  But I don’t buy that he was wronged.  His record speaks for itself.

 

 

 

[Another Fan]

What’s really sad in general is Gailey coached the team for the only legit win against the Patriots in the last 15 years.

 

 

[BillyWhiteShows]

4 hours ago, TigerJ said:

I think he was one of the head coaches that Buffalo dumped prematurely.

 

I completely disagree.  They were going nowhere.  In three seasons they won 4, 6, and 6 games despite improving the roster.

 

It was time to reset and firing Chan was 100% the right call

 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

11 hours ago, The Frankish Reich said:

I checked: you're right. Edwards was gone right away. 

Don't forget Jeff Tuel as a training camp hero!

 

Trent won the QB battle then ran out of bounds on 4th down with less than 2 minutes on the clock. 

 

That at was his last snap in buffalo

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

33 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I was thinking the other day that I honestly feel like the hiring of Chan Gailey was the worst head coaching hire I can ever remember. He was absolutely terrible and I don’t know how anyone could feel differently. It was the closest I ever got to canceling my Sunday ticket. Nobody else would have ever considered hiring him for a HC. There was no reason for us to do it. We could have hired a real HC and probably got him to be an OC. He ran the same plays over and over regardless of situation. Every team in the league figured him out and after that 5-2 start, we never did anything again. The book was written and then end of that year and the following season was just a complete embarrassment. We forced the same stuff over and over again and Fitz actually proved to be a very productive QB after Chan. This is all not even considering there was no attempt to even pretend to play defense for 3 straight years. I think he was the single worst HC the Bills have had in the last 30 years and I don’t think it was close.

 

He never had a defense. He had a GM and FO that was atrocious at evaluating talent. 

 

He was ahead of his time in terms of scheme and vision for the game. He had ZERO talent on his roster. 

 

I loved Gailey. His “you dog one of us, you dog us all” comment was on point. I would have loved to see what he could have done with Manuel. If only they would have given him a chance. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

11 minutes ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

 

He never had a defense. He had a GM and FO that was atrocious at evaluating talent. 

 

He was ahead of his time in terms of scheme and vision for the game. He had ZERO talent on his roster. 

 

I loved Gailey. His “you dog one of us, you dog us all” comment was on point. I would have loved to see what he could have done with Manuel. If only they would have given him a chance. 

He was the coach. It was on him to make sure the Defense was there. He wasn’t the OC. He was responsible for the entire team.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

13 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Good OC. He was fine as a HC in terms of game decisions.  He just picked the wrong DCs. Dave frickin Wannstedt ended his career as a HC.  

 

 

...didn't he also have George Edwards as his DC?.....shocking that he's STILL floating around...............

[RobbRiddicksTDLeap]

Just now, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

He was the coach. It was on him to make sure the Defense was there. He wasn’t the OC. He was responsible for the entire team.

 

Oh boy. 

 

I wont disagree that he should’ve had more of role in preparing the defense, and that’s probably what led to his termination. But George Edwards and Dave Wanstedt were hires from outside of his comfort zone. 

 

The “hybrid thang” was the most embarrassing defense i have ever seen from the Bills. Regardless of his responsibilities as a HC, the coordinator bares more of a responsibility when it comes to game planning, preparation, in game adjustments, and scheme. 

 

If Gailey had any kind of defense, he would have been more successful here. If he had better players on either side of the ball, he would have been significantly more successful. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

14 minutes ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

...and FO that was atrocious at evaluating talent.

Are we talking football talent? Some so called ‘talent evaluators’ are still collecting unemployment. 

[LSHMEAB]

Dave Wannestadt was Gailey's undoing in Buffalo. I wonder what those teams would have been like with Jim Schwartz. Wanny was the worst defensive coordinator I've ever seen and that's saying something. Defense would never make adjustments, never blitz, rarely even played nickel. Just the worst.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

2 minutes ago, LSHMEAB said:

Dave Wannestadt was Gailey's undoing in Buffalo. I wonder what those teams would have been like with Jim Schwartz. Wanny was the worst defensive coordinator I've ever seen and that's saying something. Defense would never make adjustments, never blitz, rarely even played nickel. Just the worst.

 

...Jesus bro...heading to Walgreen's for Pepto Bismol after THAT reminder.....

[BillsVet]

3 hours ago, GreggTX said:

Chan was a great OC. His big problems were that he fell in love with bad QB's and when he was in Buffalo, we had the worst defense ever. He was a brilliant playcaller, which is an underappreciated art in the NFL today. He was the only OC in the NFL that knew how to make Spiller a huge threat. I was frankly surprised that the Jets didn't sign CJ while Chan was there. He should be 66 or 67 right now, so he may be retired for good.

 

I tend to believe Nix and Gailey thought they could win with Fitz after 2010 and never seriously considered getting a QB. That was the fatal flaw of their 3 years together.  As forward thinking perhaps as Gailey was with offense, neither he nor Nix had much of a clue on building a modern NFL roster.

 

 

[Nextmanup]

I always thought Chan had a knack for clever play design.

 

 

[TigerJ]

2 hours ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

 

I completely disagree.  They were going nowhere.  In three seasons they won 4, 6, and 6 games despite improving the roster.

 

It was time to reset and firing Chan was 100% the right call

 

 

OK.  I think they needed to make a switch at defensive coordinator, but not head coach.  I don't mind people disagreeing at all though.

[djp14150]

14 hours ago, billspro said:

He definitely made some untalented Bills offences look decent. 

 

 

At the same time he ***** up the D by nepoyism by hiting his 3-4 d buddy ***** up a great 4-3. They had the 2009 defrbse with the 10-12 offenses bills make playoffs.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

4 hours ago, Binghamton Beast said:

 

Yeah, that was hard to watch.

 

If good guys made great head coaches he and Dick Jauron would be in Canton.

 

...regardless, his only shot is that Chinese CANTONese province....this guy was the face of Mortuary Science curriculum.....his pressers made wakes look like Mardi Gras............

[Fr. Jerk]

I remember Chan's second season started out great. 

 

Went into KC and laid a major beatdown on the Chiefs.

 

Won a shootout at home against the Raiders.

 

Finally ended the losing streak against NE after being down 21-0.

 

Then the rest of the season happened. 

 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...pretty sure it was "The Chin" who recommended "The Chan".......sad to see the way that scumbag HC Haley's Comet trashed Gailey in KC.....

[vincec]

I liked his personality and he was a very good OC but the defense totally tanked when he was HC and him not giving a rats a$$ about that side of the ball was a major factor, IMO. He was also oddly committed to Fitz when they should have been looking for a franchise QB.

Edited January 19, 2019 by vincec

[LSHMEAB]

22 minutes ago, The Jerk said:

I remember Chan's second season started out great. 

 

Went into KC and laid a major beatdown on the Chiefs.

 

Won a shootout at home against the Raiders.

 

Finally ended the losing streak against NE after being down 21-0.

 

Then the rest of the season happened. 

 

Awesome game. David Nelson seemed to fire up the team. Got a break when FredEx didn't get the TD because I know damn well what would have happened if we gave the ball back to Brady.

[Big Turk]

15 hours ago, Green Lightning said:

I always liked Chan as an OC.  He got a lot out of what he had.

I did as well...would have liked to see how he did with actual weapons here...

 

Chan was highly regarded by Cowher as well saying how he was able to use what was available any given week even when a lot of pieces were missing.

[Fr. Jerk]

1 minute ago, LSHMEAB said:

Awesome game. David Nelson seemed to fire up the team. Got a break when FredEx didn't get the TD because I know damn well what would have happened if we gave the ball back to Brady.

 

I remember Belichick trying to argue with the refs that it was a TD. 

[BillsFan130]

15 hours ago, Marv's Neighbor said:

I don't miss his too frequent wildcat calls.

Or his overuse of screens/WR screens.

 

He mastered the screen but he called them way to frequently

Edited January 19, 2019 by BillsFan130

[LSHMEAB]

Just now, The Jerk said:

 

I remember Belichick trying to argue with the refs that it was a TD. 

Sure did. It was all downhill from there, but a fleeting moment of joy during this horribly futile era of Bills football.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, BillsVet said:

 

I tend to believe Nix and Gailey thought they could win with Fitz after 2010...,

 

 

I tend to believe Beane and McDermott thought they could win with Peterman after training camp 2018.  

 

Amazing how that thought popped into my head just as I read BillsVet’s posting.  ?

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

50 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

I did as well...would have liked to see how he did with actual weapons here...

 

Chan was highly regarded by Cowher as well saying how he was able to use what was available any given week even when a lot of pieces were missing.

 

 

god call..."The Chin" advocated "The Chan......made poor choices for DC's though IMO...

[BillyWhiteShows]

1 hour ago, TigerJ said:

OK.  I think they needed to make a switch at defensive coordinator, but not head coach.  I don't mind people disagreeing at all though.

 

How many chances are you going to give Chan to pick a defensive coordinator when you are winning 6 games a year?  He already fired one and replaced him with Wannstedt.

2 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

Dave Wannestadt was Gailey's undoing in Buffalo. I wonder what those teams would have been like with Jim Schwartz. Wanny was the worst defensive coordinator I've ever seen and that's saying something. Defense would never make adjustments, never blitz, rarely even played nickel. Just the worst.

 

That’s not necessarily true.  Chan had three years in Buffalo and Wannstedt was only his defensive coordinator during his last season. I can agree with - he didn’t come through. 

 

He decided to retain George Edwards after one terrible season and that was his undoing.

[LSHMEAB]

3 minutes ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

 

How many chances are you going to give Chan to pick a defensive coordinator when you are winning 6 games a year?  He already fired one and replaced him with Wannstedt.

 

That’s not necessarily true.  Chan had three years in Buffalo and Wannstedt was only his defensive coordinator during his last season. I can agree with - he didn’t come through. 

 

He decided to retain George Edwards after one terrible season and that was his undoing.

I mean that's kind of my point. Wanny was pretty much his last shot to pick a DC and he failed miserably. Had he been able to find a legit DC, things could have gone differently in year 3. Water under the gate, but I have a lot of respect for Gailey. He deserved to be fired, but he's a class act all the way.

[BillyWhiteShows]

2 hours ago, RobbRiddicksTDLeap said:

 

He never had a defense. He had a GM and FO that was atrocious at evaluating talent. 

 

He was ahead of his time in terms of scheme and vision for the game. He had ZERO talent on his roster. 

 

I loved Gailey. His “you dog one of us, you dog us all” comment was on point. I would have loved to see what he could have done with Manuel. If only they would have given him a chance. 

 

Chan also has no idea how to find someone to run the defense well.  He hired 2 defensive coordinators who were dreadful.  

 

In terms of talent, I would disagree there.  The Bills had brought in Mario Williams, they had Kyle Williams, Marcel and many of the same players who helped make the Bills defense better in 2013 and 2014.

 

Chan would have gotten nothing out of EJ, considering he was not a very good QB.

1 minute ago, LSHMEAB said:

I mean that's kind of my point. Wanny was pretty much his last shot to pick a DC and he failed miserably. Had he been able to find a legit DC, things could have gone differently in year 3. Water under the gate, but I have a lot of respect for Gailey. He deserved to be fired, but he's a class act all the way.

 

Yeah a very good guy and I really felt bad for him when he was fired.

[BillsVet]

55 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

I tend to believe Beane and McDermott thought they could win with Peterman after training camp 2018.  

 

Amazing how that thought popped into my head just as I read BillsVet’s posting.  ?

 

Except, McBeane had another option in 2018 with Allen.  Chan and Buddy did not acquire anyone other than what they inherited in 2010-11.  That is, unless you count Tyler Thigpen.  

 

 

[The Frankish Reich]

14 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

 

Yup, a brilliant OC.

 

Undermined as an HC by a flawed personnel acquisition staff. And probably a bad DC as well.

 

 

 

OP, thanks for posting, it was a good article. Amazing to think their two top QBs were Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard ... and then both got injured and they had to go even further down the depth chart ... and did pretty well on offense. I mean, after the top two were out and they put in Thigpen and the new offense they went from 257 YPG to 340. That's insane. In those days making that leap was going from 31st in the league to 16th ... by installing a new offense mid-year with Thigpen as your QB.

 

And now we see how very influential all that stuff has become.

 

Again, thanks, OP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, look at the stats. It worked very well. Most of his carries were direct snaps and he averaged 4.4 and 8.3 YPC in his two years here. Not a lot of carries. I think one of the main reasons they ran him was to give defenses yet more to prepare for, to make the Bills harder and much more time-consuming to game-plan for.

 

Hey, thanks for looking that up. So I guess we could say Brad Smith was infrequently used, but reasonably effective when he was. I stand corrected.

18 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

Except, McBeane had another option in 2018 with Allen.  Chan and Buddy did not acquire anyone other than what they inherited in 2010-11.  That is, unless you count Tyler Thigpen.  

 

 

Curious that Chan didn't get a chance to develop an offense around a running QB here, especially given that that's what he did (out of an emergency) with Thigpen in KC. They did give him a chubby and rusty Vince Young, but I guess that's not what he had in mind. There were guys out there to build a more college concept offense around, but maybe that short stretch of FitzMagic ruined all that?  I'd love to be able to turn back the clock and see what Chan could've done with a different type of QB.

[The Jokeman]

18 hours ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Nice article in The Ringer about Chan's Chiefs, c. 2008:  https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/1/18/18188064/kansas-city-chiefs-10-year-challenge-afc-championship

 

Chan's offense(s) just plain worked, at least better than most of the alternatives. I think I was the only person clamoring for him to start Tyler Thigpen with the Bills in 2011-12. I remember Chan stuck him in for one play in a game situation that mattered: he rolled right in some kind of option and completed a short pass. Hey, back then that was enough to inspire faith in me.  

 

Chan on how he came to use college tactics in an NFL offense back in 2008:

 

“We lost our two QBs,” Chiefs third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen remembers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey telling the team in a meeting. “Tyler is our guy, and moving forward, hey, we’re going to try to build an offense that’s best for him.”  The 6-foot-3 Thigpen played quarterback in a wing-T offense in high school and in a spread offense at Coastal Carolina. The Chiefs signed him in 2007 from the Vikings, who were attempting to put him on their practice squad. With Thigpen as the starter, the Chiefs’ offense was in shotgun almost all of the time. It switched to wristband play-calling so it could run more plays from no-huddle, and Thigpen ran read-option-type plays, utilizing running backs Jamaal Charles and Larry Johnson while he ran out of the shotgun or pistol formation. The receivers, including Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe, would spread the field to offer a passing threat. These wrinkles are routine in modern NFL playbooks, but they were not in 2008. And the Chiefs players had to answer a lot of questions about them.

“The most frustrating part was the questions from the media. They’d say, ‘You can’t run shotgun all the time’ and ‘You can’t run the spread,’” said Thigpen. “I knew eventually the game would evolve to that.”

 

 

He did good in Buffalo considering Fitz and Stevie were 7th Round picks and Freddie Jackson was undrafted.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, The Jerk said:

I remember Chan's second season started out great. 

 

Went into KC and laid a major beatdown on the Chiefs.

 

Won a shootout at home against the Raiders.

 

Finally ended the losing streak against NE after being down 21-0.

 

Then the rest of the season happened. 

 

I was at KC and in Buffalo for both games. KC is a great away game to visit.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, BillsVet said:

 

Except, McBeane had another option in 2018 with Allen.  Chan and Buddy did not acquire anyone other than what they inherited in 2010-11.  That is, unless you count Tyler Thigpen.  

 

 

Agreed, although I think the hope of the FO and coaching staff was Allen would see little to no action, and spend the year learning...not pulling the Bills’ bacon out of the fire.

[Boca BIlls]

CHan was just good enough to be average.