Leslie Frazier "taking a year off from coaching" per Bills PR

[JackKemp]

Holcomb is the next DC. That is why he was hired. 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

My guess is they promote LB coach Bobby Babich as DC, there have been rumors he'll be up for DC positions that I read.

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, Billl said:

Defense made them go three and out their first two possessions?

 

Yea. Leslie has also committed all Josh's turnovers. And he blew Scott Norwood's kick off target. 

[Billl]

2 minutes ago, Chaos said:

The Bills went three and out their first two possessions.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBillsGospel said:

My guess is they promote LB coach Bobby Babich as DC, there have been rumors he'll be up for DC positions that I read.

Joe B claims the team absolutely loves him.

[RG Murdock]

This is easy. Frazier just didn't want to quit as it's never a good look unless your just retiring.. But he didn't want to continue with the Bills. (Maybe he's tired of being trashed for having a top 5 defense for the last 5 years). He'll have ZERO trouble latching on as a DC when he returns in 2024. For the Bills, it's also easy. Al Holcomb will just be elevated to DC. Maybe McD will take over D-play calling for a while? I also believe this move confirms that Edwards and Poyer will not be returning. Bottom line is Frazier likely saw a Bills defensive regression coming this year, and he wanted to step out while his D was #2 overall. Smart move. Frazier gets the last laugh.     

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 hour ago, harmonkillebrew said:

What quality DC is going to accept a job for one year??  This is an odd move. If they're serious that he'll be back in 2024 then they'll probably just look to fill his shoes from within.  This is so weird its almost dysfunctional. 

Almost all would, if they are any good they will either stay here or get another gig.  I seriously doubt Frazier comes back.

[Billz4ever]

12 minutes ago, Billl said:

The Bills lose to the Bengals 27-10 and everyone walks away talking about the defensive failings. Football fans are funny.

Cincy scored TDs on their first two drives and made it look too easy. 14-0 hole right off the bat.  That set the tone for the entire game.

 

They let their foot off the gas in the second half.  They could've put up 40 if they had to. The Bills couldn't stop the run or the pass.

Edited February 28, 2023 by Billz4ever

[Simon Says]

1 hour ago, 947 said:

So who do we bring in for DC?

 

I'm guessing Frazier doesn't actually come back after a year of living the retirement life.

Bills recently hired Al Holcomb, Wilks asst. In Carolina. Could he is promoted 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Billz4ever said:

Cincy scored TDs on their first two drives and made it look too easy. 14-0 hole right off the bat.  That set the tone for the entire game.

 

They let their foot off the gas in the second half.  They could've easily put up 40 if they had to.

 

But everyone saying we need to focus on building the Offense this offseason cites the fact that its a scoring league, and it isnt as much about stopping Offenses and keeping up with the scoring. Which we didnt do. And that is why we need to dedicate draft picks and FAs to the O side. Or no?

[SWATeam]

Just now, Billz4ever said:

Cincy scored TDs on their first two drives and made it look too easy. 14-0 hole right off the bat.  That set the tone for the entire game.

 

They let their foot off the gas in the second half.  They could've easily put up 40 if they had to.

No.  We had a chance to double dip and actually lead coming out of the half.

 

o repeatedly failed scoring 10 points.

[Fleezoid]

 

[GerstAusGosheim]

Here's the headline the Bills and NFL didn't want to publish...

 

Bills fire black DC with consistently top 5 defense after 14-3 season - while running HC's defensive scheme.

[BeastMode54]

Just now, GerstAusGosheim said:

Here's the headline the Bills and NFL didn't want to publish...

 

Bills fire black DC with consistently top 5 defense after 14-3 season - while running HC's defensive scheme.

Stop with the bull####

[dancing_joker]

Will the tbd server be able to handle the volume if Frazier actually returns in 2024? Someone might want to run a stress test on it…

[nosejob]

12 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

I hated the Bengals game.  I thought we were in trouble when I saw the inactives and Benford on the list.  Not enough corners dressed and headed for too much zone.   First play Burrow looked at Edmunds (over Chase, I believe) and threw right at him.   Easy pitch and catch, just like the rest of the day.  

That game was an absolute embarrassment to me as a FAN. Conditions and footing being sloppy, what better time to get your hands on the WRs at the line and knock off the timing. Elam and Tre CAN play press. They did it well against the Fins when they called it. That Cincy game looked like it was rigged....not saying it was, just looked scripted.

[Billz4ever]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

But everyone saying we need to focus on building the Offense this offseason cites the fact that its a scoring league, and it isnt as much about stopping Offenses and keeping up with the scoring. Which we didnt do. And that is why we need to dedicate draft picks and FAs to the O side. Or no?

 

Do you expect your defense to allow the other team to score on every possession?  The Bills couldn't stop them at all.  They were toying with us in the second half.

 

Getting literally blown off the ball with backup lineman.

 

There's a huge difference between slowing a team down and just getting run over like the Bills did.

[GaryPinC]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea. Leslie has also committed all Josh's turnovers. And he blew Scott Norwood's kick off target. 

Funny you mention Norwood's kick.  I lived through those four superbowl appearances and IMO if Levy would have had the cajones to fire DC Walt Corey, history may have been different.  Certainly after the Washington drubbing in XXVI, but he chose to take the low hanging Dickerson fruit and be satisfied.

 

We need change to get us to the next level.  Hopefully it's the right one.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Billz4ever said:

 

Do you expect your defense to allow the other team to score on every possession?  The Bills couldn't stop them at all.  They were toying with us in the second half.

 

Getting literally blown off the ball with backup lineman.

 

There's a huge difference between slowing a team down and just getting run over like the Bills did.

 

Both sides of the ball failed hard that game. I'd say the Offense failed harder. That's all.

[MrEpsYtown]

Butler is already the defensive pass game coordinator. They probably make Babich or Holcomb defensive run game coordinator and McDeromott calls the plays. 
 

I don’t love the head coach calling plays because it distracts from the in game decision making, which he is already pretty bad at. But I think this is desperation mode a bit. If McDermott himself can’t do a better job getting the defense going, he really doesn’t deserve the job. 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, MrEpsYtown said:

Butler is already the defensive pass game coordinator. They probably make Babich or Holcomb defensive run game coordinator and McDeromott calls the plays. 
 

I don’t love the head coach calling plays because it distracts from the in game decision making, which he is already pretty bad at. But I think this is desperation mode a bit. If McDermott himself can’t do a better job getting the defense going, he really doesn’t deserve the job. 

 

I'd be SHOCKED if McD took over play calling. I dont think that is the type of HC he is trying to be here. He wants to be more of the Team CEO who can step in when/where needed, but allows his direct reports to handle the bulk of it.

[Billl]

Just now, Billz4ever said:

Cincy scored TDs on their first two drives and made it look too easy. 14-0 hole right off the bat.  That set the tone for the entire game.

 

They let their foot off the gas in the second half.  They could've easily put up 40 if they had to.

The Eagles scored a TD to open the Superbowl.  Didn't stop the Chiefs from answering right back.

 

Three teams gave up more than 27 points in the playoffs and won.  No winning team scored fewer than 19.

 

Here's every Bills possession in the divisional round:

Punt (3 and out)

Punt (3 and out)

TD

Punt

FG

Punt (3 and out)

Turnover on downs

Interception

 

The defensive showing wasn't great, but it's about what you'd expect to give up against the Bengals.  Teams scored 27+ points 13 times in the playoffs.  Only one scored fewer than 10.

[DieHardBillsFan]

Wait, so now we might blitz and we wont still have Edmunds... Wasted talent. But we might have 3 LBs on run plays!

[Augie]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

13-3

 

Did anyone read the article and peak at the results over his time with the Bills. He wasn’t “just 13 seconds”. 

[billsbackto81]

He's Buffalo's version of Eric Bienemey. Everybody talks highly about how they're the next hot commodity as a future HC but when the openings surface all you hear are crickets. 

Health wise I hope he's ok but I'm glad he's gone. His in game adjustments and playcalling has been God awful. His bend not break approach just doesn't work in the postseason.

[Billz4ever]

3 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

No.  We had a chance to double dip and actually lead coming out of the half.

 

o repeatedly failed scoring 10 points.

The Bills were playing against backups at 3 out of 5 spots on the O-line.  Cincy clearly took their foot off the gas and just pounded the rock, which the Bills couldn't stop either. They could've easily hung 40 if they needed to.

 

And it's no secret out O-line sucks, so was it really a big surprise our offense didn't do anything? Doesn't change the fact our defense couldn't stop anything.

[BillsFan4]

1 hour ago, dancing_joker said:

About Bieniemy or Frazier? I guess I’ll go both. Reid stood in front of all the owners at a meeting asking why hasn’t he been given a shot at being a head coach. And made it known that Bieniemy wasn’t retained in the hopes that he could spread his wings to one day become one. 
 

Now you have Frazier…who decides he’s going to “take a year off” and return in 2024. The bills have already hired other coaches to fulfill his duties. Is the plan for the bills to just “get by” while Frazier is out doing whatever? Sounds like a real Super Bowl contending team. If health issues caused him to step aside, that’s a serious gaffe by the bills pr team. But hey they thought Matt Azaria’s problems were okay before that leaked too. Think about the memo that Kim Pegula wrote a couple years ago about needing to maintain their “lifestyle” and fired a bunch of people…why do I need to pay Leslie Frazier a million plus dollars if I already have people in place that are capable? The whole thing is a joke.

Reid respected Bieniemy so much that he kept giving him 1 year contracts and trying to push him out the door. Actions speak louder than words. And there were numerous reports and speculation about arguments/falling out’s with Reid/Bieniemy/the offense before he got those two 1yr contract in a row.

 

 

I don’t think the plan is to “just get by” until Frazier comes back. His leaving doesn’t seem to be health related either. I don’t think we will see Frazier back as DC of Buffalo. I think this was him being fired. My guess is he was probably looking for another DC role behind the scenes and didn’t find one.

 

You asked in another post if this is what a team trying to win a super bowl would do and my answer would be “yes”. It seems they finally see the defensive failures in the playoffs as something that needs to be fixed.

 

Andy Reid moved on from his long time DC Bob Sutton (his DC for 6 years) in 2018 because he realized the defense was a limiting factor in the playoffs. It worked out pretty well for them.

 

I think most of us felt Frazier was hurting the bills in the playoffs.

[nucci]

[Billz4ever]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Both sides of the ball failed hard that game. I'd say the Offense failed harder. That's all.

The offense failed harder when Cincy could've easily hung 40 on us?

 

In what aspect do you consider the defense played anything close to acceptable? They couldn't stop the run or the pass.

 

The mindset that the offense failed harder when the defense couldn't stop anything against a majority backup O-line is an odd take.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, nucci said:

 

 

Sure thing, Brandon

[Brand J]

After listening to Beane’s presser, I think you all can put to rest the health speculations. It was clear to me this decision was made in the best interest of the Bills - even though they’re painting it as “Frazier wants time off.” The team wants to go in a different direction and Beane didn’t rule out McD calling the plays; which is exactly what I said should happen before all this went down. 

[thenorthremembers]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

People thinking the next DC will be able to stop the Chiefs are in for a rude awakening.

The only way to stop a great offense is with a better offense.  

[Freddie's Dead]

 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

2 hours ago, Roundybout said:

Per Bills PR. 

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-announce-leslie-frazier-is-taking-a-year-off-and-other-coaching-changes

See ya later Leslie. 

 

Bye. 

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, nucci said:

 

Good. Because finding an upgrade is going to be really hard. We have just lost one of the top 10 or so defensive coordinators in football. 

[RyanC883]

6 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Butler is already the defensive pass game coordinator. They probably make Babich or Holcomb defensive run game coordinator and McDeromott calls the plays. 

I don’t love the head coach calling plays because it distracts from the in game decision making, which he is already pretty bad at. But I think this is desperation mode a bit. If McDermott himself can’t do a better job getting the defense going, he really doesn’t deserve the job. 

 

I agree with that last paragraph up to a point.  McD is the Head Coach.  Let's treat him as that.  Put a real DC in place (I think Holcomb called plays in the past?), and let's see if that makes him a better HC who has to run the offense and defense.  If he can't, then it's time to look elsewhere.  Coordinator and HC are vastly different roles, as you point out.  

[dave mcbride]

4 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

He's Buffalo's version of Eric Bienemey. Everybody talks highly about how they're the next hot commodity as a future HC but when the openings surface all you hear are crickets. 

Health wise I hope he's ok but I'm glad he's gone. His in game adjustments and playcalling has been God awful. His bend not break approach just doesn't work in the postseason.

Huh? Frazier already was a head coach for multiple years and made the playoffs one year with Christian Ponder at QB.

[thenorthremembers]

23 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

The defense has been great in the regular season… and been very bad(at times historically bad) in the post season under Leslie. No ill will. But I’m glad he’s not going to be back. The goal is the SB. Unacceptable playoff performances considering the massive investment on that side of the ball.

The reason its been worse in the playoffs is because they are playing the best of the best offenses, and in this day and age of football a good defense is not going to stop a good offense.   The Bills need to work on making their offense better than the Chiefs, not trying to stop them with defense.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, JayBaller10 said:

After listening to Beane’s presser, I think you all can put to rest the health speculations. It was clear to me this decision was made in the best interest of the Bills - even though they’re painting it as “Frazier wants time off.” The team wants to go in a different direction and Beane didn’t rule out McD calling the plays; which is exactly what I said should happen before all this went down. 

 

I mean he literally said Frazier would be the DC in 2023 if he wanted to be. I suspect Leslie is as hurt by what happened in the playoffs as anybody. 

[Billz4ever]

9 minutes ago, Billl said:

The Eagles scored a TD to open the Superbowl.  Didn't stop the Chiefs from answering right back.

 

Three teams gave up more than 27 points in the playoffs and won.  No winning team scored fewer than 19.

 

Here's every Bills possession in the divisional round:

Punt (3 and out)

Punt (3 and out)

TD

Punt

FG

Punt (3 and out)

Turnover on downs

Interception

 

The defensive showing wasn't great, but it's about what you'd expect to give up against the Bengals.  Teams scored 27+ points 13 times in the playoffs.  Only one scored fewer than 10.

 

What does Eagles vs Chiefs have to do with how bad our D got blown off the ball vs Cincy?

 

But since you brought it up, the Chiefs had 14 points in the first half and only 7 of which were by the offense.

 

Cincy was up 14-0 after their first 2 possessions against us and that set the tone for the game.  Bills players are on record saying that Cincy going up 14-0 and making it look easy in the process took the wind out of their sails.

 

Cincy could've scored 40 that game without breaking a sweat.  They clearly let their foot off the gas.

Edited February 28, 2023 by Billz4ever