For all you McDermott haters, who would you want? (Now a poll)

[Andrew Son]

4 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

As OC? Sure, he could be dynamic with Josh. I don’t like him as HC but think he’d get a lot out of this offense despite his inability as a leader. He doesn’t need to be a leader here though. Josh does that. 
 

 

I hear people say that with the Shanahan tree guys all the time, I don't see it.  Those offenses are based on the QB being a point guard distributor and making quick decisions within structure.  I don't see that as a great fit for Josh.

[HappyDays]

5 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I want no part of retreads. I don’t care what they accomplished. He’s been a disaster. Just keep McDermott if your plan is BB, Gruden, Tomlin, Harbaugh, McCarthy, etc… If you move on, you move on to what’s next not what was 15 years ago. That’s like hiring Marv as the GM. 

 

My concern with hiring a new to the job head coach is he has to learn on the fly all of the game management details that a lot of new head coaches fumble. So I would actually prefer a retread since the clock is ticking on Allen's career.

 

If you want the new coach Klint Kubiak is my choice. Look at what he did with the Saints offense in that brief time before Carr suffered a career ending injury. Or what he's doing with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks this year. That's a rising star that could maybe be our Sean McVay. I'd accept early game management issues if the end result is an offense that can steamroll opponents, and you know he would steer the organization towards investing around Allen.

[GerstAusGosheim]

On 10/7/2025 at 11:29 AM, The Frankish Reich said:

Leslie Frazier's defense is looking pretty good right about now.

 

Had Sean fired his rookie OC who only put up 10 points against the Bengals in the playoffs, instead of pushing out his #1-ranked DC (whose side was rocked after Hamlin incident and was starting multiple backups), the last couple seasons might have ended very differently.

[HappyDays]

30 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

I hear people say that with the Shanahan tree guys all the time, I don't see it.  Those offenses are based on the QB being a point guard distributor and making quick decisions within structure.  I don't see that as a great fit for Josh.

 

I mean that's basically what Brady's offense asks him to do. They've tried to turn Allen into a game manager. Why couldn't he do that with a Shanahan disciple? The only difference is the reads would be more open more frequently because the play design would be better.

[Kirby Jackson]

57 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

I hear people say that with the Shanahan tree guys all the time, I don't see it.  Those offenses are based on the QB being a point guard distributor and making quick decisions within structure.  I don't see that as a great fit for Josh.

Fair. I feel like his motions and things that he did early in Miami would play well here. Think about that TD to Samuel the other day. That was a brilliant call. That was a TD before the ball was snapped. That kind of creativity we used to see from McDaniel.
 

I like Stefanski the most as OC candidate if he does not land a HC job. I’m assuming Brady is a HC in 2026 somewhere.

35 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

My concern with hiring a new to the job head coach is he has to learn on the fly all of the game management details that a lot of new head coaches fumble. So I would actually prefer a retread since the clock is ticking on Allen's career.

 

If you want the new coach Klint Kubiak is my choice. Look at what he did with the Saints offense in that brief time before Carr suffered a career ending injury. Or what he's doing with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks this year. That's a rising star that could maybe be our Sean McVay. I'd accept early game management issues if the end result is an offense that can steamroll opponents, and you know he would steer the organization towards investing around Allen.

Also fair. I guess I’m not that concerned with a couple of game management issues. We still aren’t good with the clock and are worst in the league on challenges. I just want that ultra aggressive approach. Kubiak is definitely interesting.

Edited 3 hours ago by Kirby Jackson

[starrymessenger]

I think it’s hard to complain about the Bills O given its productivity even if many of us feel that the “everybody eats” approach is perhaps not optimal in making the best use of the superstar QB. On the other hand there is nothing necessarily wrong with this approach philosophically assuming of course that you have the players buy in and execute. Just look at the Blue Jays who, playing little ball, just disposed of the Yankees. They’ve got only one superstar on that team. The Bills actually have two. 

Im not necessarily down on McD’s defensive philosophy either. It makes a lot of sense IMO, assuming again you have the players to execute it properly. It can, and has worked extremely well in the past notably in Carolina. But of course in Carolina he had a strong pass rush from his four down linemen. And while Milano when healthy has been great, and is absolutely, like Bernard, a McD LB prototype, I dont think our linebackers compare very well either with  HOFer LK, a young Shaq Thompson and Thomas Davis. 

My main criticisms of Sean have more to do with his in-game management, some of which has been downright unaccountable. . Not making excuses but lots of HCs get called out for it. Reid did in Philly.

IMO McD is a good coach with a good understanding of what can work but If he doesnt lead us to the big show this year I would make the change just because it’s time and hes had his shot.

Edited 3 hours ago by starrymessenger

[GoBills808]

2 hours ago, Andrew Son said:

I hear people say that with the Shanahan tree guys all the time, I don't see it.  Those offenses are based on the QB being a point guard distributor and making quick decisions within structure.  I don't see that as a great fit for Josh.

Don't we think at this point Allen would be able to succeed in pry much any system? He's been successful now thru multiple schemes and coordinators

[BigAl2526]

I am not a McDermott hater, but I responded to the poll anyway.  I answered, "someone not on the list."  I could have answered Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan, but I figured they are not realistic choices.  No way would their current teams ever consider trading them.  I don't think Babich or Brady are ready to make the jump.  I can't bring myself to want Belichick.  He's also got his age against him.  While occasionally a coaching change results in quick success, more frequently it takes some time as coaches often institute scheme and philosophy changes that take a while.  Bill Belichick is one month to the day younger than me.  No thanks.  Jon Gruden is smart and he's brash.  Both are actually good qualities for a head coach, but I think he's also a little erratic, and that's not a great quality for a head coach.  Mike McCarthy is a hard "No!" I think he's too tied to the "good old boy" network..  I don't think he's especially creative and he is a West Coast guy.  I don't think there is a good reason to put Josh Allen through a scheme change.  If the Bills were to make a coaching change in the foreseeable, I think the way to go is to hire a smart, young, successful coordinator rather than recycle somebody form the past.

[Gregg]

10 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

I am not a McDermott hater, but I responded to the poll anyway.  I answered, "someone not on the list."  I could have answered Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan, but I figured they are not realistic choices.  No way would their current teams ever consider trading them.  I don't think Babich or Brady are ready to make the jump.  I can't bring myself to want Belichick.  He's also got his age against him.  While occasionally a coaching change results in quick success, more frequently it takes some time as coaches often institute scheme and philosophy changes that take a while.  Bill Belichick is one month to the day younger than me.  No thanks.  Jon Gruden is smart and he's brash.  Both are actually good qualities for a head coach, but I think he's also a little erratic, and that's not a great quality for a head coach.  Mike McCarthy is a hard "No!" I think he's too tied to the "good old boy" network..  I don't think he's especially creative and he is a West Coast guy.  I don't think there is a good reason to put Josh Allen through a scheme change.  If the Bills were to make a coaching change in the foreseeable, I think the way to go is to hire a smart, young, successful coordinator rather than recycle somebody form the past.

 

I don't think McDermott or Beane are getting fired. Even if the Bills missed the playoffs, I think Terry would give them next year to fix it. They have done a lot of regular season winning over the years so one bad regular season if that happened won't get them fired. If by some chance Terry fired McDermott, then I think the most realistic option would be to promote Brady as HC. This way Allen gets to stay in the same offensive system they have been running which has proven to be effective. Then hire a proven DC like Jim Schwartz or somebody like that. The defense is the real problem and changing up the scheme wouldn't be a bad thing IMHO. But again, I don't see McDermott getting fired anytime soon.

[Orlando Buffalo]

McVay with a good DC would be my only pick over MCD. I don't want Belicheck, Shanahan or Gruden for certain. Truly our defense being subpar is so crazy to me right now with McDs way to the top.

[GoBills808]

2 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

I mean that's basically what Brady's offense asks him to do. They've tried to turn Allen into a game manager. Why couldn't he do that with a Shanahan disciple? The only difference is the reads would be more open more frequently because the play design would be better.

😂😂I guess I'm having a hard time thinking of what Mac Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo can do that Allen can't

[thenorthremembers]

4 hours ago, TheFunPolice said:

People have gotten totally out of whack with expectations for teams and QBs. 

 

Manning "couldn't win the big one" but played in 4 Super Bowls and won 2, going 1-1 with 2 different teams and had a winning record vs Brady in the playoffs. 

 

The expectation has become if your Quarterback is good you should win multiple Super Bowls.   If you have a good quarterback and you dont win a Super Bowl you suck as a head coach.    People on this board would likely tell you Don Shula was a terrible head coach because he never won a championship with Marino.    

 

Sometimes even if you have a great quarterback, even if you're a good head coach, you simply are playing at a time where someone is better.   The Super Bowl is incredibly hard to win.