Some thoughts on Pete Carmichael and how the scheme / System should look.

[eball]

On 4/28/2026 at 9:48 PM, Victory Formation said:

Well it is curious isn't it?? Am I the only one who's asked the question?? Why make a lateral move like that without increased powers/incentives?????

 

Hasn’t he already answered this question? Josh freaking Allen. Also, he wanted to work with Brady again.

 

It’s really not that hard to understand. You get to be in Sean Payton’s shadow and work with Bo Nix, or you get to have a significant role in dialing up plays for Josh Allen.

 

[Victory Formation]

1 hour ago, eball said:

 

Hasn’t he already answered this question? Josh freaking Allen. Also, he wanted to work with Brady again.

 

It’s really not that hard to understand. You get to be in Sean Payton’s shadow and work with Bo Nix, or you get to have a significant role in dialing up plays for Josh Allen.

 

Ok, whatever, you don't have to be so obtuse about it.. It's not like it was a stupid question, r-e-l-a-x..

[hondo in seattle]

On 4/29/2026 at 12:49 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

They are totally different players. I don't think you can just look at the way Drew executed that offense and transplant Josh into it. He was the best anticipatory thrower in the NFL, his precision and timing were the most elite of the elite. 

 

He didn't have nearly the gifts that Josh has in terms of his size, arm strength, playmaking ability, ability to extend plays outside the pocket. There are throws Josh can make on a rope that Drew could never have made and wouldn't even have attempted. 

 

But the way that New Orleans offense was designed was to maximise what Drew did at an elite level. And that is different to what Josh does at an elite level. So they can't just drag and drop all the same concepts. You are going to have to tinker a little.

 

This is a great post.  And I wonder about this. 

 

What I like about Carmichael is that he knows how to scheme wideouts open - something we've struggled with.  But I don't know that he's a good tinkerer.  Payton was the architect of those offenses; Carmichael was just the engineer.  

 

That’s why I’m a little uneasy about just importing “the Saints offense” and assuming you can plug Allen into the Brees role. Carmichael may know Payton’s blueprints cold, but Buffalo is a different place with different personnel and constraints. If Carmichael treats the Bills like New Orleans 2.0 and tries to force Josh into a Drew‑style, hyper‑timed spot‑thrower box, we’re wasting what makes Allen special.

 

If, on the other hand, Carmichael is willing to take the principles he helped build in New Orleans — formation variation, matchup hunting, etc. — and adapt them to Josh’s unique skillset (more verticals, more movement, more freedom), then this can work. 

 

I just don't know if Carmichael is innovative or creative enough to adapt Sean's West Coast-ish offense to Josh's skill set.  And I'm not convinced Brady is either.  

 

 

[Don Otreply]

On 4/28/2026 at 6:37 PM, Steptide said:

Having him makes me alot more comfortable with Brady as hc. With this being Bradys first year, I expect some hiccups, Carmichael can help keep the ship steady

It also shows Brady’s maturity to select him as our OC, it bodes well imo. 

[Buffalo716]

7 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

It also shows Brady’s maturity to select him as our OC, it bodes well imo. 

 

He's probably below Brady and daboll as an offensive coordinator which is why he really never called the plays 

 

He's a respected coach but he's never going to be a coach who's going to be an NFL head coach... 

 

Peyton didn't even want him calling plays... If you're a head coach and you don't trust your coordinator to call plays you don't trust them 

 

He was a coach who was micromanaged ... Just like Reid and bienemy... And it's hurt bienemy career too 

 

Even Brady is calling the plays again... Maybe in a year or so if Brady trusts him you might see him call plays.. maybe 

Edited April 30 by Buffalo716

[Don Otreply]

9 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

He's probably below Brady and daboll as an offensive coordinator which is why he really never called the plays 

 

He's a respected coach but he's never going to be a coach who's going to be an NFL head coach... 

 

Peyton didn't even want him calling plays... If you're a head coach and you don't trust your coordinator to call plays you don't trust them 

 

He was a coach who was micromanaged ... Just like Reid and bienemy... And it's hurt bienemy career too 

 

Even Brady is calling the plays again... Maybe in a year or so if Brady trusts him you might see him call plays.. maybe 

I was thinking more of a steady hand who can be helpful in implementing an offensive game plan, which appears to be his forte, as it were. 

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

I was thinking more of a steady hand who can be helpful in implementing an offensive game plan, which appears to be his forte, as it were. 

 

Absolutely and there's a lot of coaches who fall into that category.. there are plenty of coaches who are really good at creating game plans 

 

But the NFL judges coordinators on their ability to call plays and grow into head coaches

 

 

 

 

[Don Otreply]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

Absolutely and there's a lot of coaches who fall into that category.. there are plenty of coaches who are really good at creating game plans 

 

But the NFL judges coordinators on their ability to call plays and grow into head coaches

 

 

 

 

That is the case, but imo to many role player coaches have been promoted past their capacity into roles they really aren’t suited for, Such as Dabol for instance, as we know there are lots more, happens across many business models, such as great sales people being promoted out of sales into management when that is not where the excel… 

[Buffalo716]

11 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

That is the case, but imo to many role player coaches have been promoted past their capacity into roles they really aren’t suited for, Such as Dabol for instance, as we know there are lots more, happens across many business models, such as great sales people being promoted out of sales into management when that is not where the excel… 

Yes daboll is a hot head and does not have the temperament I want out of an NFL head coach 

 

But he was successful calling plays in college and at the NFL level which is why he got to at least fail as a head coach

 

To me he's what you want in the quarterback coaching role .. he's solid as a coordinator but he's just too much of a hot head that I would want on my staff anyways

Edited May 1 by Buffalo716

[Tanoros]

On 4/28/2026 at 5:34 PM, Victory Formation said:

I have a question for you then... Why do you think Carmichael came here then?? He's been with Coach Payton forever..

One of Carmichaels early pressers he mentions how he took Brady to LSU to help teach some offensive on concepts (I think it was RPO) and that lead to Brady being offered the LSU job, instead of staying with the Saints. Brady has been close with Carmichael since. 
 

Who knows the reason, but both Brady and Carmichael have said Brady will call plays. It sounds like Carmichael is here to support Brady in his first head coaching job. 

[BigAl2526]

I can't see there being a huge change in how the offense operates.  There will subtle changes I'm sure, not just because of Carmichael, but because of the addition of of DJ Moore.  The lights turning on for Keon Coleman would be nice too, and to a lesser extent a contribution from Skyler Bell could affect the offense.  Lastly, there is the unknown effect of Sean McDermott on the offense over the last season.  It's safe to say there was some effect.  We just don't know how much.  

[Buffalo716]

14 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

I can't see there being a huge change in how the offense operates.  There will subtle changes I'm sure, not just because of Carmichael, but because of the addition of of DJ Moore.  The lights turning on for Keon Coleman would be nice too, and to a lesser extent a contribution from Skyler Bell could affect the offense.  Lastly, there is the unknown effect of Sean McDermott on the offense over the last season.  It's safe to say there was some effect.  We just don't know how much.  

Not as much as you would think because if an offensive coordinator was being severely handicapped he wouldn't be getting a head coaching job 

 

There's a reason why nobody hires Eric bienemy as a head coach and he was a successful coordinator under Andy Reid.. it's because everybody knows it was Andy Reid 

 

Sean McDermott if you want to give him one fault.. it's that he trusts all his coordinators to coach.. he let daboll ken Dorsey and Joe Brady run the offense which is why they all got head coaching interviews and two got jobs

 

If Sean McDermott was pulling strings nobody would hire the guy who was handicapped.. they would just hire another coordinator who had more on his plate

 

It certainly was Joe Brady's offense.. even McDermott let his defensive coordinators coach 

 

His biggest mistake you could say would be he gave too much leeway to his coordinators.. especially on defense

 

You don't get a head coaching job by walking in the interviews saying I've been handicapped and it's not really my offense and it's not what I want to do.. they will say thank you have a good day 

 

Fact two of McDermott's offensive coordinators got head coaching jobs is a testament that he allows them to coach and grow and puts them on the fast line to promotion

Edited May 3 by Buffalo716

[SoonerBillsFan]

On 4/30/2026 at 6:26 PM, hondo in seattle said:

 

This is a great post.  And I wonder about this. 

 

What I like about Carmichael is that he knows how to scheme wideouts open - something we've struggled with.  But I don't know that he's a good tinkerer.  Payton was the architect of those offenses; Carmichael was just the engineer.  

 

That’s why I’m a little uneasy about just importing “the Saints offense” and assuming you can plug Allen into the Brees role. Carmichael may know Payton’s blueprints cold, but Buffalo is a different place with different personnel and constraints. If Carmichael treats the Bills like New Orleans 2.0 and tries to force Josh into a Drew‑style, hyper‑timed spot‑thrower box, we’re wasting what makes Allen special.

 

If, on the other hand, Carmichael is willing to take the principles he helped build in New Orleans — formation variation, matchup hunting, etc. — and adapt them to Josh’s unique skillset (more verticals, more movement, more freedom), then this can work. 

 

I just don't know if Carmichael is innovative or creative enough to adapt Sean's West Coast-ish offense to Josh's skill set.  And I'm not convinced Brady is either.  

 

 

Its the other way around.  Just like Elway had to do when Shanahan took over, Josh is going to have to adapt to the system.

 

Denver fans said he couldn't do it, he is a running gun slinger, you need to let John be John etc. The result was less injuries and 2 superbowl wins.

 

Its time in season 9 for Josh to understand he has to make changes. 

Edited May 3 by SoonerBillsFan

[HoofHearted]

16 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

I can't see there being a huge change in how the offense operates.  There will subtle changes I'm sure, not just because of Carmichael, but because of the addition of of DJ Moore.  The lights turning on for Keon Coleman would be nice too, and to a lesser extent a contribution from Skyler Bell could affect the offense.  Lastly, there is the unknown effect of Sean McDermott on the offense over the last season.  It's safe to say there was some effect.  We just don't know how much.  

There won’t be. Carmichael was brought in to handle the day to day. Brady needed someone he could trust to run meetings and do all the clerical stuff so he could be the CEO and oversee the entire operation.

[pennstate10]

On 4/29/2026 at 2:49 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

They are totally different players. I don't think you can just look at the way Drew executed that offense and transplant Josh into it. He was the best anticipatory thrower in the NFL, his precision and timing were the most elite of the elite. 

 

He didn't have nearly the gifts that Josh has in terms of his size, arm strength, playmaking ability, ability to extend plays outside the pocket. There are throws Josh can make on a rope that Drew could never have made and wouldn't even have attempted. 

 

But the way that New Orleans offense was designed was to maximise what Drew did at an elite level. And that is different to what Josh does at an elite level. So they can't just drag and drop all the same concepts. You are going to have to tinker a little.

That first paragraph is spot on. Brees precision and accuracy with a football were uncanny. Years ago, I saw a YouTube video where he was throwing footballs through a swinging tire from 30 yds out. Really impressive. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

2 hours ago, HoofHearted said:

There won’t be. Carmichael was brought in to handle the day to day. Brady needed someone he could trust to run meetings and do all the clerical stuff so he could be the CEO and oversee the entire operation.

Carmichael was brought in to develop the game plans.  

[HoofHearted]

35 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Carmichael was brought in to develop the game plans.  

He’ll be part of it sure - that’s part of the day to day I spoke of. Brady will have final say. It’ll be collaborative though. Brady and Carmichael, along with the rest of the offensive staff, will develop the plan throughout the week and it’ll be Carmichaels job to make sure that plan is effectively executed through practice plans/scripts for the week.

[Richard Noggin]

Important to note that Carmichael and Payton and Brady and Daboll all base their offensive terminology and core concepts in the E-P system. So there isn't some radical learning curve for anyone with a new OC helping out Brady. 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Throwing more to Jimmy is THE way. Easy yards. 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

On 4/29/2026 at 3:02 AM, iccrewman112 said:

haven’t had an RB screen game since early-mid Fred Jackson.

Who should be on the Wall of Fame by now. Better be honored at the new joint.