Two Bills Drive

‘Like the controversial show on MTV, Jackass, it was almost (but not quite) amusing when it first happened. Running a parallel of the Presidential election, major sporting news sources stated that there was an equally important campaign going on in Buffalo Rob Johnson or Doug Flutie?’

‘Fred Graves, who has coached Utah wide receivers for 19 seasons, is the leading candidate to become receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills, a hiring that could become official today.’

‘Graves, 50, has 26 years experience at the college level, including the last 19 at Utah. Since 1998 he has been assistant head coach in charge of receivers for Utah. He also coached running backs and served as offensive coordinator.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with Fred Graves as receivers coach. Graves, 50, comes to the Bills with 26 years of coaching experience at the college level, including the last 19 seasons at Utah. Since 1998 he held the title of assistant head coach/receivers.’

After saying at his Buffalo introduction. that he would be accessible to all the media, Bills’ head coach, Gregg Williams went live on the air with Bauerele and the Bulldog on WGR-55 this morning.

Coach Williams’s first comments were regarding the issue paramount in most Bills’ fans minds – who’s the QB? He said no decision has been made yet and a process on continual evaluation is ongoing but there will be a decision by March 1st. He said all the parties would meet in Buffalo and “I want men to be treated like men and I want people to talk face to face. The Bills would be “starting off fair (with all parties) understanding what we had to do and why we’re doing it. I think that’s important to start that way right off the bat.”

On his selection of OC, Mike Sheppard, Williams praised his background education and his “organized approach – an attacking approach” that he learned from the likes of Ted Marchibroda, Kevin Gilbride and Mike Holmgren.

His view of the West Coast offense?

“It’s based on short, quick rhythm passing with the set-up of the QB and various concepts of stretching the field sideways and horizontally with seam and vertical stretches down the field. But the thing (offense) is based on having the QB get rid of the ball quickly.”

The passing game sets up the power running game and leads to further and opportunities. Coach Williams emphasized the style that Jeff Garcia brings to the West Coast offense where, “Jeff G. and his elusiveness run, create things out of a bad situation with his legs. It’s an offense that’s easily adaptable to each QB who has a chance to run it.”

Williams’ ideal quarterback? A player with the physical ability including the parts of feet, arm, hands and brain and the ability to improvise. The ideal QB also has his teammates’ confidence. Gregg stated that both current candidates have these intangibles.

Coach Williams wants his coaching staff assembled and in place by Sunday when they will all gather in Buffalo. He said there may be still be a vacancy but didn’t elaborate which one. There have been discussions with Joe Ferguson and Mike Sheppard will continue talking with Joe. Williams emphasized that all the coaches will be on the same page and that the players will be getting the same message from everyone.

‘Two Titan fans informed our message board readers about an excellent interview Williams had on a Nashville station yesterday. It starts around 20 minutes into the archive and lasts over 1/2 hr. It’s a must listen. (Feb. 7th date)’

‘The Bills need to be under the NFL’s estimated salary-cap figure of $67.4 million by March 2. They are about $13 million over. Washington has the Bills’ third-highest 2001 cap figure ($7.66 million) behind quarterbacks Rob Johnson ($8.29 million) and Doug Flutie ($7.75 million).’

‘It is really sounding like Buffalo south when you hear talk of the Redskins. The coach is a former Bill. the Bills best defensive player is a Skin now, and they want more. Flutie or Johnson, they’ll maybe take either.’

"He has been recognized nationally as one of the top defensive coordinators at the Division I level at multiple programs," Williams said…"He has a great overall teaching background in every defensive position on the staff."’

‘New Bills coach Gregg Williams said Friday he wanted to move quickly to fill his coaching staff. He wasn’t kidding.’

‘Because he was a player, he gained immediate respect from his troops at Tennessee. "Jerry’s a guy that’s been there and done that — he’s been the best at his position and when you have a guy like that speaking you can’t do nothing but listen," Titans safety Blaine Bishop said.’

Donahoe said one problem last year was that the offensive line wasn’t very good."Flutie was experienced enough to handle that and Rob was not," he said. "Rob can get better. Can we improve the pass protection? Those are questions the coach has to look into. He also has to look into how long Doug can play. He’s 39 (in October) and they say he has a 28-year-old-body, but (he can’t play forever)."…."We have to get better in the offensive line, but we have good, young skill people and some very good young players on defense," he said. "I like the talent and some of the youth we have here."

‘The Buffalo Bills plucked two more coaches from the staff of the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, naming Jerry Gray defensive coordinator and Ronnie Vinklarek offensive line coach.’

‘Buffalo also hired Ronnie Vinklarek from the Titans as the offensive line coach, Danny Smith as special teams coach and Miles Aldridge as linebackers coach.’

As hinted by Shout! earlier, the Bills have hired Miles Aldridge as linebackers coach. ‘Aldridge spent the last two seasons at Middle Tennessee State as defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he served stints as defensive coordinator at Southwestern Louisiana (1998), Arkansas (1996-97), Clemson (1994-96) and South Carolina (1991-93).’

The Bills also hired Danny Smith as special teams coach. ‘Smith had been the tight ends coach of the Detroit Lions for the past two seasons. Before that he was an assistant on Ray Rhodes’ staff with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-98, overseeing special teams and defensive backs for two seasons each.’