Why a head coaching change won't fix the Bills

I am implored Brian. But seriously, I am with you on this one. It would be one thing if the personnel decisions that Jauron has made or had his hand in were also terrible as some of his schemes, but that isn’t the case. The team is drafting well, plugging holes via FA, and the stability of the franchise is in place. He knows defense, Bobby April knows Special Teams. But the offense is left out to dry. There is no creativity, no “identity” and our best players Lynch & Evans are not utilized to their full potential.

I know another 7-9 season is not desirable, but who the heck do you think old Ralphy would go get? There is no logical choice and the pipe dreams of Bill Cowher is a 0% chance of happening. If I WERE, to vote for a new head coach it would be Bobby April if he could keep most of the staff in place. But I’m not. 3 years is great to give a coach, but not close to enough time. The roster does not need to be gutted, these players need stability as young players need guidance not a whole new staff of coaches to come in. Jauron, like it or not is here to stay. The roster will continue to get better, now we just need to hope that the OC and QB do as well

There’s actually four games to go in the regular season, Brian.

I’ve seen enough upheaval in the past 9 years, personally. We need SOME continuity as a foundation to build this team into a winner. Jauron isn’t that bad if you look around the league at the other head coaches. Certainly, axing him isn’t going to magically make the Bills a Superbowl contender.

At the same time, it is painfully obvious that upgrades are needed in personnel both on the field and on the sideline. There are some good players on this roster, and others who need to go. Some coaches who need to be both more creative and more cognizent of the need to mesh the players and the schemes to make the best fit. More teamwork and team spirit.

Being a Bills fan is a love-hate relationship. Right now, I hate’em. So much promise down the tubes this season (again). But to trash the whole thing and start from scratch would be just flat out stupid.

Hope springs eternal in April…

I don’t want to change to an experiment and that’s what we’ve done in the past (Williams and Malarkey). The really BIG names aren’t coming here even if Ralph wanted them to. If the Bills could get Schottenheimer or Billick I’d take it.

The thing that concerns me the most is the 2008 draft class does not look good at all. I know that you have to wait for some of these guys, but so far the only thing we know for for sure is that we got a good kickoff returner. The rest of this draft is still a wait and hope situation. I don’t think it’s a lot to ask to get some more immediate contribution. Other teams are certainly getting it and we have in the past as well.

at this point I’m leaning towards getting rid of Jauron. I have seen enough of his game day decision making to know that he would botch something that would cost this team a shot at the playoffs or winning a playoff game. I think some of his decision making has actually cost us at least 1 game this year so the first statement may already be true.

And I have defended him in the past as well. NO, a coaching change right now will not help this team, but I don’t know if DJ is the long term answer. I think I have finally opened my eyes to the fact that this guy is not a winner=therefore not the solution for the Bills. Clearly, his tenure in Chicago speaks for his self. Now his time in Buffalo is further more proving that logic. Teams are indeed a direct reflection of their head coach.

I will not place he entire blame of our mid season skid on DJ’s shoulders, but he and his staff must be held accountable for some of it. But more must be put on the players. DJ and his staff (for the most part) have given the team a game plan that would not lose the game for us (notice I didn’t say win But what kills me is if we can see that alot of the things they continue to do over and over and over is not working, why can’t they?

I am glad I didn’t see the game yesterday. I was too busy getting soaked watching another underachieving team (Redskins). It was upsetting looking at the scoreboard an seeing the Bills losing to San Fran. And then I had to (once again) defend my team to a bunch of ‘Skins fans. It didn’t help I was decked out in Bills gear.

But the season is not over. The Jets and the pats both lost AFC teams, and things could still work out in our favor (ha).

Look, anything less than playoffs, and this season will be a disappointment. No moral victories here folks….

can anyone in attendance comment on Tim Russert’s ceremony prior to the game? I thought we might get a little help from him and the man upstairs yesterday but obviously not! God this city is cursed

We need something .. We invested some much into our offensive line , have a great running back , chad pennington jr at QB . Lee Evans is a beast . Defense all we need is an end who was injured . Look how things are working out in Miami and ATL . We do need major improvement somewhere , if not head coach then where .? Kicker is not why .we should be getting into the end zone AHHHHHHHHHH how did this season end like this ?

there, I said it.

I understand the whole continuity issue and how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but at some point shouldn’t the root of the problems be examined? How can those problems not be derived from Jauron? He picked this staff. He has led the roster turnover. He has been a part of the ridiculous contracts for mediocre players. He has been outcoached routinely. He has not had his players prepared to play must-win games, let alone with them. He has been the on-field decision maker. He is the one that needs to be held accountable for a third straight 7-9 season, more than likely. We started 5-1 and are looking at finishing with a losing record. This is the leader of that, and needs to be held accountable.

Sure, maybe keeping the head guy in place and replacing the supporting parts could work, but maybe a change at the top is what is needed most. Unfortunately, with the owner we have, we’re already behind the 8ball. I just haven’t seen anything out of Jauron that inspires confidence. The players play soft, lack intensity, show no urgency and sure look to be whipped at the point of contact way too often. I don’t really see what makes Jauron such a great candidate to continue leading this team when everything he has done has been so questionable and hasn’t worked???

He’s a good guy, but not a good head coach. He’s not even an average head coach. He’s one of the worst in the league, and may even be one of the worst all time based on number of games coached. If that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what to tell you.

I know you hate the Miami and Atlanta examples, but why not? Maybe what this team needs is a change in philosophy and attitude. There is some talent here, not a lot, but there is enough to play better football than we have. I’m just sick and tired of watching this team have performances like yesterday. It’s not all on the players.

Simple as that. Juron’s head shoud be on a block if the blade hasn’t dropped already. Anything less than 9-7 shouild be viewed as a failure in the leadership. There is on way you can win 5 and then not get 3 of your last ten and keep a job.

it does start at the top and with the front office. However, I do think we have drafted well under this regime and FA has been pretty solid. And hopefully we have found our QB. I don’t think massive changes are in order. I can see hiring a new HC but only if it is a guy who brings some fire. Also, its hard not only to get players to come to Buffalo, but for coaches to come as well. Even assistant coaches.

I kind of feel we are a lame duck franchise just waddling in mediocrity and it is inevitable the franchise collapses due to Ralph passing away, and the team moving away. Nothing about the Buffalo bills looks like it has a good ending

A change would make a big deal, to a proven winner. Jauron seems to be in the bottom rung of coaches at this point. If he stays another year, and we stink, it HAS to be over

first off, we have to grossly overpay to have players come to Buffalo. Drew Rosenhaus on ESPN a month ago was talking bout negotiations and he said “its one thing if the player wants the most money, then he’ll even go to Buffalo or Cincinatti” We have to OVERPAY, so forget about bargains. And our drafts have been solid besides McCargo.

We do need better leadership but we won’t get it until Ralph passes

is leaps and bounds better than 3 years ago. The cupboards are stocked full of young talent at all positions. Sure we lack depth and experience, but mostly its the QB play. If we had QB play this team is undoubtedly a contender

What if we do lose out this year? Finish 6-10 after a 5-1 start….Really, how can you keep a coach after that? This team has been hit by some injuries, but not enough where finishing 1-9 is an excuse. How could any coach live to see another season after that? Right?

That is ridiculously terrible.
Stud running back, QB with all the tools, Good group of wideouts…where’s the problem? Even the line, has come together in some instances, but this West Coast bul crap and finess blocking from one of the biggest O-lines in the league is absolute crap. Our defense isn’t THAT bad, but the offense has been woeful. We were able to surprise some teams in the begining (barely in hindsight) then the divisional teams saw the tape and kicked our asses. Can’t play against a 3-4? You gotta be kidding. Mine as well play college ball or something.
The biggest problem is we are losing by strategy, not necessarily production. No long passes, not running at the right times, stupid time outs and stupid challenges. My grandmother could see Kelsay didn’t touch that dam ball.
Anyway, it would be different if we were at the top of the division and then pulled a stinker against an up and down team. This was terrible by all accounts. And if it continues, i want to see a firing OR a change in over all football strategy from Jauron. We need to attack teams….forget, my subject is enough. Sorry for the rant

And if we go now, 3-1 or something, then what? I’d almost rather they lose out, instead of tugging at my nuts for another nine months in the offseason.

Well, I’ve been staddling the line hard between fire DJ and keep DJ. I think the long extension for the amount of cash was a bad idea, I felt he needed to play out the season before getting the pot of gold, but I don’t have the power to make that happen obviously since I spend alot of time here with you guys arguing about our Bills.

I don’t think canning DJ at this point is the best move for this franchise as far as trying to make a core of solid players available for the next owner. There, I said it, this team is being built to make it economically feasible for the next owner to be competetive, we work under the cash to cap strategy to keep our cap space open, this helps us in the future, well, the future of ownership is about 3 years away at Wilson’s age. DJ can be had for a lot less than a fix it quick whiz bang coach can, and Wilson’s age as Brian has stated is an obvious impediment to that. I think when this team is sold, DJ is going to be moved into the FO at that time and off the field.

I don’t think DJ is going anywhere for many reasons, but perhaps Turk might need to be moved on outta here. He said he was going to fix and bring up the quality of SFM’s playbook, remember guys, this is not an entirely new playbook, and look what it got us, a Jekyll and Hyde exsistence on offense. We might need to bring in a whole new program, and that means a new OC, and perhaps all new coaching perssonel on the O side of the ball.

As much as I dislike Fewell, on the year he has done a serviceable job, but I must really know, is it him or McGee who is making the decision to bail out so often? But I think the D side of the ball won’t get much coaching attention this season. Sorry for my rambling thoughts but I’ve only been up for a short while now, will post more when I’m more awake.

It may sound like a broken record, but the Bills are truly fortunate to be 6-6. Had they not played multiple teams from the two weakest divisions in Buffalo, this team would be 2-10…at best. They haven’t beaten any team remotely close to a winning record and have not beaten a team with 5 wins or better. They may finish 6-10 or 7-9, but they really are a 4-12 or 5-11 team right now. Three years with the same staff should provide better results. If they were 2-14 then you could bet your Flutie Flakes that Jauron would be out at the end of the season. A record like that would have gotten him fired for sure. This team will have to struggle to get to 7-9 and that’s without all of the injuries the Bills had last year. Only a 2-10 team loses to Cleveland and SF at home no less. BTFW: Please, no more guarantees Donte.

He would be great for the team and the area, but unless he’s interesting in doing charity work…we’ll never see him in the old red, white and blue. April is worth a try.

But all we have are our dreams at this point.

That would be ideal. Hopefully that happens.

We need playmakers. And more importantly competent coaches who can coach players, instead of coaching a system.

A head coaching change isn’t on my list of things to do. But I wouldn’t lose any sleep over losing Dick Jauron.

Turk has to go. He just doesn’t get it. I’d give Perry Fewell another year. He’s done a decent job without playmakers.

I’m content with our O-Line. When they play good. They play Good. I’d try to upgrade the Center postion if anything.

James Hardy needs more playing time. period. I haven’t seen him on the field enough to say we need another #2 WR. Plus WR develop slow. I remember when Josh Reed wasn’t 2 Cent in Chinese money. Roscoe needs more touches. Period. (Everyone knows Lee Evans is the best deep threat in the game…need not say anymore).

Trent Edwards is our guy. Period.

Tight end upgrade is a MUST. I don’t know the potential FAs. But if the 49ers let go Vernon Davis, and the Browns let go Kellen Winslow. Definitely got to get one of those guys.

As far as the Full back position…as long as there is a pure full back on the roster (not a fan of that H-back nonsense). I’m happy, Full backs ar vital to running the ball.

On Defense….

Let’s just say…if you aren’t Marcus Stroud, Leodis McKelvin, Jabari Greer, Donte Witner or Terrence McGee.

There is the door.

(Of course theres others….but these are the ones we absolutely need to keep.)

I would just like to thank all of you for completely distracting me from my work so far. I’m not sure whether that is a good or bad thing, but I’ll keep reading on.

He’s made way more plays than bloopers.

I’m just surprised this post hasn’t generated more comments….

how pissed off are Bills fans??? I mean, its coming up on 10 years…no playoffs. That is killn Bills’ fans all over the world.

I mean, let’s be honest. I don’t care how you break it down. You lose to SF at home, and score 3 pts and the whole team should be fired. That’s one of the worse losses I HAVE EVER SEEN!

If Trent isn’t our guy who is?

Not some magical QB that’s going to appear in the draft or Free agency.

Let’s not forgot how young Trent is. Especially with 2 different coordinators. And they were (are) both fools. I’d say Trent’s done more good than bad. he’s doing a admirable job consider the circumstances.

I don’t want to be looking for another QB for the next 10 years. Especially when the Bills won’t be here that long anyway.

I say stick with Trent.

I couldn’t have said it better.

Sadly, They all won’t be fired. And even if they were I don’t think the Bills have time to fully rebuild into a contender (shoot).

But’s not to say SOMEONE needs to be fired.

Cough

(Turk)

I like Dick (easy)

If Tony Dungy isn’t on his way to becoming the Bills head coach. I don’t know who else could possibly replace him.

And do a good job

I would concur with most of the article, but the premise to the whole thing is a little more plastic than you’re making it out to be. Gutting a coaching staff is different from gutting a roster. I’ll say for the record I’m indifferent if Jauron stays or goes right now… simply because I, frankly, love the roster he has built, but have been profoundly underwhelmed by the coaching staff he has assembled.

As far as firing our staff being a set-back, well… it hasn’t been a set-back for the Dolphins or the Falcons or the Ravens or the Redskins this season, has it? Like I said I am not necessarily supporting the notion that we should be searching for a new head coach but I know that Dick Jauron is not maximizing the potential of this team right now. The Bills are talented, a lot more than people give them credit for… if Jauron cannot tap into it, THERE IS SOMEONE WHO CAN.

There has been a theme to the Buffalo Bills the last 3 seasons: our teams are well prepared and play hard. However, the flip side is that they are often not prepared to adjust the game-plan that has been implanted during the week (players or coaches). Simply put, DJ is not exactly a coaching genius… he doesn’t provide the ingenuity or creativity that puts good teams over the top. And it certainly isn’t coming down the line from our coordinators, either.

Any coach that walked in the door next season to replace Jauron would not be disappointed, because they would be gift-wrapped a playoff-caliber roster (talent-wise). I would venture to guarantee that if Bill Cowher coached the Bills (ha ha pun) next season we would make the playoffs. Bill Cowher would not hire an OC whose favorite formation is a 4WR Shotgun. And we definitely know he can find guys to get to the QB. Anyways, I digress… I guess it’s clear that if the Bills were to go for somebody I would want Cowher… but it’s getting clearer that DJ is simply a below average COACH, but a well above average “RECRUITER.” He should really just GM somewhere.

So, you’re telling me you want a coach who has a winning record under .500, one winning season, and one playoff appearance (which he lost) to lead this team into the future? No thanks. In today’s press conference, he talked about how he wanted to run it more in the fourth quarter. IF HE WANTED TO, WHY DIDN’T HE? Terrible coaching skills. He has done an admirable job building this team, however, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him as our GM.

Our team is so young that we really don’t have much of a choice but to be patient and see what Jauron can make of them. We cut him loose now and this young team will lose a lot of development time. If you keep a guy like Jauron this team will develop its own leadership to make up for his lack of “passion” on the sideline as they age. Trent whoever, will step up.

Also, I know i have been a proponent of it for a long time, but maybe this team isn’t that good? Coaching can not entirely explain away that we could only muster 3 points, in a must win scenario, at home! Clearly we should have been running the ball more inside the ten but still, maybe we are not good yet. Of course, we are so young that this statement doesn’t necessarily condemn the team. Our QB has started less than a full season, our running back is in a sophmore campaign, our receiving corp looks ready to upgrade when young talent finally blossoms. We need an OLB, I still don’t buy the Ellison isn’t as bad as you think line, we need a Center in the worst possible way, and we need a DE.

If Schouman can play consistent we wouldn’t need a TE. I think Jauron should stay, but I really really really believe Turk should go. He has his one year and after we all had such high hopes he turned out to be a dud. You can argue he needs time to develop like our players, but it shouldn’t take a great NFL mind too long, or ever, to figure out that with Marshawn Lynch you should run the ball inside the five or that play actions need to actually be sold rather than consist of a completely non-believeable fake handoff.

Ok done.

I just got back from Buffalo after driving 6 hrs, spending 3.5 hrs in the freezing rain to watch a team kick a sorry ass field goal, so forgive me if I am not too apologetic regarding our zombie head coach.

I understand the point you are making Brian, I often quote the insane quote myself but in this case it doesn’t apply. Here is my reasoning:

1) The problem with DJ’s total lack of emotion / sense of urgency has now rubbed off on absolutely everyone in the organization and this is becoming extremely scary. I think we have quite a few talented guys on our team and the last thing you want to see happen is to let their fire/desire to WIN burn out, which is really at risk playing under DJ
2) I disagree with the argument that replacing the head coach means “gutting” the team and someway starting over – just look at the Falcons or the Dolphins
3) Our team is severely lacking talent in certain areas and the problem is all the lesser talent players are very nice guys that Jauron as backed for a few years now (Kelsey, Ellison, etc.) and somehow I have a hard time believing that he would make the necessary changes in the off season.
4) DJ has to be one of the worst sideline coaches in the league if not the absolute worse. He is oblivious to the concept of situational coaching, he burns time-outs like they were tic-tacs – he is simply just aweful. I remember last year when we lost to Dallas in the final second of the game, when they needed about 15y to get a first down & more importantly they NEEDED to stop the clock cause they had no more time outs and there was less than 10 sec on the clock. So what does Jauron do? He called for a prevent Defense and left the first 20y on each sideline completely open… This guy is an absolute moron! When Marshawn broke loose and finally got nailed on the 1 yard line ( on the Monday night game) and instead of quickly quickly taking advantage of the Browns while they didn’t have the right personnel on the field and quickly try to punch it in – DJ decides that we should be nice guys and give the Browns time to catch their breath so he takes a figgin time out!! He is just plain bad, the worse sideline coach there is in the league.
5) Imagine for one minute if we actually were able to make the playoffs at one point, would you trust having Jauron coaching a playoff game?
6) Our team needs a GM, the success of our drafts the last few years has been decent but not great. We need to start doing better and I think a strong Coach/GM combo is the only way to go.

I agree that we should consider a change of scheme, you know my thoughts on the subject, I would love to see us convert to a 3-4.

There are 2 coaching candidates that are currently available and I would love to see Ralph actually make an effort to reel one of them in: Cowher or Schottenheimer
Buffalo would be an incredible place for Cowher because it is the same type of environment as he is used to both from the blue-collar worker town to the cold/wet/grimmy conditions. This IS a football town first and I think Cowher would be really comfortable here. Furthermore, unlike Cleveland, we are not in the same division as the steelers so he would not be upsetting Steeler nation quite as much. I think the Buffalo fans have shown Ralph Wilson enough dedication (especially in the past year with the huge increase in season ticket base) that he owes it to us to do the right thing before he passes, getting Cowher would be huge! Think about it, the strongest division in football is the AFC East with Belichick/Pioli and now Parcells with the Dolphins and Mike Tannenbaum is also proving to be quite a good GM as well – And we are trying to compete in this division without a GM and with arguably the worse game-day coach in the league.

We have repeatedly ignored the trenches and now we are paying the price. All three of our foes understand football and have built great O & D-Lines while we overpaid for guys like Dockery & Walker and we continue to have guys like Preston & Fowler in the lineup because they are “nice” guys.. Probably the best center prospect in the last 15years (Mack) will be available this year and I have absolutely no confidence at all that this front office will actively pursue him, it is very discouraging.

Our team has a lot of key components already in place (Edwards, Evans, Lynch, Jackson, Poz, Whitner, Stroud, Peters) and with the proper coaching/front office we could easily be a playoff team by next year – and for years to come.. Ralph needs to dig deep into his stingy pockets and roll out the red carpet to Cowher before someone else gets him. Getting Cowher would really help to secure this team in Buffalo. It would bring hope to the organization, solidify season ticket base and I am convinced that it would also help sell some of their prized luxury seating.

I don’t agree. I think Cowher would come here if the $$ and the power was right. I think that he’d be up to the challenge of resurrecting this team. I think he would appreciate the fan base as well as the challenge of going up against the best football minds in the league. I admit that the odds of Ralph opening up his wallet and giving him the control he needs are both very unlikely but I am still allowed to wish for it.

I think Marty would be a very close second, the guy has done it before many times. He is a winner. I am convinced that he still wants to coach and he would bring a lot of credibility with him. I do however think that he’d be hesitant to take a job in the same division as his son.

The idea of Russ Grimm is intriguing. I must admit that I have difficulty seeing how an O-Line coach becomes a hot Head Coaching candidate. I understand the guy’s record and actually getting a trenches guy in Buffalo might not be a bad idea. The main problem that I see is that Russ would be a Rookie Head Coach and it might take a while for him to earn the respect of the players and get their “full” commitment & buy-in to his system whereas bringing in an established coach that has done it many times before is a clear message to the players that we are intent on jumping to the next level.

Congrats, Rumblers – this article set a Rumblings record for most comments in a non-open game thread. Well played.

This is like saying George W. was a good president and we’re scared of change! No Fire Jauron instantly for the terrible decisions he’s made and I agree that continuity is very important so I would like to see Bobby April take over interim head coaching duties now! He’s a very enthusiastic coach and this would allow us to evaluate his progress over the next 4 games and maybe extend it to Full time head coach if he succeed or shows improvements!

And to Brian, Kurupt, Ron, Sireric and the others for this site. Honestly, I feel soooo much better having a place to vent and communicate.

I like Jauron as a coach because he is so intelligent and so are the players but I think the very young Bills need a coach like Bill Cowher. He is a motivational guy with great love of the game and for his players. I think if Schonert keeps dialing up the shotgun with 4 wide (really 2 receivers and NO te) he might see his ship sail as well.

If it’s absolutely patheticly broke as our head coach is then you fix it period, you can’t just sit back and say it’s ok to be terrible and have 0 emotion and repeatedly fail in his decision making as a coach—It’s unacceptable and yes he should be gone because the objective is to win and that is not what he does!!