Lombardi's View Blames Schonert

by MARVelous on Dec 30, 2008 11:01 AM EST Comment 17 comments

From national football post and Michael Lombardi's opinion on the situation in Buffalo:

FROM MARK GAUGHEN OF THE BUFFALO NEWS… Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. said Monday afternoon the team would make a decision on the future of head coach Dick Jauron on Wednesday. Wilson met in Detroit today with Russ Brandon, the Bills’ chief operating officer, Tom Modrak, the Bills’ vice president of college scouting, and Jeff Littmann, the Bills’ treasurer. “I have nothing definitive tonight to give you,” Wilson told The Buffalo News by phone from Detroit. “We had a meeting today. We’re going to have a meeting tomorrow and the next day, and then you’ll have your answer.”

When I read what Mark had written, it was clear that Ralph Wilson wants to shake up the staff and bring in new coaches on one side of the ball or the other. He wants to keep Jauron, but it’s clear to me that he doesn’t want to keep some coaches (losing five games in a row is tough for anyone to take). Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, I am sure, is the main topic in these meetings. The Bills have too much talent to be 25th in the NFL on offense. More important, they have too much money invested in their offense to be this bad. The meetings are about learning what Jauron will do to shake up the staff. What is his plan to make changes and get the Bills’ offense on the right track? Normally, he is very reluctant to make any changes to the staff, but this time he has to be realistic and accept that Turk is not getting it done. However, Jauron can be stubborn and might be willing to walk the plank rather than fire some coaches.

This time of year, front offices and coaching staffs have to evaluate three areas of their teams: scheme, coaching and players. Those areas will also provide the answers that lead to improvement. When I watched the Bills, I liked their talent for the most part, but I did not like their scheme and wondered at times about their offensive coaches.

A lot of interesting points Lombardi makes. This sheds light on what Sal Cappacio already commented on today.
We know it comes to down to Schonert. Wilson wants a plan from Jauron to get the offense on track. Who is that guy? I am not sure. I think if this gets blown up it will be because Wilson does not see a willingness from Jauron to change. Schonert I sense is disliked by most players, and they are pouting about the offensive philosophy and play calling. There needs to be better chemistry on offense and that starts with a game plan that can be executed and puts players in positions to succeed. Jauron has no clue on offense. If he has no clue to fix the problem we will have no clue stuck in the unemployment line.

So given what you know, that the players love Jauron, they play hard, the personnell decisions over the last 3 years, and knowing that if Jauron brought in a new OC, could you guys live with this? Let's discuss this further as there is no point moving on until the state of our HC is decided tomorrow.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Well I think that depends on who they bring in. I really don’t want them to try to get Mike Martz or anything. Josh McDaniels would be an instant upgrade – but we’d have to pay him a lot of money because he’s likely to become a HC somewhere.

I guess i’d like to see a list of names for potential replacements before I make any judgements.

Obviously, something needs to be done – but I think they’d be dropping the ball by not doing something on the defensive side as well. We play a lot of high powered offenses next year and I have a feeling our “D” is gonna be shredded like they always are against good offenses.

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Dec 30, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Given Jauron's history,

I am beginning to feel like it will be an all or nothing outcome. Either Jauron will win and keep his whole staff, or Jauron and the whole staff will be let go. If the FO could figure out a way to sell keeping the coaches to the fan base, my guess is they would keep them all. So Ralf has to pick between empty seats for at least a few games, if the Bills play well you know the fans will come back, or eating Jauron’s whole contract and start over again.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2008 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

for once in a long time

I agree with you Joe.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Dec 30, 2008 11:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks,

I am eagerly awaiting your first mock draft. How did that QB of yours work out….was it Justin Johnson?

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2008 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Josh Johnson

and for the record if the Bills had taken him in the 5th round instead of Alvin Bowen who didn’t play a snap, we wouldn’t be having the, “who would make a good back-up” discussion.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Dec 30, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed,

But I was wondering if you have followed up on him. Did he get drafted? Did he play at all? Didn’t you have a bet with someone about which QB would play first?

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2008 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He was drafted in the 5th round by Tampa Bay, which is why I used Alvin Bowen as my example.

I did win my bet over Forgein Arrow which resulted in this.

I’d have to look but I’m pretty sure he didn’t see the field this year, at least not as a QB.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Dec 30, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

playing devils advocate (sort of) with the Schonert situation. he is a 1st year OC, why is he not being afforded the luxury of more time as say, a HC may get, expecially a HC that has had 3 years of mediocrity and a wealth of experience already?

by gatornation on Dec 30, 2008 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Because he showed how clueless he is!

The whole staff should be given the boot. We shouldn’t be moving on with “maybe” a new OC only. This is ridiculous…..

by Kurupt on Dec 30, 2008 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's my point

why scapegoat 1 guy, expecially when it is his first year as an OC. the HC is ultimately responsible for his coaches. IF he continually allows the OC to make the same mistakes he is just as at fault. Taking the blame for your OC is admirable but it doesn’t solve the root cause of the problem. maybe Dick is blinded by his allegience to his coaches. more of a reason to let him go.

by gatornation on Dec 30, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Got it

and agree

by Kurupt on Dec 30, 2008 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I say the same. Fairchild and now Schonert. Same offensive system for the most part, and neither guy could make it work. It’s time to cut ties. I’m telling you. The personnel obviously is not perfect, but it is good enough to have won 11 games this year with that schedule. The coaching staff has to go. Go pay Cowher $10 million a year, bring in his own guy, and let’s play! Pipe dream!

Ralph needs to listen to someone with some brains!

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Dec 30, 2008 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Right

If you’re going to spend alot on all these players, like the O-line and Lee and Schoebel than why not spend on the most important guy on the field, the head coach

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Dec 30, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

QB also "most important" in a tandem-like way

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Dec 30, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they play hard

Not hard enough though…and I don’t know what it is, but I rarely see us playing harder than the other teams.
I just don’t think Jauron should get another at bat, after striking twice with two offensive coordinators, and ALSO, I don’t like the defensive scheme altogether either. I mean, sure, if are offense were more potent then our D wouldn’t see the field as much and we probably would have done better (see first three division game losses), but we lack a high level of adaptation to what other teams do to us…I think Jauron should go…because I am not sure he can be a guy who can stay on at another level…he is a good teacher, and he is a nice guy, but I am not sure he is a guy for me, unless something else can happen.
AND, I will only ponder, since I’m writing, having Bobby April or another coordinator from around the league that is unproven, only if we get a big time GM at the reigns…

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Dec 30, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nobody has said

Maybe Ralph says fire Turk. DJ comes back and says he won’t but he will tell Schonert he needs a certain amount of running or gives him a set of guidelines for how the offense should shake out. I’m not saying it’s likely. I am saying there are ways that the coaching staff stays the same and the scheme changes.

by MattRichWarren on Dec 30, 2008 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Neither Jauron or Turk have that "feel" for the game

It is like the Jets game. We are sitting here watching on TV saying “Feed the Beast….they can’t stop us”, but Jauron/Turk decide to get cute. You know how people say a good QB has “it”, well a good coach has “it” also.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"

by Joe P. on Dec 30, 2008 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs