Schefter: Dave Wannstedt Could Talk To Bills About Coaching Opportunity

by Brian Galliford on Jan 11, 2011 3:38 PM EST in Buffalo Bills News

Former Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and University of Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt could discuss a coaching opportunity with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

We first heard whispers that Wannstedt could be linked to Buffalo over the holidays, and just last week, the Bills released inside linebackers coach DeMontie Cross from his contract, creating a vacancy defensively. Wannstedt, who worked with current Bills head coach Chan Gailey in Miami (Gailey was Wannstedt's offensive coordinator in 2000 and 2001), has 35 years' worth of coaching experience, ranging from defensive line work all the way up to the top job.

It's not clear if Gailey has a specific role in mind for Wannstedt, particularly with George Edwards entrenched as the defensive coordinator and the only job opening at the inside linebacker position. A special title would almost certainly be involved. Wannstedt also has an opportunity to join Pitt's athletic department.

Schefter also reports that Wannstedt could talk about coaching opportunities with the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers. San Diego is looking for a new defensive coordinator now that Ron Rivera has been named Carolina's head coach, and Wannstedt could also serve on Rivera's Panthers staff in some capacity.

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what D does he run?

i feel like we should give him Edwards’ job

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 11, 2011 3:42 PM EST reply actions

That is not going to happen.

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by Brian Galliford on Jan 11, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

i understand that

just dont really like him

if we had the oppertunity to get a guy who is better and has more experience, it should be done, its not like we did anything good this year on the D side of the ball

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 11, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

Gailey won’t sacrifice the system. Wannstedt, if he for some reason takes a lesser opportunity than he could get elsewhere, would likely have a “Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers” or “Senior Defensive Assistant/Linebackers” title, as examples – just to boost his pay a bit.

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by Brian Galliford on Jan 11, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

This may be a silly question, but why does the title and salary have to correlate? Said another way, why can’t you just pay him what you want? Is there something to prevent someone from being the kickoff tee retrieval coach and getting $1 million? Or do NFL coaches have pay grades and salary ranges like most ordinary joes?

by Pistol on Jan 11, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

You could pay a lesser coach more than the next coach up. I believe Dallas actually did it with their current HC when Phillips was above him.

But it’s similar to a boss making less money than his employee. Great in theory, but it tends to breed contempt over time.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
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by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 11, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

Salary has nothing to do with it

The Title is the catch-all. What ever title they give to Wannstedt, asst def. cood, whatever, will determine the jobs that can be offered to him by another team who may be looking to add him to their staff. If he is under contract as Asst. Head Coach, then another team in order to lure him away from Buffalo would have to offer him a position (title) that is greater than Asst. Head Coach.

by Winnie33 on Jan 12, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

The NFL rules that all assistant coaches are listed as assistant coaches. He could be prohibited from taking any interview that was not for a head coach. But Gailey would never bar him from that.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jan 13, 2011 6:02 AM EST up reply actions

My tought exactly

Can we have co-Defensive Coordinators? He seems to have too much experience to be inside LB coach.

by Moose68 on Jan 11, 2011 3:45 PM EST reply actions

dick jauron

is philadelphia’s defensive backs coach… some coaches tend to go back to be position coach sometimes… singletary seems to be heading towards linebackers coach position at minnesota

by statcruncher on Jan 11, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

They only due that becuase thats all they are good for

My opinion feel free to blast away

where oh where has aaron maybin gone oh where can he be
was picked so high and not one has seen oh where can maybin be
seriously where the hell is he ?

by Gpluehri on Jan 11, 2011 3:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

jauron might be only good at that but i dont think singletary is done yet… he will get his head coaching position down the line

by statcruncher on Jan 11, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Jauron was a very good Defensive Coordinator.

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by MattRichWarren on Jan 11, 2011 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Jauron wasn’t a very good defensive coordinator. He was an okay, perhaps solid, DC but sure as heck his days as DC in Jacksonville were never overly impressive (his defense were respectively 28th, 19th, 15th and 17th in allowed points during his tenure in Jacksonville from 1995-1998) nor were his defense’s stats in Detroit where he was DC for two seasons (18th and 21th in allowed points). His defenses in Buffalo certainly left a lot to be desired as well.

by BuffaloBeliever on Jan 11, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

He was good enough to get two head coaching jobs and a third interim job.

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by MattRichWarren on Jan 11, 2011 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

Jauron sucked as D coordinator he never had a top 15 defense.

by eze on Jan 11, 2011 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

He was good enough to get two head coaching jobs and a third interim job

That just proves he’s well spoken and interviews well. At least thats my take.

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Jan 11, 2011 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Your opinion is fine, but you don’t really need to make it so derogatory, do you? Like coaching a position in the NFL is so horrid?

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@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jan 11, 2011 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

not meant to be derogatory just

as a society we promote people to positions that they are not suited nor qualified to be in simply because of past success in different areas it works sometimes other times it doesn’t ie levy as a gm juaron and singletary as head coaches singletary only has one thing going for him he is a very good motivator juaron honestly don’t even know how he get’s/gotten into the gigs he had

where oh where has aaron maybin gone oh where can he be
was picked so high and not one has seen oh where can maybin be
seriously where the hell is he ?

by Gpluehri on Jan 11, 2011 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

You're bascially outlining the

Peter Principle.

In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Official Fire-Puncher for Pats Pulpit an SB Nation Blog

by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 11, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

it’s true that especially in America we promote people until their incompetent – this happens constantly in the NFL as well.

South Park showed us the benefit of Captain Hindsight

by J2 on Jan 11, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

On the other hand, you don’t know somebody will suck until you try them in that capacity. Tons of people thought Belichick was going to flop for the Pats. And of course, if you suck, you get fired. Usually in less than 3 years in the NFL.

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.

by WhyBillsWhy on Jan 11, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

couldn’t agree more

South Park showed us the benefit of Captain Hindsight

by J2 on Jan 11, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

Unless you’re Marvin Lewis.

by Schrims on Jan 11, 2011 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

thats not all they are good for. They could be coaches at lesser levels but are expert enough to be NFL caliber coaches

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

He would be an asset to the coaching staff. He has Playoff and Super Bowl experience, and the guy has done a great job in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. If the Bills can sign him, I think they should. Would be a nice hire.

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by Michael_Necci on Jan 11, 2011 4:10 PM EST reply actions

I’m all for adding talent to the organization, wherever it may be. Is there any connection to Doug Whaley here? Just wondering, as I thought they were both “Pittsburgh” guys.

by krytime on Jan 11, 2011 4:16 PM EST reply actions

Wannstedt will most likely take the D cord posistion in san diego.number one ranked defense on a team that severly underacheived. Agree?

Im over pop corn..... But i still like me a little Spiller Thriller!!!!!!!!!!

by OC-BILLS-FAN on Jan 11, 2011 4:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Yes, he should

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by Michael_Necci on Jan 11, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Wannesdet would be great to have around Poz. Opinions on Poz are as varied as any player on this team but in my opinion we have a top 15 MLB who tackles better than most at his position and is becoming a better playmaker who is unfortunately overcompensating for the deficiency of the linebackers around him by chasing ball carriers all over the field. Wannesdet might go a long way to helping Poz learn to play within himself and the system and he could help any other young ILB we bring in next to him.

Poz is starting to make more plays at the line, thanks in large part to Kyle, then ever in his career and with him hitting his stride I’d welcome Wannstedt as his positional coach.

But that is all. I’ll take George Edwards than Wanny at D-Coord.

What is John Fox doing now that hes fired?

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 4:27 PM EST reply actions

Interviewing with Broncos Wed

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20110111_john_fox_interview_moved_to_wednesday_williams_to_interview

by JJBUD on Jan 11, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

cool thanks

I guess its to be expected that a head coaching job would come his way considering hes had success.

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

No problem. I’m with you.. .thinking Poz has a role for the Bills next year… especially with a better supporting cast. Besides, you’d have to change your handle.

by JJBUD on Jan 11, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

hahah

if he leaves I think Im stuck with this handle, Ive said too many stupid things under this handle to stop now!

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 11:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

rec

Keep em coming! Any opinion (stupid or not) is better than none at all.

by JJBUD on Jan 12, 2011 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

Wouldn't this be stacking coaches on coaches?

Edwards would be looking over his shoulder all the time

by sellison on Jan 11, 2011 4:35 PM EST reply actions

why?

Sean McDermott isn’t looking over his shoulder because Dick Jauron is the secondary coach and DJ is just coming off a head coaching gig in the NFL. Wannstead has been out of the league for a while and is best known for ruining Ricky Williams legs in order to keep his team competitive by running him into the ground. He’s coming from a college job. George should feel fine. And anyway, we’re a losing team, the threat of perform or be replaced is a good thing.

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

And anyway, we’re a losing team, the threat of perform or be replaced is a good thing.

It didn’t work well with Jauron last year. His desperation moves probably set us back about 2-3 seasons.

by Dr. Brackish Okun on Jan 11, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

It made for a somewhat impressive draft, though (somehow).

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.

by WhyBillsWhy on Jan 11, 2011 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

Dick Jauron was a lame duck

there is a difference I believe, especially when its the head coach.

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 11, 2011 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Dick Jauron was a lame duck

The day after he was hired :-)

For my own personal sanity, I am officially banning myself from reading/saying anything about Cam Newton.... starting the day after the Bowl game until the start of the combine.

by Joe P. on Jan 12, 2011 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

He has a pretty good mustache

I feel like adding a mustache like that will only benefit this team

Did I mention the tank is a tank?

by ArenZimm on Jan 11, 2011 4:42 PM EST reply actions 3 recs

I feel like adding a mustache like that

It’s a prototype 70s porn star mustache.

Kylesaurus Rex Williams Pro Bowl 2010

by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 11, 2011 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

He and Fitzpatrick would get along.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
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by Brian Galliford on Jan 11, 2011 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

At the very least, it means the team will be able to speak italian.

Formerly of thatguy34 fame.

"And the best decision of my life proved to be the day I signed with the Buffalo Bills." - Jim Kelly

by Jon Harrington on Jan 11, 2011 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

Just give him the ILB job with an Assistant HC title.

ANd get it done quick. He might not be that great of a head coach, but his expirience could be invaluable as an assistant/positional coach for our team.

SIGN HIM ON AND QUICKLY!!!!!

The Buffalo Bills, finding new and exciting ways to lose since January 8th, 2000.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jan 11, 2011 5:55 PM EST reply actions

i love the wannstache

Bring him on.

MAYBE this will break the mold , we need to come to play sunday and this year we will not SURRENDER TO KNOW ONE THIS IS BUFFALOOO Godzilla nation
-abayarde

by uPitt_BillsFan on Jan 11, 2011 6:46 PM EST reply actions