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Post Restructure: Bills Offensive Coordinator Open Thread

Schonert got to rock these sweet Falcons unis (View Images)

Sure, we've discussed this topic before - twice, in fact. But after the Bills announced that they've restructured their front office, filling the void at offensive coordinator is next on Buffalo's to-do list. With the front office restructure, we've had confirmed what many fans believed before the process started: Ralph Wilson likes his front office, likes Dick Jauron, and will let the head coach hold all the hiring power as far as his coaching staff is concerned.

So, post-restructure, let's open this back up to discussion. Who should be Buffalo's next offensive coordinator? Two candidates have been rumored to be front-runners for the job; I'll throw out two other names of men who have a realistic shot at getting the job. Feel free to critique, folks - I know I will.

Turk Schonert, QB Coach, Buffalo
- Reports this week indicated that league sources believe that Schonert (pictured in this post during his playing days) is the most likely candidate to take the coordinator position in Buffalo. Nothing official has broken, of course, but Schonert appears to be the only in-house candidate Jauron will consider. Schonert has never held a coordinator role at the NFL level. If he gets the nod, it will hardly be the most exciting promotion we've seen; it would also be hard to condemn the man, too - we literally have no track record to be excited or upset should he get hired.

Greg Olson, former Offensive Coordinator, St. Louis
- As it stands right now, Olson seems like the most likely external candidate to nail down the job. He was a candidate for this position back in 2006; the only reason the Bills hired Steve Fairchild that season was because Olson took up the coordinator post in St. Louis. If it turns out that Jauron isn't comfortable handing the reigns to Schonert, look for the coach to bring Olson in. Olson, remember, was made a scapegoat in St. Louis by their head coach, Scott Linehan, so that Linehan could save his own job.

And now for the names I'm suggesting:

Hue Jackson, Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta
- Jackson may be my favorite candidate for this job. Why? Experience. He's enjoyed two one-year stints as a coordinator (2003 in Washington under Steve Spurrier, and last season in Atlanta), and was also responsible for developing Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh as their position coach in Cincinnati. He is a strong play-caller (the fact that he got any production in Atlanta this season is miraculous - heck, even Joey Harrington looked semi-competent), and has a strong offensive pedigree. He would bring a level of comfort and progress to this offense that not even Olson could achieve amongst the fan base.

Mike Shula, QB Coach, Jacksonville
- For some reason, the Jaguars' coaching staff is very enticing. Jacksonville has a great offense, and a talented, deep coaching staff. Part of the Jags' success this season was the rapid development of QB David Garrard - and he got there under the coaching of Mike Shula. The son of Don has coordinating experience (Tampa Bay under Tony Dungy) and head coaching experience (U. of Alabama), and again would bring a bit different offensive attack to the table. (Jacksonville's RB coach, Kennedy Pola, also intrigues me.)

No. I didn't throw out names like Cam Cameron and Mike Tice. Why? Not because they're unqualified candidates; it's just not likely, at this point, that either will receive interest from the Bills. Jackson and Shula may not receive interest either - but as it stands now, they are guys that Jauron seems more likely to bring in for an interview.

0 recs  |  Comment 9 comments

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No Schonert!
its not that i dislike schonert... hes a good QB coach... and he should be here next season no matter who the o coord is because he has to keep teaching Trent. I just think we need an established play-caller, or at least someone who has done it before.

I like Olson. i think hes gotten a bad rap in st louis like you said because the rams needed a scapegoat. I liked what he did with the Rams in 06 and nobody could have been successful with that mash unit in 07. I think he would be an underated hire, and certainly an upgrade over SF-M.

by trent2lee6 on Jan 13, 2008 4:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Agree
At this point, Olson would make a far better (and popular hire).  I much prefer the OC/QBC combo of Olson/Schonert to Schonert/Van Pelt.
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jan 13, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

RE: Agree
Couldn't agree more Brian.
who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Jan 13, 2008 8:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Hire
I dislike seeing Schonert hired unless he is going to be vastly different from Fairchild.  I am now convinced that Fairchild's schemes set this offense back greatly.  I mean, it was so frick'n boring to watch.  Jauron needs to hire a guy that comes from outside, and is given free rein.  I dislike the possibility of Schonert being hired and then being held on a tight leash with DJ's conservative crap.  

I don't who the right candidate is but I don't like the idea of Schonert being the guy.  

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Jan 13, 2008 8:36 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It's Schonert
it's gotta be.

There has been no interviews, no news, nothing. With the FO not being shaken up like it could have been, where is the activity regarding the OC then?  I have to believe it's Schonert (and Kugler at OL coach).

I am not totally opposed to Schonert, though I would rather have an experienced hire.  Schonert has stated he would have done things a lot differently than Fairchild, so he saw the playcalling issues we had. Whether or not he could call good games on his own remains to be seen, but I like that he saw how dumb the playcalling was....

~K

by Kurupt on Jan 14, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re:
Do you have a link where Schonert said that? Not calling you a liar or anything, I just want to see the interview. :)
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by Brian Galliford on Jan 14, 2008 1:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

well
I guess Lee Evans said it, but I'll take his word.

"Yeah it would be good," said Evans. "I like Turk. Judging from talking to him on the sidelines about plays this year and what he would do if it were different he certainly has a good head on his shoulders. Obviously having played the game before, he's very acclimated to what it's like to play, so it would be a good move."

~K

by Kurupt on Jan 14, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks!
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jan 14, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Hue Jackson update
Jackson's former employer, the Cincinnati Bengals, want their old coach back. Come on, Jauron - do something.
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jan 14, 2008 1:46 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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