Bills Playing Solitaire as Coaching Carousel Turns

[editor's note, by Brian Galliford] As usual, jri111 is very adept at knowing exactly what I'm planning to write about, and beating me to the punch. This is a very good analysis of the coaching carousel that is going on right now, and Buffalo's strange approach to filling out their offensive staff. Read and enjoy (and by enjoy, I mean, of course, become as frustrated and perplexed as I am at the lack of news)! End Note

So San Francisco was the first to hire their new offensive coordinator (Mike Martz) and it looks like St. Louis is close to doing the same.

According to Rotoworld, Hue Jackson is said to have been offered the offensive coordinator jobs in both St. Louis and Washington. Now Washington is interesting because it's all but certain that Gregg Williams is going to be their next coach (God help them! - I live in DC and keep telling people they don't know what they're getting, but they seem optimistic about him - who knows why!). Anyways, Al Saunders still has the title of coordinator, so it's interesting that Jackson says he has the opportunity to "call plays there."

The leading candidates for the Chiefs are Mike Shula and Chan Gailey. Former Giants head coach Jim Fassel was interviewed yesterday and Gailey has been interviewed twice so far. Shula is up next and then a decision will soon follow.

Rotoworld also reports that Tony Sparano could be named Miami's head coach as early as tomorrow. If that were to happen then Miami could start looking for an offensive coordinator. It remains to be seen whether Sparano would want to call plays himself.

Obviously, if Saunders is out in Washington, they will need a new OC too. Atlanta, after they hire a coach, will also need to find an OC.

With Norm Chow out in Tennessee, it appears that Denver's Mike Heimerdinger (Assistant Head Coach/Offense) is the leading candidate. Of course, if Heimerdinger leaves Denver, the Broncos would be in the market as well. Apperantly Chan Gailey would be the man Denver would target.

Then there are the effects of the retirements. If Tony Dungy leaves Indy and Holmgren leaves Seattle, those could create two more openings (although I don't see Moore leaving Indy, no matter who the new head coach is).

So here's how it looks:

Teams that can hire OC's any time:
SF: Mike Martz
St. Louis: (candidates: Hue Jackson) [editor's note, by Brian Galliford] Cam Cameron is a prime candidate here as well
KC: (candidates: Chan Gailey, Mike Shula, Jim Fassel)
Tennessee: (candidates: Mike Heimerdinger)
Buffalo: (candidates: ?????) [editor's note, by Brian Galliford] Ted Marchibroda? (Kidding...)

Teams that need to hire a head coach before hiring OC:
Miami: very close to hiring a HC (Sparano)
Atlanta: Should have a head coach soon as well [editor's note, by Brian Galliford] Position offered to Jason Garrett
Washington: (Gregg Williams is close) It looks like Saunders is on his way out and Jackson said they already offered him the job
[editor's note, by Brian Galliford] Baltimore is currently looking for a head coach as well. Jason Garrett and Marty Schottenheimer are the leading candidates there; both would likely hire new offensive coordinators as well.

Teams that could be looking for a OC because of retirement/hirings:
Seattle
Indy
Dallas (Garrett is a head coaching candidate in Baltimore, as well as Atlanta. He also could end up in Miami with Sparano)

Bottom line? Buffalo is in prime position to get the person they want (whoever that may be). The more they wait, the quicker that window of opportunity is closing. Cameron is still out there, surprisingly; I just don't understand the lack of interest. Now there are even other intriguing options in Saunders and Chow. Chow I'm not a fan of, but Saunders does have some intrigue. Then again, he would cost some good money, so it's probably another pipe dream.

Question: What do all of these teams have in common besides the Bills?

a. They are all ACTIVELY searching for coaching replacements.

b. They are all interested in relatively the same "experienced" candidates.

c. They all are willing to give  offensive coordinators the market rate for their services.

d. All of the above.

The answer is d. And another day passes with silence at One Bills Drive. They do know that the Senior Bowl is in a week right? Kind of a good thing to know what your offensive philosophy is going to be when looking for players to fit those roles.