clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Which Buffalo Bills Assistant Coaches Would You Like To See Retained?

Chan Gailey's former coaching staff will be given a chance to retain their jobs with the Buffalo Bills. Fans discuss who Doug Marrone might consider.

Mark Konezny-US PRESSWIRE

The Buffalo Bills fired their entire coaching staff last Monday, giving new head coach Doug Marrone a clean slate to choose from. Several members of Chan Gailey's coaching staff could - and should - get a look by new head coach Doug Marrone. Let's run through Gailey's former staff to see who may return.

  • Curtis Modkins (offensive coordinator, running backs): Gailey's right-hand man won't coordinate the offense, but don't rule out a return as running backs coach, since there has been a good deal of success there.
  • David Lee (quarterbacks): Lee is well-respected, shares coaching tree ties to Marrone (both are part of the Bill Parcells family), and could stay on in that capacity.
  • Bob Bicknell (wide receivers): Coming from a coaching family with World League and college ties (his father, Jack, coached for parts of five decades), he also has experience coaching tight ends.
  • Pete Metzelaars (tight ends): Big Pete could stay with that position group, and has also coached the offensive line in Indianapolis before coming to Buffalo last off-season.
  • Joe D'Alessandris (offensive line): The other Joe D may be the likeliest offensive coach to remain on the staff. A former World League offensive lineman like Marrone, D'Alessandris has done a great job with a patchwork line in his three years. He has worked with Gailey for 10 of the last 11 years.
  • Dave Wannstedt (defensive coordinator): He'll find himself out of a job in Buffalo when the music stops playing.
  • Giff Smith (defensive line): He followed Gailey to Buffalo from Georgia Tech, and did some solid work with players like Kyle Moore and Alex Carrington in 2012.
  • Bob Sanders (linebackers): He was retained when Dick Jauron was fired, and has experience coaching multiple positional groups (as well as coordinating) on the defensive side of the ball.
  • George Catavalos (defensive backs): Catavolos survived the transition from Jauron to Gailey, and has a chance to stay on with a third Bills coach thanks to strong work with players like Jairus Byrd and Stephon Gilmore. (It's worth noting that keeping Catavalos could help retain the services of the free agent safety, as well.)
  • Bruce DeHaven (special teams coordinator): Marrone said he'd like veteran coordinators; DeHaven is that. DeHaven spent time on Parcells' Dallas staff with Sean Payton, Marrone's mentor in New Orleans. It would make a lot of sense if he continued working with punter Shawn Powell.

Of this list, which coaches would you like to see retained, Bills fans?