I, for one (one of many, I presume,) do not expect a big-name coach to head to Buffalo. There's just too much static surrounding the franchise--like the questionable QB position, the "Toronto Series," as well as the image of Buffalo itself--to make it a premier destination for a seasoned coach.
Established, successful coaches like Andy Reid, John Gruden and Bill Cowher will look at the risk/reward, despite the Brinks truck they could drive in on, as too great. Although nothing is impossible, a situation like this is highly improbable.
Buffalo, like Cleveland and Jacksonville and Kansas City more than likely will have a choice between a second-tier coach with some success or one of those "up-and-coming" coordinators looking for their first head coaching job. If neither of those scenarios come to fruition, there's the college ranks to pluck from, although the Chip Kelly's and Bill O'Brien's of college football will likely get grabbed by the big names of the NFL.
No matter whom they hire, I agree with Jerry Sullivan who was on WGR yeseterday. Forget all the nonsense about an offensive coach who can "develop a quarterback" or a "defensive coach." Give me a bonafide football coach.
A football coach who will hire a quarterbacks coach to develop the quarterback, hire an offensive coordinator who will develop an offense, and hire a defensive coordinator who will develop the defense. All under his guidance.
Is there one out there?
Yeah there is, but more than likely the Bills will need to find that within a coach getting his second chance--a Lovie Smith or Ken Wisenhunt--or they may need to take a chance on an coordinator who may have that untapped quality.
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| Arizona Cards DC, Ray Horton, seems to be getting a lot of interest for head coaching vacancies. And the Bills have already picked up the phone. |
Smith has expressed interest in the Bills while the Bills have already contacted Wisenhunt.
Horton is in held in high regard throughout the NFL and may be considered to be on the "fast track" to a head coaching spot despite having only two years experience as a coordinator.
From Arizonasports.com: Ray Horton, Defensive Coordinator, Arizona Cardinals - Horton has only two years of experience as a coordinator in the NFL, but has opened the eyes of many around that league in a short time. Most feel the Cardinals, fueled by Horton's defensive scheme, would have been a playoff-caliber team with even an average NFL offense.
Horton will be a popular target for interviews around the National Football League this off season, as seven head coaching jobs have opened up.
Jason LaCanfora of CBSSportsline says that the Bills have requested an interview with Horton, as have the Browns. The Cardinals are also expected to interview him for their vacancy at head coach.
LaCanfora was actually looking at a Bills/Wisenhunt match saying, "Whisenhunt has ties to assistant general manager Doug Whaley from their time in Pittsburgh and is viewed by many execs as one of the top head coaches available.
Owner Ralph Wilson has hired off this coaching family tree before -- just released head coach Gailey worked for Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, as did Whisenhunt."
While in Arizona, LaCanfora also states that the Bills could do a "double-dip" by interviewing Horton as well.
Horton has been outstanding in his role as defensive coordinator while endearing himself to his players. Despite ESPN's John Clayton saying that Horton landing a top spot is "debatable," with all of the coaching vacancies, even Clayton admits he'll receive a lot of calls.
Of particular interest to the Bills is the 20-18 win the Cardinals pulled off over the New England Patriots earlier this year--at Foxborough. Horton even had some fun when asked how he stopped the vaunted Patriots offense, saying that his players would, 'make the run check if Tom Brady's under the center. If he's in the gun, go to the pass check.'
Of course the stats did not back that up, and he knew it. But what Horton really meant was, 'our players put us in the best position to win the game and they did a flawless job of managing the game of getting inside New England's head.'
Savor that.
Horton's resume' includes two trips to the Super Bowl as a player: a loss with Cincinnati (1989) and a win with Dallas (1992 vs. the Bills.)
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| The Bill Cowher/Pittsburgh coaching tree is really beginning to take shape. Horton is a part of that. |
The first was in the 2005 season where he was under defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau as an assistant defensive backs coach. Some other notables from Bill Cowher's staff that season: Wisenhunt, offensive coordinator; Russ Grimm, assistant head coach/offensive line; Bruce Arians, wide receiver coach.
The second ring was under Mike Tomlin for the 2009 season as defensive backs coach. Other notes from that Super Bowl win: the opponent was the Arizona Cardinals, coached by Wisenhunt and the Steelers offensive coordinator was Arians.
Arians, by the way, could be another candidate for a team looking for a head coach, including the Bills. His name has not come out there because the Indianapolis Colts are in the playoffs.
He admirably took over the head coaching duties for the Colts this season while Chuck Pagano recovered from a bout with leukemia. Arians went 9-3 during that span.
Both Horton and Arians seem to be within the Bills range and, as with any coordinator making the jump, it's a gamble.
About the only thing one can do is give it your best shot.
Edit: New Team President Russ Brandon and his entourage are headed to Arizona to interview potential coaching candidates Wisenhunt, Russ Grimm and Horton. They may even say hello to hot college coach, Chip Kelly who's in town with his Ducks for the Fiesta Bowl.
Ariona Republic's Kent Somers joins the boys at WGR.
Wisenhunt's biggest failing, according to Somers, was a failure to replace QB, Kurt Warner. Offense is his forte.
On Horton, his philosophy is let's go hit the quarterback. Very bright, very confident. I think this is the year he'll be a head coach.
Grimm declined an interview with the Bills three years ago.
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