Marrone and Hackett 10-steps removed from Super Bowl Contenders

Throughout the season, after dreams of relevancy danced through the heads of Bills fans over the summer, it was easy to see that the Bills were at least a few degrees removed from the upper eschelon NFL powerhouses.

With the hire of Head Coach, Doug Marrone, and his hire of Nathaniel Hackett, his offensive coordinator at Syracuse to be his right hand man, just where do they stand now, from a coaching standpoint?

How about some "analytics?"

Degrees of separation:

• Syracuse was in the 7th-ranked conference in college football under Marrone
• The Big East is a step removed from the average conferences in like the MAC and ACC
• Which is a step removed from the upper-level conferences like the Big-10, Big-12 and PAC-12
• Those conferences as a whole are, arguably, a step removed from the SEC
• And, as proven by their dominance over the three of the last four seasons, Alabama is at least one step above all the rest.

Alabama could, arguably, perform at a lower level in the NFL. The steps from the bottom of the NFL to the Super Bowl are as follows:

• The bottom-feeders of the league, KC, Jax, Oakland are a step removed from below average
• Buffalo is in the below average area and are a step from respectability
• Which is a step removed from average, teams like Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa Bay
• Who are a step below strong teams in flux like New Orleans, Pittsburgh
• Who are below the Division powerhouses like Baltimore, Houston and Atlanta
• They are a step below the Conference powerhouses/Super Bowl contenders like New England, Denver, San Francisco, Green Bay and Seattle

So how many steps removed are Marrone and Hackett?

At least nine, but we may call it 10.

Bills Head Coach names Offensive Coordinator

Here we go, Bills fans.

Head Coach Doug Marrone has started the process of building his coaching staff in his first foray into the NFL.

Before we get into his pick, let's see what he had to say about the staff. From Marrone's introductory press conference two days ago:

I think the main thing is, when you're the head football coach, you want to make sure you're truly the CEO of the football program. That you know what's going on on offense, you know what's going on on defense, and you know what's going on on special teams. From a management style, that's who I am. I have to make sure we know how to win games and make sure I'm managing all those three phases. I'll be heavily involved in the game-planning.

I will not call plays. But everything will go through me. I will be on the headset and will be managing the game and those game management decisions which can affect play calling will be handled by me. The coordinators will need to have thorough NFL experience, especially on the defensive side of the ball.'

"Thorough NFL experience."

Once again, "Thorough NFL experience."

Today, two days later, Marrone will have his first hire, Offensive Coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett.

Nathaniel Hackett is the son of former college head coach Paul Hackett and was Marrone's offensive coordinator at Syracuse.

Hackett's "thorough NFL experience" is as follows:

• Quality control coach for the Buffalo Bills under Dick Jauron
• Quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

and...wait for it...wait for it...

Keep your ass waiting 'cause that's it.

Granted, Marrone left himself an out, somewhat, when he qualified his presser quote by saying, "especially on the defensive side of the ball."

And, while talking with WGR's Sal Capaccio, he revealed what he was really looking for in his coordinators (1:25-mark,) "We're looking for someone who fits us." he said. "A lot of that is what their philosophy is and matching that with my vision for this football team."

How much of a better fit can you get? Hackett, obviously, matches his vision having been at Marrone's side at Syracuse.

Marrone continues, "I'm really looking for people who want to be here."

Certainly, a 33 yr. old coach with virtually no NFL coaching experience would want to be in Buffalo. Or Kansas City, Jacksonville, Oakland, etc.

The funny part of all this is the GR boys this morning.

The positive crew of Jeremy White and Howard Simon sounded nearly 100% behind the decision, with White coming out and saying, "I like it."

And the callers, most (through some heavy call screening?) were saying things like "Give them a chance" and "I've been a Bills fan for x-amount of years and this is refreshing." "No more retreads!"

Yet, I'd bet, that these same callers were thinking that Chan Gailey was way over his head. I know the boys at GR thought so and expressed that on numerous occasions throughout the season.

Gailey was completely outcoached often, especially by the likes of Bill Belichik and Rex Ryan. If a veteran like him is relegated to being a doormat for their division foes and the above average coaches in the league, how much moreso will Marrone and Hackett be?

Usually the top dog of any management team will get some freedom, especially with his first hire.

The big hire for Marrone will be his defensive coordinator. Let's keep in mind that the last three years saw this defense give up the second through fourth most points in franchise history.

I'd assume that acting GM Buddy Nix and GM-in waiting, Doug Whaley, will have much more of a say in the hire.

If not.

Hello 2014 #1-overall pick, AJ McCarron (and his Miss Alabama girlfriend.)