7. Best innovator: Chan Gailey -- Gailey hasn't had much success in Buffalo, but that's not because he lacks creativity. This is the same man who created the "Slash" role for Kordell Stewart when he was a raw quarterback hoping to find a way to contribute to the Steelers in the 1990s. (Gailey was the team's offensive coordinator at the time.)
Gailey also was running the Chiefs' offense in 2008 when injuries forced him to rely on an unproven, unheralded quarterback named Tyler Thigpen for 11 games. All Gailey did at that point was junk his more conventional offense for a spread system that played to Thigpen's strengths and enabled the quarterback to throw 18 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions.
Now Gailey is working his magic again with Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. A backup for most of his first five seasons, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,000 yards with 23 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 2010. The simple truth is that no head coach is capable of doing more with less than Gailey. His problem is that he always keeps winding up with less.
Gailey also was running the Chiefs' offense in 2008 when injuries forced him to rely on an unproven, unheralded quarterback named Tyler Thigpen for 11 games. All Gailey did at that point was junk his more conventional offense for a spread system that played to Thigpen's strengths and enabled the quarterback to throw 18 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions.
Now Gailey is working his magic again with Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. A backup for most of his first five seasons, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,000 yards with 23 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 2010. The simple truth is that no head coach is capable of doing more with less than Gailey. His problem is that he always keeps winding up with less.
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