Mike
10-02-2012, 09:27 PM
Critical Analysis of Chan Gailey
After nearly 3 years on the job is time for some refection. When Gailey was first hired, much of the fan base was supportive after the Bills failed, once again, to lure a top HC candidate. Gailey came into town, and his southern charm and direct approach resinated with the fan base after years of listening the FO and Jauron beat around the bush. So three years after taking over, how are the Bills doing? Was it an upgrade, downgrade or a horizontal move?
Talent Evaluation:
If you watch the NFL closely, you will notice that most often teams specialize in evaluating a certain type of talent. For instance at one point the Bills were great at picking CBs. In the 1990's to early 2000's they hit on Nate Clements, Burris, Winfield, Jones, Smith, etc... however they could not draft a RB to save their life. I remember Bills nation waiting for the Bills to draft a legit RB and instead the Bills drafted A. Smith and in the process passing on PB RBs like Dillion and Barber. Well, boys this regime is no different at all, and unlike the top talent evaluators our expertise is very small indeed.
Excellent:
RB: Now all of the sudden we are great at evaluating RB talent, just look at our Rbs of the past decade: Spiller, Jackson, Lynch, McGahee, Henry all of whom are Pro Bowl esq.
Much Improved
O-Line: After year of strugling with our O-Line Gailey and his coaches know how to evaluate O-Line Talent.
NO Improvement:
TE/WR: This position remains unchanged. With Jaroun we had WR issues and 3 years later we still have them.
D-Line: Both Regimes have had a hard time drafting/developing DE talent.
QB: I believe Chan get more out of his QB however the talent is still not there, even after 3 years. There were opportunities, like drafting Dalton in the 2nd instead of A. Williams.
Taken A Step Back
Defensive Backs: Overall, Jaroun was decent with DB picks. He missed majorly on a few, but even those players turnout out to be ok players, such as Whitner. Greer was a good find, McGee was drafted in 4th round, Byrd was the word and surprised the NFL and set records with 9ints as a rookie, and B. Scott is a great UFA find. These days, were having a harder and harder time drafting and developing DBs. Aaron Williams looks overmatched, and the rest of the CBs are too younge to evaluate.
LB: Back in the DJ times our LB were better.
Special Teams: They are not special anymore
Game Planning/Coaching:
Improvements:
Offensive side of the Ball: Gailey has been able to turn a team of 'No Names', undrafted players into a unit that can score -unlike previous regimes- and compete. He is getting great results and is optimizing the talent he has.
Regression:
Defense: Defense has regressed each year since he has taken the job
Special Teams: Some regression as the Bills do not return as many kick offs/punts and have given up more.
X-Factor:
D.Jaroun was far more capable of getting his players to really play for him. Albeit most of his teams lacked talent and struggled. Being a defensive minded coach, his D units were above average to good while his Offenses struggled both in Buffalo and Chicago.
Gailey: he has been great at turning an awful offense into something decent and in the process turing the O-Line into one of the best in the NFL, however his team has regressed in all of the other areas.
Conclusion: Horizontal Move
After nearly 3 years on the job is time for some refection. When Gailey was first hired, much of the fan base was supportive after the Bills failed, once again, to lure a top HC candidate. Gailey came into town, and his southern charm and direct approach resinated with the fan base after years of listening the FO and Jauron beat around the bush. So three years after taking over, how are the Bills doing? Was it an upgrade, downgrade or a horizontal move?
Talent Evaluation:
If you watch the NFL closely, you will notice that most often teams specialize in evaluating a certain type of talent. For instance at one point the Bills were great at picking CBs. In the 1990's to early 2000's they hit on Nate Clements, Burris, Winfield, Jones, Smith, etc... however they could not draft a RB to save their life. I remember Bills nation waiting for the Bills to draft a legit RB and instead the Bills drafted A. Smith and in the process passing on PB RBs like Dillion and Barber. Well, boys this regime is no different at all, and unlike the top talent evaluators our expertise is very small indeed.
Excellent:
RB: Now all of the sudden we are great at evaluating RB talent, just look at our Rbs of the past decade: Spiller, Jackson, Lynch, McGahee, Henry all of whom are Pro Bowl esq.
Much Improved
O-Line: After year of strugling with our O-Line Gailey and his coaches know how to evaluate O-Line Talent.
NO Improvement:
TE/WR: This position remains unchanged. With Jaroun we had WR issues and 3 years later we still have them.
D-Line: Both Regimes have had a hard time drafting/developing DE talent.
QB: I believe Chan get more out of his QB however the talent is still not there, even after 3 years. There were opportunities, like drafting Dalton in the 2nd instead of A. Williams.
Taken A Step Back
Defensive Backs: Overall, Jaroun was decent with DB picks. He missed majorly on a few, but even those players turnout out to be ok players, such as Whitner. Greer was a good find, McGee was drafted in 4th round, Byrd was the word and surprised the NFL and set records with 9ints as a rookie, and B. Scott is a great UFA find. These days, were having a harder and harder time drafting and developing DBs. Aaron Williams looks overmatched, and the rest of the CBs are too younge to evaluate.
LB: Back in the DJ times our LB were better.
Special Teams: They are not special anymore
Game Planning/Coaching:
Improvements:
Offensive side of the Ball: Gailey has been able to turn a team of 'No Names', undrafted players into a unit that can score -unlike previous regimes- and compete. He is getting great results and is optimizing the talent he has.
Regression:
Defense: Defense has regressed each year since he has taken the job
Special Teams: Some regression as the Bills do not return as many kick offs/punts and have given up more.
X-Factor:
D.Jaroun was far more capable of getting his players to really play for him. Albeit most of his teams lacked talent and struggled. Being a defensive minded coach, his D units were above average to good while his Offenses struggled both in Buffalo and Chicago.
Gailey: he has been great at turning an awful offense into something decent and in the process turing the O-Line into one of the best in the NFL, however his team has regressed in all of the other areas.
Conclusion: Horizontal Move