Bills to interview Doug Marrone

[Slim]

Per Schefter

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<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/marrone.png/'><img src='http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8069/marrone.png' border='0'/></a><br>

[NOT THE DUDE...]

who is that?

[kingJofNYC]

We should create a thread with all the coaches scheduled to have interviews.

So far it's Marrone and Horton with confirmed interviews.

[coastal]

Jablowme

[Slim]

who is that?

HC at Syracuse.

[Jeff1220]

Marrone is an extremely solid candidate imo...and not just because he's at 'Cuse. He has set the Orange in the right direction after they had been completely destroyed by Greg "Worst-football-coach-in-Big-East-history" Robinson. He was Sean Peyton's first OC of a potent NO offense before getting hired away by 'Cuse. He has background as an OL too. If he could get a nice staff together, I'd be happy with Marrone.

[notacon]

This is typical Bills mismanagement. This guy might be a credible candidate, but, after years of screwing around with piss poor head coaches, it's time to go for the sure bet instead of a hope and a prayer that some obscure college coach will work out in the NFL.

[better days]

Now that is the high profile star power HC the Bills were talked about to be hiring LOL.

[TacklingDummy]

Per Schefter

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<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/marrone.png/'><img src='http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8069/marrone.png' border='0'/></a><br>

He'll be fired in 3 years too with shLt at QB.

[The King]

I'm with Jeff great candidate. Sal was convinced he wouldn't interview here, whereas he just signed an extension.

[Jeff1220]

I wouldn't call Doug Marrone an obscure college coach. Like I said, this was the OC for the NO offense to start the Sean Payton era. Syracuse alum lobbied hard for him to come back and coach his alma mater.

[The King]

He's a culture changer.

[TrEd FTW]

Marrone's not obscure at all. A couple months ago, Peter King listed him as one of a handful of college coaches who would draw serious NFL consideration this offseason. Peter was correct.

[notacon]

I wouldn't call Doug Marrone an obscure college coach. Like I said, this was the OC for the NO offense to start the Sean Payton era. Syracuse alum lobbied hard for him to come back and coach his alma mater.

Maybe "obscure" is the wrong word choice. How about "untested". It's been proven difficult to move from the college ranks to NFL. This is not the time to hope that, just this time, this guy will be the exception and become an immediate success in the NFL.

I don't buy it.

This crappy organization needs a big, fat wake up call. Fan revolt. I would not buy a Bills ticket if it was $1. Send them a message. Start acting like a real NFL team, or sell the freakin thing!

[Jeff1220]

He has plenty of NFL experience as part of the Parcells>Payton coaching tree. "Marrone has received endorsements from men such as Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, Saints coach Sean Payton and Bill Parcells." http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=8795820&wjb

[notacon]

12 Successful College Coaches Who Were Busts in the NFL (http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/sports-successfulcollegecoachnflbusts/)

[better days]

Marrone is an extremely solid candidate imo...and not just because he's at 'Cuse. He has set the Orange in the right direction after they had been completely destroyed by Greg "Worst-football-coach-in-Big-East-history" Robinson. He was Sean Peyton's first OC of a potent NO offense before getting hired away by 'Cuse. He has background as an OL too. If he could get a nice staff together, I'd be happy with Marrone.

Yeah, Sean Peytons OC, that is as impressive as being Chan Gaileys former OC. What is his name again?

[Jeff1220]

If you look at the recent trend of guys who went from coaching college to NFL with some success like Pete Carroll, Greg Schiano, or Jim Harbaugh, one major similarity compared to many of the busts is their experience coaching (or in Harbaugh's case, playing QB) in the NFL.
I'm sure the number of bust coaches from NCAA has made many GMs understand what to look at a bit closer than before when hiring. They know that they can't hire a guy based on good recruiting efforts and just being able to out-talent the weaker teams. They have to hire a good coach. Even Bill Walsh started out as a college coach.

[cookie G]

A guy with a .500 record in the Big East.

I'm blown away.

[Extremebillsfan247]

Maybe "obscure" is the wrong word choice. How about "untested". It's been proven difficult to move from the college ranks to NFL. This is not the time to hope that, just this time, this guy will be the exception and become an immediate success in the NFL. I don't buy it. This crappy organization needs a big, fat wake up call. Fan revolt. I would not buy a Bills ticket if it was $1. Send them a message. Start acting like a real NFL team, or sell the freakin thing! It worked for the 49ers and Seahawks. Just saying. It's a different game now.

[Mahdi]

It worked for the 49ers and Seahawks. Just saying. It's a different game now.

Carroll actually had success in the NFL before going to USC and creating possibly the best program in the NCAA for years.

Harbaugh has NFL pedigree plus he took that Stanford program and turned them into a big time program.

Marrone does not have those credentials. And as someone said, working under Peyton as an OC is not exactly proving anything. Between him and Brees he probably had little input into playcalling.

[Scumbag College]

I think the Bills should interview guys like Marrone. He has turned around an absolutely dismal SU program into an annual bowl contender. I think Cowher and Gruden are pipe dreams in Buffalo, and I don't want any retreads like Lovie Smith or Norv Turner coaching Buffalo for the next couple of years. Marrone has gotten the most out of his players and they have played beyond their potential and don't quit. One of those "thinking outside of the box" coaching candidates.

[Jeff1220]

Carroll sucked in the NFL his first 2 times around as HC (but was a decent asst.) His Jets and Pats teams regressed and his style would be described as wishy-washy at best. Despite the fact that Payton called plays in NO, that doesn't change the fact that Marrone had success as an NFL asst. Many alumni wanted him at 'Cuse, but many casual fans were doubting him because they wanted a big name.
Marrone's record at 'Cuse only tells half the story. As King Bedard said, it was a complete culture change. They were run into the ground by Robinson, and anyone who watches 'Cuse knows how bad it was - this team has had a serious turn around under Marrone. They have begun to once again churn out NFL level prospects.
He wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but the Bills could do a lot worse than Doug Marrone.

[TacklingDummy]

Harbaugh has NFL pedigree plus he took that Stanford program and turned them into a big time program.

.

Did Harbaugh do that or did Luck do that?

[Mahdi]

Did Harbaugh do that or did Luck do that?
Who groomed Luck?

Plus its not just Luck that he developed. Look at how many standout players Stanford had under him. Plus the guy just had HC material written all over him since his time as a hard nosed QB with thick skin.

[jamze132]

We need to change the game. We need a HC who has WON GAMES AT THE NFL LEVEL.

A college coach may be the next best thing, but it's not the best thing for the Bills organization who has sucked ass for 13 years in a row.

[Night Train]

Queue the classic " I've never heard of him, therefore he sucks " response. Longtime NFL asst. who ran the Saints Offense. Innovative. In tune with the modern game. Good candidate.

Keep chanting Cowher, Billick, Lovie etc. That's realistic. They're coming here. Bet on it.

[Albany,n.y.]

Carroll sucked in the NFL his first 2 times around as HC (but was a decent asst.) His Jets and Pats teams regressed and his style would be described as wishy-washy at best. Despite the fact that Payton called plays in NO, that doesn't change the fact that Marrone had success as an NFL asst. Many alumni wanted him at 'Cuse, but many casual fans were doubting him because they wanted a big name.
Marrone's record at 'Cuse only tells half the story. As King Bedard said, it was a complete culture change. They were run into the ground by Robinson, and anyone who watches 'Cuse knows how bad it was - this team has had a serious turn around under Marrone. They have begun to once again churn out NFL level prospects.
He wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but the Bills could do a lot worse than Doug Marrone.
Carroll didn't suck with the Jets & Patriots. He was fired after 1 NYJ season. He took over a team in decline. The prior season they were 8-8 & he got fired for going 6-10. The next 2 years after he was fired, the Jets went 3-13 & 1-15. In 1997 Carroll took over Super Bowl loser NE after they went 11-5 with Parcells, who is a HOF coach. They won the division going 10-6 & lost their 2nd playoff game. They then regressed to a wild card 9-7 & were 1 and done in the playoffs. He was fired after going 8-8 in 1999. In 2000, with rookie Tom Brady as the 4th stringer, NE went 5-11 with another HOF coach, Belichick, before the Jets game in 2001 changed NFL history. So in both prior stints, the year after he left the team lost 3 more games than Carroll's final season. He had playoff teams in half of his 4 seasons & won 1 division title.

As far as Marrone, I'd be very satisfied with him being named HC of the Bills. The one thing I want to see in a college coach is NFL experience. It's the guys who have never been in the NFL who have had a bad NFL history coming in from the college ranks. I'd much rather take a chance with a college HC who has been an assistant & rose to a coordinator in the NFL prior to going to college than a guy who has never been on an NFL sideline before. I view Marrone as a better candidate than Chip Kelly, who has never been in the NFL.

[coastal]

I can see this hire along with a second round selection of Nassib who is Fitz 2.0

[better days]

Queue the classic " I've never heard of him, therefore he sucks " response. Longtime NFL asst. who ran the Saints Offense. Innovative. In tune with the modern game. Good candidate.

Keep chanting Cowher, Billick, Lovie etc. That's realistic. They're coming here. Bet on it.

He SUCKS because he was an Average HC in the BIG EAST. If he was any good, he would have DOMINATED that TERRIBLE Conference.

[hemi13]

A guy with a .500 record in the Big East.

I'm blown away.

I'm not defending Marrone by any means, but this guy has turned around the SU football program. Remember that Syracuse doesn't attract the top college players in the nation. I'm not saying he should be our next HC either, but he could be a good coach in the NFL someday.

[better days]

I'm not defending Marrone by any means, but this guy has turned around the SU football program. Remember that Syracuse doesn't attract the top college players in the nation. I'm not saying he should be our next HC either, but he could be a good coach in the NFL someday.

Yeah, well let him stay at Syracuse & continue to turn that program around. So far they are only half way there. When he wins a National Championship is when he deserves a shot in the NFL.

[Jeff1220]

In 1997 Carroll took over Super Bowl loser NE after they went 11-5 with Parcells, who is a HOF coach. They won the division going 10-6 & lost their 2nd playoff game. They then regressed to a wild card 9-7 & were 1 and done in the playoffs. He was fired after going 8-8 in 1999.


He ran a SB team into the ground...complete loss of control. The locker room was chaos because he was a softie and let the patients run the asylum. You are obviously going by stats alone and don't remember it personally. He sucked.

[cookie G]

Queue the classic " I've never heard of him, therefore he sucks " response.

Or the, "I have heard of him, and ain't impressed" chant.



Longtime NFL asst.

3 years as ol coach with the Jets, 3 with the Saints.



who ran the Saints Offense.

Lol. He didn't. It is, and has been, Payton's offense. He creates the game plan, he calls the plays.



Innovative.

Many are.



In tune with the modern game.

Whatever that's supposed to mean.



Good candidate.

Losing record in the Big East, .500 overall.

A team that finished 8-5 this year. In the Big East.

I don't mean to dog the guy, but damn. You're talking about a team that has had problems finding a coach for the last decade, and people want to play a wild card like this? I'm happy for the guy, good to see he's got Cuse winning a few games now, I just don't know how that qualifies him to run an NFL team.

Hell, if you're going the college ranks

...Kirby Smart has had the best defense in the country ever since he's been at Bama, has 2 NCAA rings since 2009, and will be playing for a 3rd in the next few weeks.

...If you want people who turn around programs, Bill Snyder did a far more difficult turn around at K-State, and did it twice.

...If you're that desperate, sell your soul to Saban.

[MidnightVoice]

I'd go for Bill Snyder - he is the only one nearly as old as Ralph

[dannyek71]

Syracuse was his "dream job"

As a Cuse fan, I hope he stays. Good coach.

[DraftBoy]

KC and Chicago expected to go after him hot and heavy.

[better days]

KC and Chicago expected to go after him hot and heavy.

WHY??????????????

[DraftBoy]

WHY??????????????

Per La Canfora both Emery and Pioli are huge fans.

[better days]

Per La Canfora both Emery and Pioli are huge fans.

I guess that would explain why both are hanging on to their jobs by a thread.

[Wolffman]

He SUCKS because he was an Average HC in the BIG EAST. If he was any good, he would have DOMINATED that TERRIBLE Conference.

When Marrone inherited the Orange in 2009 they were in horrible shape. They were one of the worst programs in the Big East at that point. He's brought them back from the basement to win 2 Bowl games in 4 years. Before his second year as coach, 2010, the Orange hadn't had a winning season since 2001.

College isn't like the pros, you can't sign a few FAs, draft a few rookies and turn the team around. It is still very difficult for Syracuse to recruit real talent due to their geographic isolation and relative weakness of New York and Northeast high school talent. He's done a good job competing with Big East schools with better recruiting and more resources like Pitt, WVU, and Louisville.

[Raptor]

Carroll sucked in the NFL his first 2 times around as HC (but was a decent asst.) His Jets and Pats teams regressed and his style would be described as wishy-washy at best. Despite the fact that Payton called plays in NO, that doesn't change the fact that Marrone had success as an NFL asst. Many alumni wanted him at 'Cuse, but many casual fans were doubting him because they wanted a big name.
Marrone's record at 'Cuse only tells half the story. As King Bedard said, it was a complete culture change. They were run into the ground by Robinson, and anyone who watches 'Cuse knows how bad it was - this team has had a serious turn around under Marrone. They have begun to once again churn out NFL level prospects.
He wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but the Bills could do a lot worse than Doug Marrone.


Taking two different teams to the playoffs is considered sucking now? lololol

Carroll got screwed over in both stops and now he is taking a 3 team to the playoffs

In 7 seasons his teams have made the playoffs 4 of those seasons. I wish we had that type of suckness as our HC

[Raptor]

By the way both KC and the Bears have Marrone near the top of their list btw

[better days]

When Marrone inherited the Orange in 2009 they were in horrible shape. They were one of the worst programs in the Big East at that point. He's brought them back from the basement to win 2 Bowl games in 4 years. Before his second year as coach, 2010, the Orange hadn't had a winning season since 2001.

College isn't like the pros, you can't sign a few FAs, draft a few rookies and turn the team around. It is still very difficult for Syracuse to recruit real talent due to their geographic isolation and relative weakness of New York and Northeast high school talent. He's done a good job competing with Big East schools with better recruiting and more resources like Pitt, WVU, and Louisville.

So maybe he is a good recruiter. That will not help him in the NFL. He should go Coach in the SEC if he wants to move up to tougher competition. The Big East is a JOKE. A HS Coach could coach there.

[Wolffman]

So maybe he is a good recruiter. That will not help him in the NFL. He should go Coach in the SEC if he wants to move up to tougher competition. The Big East is a JOKE. A HS Coach could coach there.

Did you even read what I said? My point is that he has beat teams with much better talent and has had success at a school where it is very difficult to do so. You have to look at the context of the situation. If he doesn't get an NFL job he will be hired by a big name school next year at the latest, unless he is truly committed to the Orange.

[Novacane]

I guess that would explain why both are hanging on to their jobs by a thread.


They will both probably be fired right after the draft!

[better days]

Did you even read what I said? My point is that he has beat teams with much better talent and has had success at a school where it is very difficult to do so. You have to look at the context of the situation. If he doesn't get an NFL job he will be hired by a big name school next year at the latest, unless he is truly committed to the Orange.

The context of the situation is he was a middling HC in a terrible College Conference. There is no evidence he can play with the Big boys. Even Successful Coaches from Big College schools like Steve Spurier have failed in the NFL.

[Jeff1220]

Taking two different teams to the playoffs is considered sucking now? lololol

Carroll got screwed over in both stops and now he is taking a 3 team to the playoffs

In 7 seasons his teams have made the playoffs 4 of those seasons. I wish we had that type of suckness as our HC

You don't actually remember as a HC do you? I give him credit for what he's done in Seattle...fantastic job there! But in NY and especially NE, he was bad. His playoff appearances with those teams have about as much to do with him as the Cowboys 3rd SB in the 90s had to do with Barry Switzer.

[Novacane]

If it's Wisenhunt or Marrone give me Marrone!

[Night Train]

...Kirby Smart has had the best defense in the country ever since he's been at Bama, has 2 NCAA rings since 2009, and will be playing for a 3rd in the next few weeks.

...If you want people who turn around programs, Bill Snyder did a far more difficult turn around at K-State, and did it twice.

...If you're that desperate, sell your soul to Saban.


Saban is the Defensive guru at Alabama and the 37 year old Smart dictates his policy. I know he's making close to 1 Mil at Alabama. Don't know what he can do without Saban holding his hand. No NFL experience.

Bill Snyder is older than Buddy Nix.

Saban isn't coming to the NFL.

[psubills62]

...Kirby Smart has had the best defense in the country ever since he's been at Bama, has 2 NCAA rings since 2009, and will be playing for a 3rd in the next few weeks.
I think the Bills would have a heck of a time selling a guy as HC who has never been a head coach at any level, and really hasn't spend all that much time as even a D1A coordinator.

[justasportsfan]

Success as a OC and success in turning a bad cuse program into a good one is a better resume' than Gailey had.

Like others have stated here, Cuse' didn't have the greatest program to draft the greatest players. Thats like saying he succeeded in making chicken salad out of poop.

[justasportsfan]

And as someone said, working under Peyton as an OC is not exactly proving anything. Between him and Brees he probably had little input into playcalling.

I wonder how good he and Mccoy are having had Brees and Peyton respectively. However, Marrone has proven to be successful as a HC after he left the Saints even though it's just syracuse.

[cookie G]

I think the Bills would have a heck of a time selling a guy as HC who has never been a head coach at any level, and really hasn't spend all that much time as even a D1A coordinator.

But apparently they'd have an easier time selling a guy who finished 4th in the Big East.

I love this plan!!

[psubills62]

But apparently they'd have an easier time selling a guy who finished 4th in the Big East.

I love this plan!!
More so than a guy who hasn't finished anything anywhere.

[Jeff1220]

Some people here were endorsing Turner Gil last time the Bills hired a coach, and he didn't coach at a school with half the reputation and competition as 'Cuse does.

[RedEyE]

I honestly don't see the draw to this guy. He's basically .500 in 4 years with a Big East team that has won the Pinstripe Bowl with an 8-5 record. That's below mediocre in my book. Unless they are considering him for an asst. position, I say NO.

[cookie G]

More so than a guy who hasn't finished anything anywhere.

Actually, I've been proposing him as DC for some time, not HC. But..if people are going to use a mediocre record in a bad conference as success, I'd just as soon take a guy who's had success.

Bama Defenses since 2008 (stats are national rankings)

yds/game pts/game

2012 1st 2nd
2011 1st 1st
2010 7th 5th
2009 1st 1st
2008 3rd 6th

[cookie G]

Some people here were endorsing Turner Gil last time the Bills hired a coach, and he didn't coach at a school with half the reputation and competition as 'Cuse does.

Were they? There were actually a lot of people in Kansas who thought he would be a better coach than Mark Mangino. I laughed at the time, but mostly because people here (in Kansas), couldn't quite grasp what Mangino had accomplished. Most thought they could just bring in an "up and comer" and he could take them to the next level.

We all know how Turner Gill worked out for the Hawks.

[psubills62]

Actually, I've been proposing him as DC for some time, not HC. But..if people are going to use a mediocre record in a bad conference as success, I'd just as soon take a guy who's had success.

Bama Defenses since 2008 (stats are national rankings)

yds/game pts/game

2012 1st 2nd
2011 1st 1st
2010 7th 5th
2009 1st 1st
2008 3rd 6th
I could get on board with Smart as DC, except I think the guys we need to build around are 4-3 guys.

I'm not saying Marrone should be HC, just found it curious as to why you brought up Kirby Smart in a HC discussion. I do think there's some merit to giving credit to a guy who is doing a decent job of rebuilding a CFB program, though I certainly understand people's reservations about Marrone, too.

[Night Train]

Actually, I've been proposing him as DC for some time, not HC. But..if people are going to use a mediocre record in a bad conference as success, I'd just as soon take a guy who's had success.

Bama Defenses since 2008 (stats are national rankings)

yds/game pts/game

2012 1st 2nd
2011 1st 1st
2010 7th 5th
2009 1st 1st
2008 3rd 6th

Maybe Marcell Dareus could tell us if it's him or Saban actually running the D down there.

[Figster]

In my opinion Ryan Nassib will transition to an NFL pro style Offense quicker then any other young QB prospect in the upcoming draft. Nassibs smart, tough, strong armed, and as we seen in his last bowl game, not intimidated by bad weather.

Myself personally, Pairing Doug Marrone together again with Ryan Nassib in Buffalo makes sense.

[better days]

In my opinion Ryan Nassib will transition to an NFL pro style Offense quicker then any other young QB prospect in the upcoming draft. Nassibs smart, tough, strong armed, and as we seen in his last bowl game, not intimidated by bad weather.

Myself personally, Pairing Doug Marrone together again with Ryan Nassib in Buffalo makes sense.

The Big East is just a SMALL step up from division II football. After 13 years of losing, I can't believe anyone would WANT the Bills to continue to do so by hiring a HC & drafting a QB that have never faced any REAL competition.

[Jeff1220]

Well, 'Cuse did beat Louisville this year (also Big East) who happened to just last night beat SEC Florida in the Sugar Bowl and has beaten Big East defector WVU like 3 times in a row. The Big East conference isn't very good, but to call it "a SMALL step up from division II football" is hyperbole at best.

[Figster]

The Big East is just a SMALL step up from division II football. After 13 years of losing, I can't believe anyone would WANT the Bills to continue to do so by hiring a HC & drafting a QB that have never faced any REAL competition.



Yet the Buffalo Bills plan to interview Marrone and was scouting Nassib vs Geno Smith at his last bowl game,

go figure.

[Wolffman]

The Big East is just a SMALL step up from division II football. After 13 years of losing, I can't believe anyone would WANT the Bills to continue to do so by hiring a HC & drafting a QB that have never faced any REAL competition.

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Big East is by far worst BCS conference, but teams are still top half of FBS. Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, WAC all clearly worse, historically.