How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Million

[The King]

Very Interesting read. Stats don't tell the whole story but Saint Doug left a lot of unanswered questions.

In 2013, after enduring eight straight losing seasons, the last four of which saw records of either 4-12 or 6-10, the Buffalo Bills drafted what they believed was the number one quarterback in the 2013 draft. They selected EJ Manuel with pick 16 of the first round. He was the highest drafted quarterback by the Bills since they drafted Jim Kelly 14th overall in 1983.

Despite EJ Manuel posting the 4th best passer rating ever in NFL history for a rookie playing 3 games in weeks 1-3, and despite EJ Manuel excelling on 1st down unlike most rookie quarterbacks the NFL has seen, another rookie stepped in to break up the party. Rookie head coach Doug Marrone stripped Manuel of his ability to pass on the early downs after 3 games. And just like that, after 3 weeks, Marrone seemed to direct an offense which would ultimately render impotent Manuel's best chance for NFL success.

Full Article

[feldspar]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

What's Nate Hackett, chopped liver? I mean he called the offensive plays in general, didn't he? Not Marrone?

[Novacane]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

So glad he quit!

[Generalissimus Gibby]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I don't hate that guy, but I damn well hate how he just quit on us.

[Albany,n.y.]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I doubt this guy saw any of the games he's talking about.
If he had seen the Jets game, he would have known why the reigns were pulled back on Manuel. Like too many stat boys, the writer relies too much on black & white stats than actually watching the games.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I doubt this guy saw any of the games he's talking about.
If he had seen the Jets game, he would have known why the reigns were pulled back on Manuel. Like too many stat boys, the writer relies too much on black & white stats than actually watching the games.

You mean the same Jets game that Marrone abandoned pass blocking?

[better days]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

What's Nate Hackett, chopped liver? I mean he called the offensive plays in general, didn't he? Not Marrone?

It was reported that Marrone told Hackett to scale back his offense & be more conservative.

[Oaf]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

Warren Sharp is a smart guy. Cool article. Marrone was truly a typo for moron. What a setback we had to endure.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I swear to you Marrone and Murlarkey are the same guy.

[better days]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I swear to you Marrone and Murlarkey are the same guy.

Well, I have never seen the two of them in the same room.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

That was a fun read. It gives me hope that EJ Manuel is better than we think he his.

Very interesting stats, he's not cherry picking either.

EJ Manuel is very good at passing on 1st downs. I never knew that.

The numbers are quite obvious and point directly to Marrone's mishandling of the offense.

Not only was he arrogant, Marrone was a stubborn jerk that ignored the analytics department and disrespected their numbers along with everyone else at OBD.

EJ got off to a great start as a rookie. Doug Marrone effed him up.

16 days to go!

On a side note, I must admit that when Doug Whaley and Doug Marrone got in to a heated argument on the sidelines at training camp last year, I supported the wrong guy, and the wrong quarterback.

The Bills would have been much better off starting Manuel all 16 games last year.

[Mace]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

That was a fun read. It gives me hope that EJ Manuel is better than we think he his.

Very interesting stats, he's not cherry picking either.

EJ Manuel is very good at passing on 1st downs. I never knew that.

The numbers are quite obvious and point directly to Marrone's mishandling of the offense.

Not only was he arrogant, Marrone was a stubborn jerk that ignored the analytics department and disrespected their numbers along with everyone else at OBD.

EJ got off to a great start as a rookie. Doug Marrone effed him up.

16 days to go!

On a side note, I must admit that when Doug Whaley and Doug Marrone got in to a heated argument on the sidelines at training camp last year, I supported the wrong guy, and the wrong quarterback.

The Bills would have been much better off starting Manuel all 16 games last year.

Without getting into another detailed argument about it (as I go into too much detail), the proof will be in the pudding anyway this year, I still don't think Manuel has ever so much been consistently anything (like bad) because he hasn't had a long run of games to break out of a learning pattern, the most starts he's had in a row for one reason or another is 5, his rookie year, in two pieces.

-no QB coach first year, transitioning from spread with minimal reads to high speed west coast reads under center, no vet mentor
-bad QB coach 2nd year, bipolar offensive philosophy, vet who doesn't mentor so just watch
-real QB coach 3rd year (if of dubious quality atm imho), new offense again, new vet unknown in terms of mentoring

He came out as a developmental prospect and wasn't developed. Cut down on his mistakes to some extent unfortunately losing his confidence and becoming a Trent Edwards, we want you to run, no don't run, air it out, no don't air it out and make mistakes, you're trying too hard not to make mistakes, ok go sit down.....

To date the developmental project wasn't developed and now he has to produce anyway.

You get what you pay for, and that's what we did with him. I don't see it as his fault though now it doesn't matter, sink or swim kid, but I don't think he clearly busted yet.

Falls on the organization no matter how you look at it, Nix/Whaley, Marrone/Hackett/Downing.

If Manuel can make something of it after all this, I give him credit, and I'm rooting for him honsetly, even if it's unpopular to hope for him.

[Meathead]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

the problem is that defense was built for the playoffs. the offense wasnt bad but was crippled by an oline that couldnt sustain protection so you needed a qb to make relatively quick decisions

ejs last two games he was so bad he basically pulled himself. when youve got orton sitting right there you pretty much have to play him at that point. if the team was a real bottom feeder then you let ej play it out but they werent

[JoeMama]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

I have no hard feelings for Doug Marrone.

He got us to 9-7, which is more you can say for the previous two bums who collected paychecks from this franchise.

It ain't great, but it's something, I guess.

And look, he's going to pay for his sins. He's suck in JACKSONVILLE, FL with the JAGUARS. And me!

[GreedoII]

Re: How a Rookie Head Coach Derailed a Rookie Quarterback, then Vanished with $4 Mill

It was Russ Brandon's hire. Glad this clown is no longer running things. Also that old Hillbilly Buddy Nix was behind the EJ pick too so the combined efforts of these two idiots was the reason all of this happened as well as the lack of awareness and competency to draft a QB earlier than they did instead of giving a huge contract to a bum stiff like Fitz. Man these two ass clowns ruined this team for years.