Debunking the Mularkey Myths

[LouGrant]

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The Buffalo Bills ended their search for a head coach Tuesday night when they offered Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey the head coaching position. Mularkey was a bit of a darkhorse candidate because he was under the radar immediately following the dismissal of Gregg Williams. Mularkey was the last candidate interviewed for the position, many days after some of the more publicized candidates like Jim Fassel, Charlie Weis, and Romeo Crennel.

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Buffalo Bills fans, many who have lived through some of the team’s darker moments in history, remain skeptical. Images of team scout Harvey Johnson named coach (twice!) leading the Bills to two of their worst seasons ever. The Tom Cousineau contract debacle – as the NFL’s only #1 overall pick spurning the league to play in Canada, or memories of Chuck Knox resigning in frustration over the team’s constant contract squabbles with players. All this history flood back for the old-time Bills faithful when remembering Ralph Wilson and his tight fiscal policies of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. So when the unheralded Mike Mularkey came along, many rumors and misconceptions followed....MORE... (http://www.billszone.com/YourSite/global/templates/view.php?action=YourSite_content&month=1&state=news&nid=8847)

[helmetguy]

Now THAT is objective analysis! Graet article!

[shelby]

This is an excellent article. :up:

[helmetguy]

That's our buddy "Bun-Bun" isn't it?

[HenryRules]

In all discussions about Mularkey, it seems to be assumed that our defense is going to be about as good as it was last year.

I think this is a very optimistic view. While I don't expect a huge dropoff ... last year, our team had 3 coaches that are going to be DC's in the NFL this year. Regardless of the impact one feels GW/LeBeau had on our defense, I still think that's a lot to make up for. I'm glad we kept Gray and I think out of the 3, he's the one I want to lead the Bills D in 2004. But I still expect a minor dropoff next year (I'm not saying they're going to be one of the worst D's in the league, but I don't think they'll be as good as last year)

[shelby]

Originally posted by helmetguy
That's our buddy "Bun-Bun" isn't it?


:up:

[Pride]

:bf1:

[baalworship]

Great article. I agree with every point you made except Weis vs Mularkey. As it turns out, the only coach we got that we wouldn't have had by waiting for Weis was Jim McNally. While I am ecstatic that he is here, I still believe Weis was a better choice.

Coaching is VERY important and let us hope that Mularkey can win what his password code is: Superbowl.

[zone]

Originally posted by HenryRules
In all discussions about Mularkey, it seems to be assumed that our defense is going to be about as good as it was last year.

I think this is a very optimistic view. While I don't expect a huge dropoff ... last year, our team had 3 coaches that are going to be DC's in the NFL this year. Regardless of the impact one feels GW/LeBeau had on our defense, I still think that's a lot to make up for. I'm glad we kept Gray and I think out of the 3, he's the one I want to lead the Bills D in 2004. But I still expect a minor dropoff next year (I'm not saying they're going to be one of the worst D's in the league, but I don't think they'll be as good as last year)

I agree ....

I am not very confident in Gray and his lets play 10 yards of the recievers "D". I would have liked to see someone in here that was looking to get aggresive.

[baalworship]

The one myth that the article didn't debunk was the Bledsoe theory. The theory that we didn't get the best coach, but the best coach to work with Bledsoe. I hope that Mularkey is a better head coach than Weis but I still believe that Bledsoe was a MAJOR factor in our coaching search and how the candidates were viewed. If this is the case, it's scary that our GM will mortgage the Bills future (Both salary cap wise and in finding the best head coach for the Bills) for a QB that appears in the decline and has been terrible in recent years against good teams.

[Dozerdog]

I don't think you get a coach to work with one player. The NFL is a league where you can't count on a player being here, regardless of who he is, for a long time- unless you give him a mamoth contract (like Moulds) that makes it virtually impossible to unload him.

Bledsoe isn't in that category(yet)-

There were a number of candidates out there - Weis, Fassel to name two- who could fit that description.

And I'm sure you never know what the draft will do- If Big Ben unexplicably falls to 13, the Bills would be nuts not to grab him.

If Drew refuses to budge on renegotiating the November $7 million, I'll guarantee you next year will be his last- regardless if he returns to pro bowl form or not

[shelby]

Dozer is a smart man.:up:

Who knew?:huh:

[socalfan]

Originally posted by shelby
Dozer is a smart man.:up:

Who knew?:huh:


I thought it was pretty obvious.

But when it is all said and done....we will know if Mularkey is a good head coach by what he is able to achieve first in setting up a staff and second the results of next season.


As for TD, well, what has he done so far in the last two drafts? And since this is TD's third hirer of a head coach, we'll now know if he would be better off flipping a coin by the end of next season.

[baalworship]

I am actually pretty confident that Mularkey will be a good coach. He is already assembling a decent staff. The question is, with Belichick in our division, will it be enough?

[Dozerdog]

Originally posted by socalfan
I thought it was pretty obvious.

But when it is all said and done....we will know if Mularkey is a good head coach by what he is able to achieve first in setting up a staff and second the results of next season.


As for TD, well, what has he done so far in the last two drafts? And since this is TD's third hirer of a head coach, we'll now know if he would be better off flipping a coin by the end of next season.

Take away his best draft year and..

You have to lookk at TD's 3 drafts- not just the last 2. Last year's draft class was very lame- most teams will walk away disappointed. If McGahee is all that and a bag of chips, he retains his genius title. You have to look at the entire crop of talent brought in last season as well- Free Agents included.

[The_Philster]

Originally posted by Dozerdog
Take away his best draft year and..

:rofl:

[socalfan]

Originally posted by Dozerdog
.........You have to look at the entire crop of talent brought in last season as well- Free Agents included.

I grant you that one should look at all 3 years. Schobel, Henry, Jennings, Williams, MacGahee, Reed, McGee, Kelsay and I think this is stretching it.....8 guys out of 24(?) drafted by a 3-13, 8-8 and 6-10 team....not very convincing.

Free agents....much better.

[Dozerdog]

Well- how does that compare against the rest of the league?

Are other squads getting starters/ performers out of their 5th, 6th, 7th rounders?

No love for Nate Clements?

[socalfan]

You can add Nate to the list.....

If you consider only the Bills division, then NE clearly has the best drafts over the last couple of years. The Jets are probably second, and the Bills third. The Dolphins have been a real mess since the Ricky trade and Wanny taking the lead.

[Dozerdog]

I'm sorry- but you can't compare the draft against 4 teams unless only 4 teams participate each year.

I agree NE has been great- the Jets draft last season stunk. Miami's stunk. You can't judge how well TD did by comparing him to New England.

[The Spaz]

You wouldn't have seen most of the Patriots rookies had it been not for all the injuries they sustained this year.

[socalfan]

I think you have a point there....but for rookies they sure did play well.

[socalfan]

Originally posted by Dozerdog
I'm sorry- but you can't compare the draft against 4 teams unless only 4 teams participate each year.

I agree NE has been great- the Jets draft last season stunk. Miami's stunk. You can't judge how well TD did by comparing him to New England.

Okay, even though I'm not particularly interested in the Oaklands, Seattles, Carolinas of the league...what I'll put together the list of teams that have retained their draft choices and the choices are starters. I am not looking forward to producing one of those meaningless stat posts...but...

[HenryRules]

Originally posted by Dozerdog
I'm sorry- but you can't compare the draft against 4 teams unless only 4 teams participate each year.

I agree NE has been great- the Jets draft last season stunk. Miami's stunk. You can't judge how well TD did by comparing him to New England.

Last I checked we had to win our div to make the playoffs (wildcard's too hard to get in the AFCE), so I think we need to do better than everyone in our division. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Lone Stranger]

This is a very thoughtful analysis and while I don't agree with all of the points it has much merit. My real concern at this point is TD himself whose record is nothing to brag about and whose drafts have been fair at best.

[Halbert]

I grade that article an A.

[Earthquake Enyart]

So everything I beleive is a myth, eh? :huh:

[The Spaz]

Originally posted by Earthquake Enyart
So everything I beleive is a myth, eh? :huh:

Yep!:chuckle: :snicker:

[zone]

Originally posted by fmr60
My real concern at this point is TD himself whose record is nothing to brag about and whose drafts have been fair at best.

You will not be saying that if/when WM becomes a premier back in the league

[elltrain22]

Everything i wanted to know, i now know. Great article. I can't wait until next season.