So let me get this straight

[LABillsFan]

GW was a DC
JG is the Bills DC
LeBeau might be brought into help the D side of the ball possibly as an Asst. DC

Gilbride is now the OC and QB coach

Does this mean than the Bills D is in such disarray that they need all these ex DC's to help out and the confidence in Gilbride is so overwhelmng that he now controlls 2 aspects of the offense?
I know the Bills are looking at some OL coaches, But to me if GW is a guru on the D side of the ball he should be looking to get all the experience he can on the Off. side of the ball.

I support GW myself, but I don't know if strengthening your assests ( a defensive mind)and not upgrading your weakness
(the offensive side), or in this case, relying so much on one person (Gilbride) is such a good idea.

[HenryRules]

IMO, for a veteran QB like Bledsoe, QB coach and offensive co-ordinator are basically the same thing so Gilbride really only has one job. Basically all Gilbride is gonna do is discuss the game plans and options for the upcoming game with Bledsoe ... I think very little time is spent teaching veterans the technical aspect of the game. Perhaps a QB coach might help Travis Brown ... but that's what Van Pelt is there for. This situation is similar to what most teams have so I don't think there's really a problem at all with it.

As far as the D side goes ... I think the idea of LeBeau is to help Gray with some parts of game-planning and probably to provide extra eyes in the booth on game day. This can only be beneficial in my mind as Gray has very little experience as a co-ordinator and may need some help with some of the nuances - i.e. he may be really good at coming up with a game-plan but doesn't recognize changes the offense is making as well as an experienced coach would (only an example, not saying this is or is not the real situation). Having a veteran to assist wouldn't hurt and if Lebeau is looking to get into a less intensive role, this wouldn't really require too much.

Also, there's no real cap or any restrictions (that I know of) on the coaching side ... so improving the defensive coaching does not prevent one from improving the offense either ... a beneficial situation presented itself so management took advantage.

[Kelly The Dog]

Well since you're being technical, and using mathematics, albeit I don't see why, on most teams there are four coaches on defense (DC, DB, LB and DL) and there are six coaches on offense (OC, QB, RB, TE, WR, and OL). The Bills have a few extra assistants on the defensive side to begin with, a third down specialist and an extra DL coach assistant but they aren't regular coaches.

[RedEyE]

Originally posted by HenryRules
IMO, for a veteran QB like Bledsoe, QB coach and offensive co-ordinator are basically the same thing so Gilbride really only has one job. Basically all Gilbride is gonna do is discuss the game plans and options for the upcoming game with Bledsoe ... I think very little time is spent teaching veterans the technical aspect of the game. Perhaps a QB coach might help Travis Brown ... but that's what Van Pelt is there for. This situation is similar to what most teams have so I don't think there's really a problem at all with it.

As far as the D side goes ... I think the idea of LeBeau is to help Gray with some parts of game-planning and probably to provide extra eyes in the booth on game day. This can only be beneficial in my mind as Gray has very little experience as a co-ordinator and may need some help with some of the nuances - i.e. he may be really good at coming up with a game-plan but doesn't recognize changes the offense is making as well as an experienced coach would (only an example, not saying this is or is not the real situation). Having a veteran to assist wouldn't hurt and if Lebeau is looking to get into a less intensive role, this wouldn't really require too much.

Also, there's no real cap or any restrictions (that I know of) on the coaching side ... so improving the defensive coaching does not prevent one from improving the offense either ... a beneficial situation presented itself so management took advantage.

Originally posted by Kelly The Dog
Well since you're being technical, and using mathematics, albeit I don't see why, on most teams there are four coaches on defense (DC, DB, LB and DL) and there are six coaches on offense (OC, QB, RB, TE, WR, and OL). The Bills have a few extra assistants on the defensive side to begin with, a third down specialist and an extra DL coach assistant but they aren't regular coaches.

Both of you make excellent points.

Question:

Could it be possible that melding the QB coaching responsibilities along with the OC responsibilities is a way to make room on the payroll and in the front office for LeBeau?

[LABillsFan]

Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that there is a lot of experience coming in to help the D, I'd like to see the same amount of experience brought in to improve the Off. A lot can be attributed to the lack of experience on the line and I know they will improve, but KG is NOT a brilliant stratagist and could also use some help in developing blocking schemes.

[BillC]

In politics we call them "Advisers"

[SABURZFAN]

[Typ0]

I think Gilbride was made QB coach for the complete opposite reason you guys do. He's being put in that position to make sure he is the one who is mentoring the QB we pick up in the draft directly. The offense is reasonably stable and he has instilled his system. Now it's time to start earning his money and doing some coaching. GW knows any guy that can make RJ look good must be a genius with young talent.

[The_Philster]

I don't know how stable the offense is considering how it went downhill as the season went on.