Thurman Thomas for RB Coach!

[Michael82]

I have heard that Thurman wants to get into the Bills organization somehow. Last year on WGR..he said he was interested in getting into coaching sometime and would love to come work with the Bills. Well, guess what...The Bills have a RB coach position open. Thurman would be great for that. He was always working with Ken Davis and Antowain Smith and other RB's to help them learn the position and teach them. Who better to teach Henry how to hold onto the ball properly and be the new RB coach then Thurman Thomas? I don't see any good coaches out there that are looking. I think we should bring Thurman Thomas in for an interview and see if he wants the job. It would certainly be a fan favorite decision.

The Thurmantor ROCKS!!!

[mybills]

Sounds good.
I'd like to see a new QB coach that can get through to Drew's thick head too! One who will drill the words...
"open your eyes and scope the field, and you won't need to hold onto the ball so long"...

[MelK]

My only issue with that woould be the direction of the coaching staff. We just canned a slew of guys because of a lack of experience.

I have nothing against Thurman, and would love to see him with the Bills in some capacity. If this was a veteran laden coaching staff we could afford to stash a guy like him and have him learn on the job.

[MelK]

Originally posted by mybills
Sounds good.
I'd like to see a new QB coach that can get through to Drew's thick head too! One who will drill the words...
"open your eyes and scope the field, and you won't need to hold onto the ball so long"...

Gilbride will be the QB coach this season as well as OC. He did a decent Job with AAron Brooks in New Orleans

[Michael82]

Well, maybe what Henry needs is a veteran leader to show him ball control. He needs someone who can help. And Steve Fairchild was going to re-signed anyways if he wanted to. He was never a RB coach, he wasn't even a Runningback. He was a former QB. I think Thurman may be the answer that our young RBs need. He can work with Henry on ball control and develop Joe Burns. Or even just bring him on as an assistant RB coach.

[The_Philster]

Originally posted by MelK


Gilbride will be the QB coach this season as well as OC. He did a decent Job with AAron Brooks in New Orleans

Gilbride never coached in New Orleans
Oilers QB coach 89
Oilers offensive coordinator 90-93
Oilers Assistant Head Coach/Offense 94
Jags offensive coordinator 95-96
Chargers head coach 97-98
ESPN analyst 99
Steelers offensive coordinator 00-01
Bills offensive coordinator 02-present

[Buffarama]

I'd like to have Thurman, but I doubt he could co-exist with Williams.

[MelK]

Whoops- my bad- I misread an older article about ex New Orleans QB Jeff Blake- The article (from last offseason) said Blake was considering Buffalo as a FA because he played for Gilbride -

It says later he played for him in East Carolina....

[ublinkwescore]

Didn't Travis Henry idolize Thurman Thomas?

Thomas would be a real motivator to Henry because Thomas has proven himself, and WILL be a hall of famer, and Thomas was on Travis Henry's favorite team when he was growing up. I know that the current regime seems to be looking for experience on it's coaching staff, but Thomas I think will do good even in his first year - and Thomas obviously has great love for this team - so I'm sure he wouldn't have any problem with slapping Henry upside the head when he sees him carrying the ball the wrong way. Henry has so much upside - he just needs to hold onto the damn ball!!

[The_Philster]

He was basically the RB caoch in 1997 when Elijah Pitts took ill and he did a much better job of it than Bishop Harris did in 1998 and 1999.

[BufBlue4ever60]

I think its a good idea, but the last thing that Gregg Williams wants is a coach that fans like more than him.

[Shiny Chicken]

Mike, I actually really like your idea. Despite his lack of experience at really being a coach... very few people know more about the fundamentals of running the football well more than Thurman... Plus you have the fact that Henry idolizes Thurman... runs in a very similar way to Thurman... Thurman also had a fumbling problem he had to work through... although not as severe. Thurman loves the Bills... wants to get involved with the organization and with coaching... it makes a lot of sense when you think about it...

Start writing letters to TD

[TigerJ]

Didn't Gilbride coach for the New Orleans Saints in 1896? Maybe that was his great grandfather.

Seriously, I vote for Thurman as RB coach. He was a player who had talent coming out of college, but responded well to coaching as he tried and succeeded at becoming a much better, more complete player. His game lacked nothing. He could run. He knew how to cut back. He could catch passes out of the backfield, or line up at WR for that matter. He blocked far better than a 5'10" 195 lb guy had any right to. I think he would be a natural teacher, in part because he appreciates how time, dedication, and good coaching made him a better player. I think he can communicate those things to a young player like Henry.

[ublinkwescore]

I'm all for it - bring Thurman Thomas to this organization as running backs coach NOW!!!

[northernbillfan]

Good points Mike.

Henry has a little something extra in him that most younger RB's lack. His stif arm is one of the best in the league, and he can spin like a Beyblade(tm). He just needs some veteran leadership.