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Here we are. Yet another season down the tubes. Circulating in the cesspit of seasons past with the refuse that is the entire TD era of Bills football. All that these last few games will determine will be how much we pay our new rookie project. Nothing to be excited about as rookies are crapshoots anyway. And precious few will fuel a team to a Super Bowl, which should be every GM’s goal.
As far as I’m Concerned TD is going to be looking for a new job this off season, likely the coaching staff will too.
Ralph Wilson has precious few years left, and knows it, he wants a Super Bowl, and he hired TD thinking he was getting Bill Polian version 2.0 . All you need to do is look at the Colts and Bills respective records to see how that’s worked out.
As a result I figured I’d write this little piece from the perspective of a new GM. Me. Yes, I know, pipe dream, I’d probably be 75th out of 100 perspective prospects to be considered (its not that big a league), and while that might sound like im stroking my ego, im not. In the NFL, only the top 5 even get interviews.
Well, since I’ll never be the GM of the Buffalo Bills, I thought I’d exercise my prerogative as a writer, to detail what I would do if I were hired to follow the TD experiment
Step 1: Evaluation of the coaching staff and statement on direction of the football team.
Generally speaking, I’m a firm believer in continuity. The successful teams in the NFL are the ones who have the lowest turnover on a yearly basis, in their front office and coaching staff. That said; the city of Buffalo and it’s fans have been treated poorly by the current staff and front office. In the interest of simple business motivated expediency, a full house cleaning may be the most desirable option.
The Front Office
-Fired-
Tom Modrak Assistant General Manager (the drafts and free agent signings have been mediocre at best, and that is his job)
John Guy Director of Pro Personnel (house cleaning)
Doug Majeski Coordinator of College Scouting (average at best drafts)
Gretchen Geitter Director Community Relations (the genius behind many of the Bills PR gaffs)
-Hired-
Tom Telesco Assistant General Manager (the man in charge of the scouting for the Indianapolis Colts drafts… our scouting dept needs to be re-examined, this is the man to do it)
TBD: Director Community Relations
TBD: Director of Pro Personnel (this will be largely up to Telesco)
TBD: Coordinator of College Scouting (this will be largely up to Telesco)
The Coaching Staff
-Fired-
Mike Mularkey Head Coach
Tom Clements Offensive Coordinator
Jerry Gray Defensive Coordinator
In the end, we need a clean sweep, but I will leave the ‘assistant’ positions to the new Coach to decide. The names on my list of head coaching candidates would be…
Cam Cameron Offensive Coordinator San Diego Chargers
Mike Zimmer Defensive Coordinator Dallas Cowboys
Bob Bratkowski Offensive Coordinator Cincinnati Bengals
Gary Kubiak Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos
Of that list, I would lean heaviest toward Mike Zimmer.
The Plan –
Offense
The Bills need a desperate influx of talent on the offensive line. The O-line is the one position in the NFL you can get solid production out of 10 and 12 year Vets, and also the one position you are least pleased about drafting high. As a result, I would lean heavily toward reconstruction through free agency. Especially since this year should be deep on the line. Even considering a nice chunk of these guys will be resigned… there should be solid o-line talent to pick up this off season. This years crop is highlighted by two probowlers, Steve Hutchinson and LeCharles Bentley, both of whom I would not hesitate to spend top dollar to bring into Buffalo.
Salary Cap Cuts – WR Eric Moulds, OT Mike Williams (both if they will not re-negotiate down their cap numbers… if they are to be cut it will save us almost 11 mil under the cap)
Bills Free Agent Options -
OL Trey Teague – let him leave
WR Josh Reed – offer an NFL min contract
QB Shane Matthews – let him leave
OL Greg Jerman – let him leave
Possible UFA Targets-
OG Steve Hutchinson – Seattle Seahawks
C LeCharles Bentley – New Orleans Saints
C Mike Flanagan – Green Bay Packers
OT/OG Jon Runyan – Philadelphia Eagles
OT Tom Ashworth – New England Patriots
OT Mike Pearson – Jacksonville Jaguars
OG Steve Neal – New England Patriots
OG Terrance Metcalf – Chicago Bears
Defense
The 46 defense experiment would be over if I had my way. The only identity our defense has had with Jerry Gray is inconsistency and poor discipline. I would prefer a coaching staff that would bring back the 3-4 defense if only because from a salary cap standpoint it is a ‘cheaper’ defense to run. Quality defensive linemen in the NFL regularly run in the 7 mil range, while linebackers generally top out at 5 mil. If the team were to shift back to the 3-4, we would have few to little holes in our defense to fill. Tim Anderson/Justin Bannon would do a solid job with the LE, Sam Adams/Ron Eduards at DT, and Kelsay/Denney at RE. Schobel would be moved to SLB, something he should be able to do, with his speed, Fletcher/Spikes at MLB, and Crowell at WLB, would make a formidable front 7. If the new HC were to stick with the 4-3, we would need to search for a DT in FA (something I might be tempted to do if only to get rid of perpetual bellyacher Sam Adams
Bills Free Agent Options
CB Nate Clements – Unless we shift to a 3-4 front (limiting the need for some front seven work) we will lose him, as he will receive a 10mil signing bonus and a 6.5-7mil/year contract in FA. Even if we do shift to the 3-4 it will be hard for me to justify spending this much on a CB, not named Sanders (circa 1995)
DT Ron Edwards – resign (may move to DE)
DE Ryan Denney – offer NFL min
DT Justin Bannan – offer NFL min
CB Kevin Thomas – resign
Possible UFA Targets-
DE/DT Anthony Weaver – Baltimore Ravens
DE/DT Larry Triplett – Indianapolis Colts
DB Jerry Azumah – Chicago Bears
DB Adam Archuleta – St. Louis Rams
Draft Targets-
OL, TE, DT, OLB, CB/FS
As far as I’m Concerned TD is going to be looking for a new job this off season, likely the coaching staff will too.
Ralph Wilson has precious few years left, and knows it, he wants a Super Bowl, and he hired TD thinking he was getting Bill Polian version 2.0 . All you need to do is look at the Colts and Bills respective records to see how that’s worked out.
As a result I figured I’d write this little piece from the perspective of a new GM. Me. Yes, I know, pipe dream, I’d probably be 75th out of 100 perspective prospects to be considered (its not that big a league), and while that might sound like im stroking my ego, im not. In the NFL, only the top 5 even get interviews.
Well, since I’ll never be the GM of the Buffalo Bills, I thought I’d exercise my prerogative as a writer, to detail what I would do if I were hired to follow the TD experiment
Step 1: Evaluation of the coaching staff and statement on direction of the football team.
Generally speaking, I’m a firm believer in continuity. The successful teams in the NFL are the ones who have the lowest turnover on a yearly basis, in their front office and coaching staff. That said; the city of Buffalo and it’s fans have been treated poorly by the current staff and front office. In the interest of simple business motivated expediency, a full house cleaning may be the most desirable option.
The Front Office
-Fired-
Tom Modrak Assistant General Manager (the drafts and free agent signings have been mediocre at best, and that is his job)
John Guy Director of Pro Personnel (house cleaning)
Doug Majeski Coordinator of College Scouting (average at best drafts)
Gretchen Geitter Director Community Relations (the genius behind many of the Bills PR gaffs)
-Hired-
Tom Telesco Assistant General Manager (the man in charge of the scouting for the Indianapolis Colts drafts… our scouting dept needs to be re-examined, this is the man to do it)
TBD: Director Community Relations
TBD: Director of Pro Personnel (this will be largely up to Telesco)
TBD: Coordinator of College Scouting (this will be largely up to Telesco)
The Coaching Staff
-Fired-
Mike Mularkey Head Coach
Tom Clements Offensive Coordinator
Jerry Gray Defensive Coordinator
In the end, we need a clean sweep, but I will leave the ‘assistant’ positions to the new Coach to decide. The names on my list of head coaching candidates would be…
Cam Cameron Offensive Coordinator San Diego Chargers
Mike Zimmer Defensive Coordinator Dallas Cowboys
Bob Bratkowski Offensive Coordinator Cincinnati Bengals
Gary Kubiak Offensive Coordinator Denver Broncos
Of that list, I would lean heaviest toward Mike Zimmer.
The Plan –
Offense
The Bills need a desperate influx of talent on the offensive line. The O-line is the one position in the NFL you can get solid production out of 10 and 12 year Vets, and also the one position you are least pleased about drafting high. As a result, I would lean heavily toward reconstruction through free agency. Especially since this year should be deep on the line. Even considering a nice chunk of these guys will be resigned… there should be solid o-line talent to pick up this off season. This years crop is highlighted by two probowlers, Steve Hutchinson and LeCharles Bentley, both of whom I would not hesitate to spend top dollar to bring into Buffalo.
Salary Cap Cuts – WR Eric Moulds, OT Mike Williams (both if they will not re-negotiate down their cap numbers… if they are to be cut it will save us almost 11 mil under the cap)
Bills Free Agent Options -
OL Trey Teague – let him leave
WR Josh Reed – offer an NFL min contract
QB Shane Matthews – let him leave
OL Greg Jerman – let him leave
Possible UFA Targets-
OG Steve Hutchinson – Seattle Seahawks
C LeCharles Bentley – New Orleans Saints
C Mike Flanagan – Green Bay Packers
OT/OG Jon Runyan – Philadelphia Eagles
OT Tom Ashworth – New England Patriots
OT Mike Pearson – Jacksonville Jaguars
OG Steve Neal – New England Patriots
OG Terrance Metcalf – Chicago Bears
Defense
The 46 defense experiment would be over if I had my way. The only identity our defense has had with Jerry Gray is inconsistency and poor discipline. I would prefer a coaching staff that would bring back the 3-4 defense if only because from a salary cap standpoint it is a ‘cheaper’ defense to run. Quality defensive linemen in the NFL regularly run in the 7 mil range, while linebackers generally top out at 5 mil. If the team were to shift back to the 3-4, we would have few to little holes in our defense to fill. Tim Anderson/Justin Bannon would do a solid job with the LE, Sam Adams/Ron Eduards at DT, and Kelsay/Denney at RE. Schobel would be moved to SLB, something he should be able to do, with his speed, Fletcher/Spikes at MLB, and Crowell at WLB, would make a formidable front 7. If the new HC were to stick with the 4-3, we would need to search for a DT in FA (something I might be tempted to do if only to get rid of perpetual bellyacher Sam Adams
Bills Free Agent Options
CB Nate Clements – Unless we shift to a 3-4 front (limiting the need for some front seven work) we will lose him, as he will receive a 10mil signing bonus and a 6.5-7mil/year contract in FA. Even if we do shift to the 3-4 it will be hard for me to justify spending this much on a CB, not named Sanders (circa 1995)
DT Ron Edwards – resign (may move to DE)
DE Ryan Denney – offer NFL min
DT Justin Bannan – offer NFL min
CB Kevin Thomas – resign
Possible UFA Targets-
DE/DT Anthony Weaver – Baltimore Ravens
DE/DT Larry Triplett – Indianapolis Colts
DB Jerry Azumah – Chicago Bears
DB Adam Archuleta – St. Louis Rams
Draft Targets-
OL, TE, DT, OLB, CB/FS
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