Division Rivals Make Coaching Moves
by John B on Jan 20, 2010 7:30 AM EST
Email
PrintThese moves won't really affect us until next season, but a pair of AFC East rivals made a major coaching hire yesterday.
Miami:
The Dolphins hired Mike Nolan as their defensive coordinator. Nolan worked in Denver last year, and turned the Broncos' defense from a liability into a top ten unit. He converted the Broncos into a 3-4 team. Miami already has a 3-4 system in place.
Nolan was the Jets' defensive coordinator in 2000. He also worked on the Baltimore staff with Rex Ryan for a time early in the last decade. Nolan was the defensive coordinator of an unit ranked near the top the league there until he got the head coaching job with the 49ers. Rex took his place on Baltimore's staff.
Nolan is an excellent defensive coach. His defenses have constantly been among the best in the NFL. He'll do good work in Miami with no adjustment to the 3-4 necessary. I could definitely see a guy like Cameron Wake having an Elvis Dumervil style breakout season.
The East just got even tougher.
Buffalo:
The Bills hired Chan Gailey as their head coach. The hiring of Mike Nolan by Miami is the typical sound decision you would expect from Bill Parcells. The Gailey hiring is the typical dumbfounding move I've come to expect from the Bills. I can't figure this out. Gailey's a proven mediocrity. He didn't win a Playoff game coaching the Cowboys near the end of Troy Aikman's career. He won more than 7 games as head coach of Georgia Tech once in six seasons and got fired. He's not a bad offensive coordinator, but why would a guy who couldn't win a weak college football conference is up to competing in a division with the Patriots, Jets, and Dolphins?
I get that Buffalo isn't a glamor job. It's one of the smallest markets in the NFL. Western New York isn't the most scenic place to live. Fine, it's tough to land a big name proven coach like Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan. Why not gun for a potential rising star than settling for a proven mediocrity?
This is what happens when your focus is on attributes instead of the end. I've heard the Bills were looking for an offensive guy with head coaching experience. Why not just find the best coach? Why narrow the parameters? Gailey has a decent track record as a coordinator and an unremarkable one as head coach. It sounds a lot like Dick Jauron when the Bills hired him. The only difference is Gailey is an offensive coach.
What are your thoughts on the hires?
9 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
New England
fired defensive coordinator Dean Pees. He is now in Denver.
Also, Bills Special Teams Coordinator Bobby April is now with Philadelphia.
and the home of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
I don't wanna rush to judge
But the Bills might made a wrong decesion with the new HC-Time will tell
However-Miami and Nolan??? Watch out for the Dolphins!!! They are almost rebuild their team-If Henne can play in the good-great QB level consistatly-They are the biggest threat in the long term for the Jets-(I hink the Patriots are on the decline right now. I think the AFC East is a “free for grab” division in 2010…
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 20, 2010 9:30 AM EST reply actions
I really think the Pats decline is a myth
They have a pretty young defense except for their d-line, and they’ll just add more pieces and develop talent like they have for ages now. On offense, Brady still has a couple of years left in him giving them time to develop a young QB, so what they need is more WR talent as Moss is declining and Welker’s future is a question mark at this point, and I guess OL talent but I don’t really know the situation there, it just sounds right to me. lol
But basically my point is that maybe they’ll be quiet for the next year or two, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them right back where they’ve been very soon.
One of the things about the Pats though was that they could get players who wanted to win a Super Bowl to sign with them for cheap. I think this may have gotten tougher for them to pull off anymore especially with the Division no longer guaranteed to them. The Jets and Dolphins have continued to improve.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
Nolan to the Dolphins was a very intelligent hire, he did some great things with the Denver defence last year. Still not sold that they have the players to be a top unit, but he will definitely improve them, especially in the secondary where they seemed to give up a 50 yard play every single game.
Chan hiring is just head scratcher, I have no idea why they made this choice, like you say, he is pretty mediocre. Should of gone with a young up and comer like Leslie Frazier
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
What a great hire by Miami
He’s an excellent defensive mind. I think excellent coaching and scouting will have that team on track as a playoff contender before a lot of people think or realize.
Gailey though I’ll just wait and see. He does know football. Maybe the Bills know something we don’t.
Division
The division remains one of the worst in the league…..Bills are going to be horrible for the next 3 years….Miami’s defense wasn’t the problem but they got a nice pick-up. Thank goodness NE is taking a dive as well.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Conan sends maniacal, Madonna-loving reporter to Super Bowl XLVI
- Rodney Harrison calls Rob Gronkowski out for dancing after the Super Bowl
- J.T. Thomas is pretty much the best person ever
- Jets congratulate Giants with full-page ad
- Justin Tuck gave out 80 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue to celebrate Super Bowl
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
