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Rex Ryan hired as Head Coach of Bills

Discussion in 'AFC East Rivals' started by Finatik, Jan 12, 2015.

  1. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Rex Ryan is officially going from Broadway to Buffalo.
    The Bills announced in a news release Monday that Ryan has been hired to take over as coach. The news came a day after the former New York Jets coach tentatively accepted the Bills' contract offer. Ryan replaces Doug Marrone, who stepped down abruptly on Dec. 31.
    "Rex brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position that we feel will be a tremendous benefit to our players and the entire Bills organization," owner Terry Pegula said in a statement released by the team. "He was very impressive during the interview process, as were many of the candidates to which we spoke. And we feel Rex is the best fit for our team."
    Ryan will be formally introduced during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday.
    The 52-year-old is a defensive specialist, and noted for a brash personality and having a deep loyalty to his players. Ryan had a 50-52 record, including 4-2 in the playoffs, in six seasons coaching the Bills' AFC East rival. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish last season.
    The Jets reached and lost the AFC Championship game in each of Ryan's first two seasons, but failed to make the playoffs since.
    The Bills are already making plans to assist Ryan on offense.
    A person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press that the Bills are finalizing contract discussions to hire Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Roman has not yet been signed.
    Roman spent the past four years as the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator, and was among the 12 candidates interviewed by the Bills last week. He is regarded as a good fit under Ryan, because the two share a similar run-first philosophy.
    Ryan's hiring provides stability to a team that endured a tumultuous 10-month stretch, which began when Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson died in March. Wilson's death raised concerns that the franchise might relocate under new owners before the Pegulas -- who also own the NHL Buffalo Sabres -- purchased the Bills for an NFL-record $1.4 billion in October.
    Then came Marrone's surprising departure following a 9-7 finish. Buffalo matched its best record in a decade, but missed the playoffs to extend the NFL's longest active drought to 15 seasons.
    The second-year coach quit by exercising an opt-out clause in his contract that kicked in once the Bills were sold. Marrone, who will be paid $4 million this season by the Bills, had concerns of were where he fit in the team's hierarchy. The Pegulas had expressed interest in hiring a veteran NFL presence to oversee the team's football operations.
    Former Bills general manager Bill Polian was a candidate to fill the newly created position before informing the Pegulas on Jan. 1 that he preferred staying in broadcasting.
    Marrone, coincidentally, has interviewed with the Jets, where he previously served as the team's offensive line coach.
    The Bills became the first of six NFL teams to fill their coaching vacancy this offseason.
    Ryan was also a coaching candidate in Atlanta and San Francisco.
    In choosing the Bills, Ryan is following in the footsteps of former understudy, Mike Pettine, who left the Jets two years ago to become Buffalo's defensive coordinator. Pettine spent a year in Buffalo before being hired to coach the Cleveland Browns.
    The Bills defense thrived under Pettine, and continued to be the team's strength under coordinator Jim Schwartz last season. Buffalo finished fourth in fewest yards allowed, and the defense produced three Pro Bowl linemen.
    Schwartz was a candidate for the Bills job, and his status is now uncertain under Ryan.
    Improving the Bills offense is Ryan's top priority, and no different than the challenge he faced in New York.
    Buffalo finished 26th in yards gained last season, four spots behind the Jets. And the quarterback position was a concern for both teams, and involving two players selected in 2013 draft.
    The Jets faltered behind Geno Smith, who was eventually benched and replaced by Michael Vick for three games before finishing out the season. In Buffalo, EJ Manuel was benched after four games and replaced by 10-year journeyman Kyle Orton, who has since said he plans to retire.
    Manuel has two years left on his contract and is the only experienced starter on the roster.
     
  2. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I think Ryan is a good coach and that D could be scary, but he's never demonstrated an ability to find or develop a good QB. I'm not sure Buffalo and their QB situation makes this a great fit.
     
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  3. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    They're hiring the SF offensive coordinator. He didn't work that well with Pumpernick so that may a bonus too. I could see Rex putting his mark on the Defense.
     
  4. SICK

    SICK Lounge Moderator

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    Yeah I am surprised....I figured Atlanta was a better fit for him. Weak division, established QB and weapons on O....he builds that D and they're deadly.
     
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  5. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Rex paired with that D is damn scary IMO.

    He's got Roman as his OC too apparently.

    Honestly, if he could get to the playoffs with Sanchez, as long as whoever the GM is there gets him a somewhat competent QB to work with in FA or draft, they're going to be a tough out for alot of teams in this league. I'm not sure what pieces they are missing aside from QB.
     
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  6. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Schwartz will get the boot now that Ryan is there. He could actually be on Miami's radar but I doubt that Philbin will make the transition away from Coyle.

    The Bills' defense will have to transition a bit to Ryan's scheme so that could set them back if a bit if they go 34. Weren't they a 43 this year with Darius and Williams on the inside?

    If anything it's probably good because now instead of anticipating a struggle against Buffalo's defense and a struggle against Rex's Jets defense, we'll have the two together. Yeah, the Bills D might get a bit smidge better, but the Jets will probably get significantly worse on defense without Ryan so that's probably a good thing for us in the long run.

    The real question is whether or not Buffalo gets a QB. I don't see them being an altogether different team under Rex Ryan if they continue to roll with EJ Manuel. Kyle Orton retired this year I believe so they are looking at having to find not only an OC but a QB as well.
     
  7. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    While I would be happy with Schwartz being out in Buffalo and replacing Coyle here... I highly doubt that will ever happen. I can't imagine any world where Philbin and Jim Schwartz personalities work well together.
     
  8. JimToss

    JimToss Thank You Chad Pennington

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    Hopefully the Dolphins can get Schwartz as DC.
    Then Miami can carry him off the field when they beat Buffalo next year.
     
  9. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Exactly, lol...can you imagine? :)
     
  10. finwin

    finwin Active Member

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    These guys aren't playing for hard Coyle and it showed. There was a lot of dysfunction.
     
  11. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    wouldn't be surprised if maybe Kapernik gets traded at some point...I know Rex loves him...roman for some reason stopped running the pistol but maybe there was something going on there this season.
     
  12. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    My thoughts exactly. But, I think Buffalo might actually be a good fit too. That D will be a top 10 D. Maybe top 5. Definitely gonna need help on the offensive side though. Really, kind of a similar situation to the one he was in in NY IMO.
     
  13. bran

    bran Senior Member

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    well we are used to getting our asses kicked by buffalo so that probably won't change, but without rex we may get to beat up on the jets.
     
  14. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    The thing is, they were already a top-5 defensive unit. There was not really a need to bring in Rex Ryan. They were doing extremely well with Schwartz.

    I don't think they were unhappy with the idea of moving forward with Doug Marrone and his staff.

    In all honestly, this could backfire if Rex once again neglects the offensive side of the ball and/or they have trouble finding the proper personnel to execute Ryan's scheme. They are to my knowledge a finely tuned 43--and that's not what he prefers.
     
  15. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    You think Ryan will make their D worse? They were already top 5 in both points and yards.
     
  16. shamegame13

    shamegame13 Madison & Surtain

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    Its been reported that Rex was never offered anything by Atlanta. Arthur Blank's mother passed away this past week and its rumored that they want to interview Dan Quinn and a couple other coaches still in playoffs before making a decision on Rex, Rex chose not wait and took the opportunity in Buffalo. That D was already top 5, they become top 3 with Rex. Offense for Buffalo should still be a major concern as Rex has inabilities to develop young QB's.
     
  17. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think this might actually wind up being about as good a move as could have been made in Miami's case.
     
  18. Maple Phin

    Maple Phin New Member

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    Rex is going to keep that defense tough because of all the talent he has, plus Kiki Alonso is going to be back next season. They had Pettine as a DC last year and that helped turn that unit around, so a switch back to a 34 with Dennis Thurman as a DC could work just as well. It actually reminds me of the Jets team that went to the AFCC games. They have some good running backs that do different things Fred Jackson (Thomas Jones), CJ Spiller (LaDanian Tomlinson). He's already got scarier WRs with Sammy Watkins. If they trade for Jay Cutler or sign a stop gap like Hoyer they could be good enough to sneak in the playoffs. When was the last time there's been a good amount of DC out there like Schwartz possibly or Dick LeBeau now, if there was ever a time to switch DCs.
     
  19. 13Machine8385

    13Machine8385 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I live in Bills country and every fan I have talked to so far is not happy with the hire. They really wanted an offensive coach up here. I still think its a good hire. He is a leader of men.
     
  20. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Love this Move

    Being a BUFFALO NATIVE I will love watching their steady decline

    Go Sexy Rexy Go

    Hell boys we may have just gone 10-6 with this move instead of 8-8
     
  21. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Ryan will kill Buffalo's defense just like he did the Jets
     
  22. Georgia Fin

    Georgia Fin Fin For Life

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    Or 6-10 if they resign Thad Lewis.
     
  23. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

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    They still have no QB.
     
  24. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    until he starts tinkering with it like he did in New York. Then they'll be in the low 20's just like they were 4 out of the 6 yrs he was in New York
     
  25. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Lewis from the Texans?
     
  26. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

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    I didn't hear all the details but I heard on pro football talk that there is speculation that Buffalo will pick up Sanchez who is a free agent. They said something to the effect that Ryan liked Sanchez and never lost confidence in him. I don't know, is Sanchez a free agent and what are the chances of this happening?
     
  27. Georgia Fin

    Georgia Fin Fin For Life

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    Yep, we made him look like a competent QB.:smackhead:
     
  28. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    zero
     
  29. shamegame13

    shamegame13 Madison & Surtain

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    Losing Revis was a huge hit on that D, and its on record that Rex wanted to re-sign Revis but the GM's ego was too big to let it happen. I also like how you fail to mention his success as a DC for the Baltimore Ravens.
     
  30. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    I agree. Their D will be pretty awesome. But, Ryan has no clue about offense.

    He would have been an ideal fit at a team like Atlanta, and let a good OC run the offense and he oversee the D.
     
  31. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

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    Atlanta is heavily invested in using their offense to win games. Rex's style of D requires a lot of resources being spent on defense, it's not an ideal fit at all.
     
  32. shamegame13

    shamegame13 Madison & Surtain

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    Plus, Rex was never offered a contract with Atlanta. Rex would of played a dangerous game if he waited for that job and then all the other jobs filled up and then Atlanta went with someone else anyways, even though Rex had broadcasting as a fallback, but it appears he wants to continue being a HC over broadcasting (plus, i'm sure there's a little animosity towards the Jets and being in the AFCE, he can really stick it to them two times a year, which made that Bills job have a little more appeal to him).
     
  33. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

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    Yep! What would really be crazy is if Marrone went to the Jets.
     
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  34. shamegame13

    shamegame13 Madison & Surtain

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    LOL Mine as well have just traded HC's, AFCE didn't really change much at all in that case. Can see it happening too, meanwhile... in Miami..
     
  35. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    Developing a QB is kind "overrated." I mean that in the sense that a QB actually has to have talent to begin with. Of course Ryan failed to develop Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith. Geno Smith is Geno Smith, a bust everyone could see coming a mile away. And Chip Kelly got as much mileage out of Sanchez as Ryan ever did. There's only so much you can do to develop a player, who doesn't have the tangible skills to be great, to begin with. If you give Rex Ryan, Andrew Luck, I think he would be able to help him progress with his knowledge of how defenses attack. I think Andrew Luck is every bit a star w/Rex that he is with Indy. JMO.

    Rex's biggest problem is he doesn't have the picks needed to get a top QB prospect in this draft, for which there are only two. I foresee Buffalo being a dangerous .500 team under Ryan. They don't have the QB to be consistent on offense, but that defense can be very special. And that defense will make enough plays to give teams fits. I think it was a mistake to go to Buffalo given their situation w/out a QB or ability to acquire one, but clearly Ryan sees it different.

    I'm not happy to see him in the division. I know that much.
     
  36. Clark Kent

    Clark Kent Fighter of the Nightman

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    Rex didn't kill the NYJ defense. Poor salary cap management and bad drafting killed that defense. Neither of which Ryan was responsible for.
     
  37. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Can't argue that point. Just not sure why everyone thinks Rex Ryan is some kind of Defensive GOD. He had 2 good defenses in NY. The first two which he had nothing to do with building. Mangini built those. Starting in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and finally 6th years his defenses ranked in the low to mid 20's.
     
  38. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    There was a lot of chatter here in Atlanta before and after the interview. Was pretty known the fans would not have been happy with a Rex Ryan hire here in Atlanta.

    Except for on this board, most people I have spoken to about Rex Ryan think he is a mediocre coach.
     
  39. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    If you are referring to Buffalo and the Jets trading coaches, I would bet the Jets would be instantly much better then they were.
     
  40. DcDolfan420

    DcDolfan420 Banned

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    Very high. Sancheeze only got a 1 year deal from Philly. They're gonna look to improve their QB position. Right now they have Foles, Barkley, and Sancheeze. Sancheeze's contract is up, Barkley has shown nothing that would suggest he belongs in this league, and Foles has 1 last year on his contract, and cheap too. Because of the contract Foles will be on the roster. Barkley just sucks so he's kinda irrelevant, and as i've said they're gonna try and improve the position. That's why they probably won't resign Sanchez. Honestly, with Foles, they need a better number 2. It's entirely possible Sancheeze reunites with Sexy Rexy, but he sucks any way so it doesn't really matter lol.
     

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