The Buffalo Bills have hired the 18th head coach in team history heading into what you could argue is the most important offseason in almost two decades. The hiring of Rex Ryan has been met with mixed reviews. Some find his boisterous, brash, and larger than life personality to be just what the team needs. Those people would say he brings a players' coach mentality and a bravado or confidence that will take this team to heights that were simply impossible under former coach Doug Marrone. Others will contend that he is a proven failure as he has a losing record in his career as a head coach. This group will tell you Ryan is a hopeless retread and his bagful of promises and his guarantee talk will wear down team morale and hinder long term success.
I'm not going to tell you either side is right or wrong. However, both sides are missing the big picture.
Any Bills fan can tell you exactly how long it has been since the team has made the playoffs. This number burns in the back of every fan's mind... 15 seasons. Most fans begin, end, and circle around this number in every conversation they have relating to their team. They all know this is the longest drought in the league, and they won't let anyone forget it either.
My message addresses those fans directly. Every fan who has lived through the pain and anguish over these past 15 seasons.
Now remember all the coaches that have come and gone in that time: Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell, Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone. They all have something in common. None were sought after. None of these coaches were a hot commodity of any kind. No bright minds or bold personalities and never a coach that chose the Bills over some other team of high profile.
The Rex Ryan hire changes that. Today. I'd tell you Ryan has more credentials than any of the coaches that have come before him since Marv Levy. He took a Mark Sanchez led team to two AFC Championship games. His defenses are always top notch. He demands a maximum effort from his players; and they give it to him. Rex Ryan chose Buffalo over Atlanta and San Francisco.
What that has done is change the game. The Bills are coming. Not the kind of coming that is polite filler by an ESPN anchor to avoid saying, "Bills fans, I'm sorry but your team is a tire fire." The Bills are coming. They are on the map and the Ryan hire validates that. A high profile coach with an impressive track record has picked the "lowly" Buffalo Bills over other teams that are just as ready to win a championship. Atlanta has a far superior offense to Buffalo from a talent standpoint. San Francisco has a comparable defense and a better QB than Buffalo as of today.
Rex chose Buffalo. That is all you need to know.
Now the real question is what can Greg Roman (who has also seen some great heights as an offensive coordinator) do with the cast of talent he has inherited with the Bills. He has no quarterback and don't try to tell me otherwise. Until that is resolved this team will not play in the playoffs. However Rex says the Bills are going, so get ready.
I don't doubt he will take this team to the postseason. In the event that he doesn't, just remember how far this team has come. Realize what the hiring of Rex Ryan truly means. Recognize your team is relevant again. Fly your flag.
No comments:
Post a Comment