There was a rift between the organization and the fan base regarding the offensive deployment for much of the 2017 season. While many thought Tyrod Taylor was good enough to lead the Bills to the promise land, this was proven to be a fallacy after a poor display in the Bills’ first January game in 17 years.
Though Bills Mafia was ecstatic about being able to meaningfully jump through tables during the post-season, the organization was not satisfied with the outcome.
A few days after the game in Jacksonville the Bills held their annual year-end press conference. Understandably, the biggest talking points at the presser revolved around the futures of Taylor and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. General Manager Brandon Beane told the media he was not happy with the team’s offense and changes were looming.
(Watch video below from 3:46-4:15)
He mentions decisions were going to come quickly, and they did. Just days after putting together a game plan that accumulated a lousy 263 yards of total offense against the Jaguars the Bills fired offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.
Dennison was in his first year as coordinator for the Bills which boasted the fourth-lowest scoring offense in the league.
Dennison’s firing could be the beginning of a busy offseason on the offensive side of the football for Buffalo. The Bills definitely have the draft capital to land a high caliber quarterback in this year’s draft if they choose.
According to many draft analysts, this quarterback class is expected to be a stronger class than recent years. But before personnel changes occur, the Bills will need to find a new offensive coordinator to lead the much-anticipated new-look offense.
https://twitter.com/SalSports/status/951875787073912834
There are a few names that have been linked to the Bills in the past, but Bills beat reporter Sal Capaccio believe the Bills want an experienced coordinator leading their attack.
John DeFilippo- Quarterback’s Coach, Philadelphia Eagles.
Defillipo has become a hot name in the coaching world. The magic he’s produced by turning Carson Wentz into an MVP caliber quarterback caught the eye of many NFL executives. He’s been dubbed as a quarterback guru. DeFilippo has even been linked to conversations for Head Coaching positions, but if nothing comes to fruition he should be on the top of Buffalo’s list of candidates.
Bears are setting up an interview with Eagles QB coach John DeFilippo for later this week, sources tell me and @RapSheet. His work with Carson Wentz has made him a legit candidate.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 1, 2018
DeFilippo even checks the box in regards to being an experienced play caller. He was the offensive coordinator in Cleveland in 2015 and actually produced decent results with the Johnny Manziel/ Josh McCown led Browns with over 5,000 yards of total offense.
Buffalo has a chance to land a franchise player in the draft after acquiring a bounty of picks that can be used to trade into the top of the draft for a quarterback. There are a few big name QB prospects in the draft this year that the Bills can go and get if they feel one of them can change their franchise. If this is the plan, then John “quarterback guru” DeFilippo may be the Bills’ best option.
It’s also worth noting McDermott spent time in the Eagles coaching system early in his career. Though they weren’t in Philly at the same time the connection is still notable.
Mike Shula- Offensive Coordinator, Carolina Panthers.
This seems like a match made in heaven. It was definitely a shock when Shula was fired from the Panthers earlier this week after their playoff berth. Shula was with the team since Cam Newton came into the league in 2011. He was promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2013 after spending two years as the Panthers Quarterbacks Coach.
Shula is two seasons removed from drawing up an offensive game plan that torched the league for 500 points scored in the regular season. Then continued that success throughout the playoffs helping lead the team to the Super Bowl.
This is only speculation at this point, but Shula could be a package deal with Ken Dorsey. Dorsey was his Quarterbacks Coach in Carolina and helped develop Newton. McDermott knows both coaches well dating back to his tenure with the Panthers.
Rob Chudzinski- Offensive Coordinator, Indianapolis Colts.
Chudzinski is the definition of experienced.
The 49-year-old coach has been in the NFL since 2004. Chudzinski has worked for the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. He’s a two-time offensive coordinator and spent the 2013 season as the Head Coach of the 4-12 Browns— so basically a Super Bowl caliber team by Browns standards.
Chudzinski spent the last three seasons in Indianapolis as the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. Chudzinski assumed the role of coordinator midway through 2015 after Pep Hamilton was fired. Many would assume that if Chudzinski couldn’t boast a powerful offense with the Colts, what would make him make the Bills successful. Well, Andrew Luck was injured for a majority of Chudzinski’s tenure with the Colts. Luck and Chudzinski had one healthy season together and they churned out the sixth-ranked offense in 2016.
Chudzinski likes to run a balanced offense. Indianapolis didn’t have the balanced attack Chudzinski would have wanted. Which ultimately led to his dismissal this offseason. But Buffalo is a quarterback away from being able to facilitate such game planning. The Bills’ solid offensive line and bell-cow running back LeSean McCoy would give Chudzinski the luxury to put together a successful offensive plan in 2018.
Another reason why Chudzinski will emerge as a strong candidate is because of McDermott’s comments on the Colts coordinator following the snow game in December.
On December 7, 2017, before the #Bills played the Colts, HC Sean McDermott told a few of us that Rob Chudzinski is "one of the best — I feel like — in the NFL at what he does," and credits him for the development of Cam Newton. Full answers by McDermott on Chudzinski: pic.twitter.com/7KXEKPyz4v
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 12, 2018
If Chudzinski is tabbed as the Bills next OC I would expect a veteran behind the center week 1. Alex Smith? Kirk Cousins? We’ll have to wait and see.
Jim Caldwell- Head Coach, Detroit Lions.
The veteran coach is well qualified and highly respected around the NFL. So for a team looking to improve their offensive identity, Caldwell could be a good fit in the snowy city.
Caldwell is a two-time Super Bowl winner. One as a Quarterbacks Coach (Indy) and the other as an offensive coordinator (Baltimore). He also led the Colts to a Super Bowl in his first season as Head Coach after Tony Dungy retired. If it weren’t for a surprise on-side kick from Sean Payton or a pick six from Tracey Porter, Caldwell would have a Super Bowl hat-trick.
Caldwell has a plethora of coaching experience. He’s boasted big-time offenses everywhere he’s been.
Caldwell spent the last four seasons as the Head Coach of the Detroit Lions. His team finished the year seventh in scoring (410 points), and 13th in yardage.
However, If Caldwell is the OC of choice for McDermott I wouldn’t suspect a rookie quarterback to be their target this offseason. His three main quarterback in his coaching career have been Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco, and most recently 27-million-dollar man Matthew Stafford.
Side note: A Curtis Painter led Caldwell team isn’t pretty. Ask any Colts fan. So the Bills will surely need a strong QB if Caldwell is the guy.
Mike McCoy- Offensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos.
It was reported by BuffaLowDown reporter Josh Wilson a year ago that Sean McDermott was interested in bringing in Mike McCoy to run his offense last season. McCoy opted to john The Broncos staff instead. After a disappointing season, McCoy was canned in November and is currently on the market.
McCoy definitely fits into their wishes as a coordinator with play calling experience. McCoy was a Head Coach for three seasons with the San Diego Chargers before they announced their relocation last season. Though he didn’t have much success as the main man with the southern California team McCoy showed the ability to lead an offense when given the weapons to succeed.
The Bills want to revamp their offense and McCoy could have the opportunity to handpick the quarterback he feels can make them contenders.
How about filling in from within?
The Buffalo Bills running game has been the strongest part of their offense since, well, ever. Not really, but you catch my drift. As long as McCoy is healthy the running game is still the strength of the Bills offensive identity. So why not promote Bills running game coordinator and offensive line coach, Juan Castillo?
Castillo has plenty of experience coaching in the NFL at various different positions. He’s been a QB coach, running backs coach, tight ends coach, and an offensive line coach throughout his 23-year coaching career.
He was on the coaching staff of the Super Bowl XLVII winning Baltimore Ravens and has helped produce many quality linemen and running backs in his tenure in the NFL.
It’s also notable that he would have the most familiarity with the current roster.
Granted, this would be an unlikely target. Especially after McDermott and Beane stressed major disappointment in the offense altogether. Then again, those comments could have been a smokescreen so Taylor didn’t shoulder all the blame. Nonetheless, Castillo would be the best option if the Bills elect to fill the position from within the organization.
What’s interesting about these candidates is that it could be telling in which direction the Bills may take with their offense.
Next: Five Reasons The Bills' Season Came To An End
Hiring a guy like DeFilippo would be best if targeting a rookie. Whereas McCoy or Chudzinski may rather a veteran quarterback with experience running a pro-style offense. Only time will tell who the Bills ultimately dial in on as their next OC. In the meantime, who do you think should be the team’ offensive coordinator?