A weekly feature from the Buffalo Bills Review where we’ll collect some of the headlines from One Bills Drive and offer our take on the latest Bills’ news.
The Team Is Coming Together
Coach Dick Jauron continues to assemble his team of coaching assistants this week. We have seen several new faces come in, a few old faces get some well-deserved recognition, and a few others depart. The drama continues to unfold daily from Orchard Park.
In the departure category, coaches Sam Wyche, Brad Roll, and Jerry Gray all will not be returning to the Bills next season. Gray has had several interviews and finally landed as a defensive coach with the Redskins, joining former Bills head coach Gregg Williams staff there. Wyche was a close friend of Mike Mularkey, and reportedly left in part because of the circumstances in which his friend left the team.
A few coaches were given new titles, like Special Teams coach, Bobby April. He now carries the title Assistant Head Coach. April was one of the candidates for the job given to Dick Jauron. April has been with the team a long time, and the Special Teams unit has consistently been one of the best in the league. It is a well deserved honor. Chuch Lester was also given a similar honor. He is also an Assistant Head Coach. Lester has been with the Bills for over two decades. Also, John Allaire was promoted to the Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Some of the new faces include new Defensive Coordinator, Perry Fewell. Fewell is a relative newcomer, but comes over from Chicago as part of Jauron’s former staff. New LB Coach, Johnny Holland was also with Jauron as a member of the Detroit Lions coaching staff. The Bills also hired George Catavolos as the new Defensive Backs coach, and Larry Zierlein as assistant Offensive Line Coach. Most of the new hires have a wealth of coaching experience, including Zierlein’s 35 years of coaching experience.
Let’s hope this transfers to a well coached team on Sundays in the fall.
Further Reading..
BuffaloNews.com (1/31) – Bills Pick Fewell To Lead Defense
Thurman Thomas Awaits An Unlikely First-Time Entry To The Hall Of Fame
This Sooner is hoping his entry into football’s Hall of Fame comes sooner than later. Former Oklahoma Sooner, and beloved Buffalo Bill will find out this Saturday at 2:00pm if he will beat the odds and be chosen as a first-year eligible member of the Hall of Fame.
Thomas certainly has the numbers. He finished in the top 5 or 10 overall in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage. He is second only to Jerry Rice in playoff yards from scrimmage. He led the league in that category for several straight seasons. Named league MVP in 1991. Thurman was a complete back. There’s no doubt he will end up in Canton.
But will it be this year?
“Eventually it will happen, I guess,” he said from his home in Orlando, Fla. “I’m not counting on it this year. You know me. It’s not something I will be mad about if it doesn’t happen. It’s out of my hands. I have no control over it. It’s great to make it to the final 15. If it happens the first year, that will be great. If it doesn’t, I hope it will happen soon.”
Buffalo fans will be rooting for #34 this weekend. He has made the wall of fame, and is certainly deserving of the Hall of Fame honors as well. We’ll see this Saturday if he will break tradition and join the likes of Joe Montana and Walter Payton as first-time eligible recipients of football’s greatest honor.
Further Reading..
BuffaloNews.com (1/29) – Call Waiting
Bits and Pieces
Don’t forget…
- Bills fans are encouraged to voice their opinions over the coming weeks in the BuffaloBills.com 12th Man Awards. This week, vote for this Rookie of the Year.
That’s a wrap for the this edition of TheRunDown. If you have any Bills news from this week, or comments on stuff we covered here, please add your comments below!