Coaching Staff Development

We are four days away from the opening of the 2007 free agency period. Naturally, most fans are concerned about the potential player additions and subtractions that will occur over the next 2-3 weeks. However, it is important to keep one thing in mind: more important than the players we bring in and let walk is the coaching staff. Specifically, a lot depends on how they develop in their second year as a group.

Throw Conservative Out the Window
Last season, with five different starting rookies at one point or another, the coaching staff (led by Dick Jauron, pictured above right) had to scale back a lot of their scheme in order to keep their team in games. With a full year under their belt, it is time for the coaching staff to lose some of its conservative nature.

I think we're beginning to see it already. Towards the end of the season, the Bills incorporated J.P. Losman into the offense in a big way; 12 of his 19 touchdowns came in the second half of the season, including a three-game stretch in which he threw seven.

We're also seeing the shedding of the convservative nature in the Bills' hard-line stance on certain players, most notably Willis McGahee. The coaches are willing to take the risk of losing players familiar with the scheme if it means that team chemistry will be easier to build. Thus is the case with McGahee.

Grow With the Team
It's fairly obvious that the Bills have one of the youngest teams in the NFL. With the likely departures of players such as Daimon Shelton, Nate Clements, London Fletcher-Baker and possibly even Chris Villarrial, the team has the appearance of getting even younger in 2007. With as much progress as the Bills made in '06, it will be a huge challenge to approach even similar success again - that's me being a realist for the moment. I'll save the "homer" for tomorrow.

With a lot of young players, it will be hard for the coaches to continue to break their conservative mold. Young players such as Losman, Lee Evans and Angelo Crowell will have huge roles next season. Even younger players such as Terrance Pennington, John McCargo, Keith Ellison, Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson will be relied on to develop into sure-fire starters and contribute at a high level. It is certainly feasible, but it is also difficult for a young coaching staff to rely on young players. Get used to it, Bills fans - we're getting better, but we're also getting younger. There will still be growing pains. It's on the coaching staff to mature this organization quickly.

Combine Update: Workouts Day 2
Quarterbacks, running backs and wideouts worked out yesterday, and once again there were some very stellar performances. Topping my list is underrated wideout Jason Hill (pictured left), an ultra-productive player out of Washington State. The one knock on Hill heading into the Combine was his supposed "lack of speed"; it's fair to say that the 4.32 he ran blew those ideas away. This kid just moved into Round 2 - he's going to be a sleeper pick. Love this kid.

One other impressive wideout was Robert Meachem of Tennessee. He pumped out a 4.39 40 time, cementing his status as a first-round pick. I also saw an interview he did with NFL Network - the kid is humble, focused and is going to make some team very happy. I'd put him right up there with the likes of Ted Ginn and Dwayne Jarrett.

At running back, I was excited to hear that Ohio State's Antonio Pittman had run a 4.40. I've always liked his skill set as a runner, and loved watching him play for the Buckeyes. I had been concerned with his listed time of 4.65, however; I think the Bills may target a player like Pittman should they end up trading McGahee.

Combine Wrap-Up
Two days of workouts remain. Linebackers and defensive linemen are working out today, with defensive backs taking the field tomorrow. Expect daily updates on those workouts. On Wednesday, I'll do a Combine Stock report, with analysis on the top 10 players who helped themselves most and the top 10 who hurt themselves most.

Thursday will be a preview of the free agency period. I'll detail the top talents available at each position and outline the top players I feel that Buffalo will target - including their own players. Friday will begin regular updates on the free agency ongoings.

And, as always - feel free to comment!