fazzle 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 from ESPN.com Following a Tuesday meeting with owner Ralph Wilson, Mike Mularkey has accepted an offer to coach the Buffalo Bills. Mularkey emerged from his all-day meeting with Wilson and started calling Bills assistants Tuesday night to let them know that he was going to be the new head coach. Mularkey, most recently the Steelers' offensive coordinator, was in the final three with former Bears coach Dick Jauron and Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. The 42-year-old Mularkey won the job because of his past relationship with general manager Tom Donahoe and his bright offensive mind. Mularkey was a candidate for the Falcons' job and has been considered a hot assistant coach for the past couple of years. Mularkey played tight end from 1983 through 1991 for the Vikings and the Steelers. He started coaching in 1993 at Concordia and joined the Bucs as an assistant in 1994 and 1995. Bill Cowher hired him with the Steelers in 1996, and he eventually became offensive coordinator. For a while, the Bills were considering an experienced head coach after letting former Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams go after three seasons. Jim Fassel and Jauron were at the top of that list. Then their thoughts shifted to offense. Under coordinator Kevin Gilbride, the Bills offense dropped to 30th in the league this season and averaged only 15.2 points a game. Donahoe wanted an offensive coordinator to work with Drew Bledsoe, who will remain the Bills quarterback next season. Mularkey is expected to offer the defensive coordinator job to current assistant coach Dick LeBeau. He may also pursue current Steelers quarterback coach Tom Clements to be his offensive coordinator. Ugh. About the only positive I can see was that it was at least an offensive guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Woohoo. The Bears need to fill their vacancy so my team can keep its cooridinators(as Dale Neuhisal is likely headed to the Raiders) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NYU 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 My first thought on reading that topic line was "Oh shit. Will Jim Fassel even have a job next season?" A few weeks ago, he was the most sought after free-agent coach for the 2004 season. Now, all those teams that wanted him have filled up their coaching positions, and Fassel is left out in the cold. He really should have made a decision quickly before being pushed out of all these coaching spots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Fassel could've decided that he'd rather take a year off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Apparently Fassell was a really shitty interview for most of the vacant positions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Ugh. About the only positive I can see was that it was at least an offensive guy. Yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking, but if he can inject some new life into the offense, more power to him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 So now the Steelers will have to find new Offense and Defense Coordinators? Zoinks... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 It isn't who I wanted (Weis) It wasn't who I didn't want (Jauron) So my opinion is...I don't have one. He says he's going to offer Lebaeu the D-coordinator spot...so that's good. Just run the stupid ball. That's all I ask. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 I'll bet the papers are liking this. They'll have a sports page headline tailor made for when the Bills blow a couple of games: "A Bunch of Mularkey!" *Cue laugh track* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmy no nose 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 The Bills are going to run so many trick plays this year, it's going to be insane. On the Steelers he managed to get 2 into every game even with Cowher there who was against that stuff, imagine now that he's in control. It would've been better to see him in Atlanta to see what he could come up with for Mike Vick. He would've been catching passes every other game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 It isn't who I wanted (Weis) It wasn't who I didn't want (Jauron) So my opinion is...I don't have one. He says he's going to offer Lebaeu the D-coordinator spot...so that's good. Just run the stupid ball. That's all I ask. Why Weis? NE's offense was nothing to write home about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 It isn't who I wanted (Weis) It wasn't who I didn't want (Jauron) So my opinion is...I don't have one. He says he's going to offer Lebaeu the D-coordinator spot...so that's good. Just run the stupid ball. That's all I ask. Why Weis? NE's offense was nothing to write home about. It's been consistently solid and more so for the play calling at the right times that Weis brings to the table. The guy is great at calling the perfect play given the situation the offense is in at any time, also the screen passes are usually quite good for the Pats and the Bills could probably benefit quite a bit. Doesn't hurt that Bledsoe played under him either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted January 15, 2004 It isn't who I wanted (Weis) Why Weis? NE's offense was nothing to write home about. I don't want to put words in BPS' mouth but I think he respects the fact that NE didn't have a real solid RB and yet Weis was able to create a short passing scheme that took over for that. Or maybe its a whole different reason. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 It's as simple as he knows how to get the most out of his players. He also knows who to read a game...what I mean is...when the Bills played the Fins for the first time this year it was obvious that this was a field position game. There weren't going to be big plays...our genius decided to try halfback option passes and throw the ball all the time. I want a guy who can tell what needs to be done...and then go do it. New England has been in all different kinds of games the last few years...and he's had the right offense for most of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 But coaching goes beyond X's and O's. Weis may very well developed great offensive game planes for NE. However he was the offensive cordinator. Head coach is a different beast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 By that notion we could only have a handful of coaches in the pool and it can never be refilled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 Good point. I wasn't suggesting Weis or any new head coach shouldn't get an opportunity. Some less than others though. This is the case with all sports. It is a crap shoot when hiring a first time coach.J ohn Fox has worked out for Carolina, while Greg Williams was a flop for the Bills. Both men where cordinators for top ranked defenses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 I'd imagine Mularkey would make Bledsoe become the leading receiver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 That's the first thing I thought when they hired him... I don't see Bledsoe lining up as a wide reciever in the near future... HOWEVER...maybe it increases the chances of the Bills to take Josh Harris in the draft. They need a young QB...and this one can run/pass/catch. Plus...he's from my school...and I'd love to watch someone who can work with QBs mold him into something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 Is Josh Harris an Antwaan Randle El? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 No. He's jsut a QB that can run...but Bowling Green use him as a reciever on tricks and it worked out. I think they wanted to convert him to running back (or reciever...I can never remember) but he wanted a shot at QB. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 Harris is like 235 lbs. He'll likely remain at QB in the NFL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 I don't think you could convert him at this point...and since he's likely a day one pick the team that takes him wouldn't want to try. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 He's a QB. I know Ohio St recruited him too play safety. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 That's awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
