skinsguy
01-09-2008, 10:03 PM
We all know that Gregg Williams had a rough time as Buffalo's head coach, but I wanted to research a little more to find out what type of team he inherited in Buffalo and how it compares to the team he might inherit in Washington.
First off, the three seasons Buffalo had under Wade Phillips were pretty good seasons. The Bills went 10-6 the first year, 11-5 the second, and dropped to a medicore 8-8 in his third year. During this time, The Bills still had guys like Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, and Thurman Thomas. Doug Flutie was constantly challenging Rob Johnson for the starting QB position and actually left Buffalo with a .677 winning percentage. Toward the end of Phillips Head Coaching reign in Buffalo, the old faces of the Bills (Smith, Thomas, and Reed) left and were replaced by guys like Antowian Smith and Eric Moulds. However, these guys left when Wade Phillips left, leaving some holes for Gregg Williams to fill.
Now, the team that Gregg Williams inherited in Buffalo was not the same team that finished above .500 the previous three years and went to the playoffs two of those three years. Gregg had to start from scratch in some very key areas (WR, QB, RB.) that first season was horrible, having the Bills going 3-13. The second year was medicore with the Bills finishing 8-8 and barely missing the playoffs. Williams went 6-10 his third year and was fired. His defense in Buffalo ranked 5th, while the offense was ranked 30th.
When you look at the numbers, it kind of leaves you with a bit of uncertainity when it comes to Gregg Williams as a head coach. I believe in a situation where he has to rebuild a team, he's not the guy. At least not at that point. But, in relation to the situation here in Washington, we know several positives that can help Gregg Williams:
1. He's been here the whole four years on the coaching staff.
2. He's witnessed how Joe Gibbs builds solid teams, so he has something to go by now.
3. He will inherit a team of good players who are battled tested, have played together, have been to the playoffs, and who want Gregg to be the head coach.
4. He will still have Joe Gibbs in some form of fashion there helping him along (even though Gibbs wont be there constantly.)
5. He's got all his draft picks for the next two seasons.
6. He's got Al Saunders running the offense.
All in all, I believe this is a great position for any coach to come into. Gibbs left things in great shape, something he didn't do when he left in 1993, and certainly not when Spurrier left. I believe things can and will be different for Gregg Williams if he takes the position now. It won't be another Buffalo Bills of the early 2000's.
First off, the three seasons Buffalo had under Wade Phillips were pretty good seasons. The Bills went 10-6 the first year, 11-5 the second, and dropped to a medicore 8-8 in his third year. During this time, The Bills still had guys like Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, and Thurman Thomas. Doug Flutie was constantly challenging Rob Johnson for the starting QB position and actually left Buffalo with a .677 winning percentage. Toward the end of Phillips Head Coaching reign in Buffalo, the old faces of the Bills (Smith, Thomas, and Reed) left and were replaced by guys like Antowian Smith and Eric Moulds. However, these guys left when Wade Phillips left, leaving some holes for Gregg Williams to fill.
Now, the team that Gregg Williams inherited in Buffalo was not the same team that finished above .500 the previous three years and went to the playoffs two of those three years. Gregg had to start from scratch in some very key areas (WR, QB, RB.) that first season was horrible, having the Bills going 3-13. The second year was medicore with the Bills finishing 8-8 and barely missing the playoffs. Williams went 6-10 his third year and was fired. His defense in Buffalo ranked 5th, while the offense was ranked 30th.
When you look at the numbers, it kind of leaves you with a bit of uncertainity when it comes to Gregg Williams as a head coach. I believe in a situation where he has to rebuild a team, he's not the guy. At least not at that point. But, in relation to the situation here in Washington, we know several positives that can help Gregg Williams:
1. He's been here the whole four years on the coaching staff.
2. He's witnessed how Joe Gibbs builds solid teams, so he has something to go by now.
3. He will inherit a team of good players who are battled tested, have played together, have been to the playoffs, and who want Gregg to be the head coach.
4. He will still have Joe Gibbs in some form of fashion there helping him along (even though Gibbs wont be there constantly.)
5. He's got all his draft picks for the next two seasons.
6. He's got Al Saunders running the offense.
All in all, I believe this is a great position for any coach to come into. Gibbs left things in great shape, something he didn't do when he left in 1993, and certainly not when Spurrier left. I believe things can and will be different for Gregg Williams if he takes the position now. It won't be another Buffalo Bills of the early 2000's.