"New" No-Huddle Bills Resemble '90s Greats

(Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

To anyone who was in attendance at this year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, it was obvious that the NFL's loveable loser, the Buffalo Bills, dominated the class of 2009.  Thousands welcomed career sack leader Bruce Smith and revered original owner Ralph Wilson Jr. into the Hall, cheering at any mention of the great teams of the 1990's.

For the Buffalo Bills organization, 2009 may be remembered as the “year of the throwback.”  This season, the team will celebrate its fiftieth year as a franchise. 

Buffalo players unveiled a new alternate jersey for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio that hearkens back to the days of Jack Kemp and O.J. Simpson.  The team plans to wear a home and away version of the uniform for three games during the regular season.

Ironically, the Bills’ coaching staff has prepared an even greater homage to the history of the team.  The tribute will not be in the form of a statue, an award or a jersey.  Instead, Bills head coach Dick Jauron has decided to reintroduce the “no-huddle” offense to the NFL.

The Miami Dolphins success with the “wildcat” offense may have something to do with coaches around the league experimenting with new methods.  However, there is nothing new about the no-huddle.  Jim Kelly and the powerhouse Buffalo Bills offense of the early 1990’s tired defensive lineman and frustrated defensive backs for years while executing the no-huddle offense to perfection. 

A no-huddle offense is only effective with an accurate, intelligent quarterback, a physically fit and highly mobile offensive line, an experienced receiving corps who can run precise routes and an athletic back who can catch intermediate passes in the flat while running between the tackles or pulling guards.

The no-huddle offense is designed to tire opposing defenses with near-constant motion and rush coverage assignments.  Defenses which do not adapt quickly to the scheme are simply confused, fall victim to mismatches and fail to account for at least one open man.  With a defense on its heels, the no-huddle can also incorporate a devastating rushing attack, as the focus is on the receiving corps.

Dick Jauron may have reinstituted this offense for this year’s Buffalo team after examining his personnel and realizing they bear a striking resemblance to the Bills' dominant Super Bowl teams.

While the present team may not be stacked with future Hall of Famers, each position is filled with more than capable individual talent, which only requires the right system to start functioning as a cohesive force defenses will respect and fear.

The most unfair comparison may be at the QB position.  Hall of Fame quarterback and foundation of the Bills’ franchise for over a decade, Jim Kelly was at the helm for the greatest years in team history, executing the no-huddle to perfection and popularizing the “K-Gun.”  He had a strong arm, delivering the ball quickly and accurately. 

Kelly could make all of the throws, but fared best when he could set his feet.  Kelly wasn’t particularly mobile and struggled throwing across his body.  Most importantly, he was smart and could see the gaps in coverage before they developed.

In 2009 the Bills will look to a relatively inexperienced QB in Trent Edwards.  In only his second full season as the starter and team leader, Edwards has all of the attributes to successfully execute the no-huddle offense.  Hailing from Stanford, he has the intelligence to continue to learn the system. 

Edwards is more mobile than Kelly was, but isn’t as precise on the long throws.  He is tough, returning this year from concussions sustained last season which may have contributed to his decreased effectiveness at the position in the last few games.

Edwards will need help from his offensive line and will rely on their ability to move quickly downfield after a play ends.  The O-line of the 90’s teams was anchored by probable Hall of Fame center Kent Hull, as well as other stand-outs like Will Wolford.

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