Chan Gailey: Head Coach Brings What Buffalo Bills Needs

Of all the coaches in all the teams in all the world, the Bills pick Chan Gailey.

While Gailey lacks the glamour of Mike Shanahan or Jon Gruden—let alone Bill Cowher—he is, contrary to the thoughts of a number of fans, exactly what Buffalo needs as they continue looking for their first playoff appearance of this millennium.

Bills fans are shocked at the hiring of a coach that was little more than an afterthought in their interview process.  Cowboys fans are snickering under their breath; at least their lackluster coach was able to get them into the second round of the playoffs this year. 

Georgia Tech fans are able to give a "Good for You!" double thumbs up, wishing well a good, but not great, head coach.  They're not paying too much attention, though, as current head coach Paul Johnson has already taken them to a 20-6 record and one BCS bowl game appearance.

It's almost like asking a guy's ex-girlfriends about him, when you think about it.  One thinks he doesn't measure up, while another one hopes for good things, but is too wrapped up in their current beau to have any real interest.

Then there are the Chiefs fans; the ex that knows how great things could have been, but the timing was just all wrong.

Kansas City watched their 2008 season spiraling down faster than your kid's turtle down the garbage disposal (and if you know what movie that visual is from, you deserve a cookie). 

Former head coach Herman Edwards favored a conservative, ball-control offense which needs a massive offensive line, a mistake-free quarterback and a cross between a bulldozer and the Energizer Bunny at running back to be effective.

By Week Seven, the Chiefs had none of these things, if they'd ever had them to start with.  They had only taken the first steps in rebuilding their long-neglected offensive line, former All-Pro running back Larry Johnson wasn't impressing anyone, and their stable of healthy quarterbacks consisted only of the ultra-raw Tyler Thigpen.  Thigpen had played a spread offense in a college program that didn't exist until 2003.

Gailey was able to take an offense that had been outscored 179-61 in their first seven games and turn them around, scrapping the ineffective and ill-suited ball-control offense for a spread variant to utilize Thigpen's strengths and familiarity to the system. 

The Chiefs didn't win many more games that season (one, to be exact), but they only suffered one blowout the rest of the season. The other eight losses were decided by fewer than ten points—six by a touchdown or less.

Just before the start of the 2009 season, Gailey was dismissed from his role as offensive coordinator by new Chiefs head coach Todd Haley.  Haley, an offensive coach himself, went about installing his preferred scheme for Kansas City, while Gailey stayed on in a non-coaching role.

Maybe it isn't the most glowing recommendation, but two things should stand out to Bills fans.  First, the Chiefs thought well enough of Gailey to keep him on board in another capacity, even though he was no longer doing what he was originally hired for.

Second, and more importantly, Gailey was able to take next to nothing and field a competent, if not always successful, offense. 

In Buffalo, he will have much more to work with. 

Running back Fred Jackson started to come into his own this past year, and Gailey will be able to find how best to utilize his two quarterbacks, and make sure they are putting the ball into the steady hands of Lee Evans and Terrell Owens (assuming he stays around for another year).  And with a healthy defense in 2010, Buffalo should be able to quickly wash out the sour taste of 2009's 6-10 season.

The AFC East has quickly escalated into one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL.  The Dolphins took a step back this year, but are much improved from their 1-15 2007 performance.  The Jets are one win away from the Super Bowl, and New England is still one of the most dangerous teams to play in the league.  Buffalo needs to meet the challenge.

Chan Gailey can make that happen.  Take it from one of his exes.