Chan Gailey's Mission (Im)possible: How To Turn Around the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills named Chan Gailey to become their head coach yesterday. Now that the search is over, Gailey and GM Buddy Nix can sit down and begin addressing the numerous issues that need to be fixed if they intend to turn around the franchise and start winning again.

There is no pleasant way to put this, but there is such a long laundry list of issues, that I almost don't know where to start. So, for argument's sake, lets just say that each of these bullet points needs to be addressed, and some of these are more pressing issues than others. So, let's get to it, shall we?

1) Identify a Franchise Left Tackle

There can't be any worse feeling for a QB than to drop back in the pocket and have this feeling of dread that you are going to be absolutely drilled in your back in one to two seconds. A sense of panic takes over (think Trent Edwards here), and you start shuffling your feet and look for anybody you can dump the ball off to.

Having a stud left tackle on board will give the QB confidence to look down the field, allow his natural progression reads to unfold before him, and make a smart decision about where to go with the ball. The Bills should be looking to invest their No. 1 pick, which is the No. 9 overall selection with this player. To think we could have had Michael Oher in 2009 makes me sick.

2) Improve the Bills' QB Play

This can go in many directions. I will lay out three scenarios that are not out of the realm of possibilities.

a) Bring In a Veteran QB That Can Take Over the Offense

It could be done by either trade or free agent signing. Trade prospects could include a Donovan McNabb or a free agent signing like Jason Campbell or Chad Pennington. Somebody that would be an upgrade over the current Bills trio that can bring the Bills offense up to a higher level.

b) Work With What You Have

By improving the offensive line play, you might find your answer in one of the three existing QB's in Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm. If Edwards can find his lost confidence through Gailey, who knows?

But there is some school of thought that Brian Brohm needs the chance to play and he could be the guy. Fitzpatrick is strictly there to come in when injuries knock the starter out.

c) Draft a Future Franchise QB

Take a QB with a high ceiling in the draft, knowing that you are going to be bringing him along slowly. Use the next year or two to develop him and let him learn from whatever veteran you bring on board. If you draft one in the first round, you will probably be losing out on the stud left tackle you truly need to protect him.

3) Shore Up Your Linebacking Corps

The rush defense was anemic. They continued to get worn down and the lack of physical play by this group was evident all season long. If the tackle the Bills need is already gone by the time they pick at No. 9, they might want to think long and hard about Rolando McClain from Alabama with that first pick.

With the rate of injuries suffered by the linebackers this year, it makes sense to have a top flight LB on board that can come in. If they wind up going to a 3-4 defensive look, you will need another linebacker anyway, although that could actually become what Aaron Maybin does going forward.

4) Strengthen the Defensive Line

Although this unit supplied pressure on the QB this year and forced a number of hurried throws that led to interceptions, this is a unit that is getting old. Marcus Stroud is up there in years, Aaron Schobel is already contemplating retirement, Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay may not return. So this line needs to be fortified with some young talent.

5) Find a Punt Returner To Replace Roscoe Parrish

Parrish's game went into the tank in 2009. He has either lost confidence in his ability and can't seem to make up his mind about when to make a fair catch or not. His poor decisions constantly left the Bills starting drives inside their own 10-yard line, and his fumble cost the game against Cleveland.

I don't know what round he will go in, but Javier Arenas from Alabama showed some mad return skills during his career. The Bills experimented with a number of options while Parrish was in the dog house, and most of them didn't do much. You want to keep Freddy Jackson fresh so freeing him up from return duties makes sense.

6) Give Lee Evans Some Help

Terrell Owens may be gone for good. Lee Evans can't be an impact player if he is constantly drawing double coverage. The Bills need to identify another solid wide receiver to pair up with Evans. Josh Reed may not be back with the team. Although James Hardy and Steve Johnson possess potential, they are unproven. Owen Daniels is a free agent worth exploring.

7) Bring In a Defensive Coordinator That Will Attack and Apply the Pressure

Perry Fewell was making solid strides in improving the defense last year. I know about where we finished in the final stats. But due to an atrocious offense, the Bills defense was on the field for an additional 300 plus plays this year. That many extra hits from 300 pound gorillas will take their toll on anybody.

The turnovers rose dramatically, and that was due to pressure on the quarterback. It will be interesting to see who Gailey hires to head up the defense, and whether or not they stay with the 4-3 look, or switch over to the 3-4, or settle on something that has components of both.

The Bills need to be better at stopping the run, and forcing opponents into more third and long scenarios, where their outstanding secondary can come in to play.

8) Get Rid of the Dead Wood

With 80 players on the current roster, due to all of the I.R. replacements, there is plenty of dead wood to eliminate. Gailey will be reviewing tape soon to see who he wants to keep and who he needs to deliver a pink slip to. I expect a number of pink slips will be in the mail soon enough.

9) Explore the Bills' Surpluses To Address Areas of Weakness

The Bills do have some areas that they could trade from, namely defensive secondary and at running back. There is some sentiment for Marshawn Lynch to stay with the team and give the Bills two solid running backs, which is ideal if you are running the Wildcat formation.

Lynch continues to mystify the organization with his off-field antics, and it appears he is still up to his old tricks. A player that refuses to accept his obligations to be an outstanding citizen and role model is not tolerated in Buffalo and he may need a fresh start on a different team to wake him up.

Regarding the secondary, if the Bills decide to start George Wilson (a free agent) and Jairus Byrd as their safeties, that makes Donte Whitner expendable. If you packaged Whitner and a draft pick and someone else, would that be enough to land Donovan McNabb?

10) Win. Win. Win.

Nothing else Gailey does will have as much impact on how he is viewed by the Bills fan base, compared to being a winner. If he can turn in consecutive winning seasons and bring the Bills to the playoffs, the Bills fans will embrace him. That is all we want, is to be a winning team and to be back in the playoffs. 

11) Be an Anti-Dick Jauron

Show some emotion, demonstrate some passion for the team. Get excited. Let the team feel your fire and they will follow suit. Standing there on the sidelines like some stoic Indian totem pole just doesn't cut it anymore.

12) Change the Culture of the Players Mentality—Believe They Can Win Close Games

So often the Bills entered the fourth quarter of games this year tied or trailing by one score, only to fall flat in the fourth quarter. Whatever it takes to keep the team pumped up and the adrenaline flowing, you need to find a way to give the team confidence that they can win close games and can close out games in the fourth quarter.

13) Bring In a New Strength and Conditioning Program That Works

The Bills suffered at least 20 injuries that forced players to the Injured Reserve list during the 2009 season. Introduce whatever new programs that are being used by Olympic athletes that combine strength training, with cardio and stretching that will prevent so many injuries from occurring.

Granted, football is a contact sport, but the number of injuries the Bills suffered bordered on the side of ridiculous. If you need to use mixed martial arts, ballet, yoga, whatever it takes, keep an open mind and implement a dynamic program.

14) Get Your Entire Coaching Staff Identified

Once you have found the right teachers for each unit of the team, bring the players in to meet their coaches and find out what offseason programs you want them to focus on to be prepared for the new season.

For my money, the key hires I will be focused on are the defensive coordinator, the offensive line coach, the quarterback coach, special teams coordinator, and the wide receivers coach.

Hardy and Johnson need help in developing their game. We need to replace Bobby April with someone that will bring touchdowns back to the return teams. QB coach will need to develop Brian Brohm and anyone we draft. Offensive line coach will have a task in molding together this young unit that lacked cohesion in 2009.

15) Win the Line of Scrimmage

Winning teams typically control the line of scrimmage. The Bills had some moments where they ran the ball well, and stopped the run, but those were too few and far between. The Bills need to be stronger and tougher and that starts with the coach. Gailey needs to find a way to improve the team along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

16) Convert On Third Downs

The Bills were last in the NFL and it was a weekly horror show as to how few third down conversions the Bills were successful on. You could usually count them on one hand.

By having a more complicated and diverse offense, generating more positive yards on first and second downs, so you have a more manageable conversion left on third down would go a long way towards helping this team's chances.

17) Bring National Respect Back To the Franchise

This can happen in a number of ways. One way would be to start winning nationally televised games, which is something we have failed to do in 11 straight tries.

Leading the Bills to the playoffs would be a great way to bring respect back to the team. To read a description of the Bills that starts out with, "no playoff appearances in the past 10 years," is very hard pill for fans to swallow.

Another way to bring respect would be to beat playoff teams. I am not talking about beating the Colts in Week 17 when Peyton Manning sits out the final three quarters. I am talking about beating the teams that made the playoffs during the first 15 weeks of the season. Beating Tom Brady and ending the Patriots winning streak against us would be a very positive step in the right direction as well.

So, Mr. Gailey, there you go. You have your mission statement, and I have laid out all the steps you need to complete to make the Bills a winner again. We all wish you well in your future endeavors and ask that you make us proud, once again, to be Bills fans.