Bills News: Norm Chow Would Be Ideal for Bills' Stagnant Offense

Buffalo is currently searching for an offensive coordinator to replace Steve Fairchild—who left to coach Colorado State after two seasons with the Bills—and a great candidate might have fallen right into the organization's lap Tuesday.

Tennessee surprisingly fired Norm Chow, who spent three years with the Titans after making a name for himself as a college offensive coordinator from 1982 through 2005. Although Chow never lived up to the hype in Nashville (his offense ranked 17th, 27th and 21st the past three seasons), a lot of that was thanks to the Titans' lack of weapons. In 2007, even though the Titans won 10 games and made the playoffs, their offensive talent was somewhat abysmal. Quarterback Vince Young—who Tennessee thought would develop well as a passer under Chow—threw nine touchdowns against 17 interceptions, while the team had a set of mediocre running backs and receivers.

Meanwhile, the Bills' offense finished third to last (30th) in the NFL the past two campaigns under Fairchild, but it's not crazy to say the unit has more talent than Tennessee's. For instance, soon-to-be second-year QB Trent Edwards—coming off a decent rookie season in which he threw seven touchdowns against eight picks—is the type of signal-caller whom Chow has meshed beautifully with in the past. Previously at USC, Chow helped groom Matt Leinart, a cerebral QB and a good decision-maker like Edwards, into one of college football's best performers of all-time. Before that, Chow was known for tutoring such college and pro successes as Carson Palmer (USC), Philip Rivers (North Carolina State) and Jim McMahon (BYU).

A major reason Chow couldn't make Young into a big-time QB during the last two years is because Young, like Michael Vick before him, doesn't possess the tools to become one; instead, Young—no matter who his O-coordinator is—will likely always rely on his feet and improvisational skills to get by opposing defenses.

Edwards, on the other hand, has shown the ability to get the job done using his intelligence and awareness within the pocket. Those are the qualities Chow can work with and improve even further. Not to mention that Chow's game plans often bring out the best in running backs. That would bode well for the Bills' Marshawn Lynch, who finished a strong rookie year with over 1,100 ground yards in 13 games.

Some believe Chow will soon take the University of Hawaii's vacant head coaching position, but before he decides on whether to possibly grab the Warriors' reins, the Bills' Dick Jauron ought to make a strong push for him. After all, while Fairchild never proved himself as an offensive play-caller before he was hired by the Bills, Chow has done it time and again.

Chow's short reign over the Titans' offense didn't work out, but that doesn't mean Edwards, Lynch and wide receiver Lee Evans, among others, wouldn't reach their maximum potential under the 61-year-old's tutelage.

To sum it up, courting Chow would make perfect sense from Buffalo's standpoint. Sadly for Bills fans, though, the franchise they cheer for rarely does what it should.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

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