×

Local fans indifferent over hire of McDermott as head coach

Buffalo Bills NFL football team new head coach Sean McDermott addresses the media during a press conference, Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

For the 20th time, the Buffalo Bills will have a new head coach, as former Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator Sean McDermott agreed to take over the position late last week and was introduced to the area on Friday.

The hire has been met with mixed reviews amongst Bills fans near and far.

“You can tell just by watching the press conference that he is careful with what he says and pays attention to detail — two characteristics that Rex lacked,” Mike Green said. “He also said that he will run a style of defense based on the skills and strengths of his players. I always felt that Rex was focused on running the 3-4 defense, even when he didn’t seem to have the right personnel for it. So overall I’m optimistic.”

“I think I would have rather had them bring in an offensive head coach so we could better utilize the big offensive weapons we have, and then bring Jim Schwartz back to be defensive coordinator,” Dennis Brisky added. “He really had the players playing and using their talents. I would have liked to have seen (former Buffalo Bills’ quarterback) Frank Reich get a chance and he could have brought Schwartz in since they are both with Philadelphia now.”

McDermott, like Mike Mularkey and Doug Marrone before him, has no head coaching experience in the National Football League, but has worked on staffs that have had success, including the 2004 Eagles and 2016 Panthers, both of which made it to the Super Bowl.

“I am concerned that our offense is going to go downhill with the hire of a defensive coach,” Debbie Cole said. “We’ve watched the offense struggle for so many years and we are finally seeing improvements, so I’m worried that we are going to go backwards. I also followed the Panthers a little and it seemed like their defense wasn’t very good this year. So, overall, I’m not too pleased by the choice.”

The Panthers, in fact, did see a drop in defensive performance this year, as they fell from one of the top-performing units a season ago to 21st in total defense — they were the fourth-easiest team to pass on (268.2 yards per game) but the sixth toughest to run against (91.6 ypg).

“I’m completely numb to the Buffalo Bills. Nothing they do excites me, nothing they do annoys me. It’s probably the worst possible category for a fan to place themselves in,” explained Fredonia resident Mike Rukavina. “The new coach seems fine, but we’ve heard enough talk, we’ve seen enough promises fall well short of the ultimate goal and we’ve spent far too long hoping that for just one season we can cheer for more than the mirage that’s constantly being offered each and every Sunday.”

After missing the playoffs for 17 straight seasons, the longest current post-season drought amongst the four major sports, it’s easy to see why some Bills’ fans feel a bit put off by the team, the way it’s run, and those who run it, as neither the Wilson family, nor the Pegulas have been able to put a team on the field that has been good enough to play past the 16th game of the year since the 1999-2000 campaign.

“I wasn’t impressed with Anthony Lynn’s tryout against the Jets, so I’m glad he wasn’t the answer,” Brisky said. “People ask, ‘What do you think of McDermott?’ I respond, ‘I’ll tell you in September.’ With no experience, it’s a wait-and-see. He has to prove himself first.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today