Well it certainly took longer than most franchises to complete their brand new coaching staff, but on Thursday the Buffalo Bills added the final big piece to the puzzle. George Edwards was named defensive coordinator.
So who exactly is this George Edwards person? Hang on to your hats.
There's a whole lot that I like about Edwards, his reputation and part of his past. In fact, it was the very start to his post-secondary football career that really jumped out at me to start.
After high school, Edwards signed on with Duke as a linebacker. For those that don't remember, that's where Steve Spurrier put in his reps before hooking on with the University Florida. So under Spurrier's tutelage, Edwards was once an honorable-mention All-ACC selection at linebacker and twice a special teams captain for the Blue Devils.
It takes a severely motivated and one heck of an individual with leadership to be a special teams captain. And not to mention, you need to be a tad bit crazy to run full speed at another guy running full speed at you and collide at full impact. And to be the head man of that unit? Needless to say I like it. A lot.
Edwards spent a total of five years with Spurrier, the four years at Duke and then started his coaching career as an assistant at Florida in 1991. From there he transitioned to Appalachian State, a notorious program in what was formerly Division I-AA. He worked for four seasons under the winningest coach in school history, Jerry Moore.
A quick stint back at his alma mater in 1996 as an assistant then led him to his first positional job in coaching. The University of Georgia scooped up Edwards to be the defensive line coach in 1997. With the Bulldogs, he was blessed by the talents of Marcus Stroud and Richard Seymour along that defensive line, who at the time were both freshmen in the system.
After just one season, Chan Gailey came knocking on Edwards' door. The newly appointed Cowboys' head coach gave him a shot at the professional level as a linebackers coach, his natural position. He assumed that post from 1998 to 2001. In 1998 and 1999, Dallas ranked in the NFL's top five in points allowed per game.
Edwards' next three stops all had something major in common. The next three head coaches that gave him a job as linebackers coach were all college football coaching defects. In 2002, Steve Spurrier brought him along to Washington to also double as the assistant defensive coordinator. Then in 2003, Spurrier made Edwards the full on defensive coordinator. In that one season, his only as the head of a defensive unit, the Redskins were 24th in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed.
When Spurrier was let go, former Miami Hurricanes head coach and then Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis asked him on to his staff in 2004. After Davis was let go, Edwards was forced to find another job.
This time it was former LSU coach Nick Saban. After agreeing to become the Miami Dolphins head coach in 2005, he also wanted the services of George Edwards as the team's linebacker coach. But this time after the former college coach flamed out in the NFL, Edwards kept his position through the next two coaches. He remained as the linebackers coach through the Cam Cameron 1-15 season, and then with current head coach Tony Sparano.
I think this tenure was the most important part to why I'm optimistic about the hire. The Dolphins, before the Sparano era, used a 4-3/3-4 hybrid defense. That means they utilized their personnel the absolute best way, and wasn't committed to a specific style. With Dom Capers as defensive coordinator in 2007, the team made more of a concerted effort to base out of the 3-4. Once Sparano and company took over, it was a complete switch to the 3-4.
So with all these scheme and philosophy changes, Edwards held steady, kept his employment and quite obviously impressed the Miami Dolphins brass with his passion and tenacity. Joey Porter was a Pittsburgh cast-off when he arrived to Miami, and he wound up lighting up the league's opposing quarterbacks for 17.5 sacks as a rushing outside linebacker.
Everything I've heard of Edwards implies that he's a fiery competitor that expects the most out of his players. Edwards also was just given the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator at one of the top college football programs in the country, under one of the best coaches in the country.
The University of Florida wanted him to replace the very talented Charlie Strong as their new defensive coordinator. I respect Urban Meyer almost as much as any college coach in the country, and if Meyer wanted this individual to lead some of the most talented players in the country, that's just another vote of confidence for the hire of Edwards.
Edwards is someone who is clearly well-respected around the league and at the age of 43 could be considered as an "up-and-comer." He's been utilized in systems that focus on finding the best fit for the players that are on the roster. So while the team will be based off a 3-4 defense as he has said, look for a lot of hybrid looks that could control the pace of the game once the right players are in place.
After all, you want the opposing team's offense to change their game plan based on your defense, and I think not being resigned to a certain scheme will do wonders for the Bills.
Now I'm not saying that this is going to be a home run pick of a defensive coordinator no matter what. But what I can say, is everything from Edwards resume´ is something that leads me to being optimistic about the future of the defense at the very least.
My only request? Go get Edwards a big 'ole nose tackle. Let's see what this guy can do.
this left me feeling optimistic also. not sure what took so long to make this hire, but let's see what happens!
02/05/2010 12:00AM
george edwards
i'm intrigued and somewhat excited.
02/05/2010 12:38AM
I agree
You sold me on this guy. The most significant to me is the interest by Urban Meyer.
02/05/2010 2:14AM
Not Bad!
Chan Gailey hasnt taken the field yet as coach, but he is putting together an impressive coaching staff so far. I hope Buddy really is the football guy so we can get some players in here. BRING IN DAVID CARR!
02/05/2010 6:49AM
penny pinching
another low budget coach. typical Bills move
02/05/2010 8:36AM
They waited because
they were taking him from a college program who was in the midst of national signing day. To have the defensive coordinator leave a program 2 weeks before national signing day may have lost Florida some recruits. They waited until National signing day was over.
02/05/2010 9:28AM
Bye Bye Bend Don't Break
It looks like Camp Cupcake is over for these guys
02/05/2010 9:34AM
A Couple Quick Moves
Play Williams and Johnson at the ends and play Stroud in the Middle. I don't think Marcus would have a problem putting on 30 more pounds, move Maybin to linebacker with polish power and Mitchell. Trade Schobel for more picks and get the linebacker from Bama. Were set, just tell Mckelvin to take a knee next time and were good.
02/05/2010 9:35AM
penny pinching??
who was out there with a big name that would have commanded alot of money your an idiot and need to get over the bills being cheap
02/05/2010 9:55AM
we're falling for it
buffalo propaganda
02/05/2010 10:51AM
GREAT!!!
So they'll lose their games by just 3 points.
02/05/2010 1:02PM
Linebacker track record
I enjoyed the article and gives me some hope for an improved defense. Tit is notable that under edwards both LeVar Arrington and Joey Porter had huge seasons. I like picking MsClain at 9 more and more. stick some fat ass in the middle we'll get better. Doug- Erie
02/05/2010 1:05PM
RE: A Couple Quick Moves
I agree with you accept for the Schobel trade. If he comes back he is a welcome piece for this defense. In the Tampa 2 that Perry Fewell ran, one of the elements they used was that "Sugar Blitz" (where the guys all stand up in the front 7, showing no pattern). What people who haven't done that do not realize is that was a Zone Blitz, which uses your DE's and DT's in some cases for coverage and such. Aaron Schobel would be fine in a 3-4 Arrangement, and for most definite passing situations we will likely see some form of a Nickel, either a 4-2-5 or a 3-3-5. Listen to this setup: Williams, Stroud, Johnson up front. Schobel, Maybin, Poz as your backers (as underneath zones or blitzers), and then your Secondary is any mix of the guys we know have produced in the worst of times. It gives you Meat and talent up front, and Speed and Meat with a head of steam hitting the line. I want them to make moves to improve, but in the event they can't get who they want, We aren't so bad off.
02/05/2010 2:05PM
nice guy
you sold me on this guy, let's hope he's does a good job. in the draft get a big NT.
02/05/2010 2:34PM
richard
seymour!!!!!!!!!
02/05/2010 2:56PM
Ok great, but can these players do it?
Name one player on our defense that is great. Or good enough to win in the 3-4 or 4-3? NObody Our SEcondary is the reasons we turned the ball over and scored on interceptions. These guys up front and in the middle are a joke!!
02/05/2010 2:58PM
Stupid
Who cares? This team SUCKS
02/05/2010 3:30PM
Only livings things that will be in the Ralph next season.....
....are crickets! You make your own bed this time Wilson. Anybody who buys tickets for this team might be interested in some nice swampland I'm selling in Florida too.
02/05/2010 3:31PM
The bird says...
Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
02/05/2010 3:54PM
4-3...3-4??
I dont understand why everyone is so gun-ho about the 3-4 defense. It is clear that the bills are not designed around that format. Personally I liked our defensive scheme last year. We obviously struggled against the run but that is due to our thin defensive line and our linebackers all getting injured. I think that this new staff should spend more time tweaking the offense rather than trying to improve a defense that was rated 2nd in NFL against the pass and needed a few less injuries to stop the run. It should be all about offense Chan, please believe son.
02/05/2010 5:28PM
re:4-3...3-4??
I don't get why we should accept the status quo. The 3-4 will be better, looks what it did for the Jets with very few personnel changes...
02/05/2010 6:15PM
Moves
Trade Lynch he's a NFL suspension waiting to happen. Trade Lee Evans. He makes a ton of money for a team that has no qb. Sign David Carr!!! He has a cannon for an arm and he can take a hit. He never had any protection in Houston and the coachingsucked.
02/05/2010 6:45PM
just prove it!
A beneficial outcome of the Bill's new staff will be that each coach knows he has something to prove. We will get their best effort. If I was a betting man, I'd bet they're watching game film right now. We may get better efforts out of them than out of some players. Don't count these guys out. They are hungry to prove they belong, and will not be complacent with error or waste. Go Bills!
02/06/2010 5:44PM
who are these guys?
Snooping around the Bills roster I noticed two guys I didn't even realize we had. Rashaad Young, nose tackle out of Pitt 6'2'' 315lbs and Lonnie Harvey Morgan St. 6'3' 342lbs. Would either one fit at the nose?
To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 1 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 2 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; tournament; WGR; Jeremy White; Golf; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 3 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy tips.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 4 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 5 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 6 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 7 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala; To prepare you for the WGR Celebrity Golf Tournament 2008, this video focuses on Hole 8 at Tri-County Country Club's course. Video hosts Jeremy White and Steve Warzala will share each hole's layout and strategy.; Golf; WGR; Jeremy White; Tri-County Country Club; Steve Warzala;
E-Mail
Print
