Doug Marrone: 'I'm struggling' to deal with anxiety of 4-8 record

[Orangeyes]

I really think that this 2013 Syracuse team would have been 9-3 or 8-4 had Marrone stayed.

That is not a knock on HCSS and his staff.

The truth is that anytime there is such a drastic change in leadership there are going to be quite a few growing pains for all involved including fans.

Doug won't be going to the playoffs and that has to hurt. I think he and his staff have done a wonderful job of changing the culture in Buffalo. They had a lot of close games that could have gone the other way and they also suffered injuries to key players.

I don't wish any bad on him, in fact with such a Syracuse connection I'm rooting for them to succeed.

Doug Marrone: 'I'm struggling' to deal with anxiety of 4-8 record

Close losses

23-21 New England

27-24 Cincinnati

34-31 Atlanta

They also lost to the Jets by a touchdown

They could be 7-5 or 8-4 but conversely they could have been 1-11 as they had close wins against Carolina (24-23) Baltimore (23-20) and the Dolphins (23-21)

All-in-all I think he has done a good job and I foresee a bright future for him and his staff

 

[Marsh01]

I really think that this team would have been 9-3 or 8-4 had Marrone stayed.

That is not a knock on HCSS and his staff.

The truth is that anytime there is such a drastic change in leadership there are going to be quite a few growing pains for all involved including fans.

Doug won't be going to the playoffs and that has to hurt. I think he and his staff have done a wonderful job of changing the culture in Buffalo. They had a lot of close games that could have gone the other way and they also suffered injuries to key players.

I don't wish any bad on him, in fact with such a Syracuse connection I'm rooting for them to succeed.

Doug Marrone: 'I'm struggling' to deal with anxiety of 4-8 record

The only two games we probably should have won were Pitt and Penn State. 8-4 was the absolute ceiling for this team. 6-6 in the first year of the ACC playing FSU and Clemson is a fine first season.

 

[Millhouse]

i'm looking forward to the day when he can catches up to the winning percentages of all time great Bill coaches like Dick Jauron, Chan Gailey, Mike Mularkey, and Gregg Williams

 

[SUFan44]

i'm looking forward to the day when he can catches up to the winning percentages of all time great Bill coaches like Dick Jauron, Chan Gailey, Mike Mularkey, and Gregg Williams

In fairness he does have the same winning percentage as Chan the Man.

 

[rundeal]

The only two games we probably should have won were Pitt and Penn State. 8-4 was the absolute ceiling for this team. 6-6 in the first year of the ACC playing FSU and Clemson is a fine first season.

In retrospect, based on the way the season finished, Northwestern and Georgia Tech might not have been losses - though they were beat downs on that Saturday, a different week, a different game plan, could have led to a different result. The ceiling was 10-2, not saying that's where they should have finished, but that was the ceiling...

 

[SWC75]

It's kind of like his first year here 4-8 with a 3 point OT loss to Minnesota and that Louisville game we lost by a point with a half dozen plays that could have gone the other way, including that one where he called a time out and we had a fumble recovery and one of our guys was on his way to score. He also faced a lack of depth and a large number of injuries.

 

[Orangeyes]

The only two games we probably should have won were Pitt and Penn State. 8-4 was the absolute ceiling for this team. 6-6 in the first year of the ACC playing FSU and Clemson is a fine first season.

Northwestern was the 2nd game of the year for the new staff and a quarterback who turned out to be a second stringer and threw for 4 interceptions, three of which led to Wildcat touchdowns in a 48-27 game. Minus those 21 points we're looking at 27-27.

 

[SoBristol]

I expect Marrone to find some missing pieces (draft and free agents) and make the Bills competitive next season. He knows his stuff.

As for SU in 2013, it is pure conjecture to say Marrone would have done better. Would he have brought in and started Allen or led with Hunt from game 1? Would his kicker make the extra point and FG against Pitt? Would Hackett call the throw-back against BC?

Marrone lost his share of close games in his tenure here -- maybe Shafer as head coach would have closed 2011 in better fashion. All conjecture.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

i'm looking forward to the day when he can catches up to the winning percentages of all time great Bill coaches like Dick Jauron, Chan Gailey, Mike Mularkey, and Gregg Williams

Obviously the answer is poll choice, but will Doug Marrone have a better career win percentage as a college head coach or an NFL head coach?

 

[44PRIDE]

In retrospect, based on the way the season finished, Northwestern and Georgia Tech might not have been losses - though they were beat downs on that Saturday, a different week, a different game plan, could have led to a different result. The ceiling was 10-2, not saying that's where they should have finished, but that was the ceiling...

Can you give us an update on how Alex is doing in Houston? How is his season going? What doesn the team think of him? What does his future look like in Houston and the NFL in general?

 

[rundeal]

Can you give us an update on how Alex is doing in Houston? How is his season going? What doesn the team think of him? What does his future look like in Houston and the NFL in general?

Alec is doing great in Houston - thanks for asking. Given the way the season has gone, we haven't talked much about the locker room stuff. He seems happy, doing everything he's supposed to be doing. Imagine he'll be in good shape to stay on the roster next season... I'd be surprised if there aren't some shakeups with the personnel after the season's over - but I've no inside info on that. Just like I avoided any inside info from the SU locker room as much as I could when he was there.

 

[Scooch]

I'm not a Bills fan, but I do pay some attention to them being an AFC East opponent of my favorite team. Maybe Marrone is "changing the culture", but the NFL is a ruthless, bottom line-driven league. Buffalo is 4-8, coming off consecutive 6-10 seasons. The NFL isn't college, through the draft and free agency you can transform a team pretty darn quickly. And I don't put a lot of stock in the "close losses" thing... its the NFL, most games are close. Good teams win their share of them.

Basically, he better win some more games next year.

 

[retro44]

In retrospect, based on the way the season finished, Northwestern and Georgia Tech might not have been losses - though they were beat downs on that Saturday, a different week, a different game plan, could have led to a different result. The ceiling was 10-2, not saying that's where they should have finished, but that was the ceiling...

I was going to point out the NW. game as we might have started their downfall a little earlier. GT would have been real tough though

 

[Whitey23]

if he and his family were so stressed at SU what did he expect in the NFL?
crazy.

 

[Rocco]

If EJ hadn't got hurt, I think they could very well be 6-6, 7-5. Jeff Tuel was laughable.

You can singlehandedly blame Sunday's loss on Stevie Johnson.

I think Marrone will be fine. Give him another year working with Manuel and some of the talented, young wideouts and that offense could really click next year.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

if he and his family were so stressed at SU what did he expect in the NFL?
crazy.

When you're offered your dream job as HC of the Buffalo Bills, you take it.

 

[Millhouse]

If EJ hadn't got hurt, I think they could very well be 6-6, 7-5. Jeff Tuel was laughable.

You can singlehandedly blame Sunday's loss on Stevie Johnson.

I think Marrone will be fine. Give him another year working with Manuel and some of the talented, young wideouts and that offense could really click next year.

Marrone blew two games because of an incredibly stupid fear of someone plucking Tuel from the practice squad. Marrone is laughable not Tuel. No coach with a brain in his head would put himself in that spot.

 

[Stern]

Until Brady and Belichick retire his ceiling is 2nd in the AFC East and a possible Wild Card spot. He should have taken another job in another division if he was offered one instead of the Bills job.

 

[Scooch]

Until Brady and Belichick retire his ceiling is 2nd in the AFC East and a possible Wild Card spot. He should have taken another job in another division if he was offered one instead of the Bills job.

Even as a Pats fan, that makes no sense. The Jets and Dolphins are perennially beatable. Even if the ceiling is 2nd in the division the Bills could still be a 10+ win playoff team...with the right management.

Next year is very important for Marrone. Almost every top coach in the league right now made the leap in year 2. A few did in year 3. That's the leash.

 

[Cuseregular]

Alec is doing great in Houston - thanks for asking. Given the way the season has gone, we haven't talked much about the locker room stuff. He seems happy, doing everything he's supposed to be doing. Imagine he'll be in good shape to stay on the roster next season... I'd be surprised if there aren't some shakeups with the personnel after the season's over - but I've no inside info on that. Just like I avoided any inside info from the SU locker room as much as I could when he was there.

miss seeing you and the Mrs. at the tailgates Sean. Hope all is well with you and yours.

 

[MadNY3]

In the NFL, the only way you change culture positively is getting wins.

He has not changed culture in Buffalo. If the Bills win out, that would say a lot, however.

 

[orangenirvana]

Marrone blew two games because of an incredibly stupid fear of someone plucking Tuel from the practice squad. Marrone is laughable not Tuel. No coach with a brain in his head would put himself in that spot.

Shocking.

 

[Millhouse]

Shocking.

do you think jeff tuel is better than thad lewis?

people are ragging on an undrafted rookie with terrible numbers and a terrible record in college. it's nuts - that's on the coach

 

[NineOneSeven]

Bills finish above .500 next year.

Very similar to his first season here. Couple of close losses. Hard to develop a winning culture when the team doesn't know how to win. Pile on the injuries and a rookie Qb, that doesn't help. Couple of plays go our way and we are 8-4, like OE said. Bills have been noticeably more competitive in the majority of their games this year. I think the future is much more bright than in recent years.

Next year: healthy spiller, another year of development for Manuel, keep developing Woods, hope injury bug holds off especially to our secondary.

As of last week, Bills had hit the opposing Qb more than any other team.

 

[orangenirvana]

do you think jeff tuel is better than thad lewis?

people are ragging on an undrafted rookie with terrible numbers and a terrible record in college. it's nuts - that's on the coach

No, I agree with you that it was a mistake in hindsight. But I'd stop well short of saying incredibly stupid, laughable, or brainless. Tuel looked good in his first preseason game and got some pub for it. And aside from that horrid pick 6 he looked decent against the Chiefs. He's funny looking but not nearly as bad as people make him out to be.