On New Year's Eve, Doug Marrone walked out on the Buffalo Bills after a promising yet ultimately disappointing season. His bold decision provided him the opportunity to get hired as a head coach for another team while collecting $4 million from the Bills in 2015, part of an opt-out clause originally built into his contract when he came to Buffalo in 2013.
The next Bills head coach won't need to rebuild the roster or start over.
This column outlines four things he must do immediately after being hired and the course of action he should take in the early stages of the offseason.
1. Employ the Schwartz: Before anything else, waltz up to and shake hands -- or maybe grab a beer -- with Jim Schwartz.
The last thing the Bills' super-talented defense -- that's getting back Kiko Alonso this season -- needs is its fifth defensive coordinator in five years.
If it isn't exactly broken, don't fix it, and in this case, keeping Schwartz allows the league's best defensive line to simply play and not spend time and effort learning a new "system."
Become Schwartz's best bud. He's a pretty down-to-earth guy. Get him into your "Favorites" on your phone.
His scheme "features" the defensive line, sprinkles in some blitzing and the wide alignment of the star defensive ends, Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes, is designed to funnel run plays back inside where the fine collection of linebackers roam.
The Bills' run-halting improvement in 2014 was likely aided by the addition of thumper Brandon Spikes, the boost in playing time for ultra-aggressive and athletic linebacker Nigel Bradham and rangy rookie Preston Brown, but now is not the time to alter the defense in any way.
Sure, the NFL is currently in a passing renaissance, yet any defense will struggle that can't routinely stop the easiest play for an offense -- the handoff. The Bills allowed the 11th fewest rushing yards this past season. That 11th place finish was the best year-end ranking a Buffalo run defense had managed since 2004.
The franchise's previously best finish in that category was 22nd in 2008. Yeah, seriously, the run defense had been abysmal for a decade.
Could another defensive coordinator have success with this crew? Probably, but why touch it?
It wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up the tab after your first conversation with Schwartz. Do that too.
2. Get to work on Manuel: After that, head on over to the film room and bring EJ Manuel.
Quick rundown here. He's a 24-year-old quarterback with all the physical traits to be a viable starter who'll represent only a $2M cap hit in your first year as coach. He's played in just 14 NFL games and has never started and completed five consecutive games.
GM Doug Whaley mentioned him often in your interview, and, actually, the mini endorsements came with good reason. You and Whaley need to collaborate on which veteran(s) quarterback to sign in free agency, but none have the upside nor will any come at a cheaper price than Manuel.
If you develop him into a semi-competent quarterback, add the defense and the product you'll almost assuredly get is the Bills' first trip to the playoffs in 16 years.
At that point, they'll name a wing sauce after you in Buffalo.
I'm not kidding.
Think about it, in the month of December Kyle Orton threw five touchdowns and five interceptions with an average passer rating of 80.8, and that includes a 106.4 rating in the season finale against the New England Patriots, a meaningless contest for Bill Belichick's squad in which many starters rested during the second half.
Even with Orton's pedestrian and oftentimes ghastly quarterbacking, the Bills went 9-7, which featured back-to-back historic defensive outings against Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
You should probably be in contact with Manuel almost every day. Work with him on pre- and- post-snap reads, and although he took care of the ball well for a youthful NFL signal-caller, give him some free reign to take risks on intermediate and deep passes.
3. Buddy up with the OL: Next on the agenda -- schedule a daily meeting with your offensive line and quality control coaches. Manuel will not improve if the offensive line is as porous as it was in 2014. Also, the ground game will continue to sputter if improvements aren't made up front.
Pro Football Focus ranked your team dead last in run-blocking and 23rd in pass-blocking last year.
Yes, everything does start in the trenches. A strong offensive line is the foundation of a strong defense, and an ineffective offensive line will directly lead to an ineffective offense.
You've inherited Alabama alum Cyrus Kouandjio, the team's second-round pick in 2014, who was active for only a few games as a rookie. However, the 6-7, 325-pounder was 20 when he was drafted and won't be 22 until July.
While he may not possess the sound footwork to play on the edge this season, he practiced for much of his debut year in the pros at right guard, which just happens to be the largest void on the offensive line.
With the Crimson Tide, Kouandjio had some issues as a pass-blocker but was a habitual road-grader for the run game.
Cultivating his talent will pay major dividends.
The same goes for 2014 fifth-round pick Cyril Richardson, another former All-American lineman with massive size but rawness to his game.
4. Sammy-fy the offense: Lastly, flip to the back of your playbook. There should be some blank pages there. Get old school and start drawing...The Sammy Watkins Package.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 draft set a franchise rookie record with 982 receiving yards and played the most snaps of any offensive skill-position player for the Bills, but he wasn't exactly featured in a way that accentuated his strengths.
At Clemson, he was utilized on a variety of quick screens that allowed him to showcase his incredible burst, vision and running back-esque agility.
The NFL is a slight step up from the ACC, but Watkins was given the football on just four screens ALL SEASON in Buffalo. That's not enough. Not even close. He received a reverse in Week 17. Whoopie!
There were 26 receivers who finished the year with more yards after the catch than Watkins' 341. Heck, a nice chunk of that came on his 84-yard reception against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in October.
Watkins proved he's more than a gadgety screen receiver, but don't push him away from what he does better than almost every wideout in the league -- run with the football after the catch.
He's essentially the consummate West Coast Offense pass-catcher, and Manuel will significantly benefit if he can throw Watkins two-yard passes that ultimately go for 40 yards. Oh, you have Robert Woods too. He's not as athletically freaky as Watkins, but you can reliably use him on all of those quick passes.
(Don't forget about Marquise Goodwin either. He ran an official 4.27 at the 2013 Combine.)
Cross all that off the list, then make it known to Whaley that a seam-stretching tight end and a "big" wide receiver are priorities in the draft, and your first year as the Bills head coach will be just fine.
