The Buffalo Bills plan to interview former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on Thursday, according to Kim Jones of NFL Network.
On paper, this pairing seems to make sense. The Bills finished the regular season with the No. 4 overall defense and could challenge for the top spot under Ryan's excellent defensive coaching. One possible impediment to the Bills hiring Ryan, however, is the unsettled quarterback situation. Veteran journeyman Kyle Orton announced his retirement recently after starting 12 games for the Bills this season and leading them to a 9-7 record.
Bills general manager Doug Whaley wants the next coach to develop 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News.
"...Whaley apparently thinks Manuel's struggles, which led to his benching after only four games last season in favor of since-retired Kyle Orton, have had more to do with coaching than the player," Carucci wrote. "Whaley is, according to an NFL source, conveying those thoughts to the candidates that he and the rest of the Bills' hierarchy have interviewed for the team's head-coaching vacancy."
The biggest knock against Ryan during his tenure with the Jets was his mismanagement of the quarterback position. Mark Sanchez noticeably regressed after two consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship game. Geno Smith never developed into the type of dual threat quarterback New York hoped they were getting. Ryan would likely need to bring with him an established offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to truly sell himself to Buffalo, as his track record with QBs is less than stellar.
It's also not as if the Bills have many alternatives at the position. Buffalo is without a first-round pick this year after sending it to the Cleveland Browns in last year's Sammy Watkins deal.
In 15 career games, Manuel is completing 58.4 percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,810 yards with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has also rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
Ryan has also talked to the Atlanta Falcons as well as CBS and ESPN about potential TV jobs. But if he is serious about the Bills' opening, he will have to convince the powers that be that he can turn Manuel's career around.
