ESPN Analyst and Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers HC Jon Gruden:
Q: What do you think about the Bills hiring HC Doug Marrone?
A: I would be really excited if I was a Bills fan. This is a guy I have been studying for a long time. I competed against him when he was the offensive coordinator for the Saints. He is a tough, hard-nosed and detailed coach. Really has a good command for the game and is really good teaching the game. What he did at Syracuse speaks for itself. He turned that program around.
I think he is on the cutting edge offensively. He has a vast football background if you just check where he comes from and the kind of people he is able to acquire in terms of his staff. I think he did an excellent job at Syracuse of developing young coaches and surrounding himself with a really good brain trust. I expect him to do the same in Buffalo. I think it is a great hire.
Q: Your relationship with him is mainly coaching against him in the NFC South?
A: Yeah, you know how this profession is. You are at the Senior Bowl, you are at the (NFL) Combine and you are at a lot of common places. You gravitate towards the people that you respect the most. At least that is kind of how I went about it. (Doug) Marrone has always been one of those guys. The guy understands the big picture. He is not just an o-line coach, he understands the passing game. I think he has a vast background of defensive football too. I just think he knows the game. I have a lot of respect for the way that his offenses attack and the way that he has grown with the game.
Q: What do you think will make Bills fans most excited to have Coach Marrone here in the Western New York market?
A: I think he is going to win. I think he is going to get the Bills back in the playoffs soon. Obviously I think Buffalo is on the right track. Buddy Nix did an excellent job acquiring players. I think they are on the right track, but I think Coach Marrone is the kind of coach that can push you over the top. He has won everywhere he has been. I think he is going to continue to do that. He will find a way to get it done. Â
