The Buffalo Bills have made a major change to their coaching staff after a disappointing 5-4 start to the season. The team announced on Wednesday that they have fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and named quarterbacks coach Joe Brady as the interim replacement.
Dorsey under fire as Bills offense struggles
Dorsey was promoted to offensive coordinator in January 2023, after Brian Daboll left to become the head coach of the New York Giants. Dorsey had been the quarterbacks coach for the Bills since 2019 and was credited with helping Josh Allen develop into one of the best passers in the league.
However, the Bills offense has regressed significantly this season, ranking 18th in points per game (22.8) and 19th in yards per game (348.7). The team has also lost three of its last four games, including a shocking 9-6 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9.
Dorsey was under fire for his play-calling and his inability to adjust to the defenses that have been limiting Allen and the Bills’ explosive weapons. Many fans and analysts have criticized Dorsey for being too predictable, conservative and unimaginative with his offensive scheme.
Brady gets another chance to prove himself
Brady will take over the offensive coordinator duties for the rest of the season, hoping to revive the Bills’ offense and their Super Bowl aspirations. Brady is a young and innovative coach who has been praised for his work with quarterbacks and his creative use of personnel and formations.
Brady was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and 2022, under Matt Rhule. He helped Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold have career-best seasons in Carolina, and also developed DJ Moore and Robby Anderson into one of the best receiving duos in the league.
However, Brady was also criticized for his lack of balance and his tendency to abandon the run game. He also failed to lead the Panthers to the playoffs in both seasons, and was fired along with Rhule after a 5-12 campaign in 2022.
Brady joined the Bills as the quarterbacks coach in February 2022, reuniting with Dorsey, who was his mentor at LSU in 2019. Brady was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Tigers, and was instrumental in their historic national championship run with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
Brady has been linked to several offensive coordinator and head coaching jobs in the past, including the New York Jets, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He has a chance to prove himself again with the Bills, and potentially earn a permanent role or a bigger opportunity elsewhere.
What to expect from Brady and the Bills offense?
The Bills have a talented and versatile offense, with Allen, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders, Dawson Knox and Devin Singletary. Brady will likely try to utilize their strengths and create more mismatches and explosive plays.
Brady is known for his aggressive and up-tempo approach, and his preference for spreading the field with multiple receivers and tight ends. He likes to use motion, shifts and jet sweeps to create confusion and misdirection for the defense. He also likes to use play-action and RPOs to give his quarterback more options and easier throws.
Brady will have to find a way to balance his offense and establish a consistent run game, which has been a weakness for the Bills. He will also have to adjust to the different defenses that have been giving the Bills trouble, such as the Cover 2 and the blitz.
Brady will make his debut as the Bills’ offensive coordinator on Sunday, when they face the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Bills are still the favorites to win the AFC East, but they will need to improve their offense and regain their confidence if they want to contend for the Super Bowl.
