Yes, if you read my very recent Bills columns, I have been a critic of Turk Schonert. I know that the Bills didn't fire him because of the columns. They let him go because the offense of the Buffalo Bills has been as brutal as it gets.
It was only a matter of time before the Bills front office parted with either Jauron or Schonert with many saying both should have been dispatched to other careers.
It was no shock or surprise when the offensive coordinator was let go. The move was made by Dick Jauron. The Bills have had 6 offensive coordinators in 8 years. Sooner or later they're going to have to find one that can do the job.
The replacement? Alex Van Pelt. Is he qualified to lead the offense? After all, he was a backup throughout his playing career and then quarterback coach after he quit the University of Buffalo team to accept the position.
The only thing that Van Pelt might have going for him is that he was on the field during some great years of Jim Kelly and Frank Reich. Fans are hoping that he learend a lot from these and the great offensive coaching that resulted in success for Buffalo.
Van Pelt has one week to get the offense in gear before meeting the vaunted New England Patriots a week from Monday. Is that enough time? Can Van Pelt institute an offense that might produce a touchdown - something they haven't done in the 5 exhibition games. Who knows? Maybe there's a shadow of Jim Kelly on the field.
When - probably not if - Dick Jauron joins Schonert on the outside looking in, would that mean Van Pelt would become the head coach? Not to fans who are clamoring for Bobby April to get the job considering how well, how organized, and how effective his special teams have performed.
Still fresh in my mind are Trent Edwards' words when he stated, "I run the plays the coach calls." The next question is, "Will Van Pelt allow Edwards to call his own plays?" After all, Kelly was outstanding doing just that.
Or will Van Pelt try to pad his resume and impose his system rather than putting in a system that suits the players.
It won't be long before we'll get answers to a lot of questions about the Bills this season.
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