Bills Make Coach Moves After Bobby Babich Promotion; Will They Help?
The Buffalo Bills operated without a true defensive coordinator in 2023, opting to let head coach Sean McDermott run double duty. However, the rise of linebacker coach Bobby Babich put Buffalo at risk of losing a potential star in the industry.
The Bills rightfully changed course and re-opened the defensive coordinator position so that Babich could stay put and not venture out elsewhere. Losing his talents to the rival Miami Dolphins – looking to replace defensive coordinator Vic Fangio – would have put a dent in the infrastructure Buffalo has built.
The promotion was widely supported. It also made for some changes at the assistant level of the coaching staff. On Friday, the Bills announced their corresponding moves to Babic being named defensive coordinator and defensive line coach (and assistant head coach) Eric Washington leaving for the Chicago Bears.
Jul 27, 2023; Rochester NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) blocks with assistant defensive line coach Marcus West during training camp at St. John Fisher College.
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Assistant defensive line coach Marcus West was promoted to defensive line coach, and Al Holcomb – a senior defensive assistant – will take over as linebackers coach.
West had just concluded his second season in Buffalo and helped multiple Bills linemen play the best football of their careers. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa exceeded expectations and defensive tackle Ed Oliver proved he was worth the lucrative contract Buffalo gave him. Edge runner Leonard Floyd, per the Bills, had the team’s first 10-sack season since linebacker Lorenzo Alexander in 2016.
West has facilitated legitimate development from his players and will likely be faced with a new set of challenges as several Buffalo linemen head to free agency.
Holcomb, meanwhile, has only spent one season in Western New York. However, he has both Super Bowl pedigree and over a decade of experience, most recently with the Carolina Panthers. Notably, Holcomb isn’t a McDermott disciple from the head coach’s days in Carolina.
Babich helped linebackers like Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson step up after injuries riddled the Bills' defense in 2023. Now, the coordinator will get to supervise the entirety of the defense, even if it means handing off positional duties to Holcomb. It is yet to be seen whether Babich will be given the authority to call plays on defense in 2024.
