Bills add two more to their coaching staff

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, February 14, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Buffalo Bills
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Monday, the Buffalo Bills announced that they have hired two more coaches in the quest to fill head coach Dick Jauron's staff. Turk Schonert has been added as the Bills' quarterbacks coach. Former Bills quarterback Alex Van Pelt has been added to Jauron's staff as an offensive quality control coach.

Schonert's NFL coaching career commenced in 1992 as he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks for four seasons. After that job, Schonert took some time off and then returned to the league to coach under Wade Phillips as the Bills' quarterbacks coach. Schonert spent three seasons in Buffalo, having a positive impact on quarterback Doug Flutie, and to an extent, Rob Johnson. Schonert joined the Giants in 2003 as their quarterbacks coach, but his time lasted just one season since head coach Jim Fassel and his staff were cleared out after a 4-12 season. Schonert took 2004 off and joined Jim Haslett's staff in 2005 as the New Orleans Saints' quarterbacks coach. Unfortunately, he was not able to embed any sort of positive influence in Aaron Brooks.

Schonert will be partially responsible for developing young Bills quarterback J.P. Losman. In 2004, Losman's first season as a starter, he started just eight games, but struggled mightily. He was on the bench for most of October and nearly all of December. Much like Schonert's ex-student, Flutie, Losman possesses a great deal of mobility. Schonert's job will be to increase Losman's accuracy and ability to throw on the run by teaching him the right techniques.

Van Pelt, the Bills' backup quarterback from 1995-2003, will join Jauron's staff as an offensive quality control coach. Van Pelt, the best statistical quarterback in the University of Pittsburgh's history, garnered a great deal of praise in Buffalo for his knowledge of the offense and ability to teach young players. Van Pelt's positive attitude and philanthropy led to him being a fan favorite in Buffalo. He was a member of the Bills' radio booth last year, along with play-by-play man John Murphy. Last month, Van Pelt signed on to coach the University of Buffalo's quarterbacks under new head coach Turner Gill. At this point, it does not appear that Van Pelt will be able to handle the rigors of both jobs.

With these two hirings, Jauron has finally filled his offensive staff. Previously, Jauron had hired an offense coordinator, retained the Bills' running backs, receivers, and offensive line coaches, hired an assistant offensive line coach, and hired a tight ends coach.

Defensively, Jauron still has to hire a linebackers coach. He has already offered the job to 29-year old USC secondary coach Rocky Seto. The former USC linebackers coach will need to get an answer in soon to Jauron.

-Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.
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