Marrone, who was introduced as the Buffalo Bills' new head coach Monday, has a offense-rich resume. He went from being an offensive line coach in college to an offensive line coach in the NFL. Then he spent a few years as an NFL offensive coordinator before taking a head coaching gig in college. (photo credit: BuffaloBills.com)
"I do take offense when people say, 'hey, you're an offensive coach," Marrone said Monday. "I've been attacking defenses my whole entire life.
"... I understand coverage, I understand front mechanics, and things like that. So I have a great understanding of defensive football, as well as special teams."
Marrone, most recently the head coach of the Syracuse Orange, did admit he's never called a defense on the field and in a game, but that's (obviously) what he'll task a new defensive coordinator to do. Additionally, Marrone said he won't call plays on offense, instead focusing on taking the "CEO" approach of being a team leader and decision-maker.
"... everything will go through me," he said. "I will be on the headset and will be managing the game and those game management decisions which can affect play calling will be handled by me.”
Marrone led one of the NFL's best offenses from 2006-08 as the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator, and he got stellar production out of the New York Jets' offensive line coaching it the four years prior. He went 25-25 coaching Syracuse the last four years.
