Tyrone Wheatley named RB coach for Buffalo Bills
There was some speculation on the board about this earlier, but Tyrone Wheatley has officially followed Doug Marrone from Syracuse to the Buffalo Bills to be their new RB coach. First NFL coaching job for Tyrone, and he gets to be the position coach to 2 pretty good backs in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Congrats to Tyrone!
January 15th, 2013 at 5:40 PM ^
To coaching him. My how the tables have turned, Fred.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
According to Wheatley, "Jackson is a younger, faster, stronger and more hyperbole prone version of Fred Jackson"
January 15th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
but faster!
(my 1st post as a resident of Ann Arbor)
January 15th, 2013 at 9:57 PM ^
Thusly
January 15th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
"That table turned faster, and better than any other table I ever coached."
-Fred Jackson
January 15th, 2013 at 5:50 PM ^
The commute will be longer, but he won't need to move if he doesn't desire to do so.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
It's about 2 1/2 hours from Syracuse to Buffalo. That's about the same commute as if Brady Hoke lived in Cleveland while coaching in Ann Arbor.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^
Haha if there are seriously people out there who wouldn't move from Syracuse to Buffalo for a job in Buffalo and deal with a 2.5 hour "commute"...god bless you.
January 15th, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
I wouldn't blame him. Buffalo is a shithole. (585 REPRESENT!)
January 15th, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
Buffalo is 716, Rochester is 585...unless that is what you meant.
January 16th, 2013 at 2:13 AM ^
that was the point. buffalo is a shithole, even compared to my dear hometown of rochester.
January 17th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
Rochester people are the fakest people I have ever met in my life. Buffalo is 10 times the city Crapchester is.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
likely we'll see Wheatley back on the Michigan sideline one day. Not sure if he would want to be here, but a MICHIGAN MAN with NFL experience is someone to look at when Fred retires
January 15th, 2013 at 8:02 PM ^
There is a gentleman in Ypsilanti who may disagree with you.
Actually, I think Tyrone is great. How about him coaching the RBs with Hart as his assistant?
(Yeah, I don't think they have assistant RB coaches, but whatever. It's mid-Janaury.)
January 16th, 2013 at 8:16 AM ^
With a couple more seasons of experience, Hart would become a strong option if Fred departs. Hopefully Wheatley has had NFL success where he would be looking at OC positions, or at least enough security and pay in the NFL that he would stay.
Would be great to have Hart on the coaching staff in the near future.
January 16th, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
For the younger members, Tyrone Wheatley was an absolute beast. Take Hart and add about 6 inches, 30 pounds, and top-end speed. I'd be more than happy to have him as the RB coach in Ann Arbor. Hart will have to wait his turn.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^
But did anyone think of Wheatley when Lewan announced he was coming back. I remember being so happy when Wheatley turned down the NFL for a shot at the Heisman and national title, just to have an injury plagued senior year. I think he still went in the first round, but there was top-5 draft talk going into the season. I'm not predicting bad things, but that's the first time I can remember we had someone good enough to go early to stay in school.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
Jake Long
January 15th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^
Pretty sure Wheatley happened first
January 15th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^
Good point. I glossed over the fact that he said, "first one he can remember."
January 15th, 2013 at 6:34 PM ^
When I took MEAP, I always did well on comprehension and did poor on math.
January 15th, 2013 at 8:04 PM ^
The surprise factor was right up there with Lewan staying.
January 16th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
Didn't Desmond Howard have a year of eligibility left when he jumped to the NFL?
January 15th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
I know lots of people wouldn't mind seeing Loeffler returning to Michigan as an OC. Would it be crazy if Tyrone Wheatley came back to Michigan as an OC because of his inexperience being a coordinator?
January 15th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
Potentially a Michigan head coach in years to come.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
A couple years ago I always used to see him at the Quiznos in A2 with his son. Really friendly guy- I wish him the best of luck out there.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
he preferred Potbelly. That place rules.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:21 PM ^
always good to see a Michigan man join the NFL ranks.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^
I like Buffalo wings and Buffalo mozzarella.
Now I like the the Bills a little.
so... I guess this means he's not going to be Fred Jackson's successir?
January 15th, 2013 at 6:24 PM ^
Uh, no speculation from K.O.K., just an accurate report.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^
This is outstanding news, so congrats to Michigan Man Tyrone Wheatley!
January 16th, 2013 at 8:14 AM ^
This made me laugh for a solid 30 seconds.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:26 PM ^
At this point, I'd be surprised to see him come back to coach the RB's for Michigan. His stock has grown so much, and he is still relatively young for a coach. If he's looking for a HC job, there may be one for him somewhere if he does well at Buffalo.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
Good for Wheatley. All the best to him.
I miss having a Wheatley sized running back.
January 15th, 2013 at 7:24 PM ^
He was awesome!
January 15th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
Slight edit
"I miss having a Wheatley sized running back with break away speed."
Amen, my friend. Amen.
January 15th, 2013 at 6:46 PM ^
Go blue
January 15th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
My favorite Michigan player. I remember watching a rosebowl with my grand dad when i was a kid, and he ran all over the place Michigan won and I've been a fan ever since GO BLUE!!
January 15th, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
His 88-yard run on the first play of the second half in that game is the fastest I've ever seen someone run in pads. He split two safeties that had a 15-yard running head start on him.
January 15th, 2013 at 7:58 PM ^
If Fred Jackson retires anytime soon (big IF cause he deserves to go on his terms). I only think we need to look a little down Washtenaw Avenue for our next RB coach.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:03 PM ^
Speed and Power..#6 needs to have a legacy patch..
January 15th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
maybe the best combo of power and speed I can recall at Michigan in the last 25 yrs. Tho my favorite Wheatley moment was when he hurdled me for a dunk at CCRB in off season. Balls to the face, yo.
On second recollection, my least favorite Wheatley moment...
January 15th, 2013 at 9:45 PM ^
I was at that Rose Bowl. His 88 yard run was one of the most exciting plays I've seen in person.
January 15th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
You were at that game? Incredible
January 15th, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
on the Bills website. The 10 new hires include Chuck Driesbach (one of two linebackers coaches). Anyone know if he's related to Scott? He spent a couple years as secondary coach at MSU and was DC at Western Mich for three...
But back to Wheatley. Congrats to one of my all-time favorites. And congrats to Buffalo for getting him.
January 16th, 2013 at 6:33 AM ^
Official mention, plus some of the other additions to the Bills' staff here - (LINK)
This is a great opportunity for Wheatley - always glad to see Michigan players make it into the NFL in any capacity, but you don't see many players from any school do this as a player and a coach. I would think this would have to be select company. Best of luck to Tyrone.
January 16th, 2013 at 8:04 AM ^
Congrats to Tyrone.
He was one of my favorite Wolverines growing up.
January 16th, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
Replacing Fred Jackson.