On Tuesday, the Bills formally introduced Greg Roman as offensive coordinator and Dennis Thurman as defensive coordinator at a media gathering at One Bills Drive. Both coaches come to the Bills with an impressive resume in hand, with multiple trips to conference championships and a Super Bowl as the highlights. Both Roman and Thurman were coaches on Brian Billick’s staff with the Baltimore Ravens, and it is at that time that they first came to know Rex Ryan, the new head coach of the Bills. The friendship with Ryan has remained in place since Billick’s staff was dismantled following the 2007 season, and now they look to bring their collective history of success to Buffalo.

“He’s all about wins,” Ryan said, referring to Roman, who joins the Bills following four highly successful years as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Roman is a victim of his own success, having become the scapegoat for the 49ers woes by fans and media in the bay area during the 2014 season as the 49ers stumbled their way to an 8-8 record following three straight years of NFC Championship trips, and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season.

In Buffalo, Roman inherits an offense that ranked 18th in points scored, yet 26th in yards gained. The running game is destined to be a focus of Roman’s offensive coaching staff as the team ranked 25th in total rushing yards in 2014 despite employing the duo of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, a tandem that had vaulted the Bills to second in total rushing just a year earlier. Asked about the commitment to the running game, which previous Bills coach preached but never stuck to, Roman said, “Look at my track record. The greatest predictor of future events is past.”

One look at Roman’s offensive rankings with the 49ers from 2011 to 2014 reveals that Bills fans better learn to like the “ground & pound” offensive philosophy that Rex Ryan teams are famous for. Under Roman, the 49ers’ offense ranked eighth, fourth, third, and fourth in total rushing yards from 2011-2014, respectively. Hailed as an “offensive genius” by many around the league, Roman’s philosophy is similar to Rex Ryan’s defensive philosophy in that he uses various formations and motions to disguise his plethora of trap, counter and power running plays. With the Bills quarterback situation murky at best and few good options available to upgrade the position, the Bills would be wise to focus their efforts on establishing a league best rushing attack.

Time will tell whether the man running the show on the field in Buffalo is E.J. Manuel. Roman did promise a “very clean slate” for Manuel and all personnel following the new staff’s evaluation period, so taking the coaching staff at their word it appears that Manuel has the opportunity to win the starting job back during training camp. Manuel would seem to have a leg up on any competition that Doug Whaley brings in at the quarterback position, considering he is the only active quarterback on the roster aside from practice squad QB Jeff Tuel, and he has the mobility necessary to run Roman’s offense. Whoever ends up taking the snaps in Buffalo next season, they are sure to spend a lot of their time handing off to running backs.

On the other side of the ball, Dennis Thurman joins the Bills as defensive coordinator following two years in the same position under Rex Ryan in New York. Thurman followed Ryan to the Jets following his stint with the Ravens, first coaching the defensive backs and then assuming the role of defensive coordinator following the departure of Mike Pettine in 2012. Thurman’s defense employs the same multiple-front, multiple-blitz package, deceptive scheme that Rex Ryan’s defenses are known for and Thurman admitted at the start of his press conference that he and Ryan are “like minded”.

"One of the smartest guys I've ever been around,” Ryan said, introducing Thurman. “He gets things quick. The players love him, respect him. We've been together for a long time, and it's because I need him. He makes me look good."

It was under Thurman’s tutelage that “Revis Island” came into existence and the tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie emerged as a shutdown tandem in the Jets' secondary. Thurman will likely have cornerback Stephon Gilmore in mind if he wishes to replicate the same success in Buffalo. Having played for former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, Thurman’s predecessor in New York, during the 2013 season, many of the current players should see similarities between the 2015 scheme they must learn and the 2013 version they ran with great success. Asked whether the base defensive formation would switch to a 3-4 base, a hallmark of Ryan's defenses, Thurman pushed back on the idea, stating the scheme would follow “whatever the talent dictates.” Regardless of which schemes they are asked to run, the defense should experience a smooth transition since most of the personnel from 2013 will carry over to next season.

With the talent that the Bills currently employ on the defensive side of the ball and with the brilliant defensive minds of Rex Ryan, Dennis Thurman, and the coaches they’ve brought with them from New York, the Bills defense should once again sit at the top of the rankings next season. The task they have in front of them was laid out by Rex Ryan when he was introduced as the new Buffalo Bills head coach.

“I know we’ll lead the league in defense, ok?” Ryan said. “That’s just the way it goes.”