Head Coach Critique

[A.E]

Week 11 is here & all day I have thought about this. Here's my thoughts on where all 32 NFL Head Coaches stand:

ATOP OF THEIR GAME
- Bill Belichek: I dont think I need to elaborate on this one.
- Wade Phillips: Wade's "relaxed" coaching methods have seemed to settle in well with the "primadonnas" in Big D. Still standing in front of Parcell's team though.
- Tony Dungy: Regardless of last week's game, as long as Manning/Harrison/Addai/Wayne are on board, so is Dungy.

ON THE RISE
- Rod Marinelli: The Lions are 6-3, Kitna looks brilliant, 4 excellent wideouts, and the Defense is holding up. 3rd Head Coach is the charm for Matt Millen.
- Mike McCarthy: I thought this team would be overhauled & take some years to be back to mediocrity after Mike Sherman left. McCarthy not only talked Favre into staying but also has him playing some of the best football ever with a very young team & little help with the ground attack.
- Ken Wisenhunt: 4-5 for Arizona isnt bad, playing very competitive Football, & the O-Line looks much, much better than in recent year's past. Having to play QB's that barely know the system hasn't helped either.
- D!ck Jauron: With 12 Players on IR, Jauron has the Bills on win streak & playing with a lot of heart right now. A no-name Defense, a couple of unproven QBs, but still Jauron has his team playing tough Football right now.
- Romeo Crennel: Ironic that the "Defensive Mastermind" has his offense playing to the extreme. Not sure how much credit Crennel deserves with the luck of Derek Anderson's play but as long as the Browns put up points, his job is safe. Browns win the wildcard.
- Mike Tomlin: Perhaps the best job in Football given the Rooney Family is very, very patient with Head Coaches. Smartest Player move of the '07 season: Dump Joey Porter. Is allowing Big Ben do something Cower wouldn't, let Big Ben spread the field.
- Herman Edwards: The Chiefs are looking like the favorite to win the AFC West thanks to some pretty solid defensive play. Dropped to 4-5 but with LJ on the shelf, I am not suprised. We will see if Brodie Croyle can keep Herm on the rise in Week 11.
- Lane Kiffin: The youngest Head Coach in NFL history sold Al Davis on his plans for the Raiders & has executed. After dumping plenty of the "Good Ol' Radier Boys", both Players & Coaches, Kiffin has this team playing competitive Football & believing that they can win. Even w/o their prized #1 pick stepping onto the field in '07, the Raiders are no longer the laughing stock of the NFL.

HOLDING STEADY
- Lovie Smith: The Bears are playing like sh.. this season & unless they can finally settle on a freaking QB, the future doesnt look so bright for Lovie. However, a trip to the Super Bowl in 2006 keeps Lovie's job secure for a couple more years. The faster they dump Grossman & wise up to the fact that Griese isn't getting any younger, the better for Da Bears.
- Jon Gruden: Tampa is & has been nothing short of mediocre all season. Gruden's saving grace is the fact that his team is playing in a very weak NFC South. Atop of the division at 5-4, the Bucs have a very "winnable" schedule remaining (Car, Atl, Hou, NO, SF) & are the favorite to head to the post-season as long as NO stays in a "brainfart".
- Mike Holmgreen: Much like the Bucs, the Hawks play in a very weak division that has them heavily favored. Seattle wouldn't last 2 quarters against Dallas or Green Bay but Holmgreen will continue to get Seattle into the post-season & keep his job as usual.
- Jack Del Rio: The Jags are an impressive 6-3 with David Garrard ailing from injury. Jones-Drew will continue to provide all the electric the Jags' offense needs & the loss of Henderson on the defensive side gives Del Rio a good reason the Jags haven't performed to standard on both sides of the ball. Jacksonville finishes with at least 10 wins but fails to make the post-season. Either way, Ownership loves Del Rio & so do the fans.
- Jeff Fisher: Fresh into an extension, the Titans are manufacturing wins & finally Fisher is off the "Hot Seat". Vince Young may not be the prototypical Quarterback but Fisher & Chow have coached him up enough to just figure out a way to win. Fisher has done a lot with such little marquee personnel on the field...pretty impressive.

GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD
- Bobby Petrino: Even though I think Petrino will be recruiting & golfing on the off-season again soon enough, the Michael Vick fiasco of 2007 gives Petrino the "mulligan" for the Falcons' woes.
- John Fox: Having to figure out a way to win with Testeverde fresh off the street is no easy task. No matter how many injuries, Fox always has this team highly motivated & consistantly fighting on the field.
- Sean Payton: NFC Championship Game in 2006, .444 win % in 2007. No way Payton is canned after only his 2nd year but 2008 is surely going to be a defining season for this Play-calling Mastermind.
- Mike Nolan: The 49ers have spent a lot of money on improving the defense only for the offense to suddenly stink. Nolan still has this city believing & like Payton, his 2nd year as Head Coach wont be his last in San Fran. Nolan's future with the franchise will depend on Alex Smith's progress & the performance of the O-line. Smith has played under a different Offensive coordinator each season since he was drafted...not good.
- Scott Linehan: The Rams lost Orlando Pace early, Steven Jackson is banged up, Bulger is just getting back, and Torry Holt hasn't been 100% all season. There's a lot of promise with the Rams who should be atop of the NFC West if healthy for all of 2007.
- Eric Mangini: 10-6 in 2006 but not the best 10-6 team. His 3rd season will be a tell-tale season for Mangini, but the Jets Front Office will give him at least 2 more seasons to find the right personnel to play in his system.
- Marvin Lewis: The Bengals have been very "yin & yang" since Lewis came into the job but it's to Lewis' credit that the term "Bungals" is very seldom used anymore. Marvin gets a "get out of jail free" card...now only if his players could stay out of jail...
- Gary Kubiak: The idea was to turn Matt Schaub into a perennial Pro-Bowler. The first few weeks of the season were promising but the injury bug struck & suddenly Kubiak is trying to make due with Rosenfels, Dayne, Walter, and Davis.
- Cam Cameron: Even in his first year, even with the loss of Ronnie Brown, Cameron's team is just not responding at all to his leadership. This franchise is way too proud to be happy with the talk of an 0-16 season. Bringing in Joey Porter, trading for Trent Green, & drafting Ted Ginn so high has already set Cam up for failure in my mind...but George Steinbrenner doesn't own the Dolphins & Cam Cameron will get to see at least another year as the man in charge.

ON THE BUBBLE
- Andy Reid: Yes, I believe Reid is on the bubble. I have to think that all this off-the field nonsense with his drug addict kids is wearing on him & sooner or later, "Family comes first." The Eagles are also struggling to keep up with the Giants for 2nd place in the division which is unexcuseable when you have so many good Offensive weapons & a some pretty proven Defensive players. Does anybody else see the Eagles getting any better? How long before they scrap McNabb & put in Kolb, signaling the end of their season?
- Joe Gibbs: Lets face it no matter how much we all love Joe, the Redskins are still light years away from another Super Bowl. With that being said, how much more can Joe take? He doesn't have to be Coaching if he doesnt want to & Greg Williams is waiting in the wings. The Redskins are on the right track but sooner or later, Joe will wear out if he hasnt already.
- Mike Shannahan: The current longest tenured Coach in the NFL is again watching the Broncos under achieve on the field & the club's ownership has got to be growing tired of missing the playoffs. Shannahan is a genius at putting together a running attack & is a very proven Head Coach but the Broncos won't get any further than the wildcard round of the Playoffs (should they make it that far), unless some big changes happen.
- Norv Turner: The best RB in the league & what was one of the best Defenses in the NFL last season...suddenly San Diego cant win? Turner's track record isn't very good, his team doesn't seem to be responding to him, and as we all know, AJ Smith isn't afraid to can Head Coaches without warning.
- Tom Coughlin: Coughlin was on the bubble last season for his failure to connect with his Players. Perhaps his "lighter" approach in 2007 has helped but if the Giants fail to make the post-season, Coughlin is out & nobody will be suprised.

PUT YOUR HOUSE UP FOR SALE NOW
- Brad Childress: The only guy in the world that believes Tarvaris Jackson can be molded into a good NFL Quarterback, Childress' "genius" work as Philadelphia Offensive Coordinator now looks like it was largely successful b/c of McNabb's play. Childress promised offensive fireworks bringing in the West Coast system 2 years ago but all Minnesota's success on the field has been accredited to defensive run stopping & the emergence of Adrian Peterson on the ground attack. The Vikings couldn't win in the post Moss-Culpepper era with Mike Tice & they still cant with Brad Childress. Looking for the public funding for a new stadium & attendance numbers to rise, this team needs to have a winning season badly & it wont come with Brad at the helm. Childress is dismissed unless he convinces Ownership to keep him & either: draft another QB or deal for McNabb in 2008.
- Brian Billick: Unlike early in the new millenium, there is nothing exciting about Baltimore Raven's football anymore. Even bringing in Steve McNair & trading for Willis McGahee has not brought any consistency to Baltimore. Last season, Jim Fassel was the scapegoat, next is Brian Billick's head.

NEXT IN LINE

- Jim Fassel: Took the mediocre Giants of the late 90's & made them into Super Bowl contender. Took Kerry Collins & made him into a solid QB. Would be a good fit for San Diego & Phillip Rivers to work with.
- Marty Schottenheimer: Say what you want but "Marty Ball" worked in San Diego. Marty wouldn't turn down a good job right now.
- Jim Mora Jr: Aparently the next in line for the Seahawks job (or Huskies), but would leave if offered another opportunity elsewhere. Money talks.
- Jim Haslett: Was the last Head Coach to lead the Saints into the playoffs prior to Sean Payton & he did it with Aaron Brooks...much harder than Drew Brees.
- Mike Martz: Built the "Greatest Show on Turf" in St. Louis, imagine what he could do in the HHH Dome.
- Russ Grimm: Almost got the Steelers' job & could be the next to go from D-Line Coach to Head Coach.

- Myserio

 

[VC3]

Your avatar scares the living <Censored> out of me....

 

[A.E]

Your avatar scares the living <Censored> out of me....

You gotta love Christopher Walken. He was the best as Bruce Dickinson in the "More Cowbell" Skit on Saturday Night Live.

 

[Whisper]

Turner should be putting his house up for sale.

 

[werebarret]

You actually like Herm Edwards?

That makes one of us >___>

 

[The Young One]

How is herm on the rise seriously?

 

[A.E]

How is herm on the rise seriously?

Seriously, this guy comes to Kansas City last season. Their Defense is a mess, they have no WR's, Tony Richardson signs with Minnesota, Will Shields retires, Trent Green goes down, but yet Herm Coaches his team to a Wild Card berth (that they took from their Division rival)...the first time the Chiefs saw the post-season in 3 years. Flash forward to 2007 where the, once disasterous, defense is in the top 10 for points allowed, their Passing game has improved, and even with Larry Johnson MIA...this team is 1 game from a tie atop of the AFC West & still very well in the mix.

To sum it up: Herman Edwards took the Jets, picked up where Parcells left off, and continued to squeak the Jets into the Playoffs. He brought a posotive energy to New York, his Players loved him, and they all bought into his system. When he came Kansas City, I figured their defensive woes, lack of solid youth, and an expiring LJ contract would keep in a rebuilding stage for at least 2 seasons. Much to my suprise, this was a Wild Card team in 2006 & granted LJ can heal up quick, Brodie Croyle can limit mistakes, this will be a Playoff contender once again.

What is their not to like about Herm?

 

[werebarret]

Passing game has improved?

Trent Green threw for 4000 yards for three seasons in a row under <Censored> Vermeil, bub. Yeah, we mad ethe playoffs for the first time in three years, but that 2006 team was worse than any of Vermeil's last three teams. Hell, we were 10-6 in 05, but didn't make the playoffs because the AFC was loaded that year.

And the only reason we made the playoffs last year was a fluke in Pittsburgh, and a fluke in Denver. It wasn't anything that Herm did. Being in a first place tie for the AFC West has more to do with the fact that the division blows this year.

You're forgetting that while our defense has improved significantly, our offense is 30th in the league. We have the WORST rushing offense in the whole league. Our passing game is average at best, and it isn't going to get much better with Croyle. Rookie QB + average WRs (- the #1, Eddie Kennison), + old Priest Holmes at RB + horrible O-line= Season of David Carr proportions. We might scrape into the playoffs this year, but I have a feeling that those 9-7 type seasons are the best we can do under Herm Edwards.

Of course, Herm isn't the real problem here, it's our dumbass GM.

 

[A.E]

Dude...you just sound like a really, really disgruntled Chiefs fan right now. Not that I blame you but would you rather have Norv Turner or Brad Childress roaming your sideline?

Appreciate the fact that your team hasn't been written off yet. They are still very much in the mix & as long as LJ is healthy & Croyle can turn around, hand the ball off...the Chiefs will be fine.

The Chiefs offense isn't putting up any steller numbers but they have shown that they can do enough to win, especially with the Defense limited opposition points.

Relax, San Diego is drowining, Denver sucks, and Oakland...is Oakland, the Chiefs will be fine.

 

[werebarret]

Dude...you just sound like a really, really disgruntled Chiefs fan right now. Not that I blame you but would you rather have Norv Turner or Brad Childress roaming your sideline?

Appreciate the fact that your team hasn't been written off yet. They are still very much in the mix & as long as LJ is healthy & Croyle can turn around, hand the ball off...the Chiefs will be fine.

The Chiefs offense isn't putting up any steller numbers but they have shown that they can do enough to win, especially with the Defense limited opposition points.

Relax, San Diego is drowining, Denver sucks, and Oakland...is Oakland, the Chiefs will be fine.

It hasn't been taht simple this year, dude. Turning and handing the ball off hasn't gotten us much. We're last in the league in rushing.

Hell, we couldn't even break 100 as a team against Denver, the team with the worst rushing defense in the league. Granted, we had Priest Holmes at running back, but still. Ryan freakin' GRANT lit the Broncos up a few weeks ago.

We've allowed about forty more points than we've scored this year, and we just lost to Denver 27-11 at home for the first time since 2001. We're playing the Colts this week, and our last two games of the season are on the road.

I really don't see us making the playoffs this year.

I'm pretty disgruntled, yeah. I'm disgruntled that we have probably the worst GM in the whole freakin' league, I'm disgruntled that we have't won a playoff game in 14 freakin' years. I'm disgruntled that year after year, we're nothing better than average. 10-6, 8-8, 9-7, that's the best we ever do. I'm just tired of all the mediocrity.

 

[A.E]

I really don't see us making the playoffs this year.

Well somebody from the AFC West has to & I cannot see Denver or San Diego doing it. The Chiefs have 7 games left & as long as they can beat SD & Oakland at home, win at Denver...there's 6 very winnable games left. I don't think they match-up well against the Colts & they would have to stop the "one-sided" Detroit offense in Week 16.

Your looking at 10-6, good enough for a Playoff spot. 2 straight Playoff appearances keeps Herman on the rise & it does keep the Chiefs on the right track at least. I'm a Vikings' fan, we have the same problems. Great running attack (when healthy), unestablished at QB, little-no WR's, a Defense good at one thing but no the other. I feel your pain but your Chiefs are in the hunt, my Vikings are done.

 

[Whisper]

Dude...you just sound like a really, really disgruntled Chiefs fan right now. Not that I blame you but would you rather have Norv Turner or Brad Childress roaming your sideline?

Appreciate the fact that your team hasn't been written off yet. They are still very much in the mix & as long as LJ is healthy & Croyle can turn around, hand the ball off...the Chiefs will be fine.

The Chiefs offense isn't putting up any steller numbers but they have shown that they can do enough to win, especially with the Defense limited opposition points.

Relax, San Diego is drowining, Denver sucks, and Oakland...is Oakland, the Chiefs will be fine.

Correction, San Diego's offense is drowning. The defense and special teams are still playing up to their medal. Well usually it's the first half defense. For some odd reason Cottrell decides to become conservative and only rush FOUR guys the entire second half and send our best pass rushers out in coverage. If someone really has to go, it's Tedd Cottrell, the DC. To hell with Cottrell, bump up Rivera to DC. Move Norvelle down to OC. MARTY! COME BACK TO US!!

The Bolts run a 3-4 not a fckin 4-3. Luis Castillo's out, we can't afford to just send 4 on the rush everytime. Like the Colts game they were down to scrub lineman and guards for tackles. Yet Tedd puts Merriman and Phillips out in coverage? WTF!?!

Get Tedd outta herrrre

 

[Pugz]

WOW.
You put a whole lot into this...
Good job.
And BTW my Lions better win this weekend.

 

[vikesfan]

Man I hope your right about Childress, wouldn't break my heart if he left now.

 

[A.E]

Man I hope your right about Childress, wouldn't break my heart if he left now.

The guy is a 'dweeb' plain & simple. I'm sure he's great drawing up plays but he is no leader. I dont think this team responds well to him, I think he makes horrible choices in personnel moves, and I believe that he actually think he has a 5 year window to blossom this team. T-Jack is not the next McNabb...he's more like a weaker version of Mike Vick & what happened to Vick when Jim Mora put him into the West Coast offense?

Childress is doomed b/c he is too stupid to realize that the likes of: Jackson, Bollinger, Holcomb, and Detmer aren't going to get us out of the NFC North cellar.

 

[werebarret]

Well somebody from the AFC West has to & I cannot see Denver or San Diego doing it. The Chiefs have 7 games left & as long as they can beat SD & Oakland at home, win at Denver...there's 6 very winnable games left. I don't think they match-up well against the Colts & they would have to stop the "one-sided" Detroit offense in Week 16.

Your looking at 10-6, good enough for a Playoff spot. 2 straight Playoff appearances keeps Herman on the rise & it does keep the Chiefs on the right track at least. I'm a Vikings' fan, we have the same problems. Great running attack (when healthy), unestablished at QB, little-no WR's, a Defense good at one thing but no the other. I feel your pain but your Chiefs are in the hunt, my Vikings are done.

We're not going to win at Denver. No way. Denver just put a beat-down on us in our own house.

The only reason we beat San Diego earlier in the season was because of an offensive explosion, and we haven't done anything near that since.

We're 4-5 now, the Colts are going to rape us this week, and we've still got Denver and Detroit on the road.... I seriously doubt we'll finish near 10-6, 7-9 seems more likely...

Croyle isn't going to do anything but get beat up. Our offensive line is terrible, we have few recieving threats other than Johnson, and our running back is Priest Holmes, who averaged 3 yards per carry against the worst rushing defense in the NFL.

 

[JoshHoward5]

The guy is a 'dweeb' plain & simple. I'm sure he's great drawing up plays but he is no leader. I dont think this team responds well to him, I think he makes horrible choices in personnel moves, and I believe that he actually think he has a 5 year window to blossom this team. T-Jack is not the next McNabb...he's more like a weaker version of Mike Vick & what happened to Vick when Jim Mora put him into the West Coast offense?

Childress is doomed b/c he is too stupid to realize that the likes of: Jackson, Bollinger, Holcomb, and Detmer aren't going to get us out of the NFC North cellar.

It's not Childress fault that he has crappy quarterbacks, blame the GM. But I do agree with him not getting to his team.

 

[A.E]

It's not Childress fault that he has crappy quarterbacks, blame the GM. But I do agree with him not getting to his team.

It is Childress' fault actually. Who do you think made the push to draft Tarvaris Jackson in the 2nd round of the 2006 Draft? Childress believes that Jackson is capable of being a prolifik pocket passer that can successfully function in the West Coast Offense. The truth is that Jackson cannot & when he isn't plagued by multiple injuries, Jackson fails miserably on the field. There's no giving Jackson the benefit of the doubt either as he hasn't shown any potential on the NFL gridiron period. Jackson amassed nearly 8K worth of passing yards in years at Alabama State but Alabama State is a D1-A school, hardly full of NFL-quality defenses in D1-A Football.

"I think you judge quarterbacks a little bit differently...When you see what you want at the quarterback position, you need to go get it. And that's exactly what I see with Tarvaris Jackson is a guy that's a piece of clay, that has all the skills in terms of, No. 1, what's he look like throwing the football?...He's got a great throwing motion; he's athletic. He has all those things that we're looking for, and he's wired right. That's important for a quarterback. I think he's a flatline guy. I think he's a sponge. You're talking about a guy that never had a coach there as a quarterback coach. So what can he do with coaching?"
- Brad Childress, following the 2006 Draft

 

[dez]

*Claps*

what the hell.....*round of applause*

Nice piece, as a Giants fan I would like to see Coughlin go, hell if it were up to me so could Eli.