Evaluating NFL Head Coaching Futures
By Michael Schneid
With one week remaining in the NFL regular season, we are approaching that time of year where all coaches are under fire. Usually, the MotleySports crew favors the idea of bringing in a new coach. We go through some of the tentative situations through the league and take a look at who should stay and who should go.
Rex Ryan, Jets
This is wrong. The Jets are 7-8, which is probably 6-7 more wins than anyone expected. If you look up and down the roster this is easily the worst team Rex has coached since he has been in NY. The Jets cannot make the playoffs due to tiebreakers but they can finish 8-8, and so can the 6th seed team. Are you telling me that if Rex Ryan leads the Jets to a .500 record he'll be fired?! This is why the new GM, John Idzik should have fired Rex after 2012 season to avoid this kind of awkwardness. New GMs always want their own guy and when they have to inherit a previous coach, it leads to trouble, like now.
Joe Philbin, Dolphins
Win or lose against the Jets, Philbin should remain Dolphins head coach. Despite a massive spending spree last off-season, Miami still has some holes and a lot of youth on offense. They had to deal with a bullying controversy and have continued to win games despite some issues. Philbin has proven to be a good coach and deserves a third season (at least) in Miami.
Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans
Titans are 20-26 in Munchak's three years (with one game to go in 2013) and zero playoff appearances. The franchise appears to be stuck in neutral and aren't trending up nor down. Former first round pick Jake Locker has been injury prone and it has affected their evaluation of him. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Titans fired Munchak, due to his failures to make the postseason. But it also wouldn't be a surprise to see him retained and make some changes to his assistants.
Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders
I like Allen and think he can be a good coach. After going 4-12 in 2012, the Raiders are currently 4-11. Not much progress has been made, but not much talent is on this team. The Raiders lead the league is "dead money against the cap" and because of that will have plenty of money to spend in 2014. Allen should be given the chance to coach next year, with hopefully a more talented roster. But given the history of the Raiders and their quick trigger on head coaches, Allen will probably be fired before his third year.
Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Very simple here. If the Cowboys win on Sunday against the Eagles they win the NFC East and host a playoff game. If the Cowboys lose, for the third straight year they will have lost a do-or-die division title game in week 17. Not a good look. And that will get Garrett fired. Dallas might be coaching staff changes but Garrett will be safe with a win on Sunday.
Tom Coughlin, Giants
This is interesting. Coughlin has won two Super Bowls with the Giants but might have lost his team a little bit. The second half of last year was bad and this whole year has been brutal. It will be up to the owners to decide if they want to move on or give Coughlin one more year to make the playoffs. It's not like they are in a really good division and it would be impossible to turn it around.
Mike Shanahan, Redskins
Forget buyouts and contracts or whatever. This is easy. Shanahan should be fired. The way he has treated Robert Griffin and the way he has acted now over the past month are all enough reason to move on from Shanahan. This season has been an absolute debacle after such an extraordinary year in 2013.
Jim Schwartz, Lions
Gone. Has to be. Detroit is arguably one of the most talented teams in the NFC, if not the NFL. Their offense is loaded with weapons and they have a strong defense. Not making the playoffs is unacceptable. Especially in a division with no run away winner. In the last 6 games the Lions are 1-5, while the Packers have started Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzien, and Matt Flynn at QB, and the Bears have used Josh McCown. Both the Bears and Packers are still in it, while the Lions season is over.
Leslie Frazier, Vikings
I think Frazier performed a mini-miracle going 10-6 and winning the division in 2012 and I would like to think that success buys him one more year in 2014 but I am not sure. 42-14 loss to Bengals yesterday hurts and it will be interesting to see how they play next week vs. Detroit, if they have packed it in or are still fighting. Frazier is a good coach but a revolving door of bad QBs has plagued their season. Frazier should get one more year with a better QB. Also, they drafted several young defensive players who will not have one year of experience.
Greg Schiano, Bucs
After a disastrous start, Bucs have quietly improved and while their win/loss record is nothing to brag about the Bucs are still in good shape, at least good enough to likely retain Schiano.
Mike Smith, Falcons
Atlanta was one game away from the Super Bowl in 2012. I can't see owner Arthur Blank firing Smith after one bad season. Injuries will buy Smith another year. But the Falcons will need to make the playoffs in 2014.
Top Head Coaching Candidates
Former Head Coaches: Ken Whisenhunt, Lovie Smith,
Current Assistants: Darrell Bevell, Mike Zimmer, Jay Gruden, Mel Tucker, Winston Moss, Todd Bowles, Ray Horton
College Options: David Shaw (Stanford), Bill O'Brien (Penn State), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M)
With one week remaining in the NFL regular season, we are approaching that time of year where all coaches are under fire. Usually, the MotleySports crew favors the idea of bringing in a new coach. We go through some of the tentative situations through the league and take a look at who should stay and who should go.
Rex Ryan, Jets
This is wrong. The Jets are 7-8, which is probably 6-7 more wins than anyone expected. If you look up and down the roster this is easily the worst team Rex has coached since he has been in NY. The Jets cannot make the playoffs due to tiebreakers but they can finish 8-8, and so can the 6th seed team. Are you telling me that if Rex Ryan leads the Jets to a .500 record he'll be fired?! This is why the new GM, John Idzik should have fired Rex after 2012 season to avoid this kind of awkwardness. New GMs always want their own guy and when they have to inherit a previous coach, it leads to trouble, like now.
Joe Philbin, Dolphins
Win or lose against the Jets, Philbin should remain Dolphins head coach. Despite a massive spending spree last off-season, Miami still has some holes and a lot of youth on offense. They had to deal with a bullying controversy and have continued to win games despite some issues. Philbin has proven to be a good coach and deserves a third season (at least) in Miami.
Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans
Titans are 20-26 in Munchak's three years (with one game to go in 2013) and zero playoff appearances. The franchise appears to be stuck in neutral and aren't trending up nor down. Former first round pick Jake Locker has been injury prone and it has affected their evaluation of him. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Titans fired Munchak, due to his failures to make the postseason. But it also wouldn't be a surprise to see him retained and make some changes to his assistants.
Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders
I like Allen and think he can be a good coach. After going 4-12 in 2012, the Raiders are currently 4-11. Not much progress has been made, but not much talent is on this team. The Raiders lead the league is "dead money against the cap" and because of that will have plenty of money to spend in 2014. Allen should be given the chance to coach next year, with hopefully a more talented roster. But given the history of the Raiders and their quick trigger on head coaches, Allen will probably be fired before his third year.
Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Very simple here. If the Cowboys win on Sunday against the Eagles they win the NFC East and host a playoff game. If the Cowboys lose, for the third straight year they will have lost a do-or-die division title game in week 17. Not a good look. And that will get Garrett fired. Dallas might be coaching staff changes but Garrett will be safe with a win on Sunday.
Tom Coughlin, Giants
This is interesting. Coughlin has won two Super Bowls with the Giants but might have lost his team a little bit. The second half of last year was bad and this whole year has been brutal. It will be up to the owners to decide if they want to move on or give Coughlin one more year to make the playoffs. It's not like they are in a really good division and it would be impossible to turn it around.
Mike Shanahan, Redskins
Forget buyouts and contracts or whatever. This is easy. Shanahan should be fired. The way he has treated Robert Griffin and the way he has acted now over the past month are all enough reason to move on from Shanahan. This season has been an absolute debacle after such an extraordinary year in 2013.
Jim Schwartz, Lions
Gone. Has to be. Detroit is arguably one of the most talented teams in the NFC, if not the NFL. Their offense is loaded with weapons and they have a strong defense. Not making the playoffs is unacceptable. Especially in a division with no run away winner. In the last 6 games the Lions are 1-5, while the Packers have started Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzien, and Matt Flynn at QB, and the Bears have used Josh McCown. Both the Bears and Packers are still in it, while the Lions season is over.
Leslie Frazier, Vikings
I think Frazier performed a mini-miracle going 10-6 and winning the division in 2012 and I would like to think that success buys him one more year in 2014 but I am not sure. 42-14 loss to Bengals yesterday hurts and it will be interesting to see how they play next week vs. Detroit, if they have packed it in or are still fighting. Frazier is a good coach but a revolving door of bad QBs has plagued their season. Frazier should get one more year with a better QB. Also, they drafted several young defensive players who will not have one year of experience.
Greg Schiano, Bucs
After a disastrous start, Bucs have quietly improved and while their win/loss record is nothing to brag about the Bucs are still in good shape, at least good enough to likely retain Schiano.
Mike Smith, Falcons
Atlanta was one game away from the Super Bowl in 2012. I can't see owner Arthur Blank firing Smith after one bad season. Injuries will buy Smith another year. But the Falcons will need to make the playoffs in 2014.
Top Head Coaching Candidates
Former Head Coaches: Ken Whisenhunt, Lovie Smith,
Current Assistants: Darrell Bevell, Mike Zimmer, Jay Gruden, Mel Tucker, Winston Moss, Todd Bowles, Ray Horton
College Options: David Shaw (Stanford), Bill O'Brien (Penn State), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M)
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