NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat & Hirings

[MarcusP2]

There was an article I saw a few days ago about how some legendary coaches would've been fired long before winning anything if they were appointed these days (e.g Tom Landry with 6 consecutive losing seasons, Chuck Noll only winning 12 games in his first 3 seasons). Just because they couldn't make it work immediately doesn't mean they're a dud.

 

[Woodson]

Bill Belicheck?

Belichick stayed @ Cleveland for 5 years up until owner Art Moddell decided to get out and move his team to Baltimore. Belichick finished with a modest record of 37-45, qualifying the Browns for a Wildcard in 1994. At the time of his hiring in Cleveland after his DC tenure @ the NYG who won two Lombardi's, Belichick was the youngest coach in the league at the time at 38. His Browns allowed a league low of 204 points during 1994 and ironically defeated the NE Pats in their last play-off win since.

On the flipside of coach Firings & whatnot, the Steelers are most likely to go with DC LeBeau for another campaign.

 

[drd23]

I wasnt sure if the Browns made the play-offs under Belicheck, hence the "?", and was just too lazy to check. I did know that he didnt have a winning record while there

 

[Woodson]

I wasnt sure if the Browns made the play-offs under Belicheck, hence the "?", and was just too lazy to check. I did know that he didnt have a winning record while there

Last two Cleveland play-off journey's have ended in da 'Burgh ('94 & '02). Only four Cleveland coaches have a overall winning record including Marty Schottenhiemer. The Browns last won a Division title in 1989.. same year I embraced the Steelers as my team. Cleveland reached the Conf Championship in that same season. Since then, the Browns have had EIGHT HC's with three seasons ('96-'98) not withstanding as they didn't participate.

 

[usalion]

There was an article I saw a few days ago about how some legendary coaches would've been fired long before winning anything if they were appointed these days (e.g Tom Landry with 6 consecutive losing seasons, Chuck Noll only winning 12 games in his first 3 seasons). Just because they couldn't make it work immediately doesn't mean they're a dud.

True, but you are talking about two of the best run franchises going. In Landry's case, he came in with a proven track record as an assistant in New York. Dallas was an expansion team, so immediate success was certainly not on the cards, and the management of the Cowboys were happy to see steady improvement, which is what they got.

As for Noll, well, take a look at Pittsbuirgh coaches over the last forty years. The Steelers were well down in the late 60s, but when Noll came in, the change started with some very good drafts-

1969- Greene, Jon Kolb, LC Greenwood
1970- Bradshaw, Shanklin and Blount
1971- Ham, Dwight White, Ernie Holmes, Mike Wagner
1972- Harris and steve Furness

These guys developed into the core of the four Super Bowl champions- and the Rooneys gave Noll that opportunity to develop them.

 

[Woodson]

True, but you are talking about two of the best run franchises going. In Landry's case, he came in with a proven track record as an assistant in New York. Dallas was an expansion team, so immediate success was certainly not on the cards, and the management of the Cowboys were happy to see steady improvement, which is what they got.

As for Noll, well, take a look at Pittsbuirgh coaches over the last forty years. The Steelers were well down in the late 60s, but when Noll came in, the change started with some very good drafts-

1969- Greene, Jon Kolb, LC Greenwood
1970- Bradshaw, Shanklin and Blount
1971- Ham, Dwight White, Ernie Holmes, Mike Wagner
1972- Harris and steve Furness

These guys developed into the core of the four Super Bowl champions- and the Rooneys gave Noll that opportunity to develop them.

Some of the articles I read about Mean Joe Green, in his debut season, were not as awe-aspiring as the next person cares to think that the down-trodden Steelers were to become the next big thing.. Noll's first season (1969) was riddled with much player discontent. The coin-toss that won the Steelers the first pick against the Bears, resulting in Bradshaw getting selected, didn't start too smoothly either. Bradshaw was a goat (in some ways) in his early seasons. Still, it's an incredible story of overcoming the struggles and challenges that become an invigorating achievement of success.

Not that I DARE claim any of it... nup, just willing to read about it and know my team history. I'm sure there are other great NFL stories just as great like the 49ers.. but after you watch the Rams' 1999 America's Game and the stories of how they become the Greatest Show On Turf just makes you wonder if the AFL/ or any other worldwide league is anywhere near the level of teamwork required to win a championship.

 

[usalion]

Some of the articles I read about Mean Joe Green, in his debut season, were not as awe-aspiring as the next person cares to think that the down-trodden Steelers were to become the next big thing.. Noll's first season (1969) was riddled with much player discontent. The coin-toss that won the Steelers the first pick against the Bears, resulting in Bradshaw getting selected, didn't start too smoothly either. Bradshaw was a goat (in some ways) in his early seasons. Still, it's an incredible story of overcoming the struggles and challenges that become an invigorating achievement of success.

Not that I DARE claim any of it... nup, just willing to read about it and know my team history. I'm sure there are other great NFL stories just as great like the 49ers.. but after you watch the Rams' 1999 America's Game and the stories of how they become the Greatest Show On Turf just makes you wonder if the AFL/ or any other worldwide league is anywhere near the level of teamwork required to win a championship.

Well, as one who remembers the late 60s and early 70s, Woodson, I can verify the accuracy of those stories. Both Greene and Bradshaw copped a lot the first year or two, as did the Steelers for the picks. But the Rooneys had the faith in what Noll and Co. were doing to give him time to build, and by the time you get to the Immaculate Reception (oops, sorry, GG- you'd call it "DECEPTION," I reckon) it was clear that Pittsburgh was a team on the rise.

I still remember being amazed when they were able to draft Lynn Swann in the 1974 draft- there were some decent players picked ahead of him- Too Tall Jones, Randy Gradishar and Heisman winner John Cappeletti, to name three- but you could tell watching USC that Swann was special- as indeed he became for the Steelers.

Anyway, I simply listed the drafts as a reminder of what players came to the Steel City in Noll's first few years- looking back, not a bad run, eh?

 

[sjsdu]

Just happen to be back in Aus at this very moment, GG.... Seeing Huebris' antics this year, I thought this would happen. He started strongly but talked himself into the hotseat. The team was sloppy and ill prepared in too many games. As a first year head coach, you expect growing pains. Once Reg was hired, it was only a matter of time.

Geez talk about a long-time no see poster and this very moment to come out of all moments.

 

[pjcrows]

Jeff Fisher has agreed to terms with St Louis, ahead of Miami.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Seems GM Jeff Ireland was the stumbling block at Miami as Fisher wanted some say on roster and draft (according to SI.com).

Of course the fact that Fisher's agent is the father of Rams COO helped.
​

 

[pjcrows]

Good point re: COO.

Rams with more upside too I would've thought.

 

[drd23]

It was well known that Fisher wanted more input into the personnel decisions than the average HC has. It was what he had in Tennessee, so I doubt he'd settle for less.

Plus the Miami owner, Stephen Ross, doesnt sound like somebody that you'd particularly want to work under. Just last year he was publicly, and desperately, trying to lure Jim Harbaugh to Miami despite already having a HC in place. That can't be good for employee's peace of mind about their job security if the boss acts like that.

Didn't know the connection b/w his agent and the COO, although I doubt it had a bigger impact than the 2 points above and the fact that they already have a QB

 

[Exe Gesis]

Dolphins are a bit of a rabble front-office-wise since Ross took over.

 

[usalion]

Rumors have Greg Williams leaving New Orleans defence and joining Fisher in St Louis as D co-ordinator. Fisher may also entice Washburn from Philly- they worked together in Tenn.

Spags may be headed to new Orleans as a result of that- JD would be ecstatic with that, one would think.

And one of the Green Bay coaches- didn't catch which one, i s in line for the raiders head job.

 

[drd23]

Winston Moss, the Packers DBs coach iirc, is the one favoured for the the Raiders HC job

 

[Exe Gesis]

Winston Moss is LBs coach and assistant HC

 

[Exe Gesis]

Interesting article on PFT about the Fisher hire in St Louis, and possible shenanigans going on there.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/15/st-louis-g-m-shell-game-could-be-coming/

Four years ago, the Dolphins were able to hire Jeff Ireland away from the Cowboys by giving Ireland final say over the roster and the draft. No one believed that Ireland actually had that authority; it widely was suspected that former V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells ultimately called the shots, and that the team put in the contract whatever had to be put in the contract in order to bogart Ireland from the ‘Boys.

A year later, something similar occurred in Cleveland, where the team hired coach Eric Mangini and then brought George Kokinis from Baltimore, with Kokinis getting final say in writing but many believing that Mangini still had the power, as a practical matter.

The same dynamic could be coming in St. Louis. On Saturday, Charley Casserly of CBS reported that the Rams have made no final decision on the exact authority that coach Jeff Fisher will have, but that it’s not an issue because Fisher will have major input regarding the selection of the next General Manager.

Wait, what?

Fisher, according to Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports and Adam Schefter of ESPN, spurned the Dolphins because owner Stephen Ross refused to strip final say from Ireland, a man whom Schefter says Fisher would have been interested in hiring as the G.M. in St. Louis, if Ireland were available. And now we’re to believe that Fisher instead chose a situation where he may not have final say over the guy who is hired to serve as General Manager, even if Fisher’s input on the hire ultimately is rejected by management?

In our view, it’s a shell game, aimed at allowing the Rams to import from another front office a guy who currently doesn’t possess final say. Unless the Rams hire someone who currently isn’t employed, whose contract has expired, or whom his current team no longer wants, the Rams will have to give the next G.M. final say in order to hire him away from his current team, even if the next G.M. will essentially do with that final say whatever Fisher tells him to do.

Here’s hoping that the league office slams the door on this kind of sham. But we won’t hold our breath. Fisher spent the last year embedded in the league office, helping the Competition Committee and otherwise aiding the Commissioner. If the league ever addresses this fairly significant loophole when it comes to front-office maneuverings, it won’t happen until after Fisher and the Rams slip through it.

 

[drd23]

Winston Moss is LBs coach and assistant HC

I thought Kevin Greene was the LBs coach?

EDIT: Turns out Greene is the OLB coach and Moss the ILBs coach

 

[Exe Gesis]

Interesting stuff....

According to the Kansas City Star, Todd Haley believed his personal cellphone and "many rooms" at Chiefs headquarters were bugged during his tenure as coach.
On the surface, Haley's accusations smack of paranoia from a coach who has never been known as easygoing. In a truly bizarre behind-the-scenes account, however, the Star reports "intimidation and secrecy are among the Chiefs’ principal management styles," and shares a number of strange anecdotes about GM Scott Pioli. It's clearer than ever Haley's fate was sealed long before the Chiefs' dispiriting Week 14 loss to the Jets.

Source: Kansas City Star

 

[Exe Gesis]

Falcons...

Falcons named Dirk Koetter offensive coordinator.
He replaces Mike Mularkey, who was named Jacksonville's head coach on Tuesday. That's where Koetter spent the past five seasons, coordinating an offense that finished better than 18th in points scored just once. Koetter worked alongside new boss Mike Smith in 2007, and runs a very similar system to Mularkey. It's vertically-based in nature with a power run game. Before a disastrous 2011 season with a potentially hopeless Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, Koetter coaxed career seasons from average to below-average talents David Garrard, Reggie Williams, and Mike Sims-Walker. In Julio Jones and Roddy White, Koetter is going to have some real weapons now.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Don't know if I like it or not.

Sounds more vertical than horizontal, but I fear more running, and Turner isn't far away from crashing.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Hue Jackson interviewing with the Rams for the OC job.

Raiders will be interviewing the Saints OC, the Broncos OC, the Broncos DC, soon, for the HC gig I guess.

Looks like the Buccaneers are doing a really great job of finding their next HC, conducting an extensive and thorough search, not rushing.

 

[drd23]

I thought the Rams had hired Brian Schottenheimer as their OC?


EDIT: Here's the link and money quote:

Brian Schottenheimer has been offered the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator job and will accept the position on new coach Jeff Fisher's staff, a league source said Sunday night.

All that's left to make it official is for the contract to be completed, according to the source.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...b-pending-contract?module=HP11_headline_stack

 

[Exe Gesis]

Yeah, that report went out days ago, but a new report has come out...

The Rams will interview former Raiders head coach Hue Jackson for their offensive coordinator vacancy.
Well, we'd like it a lot better than Brian Schottenheimer. Oakland sent Jackson packing after owner Al Davis' in-season passing gave the coach too much personnel control, but Jackson is still one of the league's top offensive minds. During his two years with the Raiders, Jackson moved the club's scoring rank from 13th to fourth, and Oakland also had a top-five 2011 offense in yardage. Jackson has experience with a young quarterback, serving as Joe Flacco's position coach during Flacco's first (and best) two seasons in the league (2008-2009). On paper, at least, Jackson would be a quality fit with Sam Bradford in St. Louis.

Source: Chris Mortensen on Twitter
Jan 16 - 9:40 PM

 

[Exe Gesis]

Jason La Confora has an update on this with more detail (conducted phone interview)...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ders-coach-jackson-interviews-for-rams-oc-job