Coaching changes this year

[PACardsFan]

Like almost every year, there will be a long list of possible firings. So much will depend on how the season ends as to who actually gets the axe:

DEFINITES
1. Ryan - no doubt
2. Trestman - Bears are a mess. He may be a decent OC, but a horrible HC
3. Harbaugh - football's version of Billy Martin. Will bring early success, but burns out EVERYONE eventually.
4. Sparano - He actually hasn't done that badly & the Raiders are finishing stronger than expected. I just question whether anyone perceives him as a long term HC.

COULD HAPPEN, MAY NOT
1. Smith - a lot will depend on whether the Falcons make the playoffs. If they don't, he's probably a goner.
2. Rivera - see Smith above. He was on the hot seat last year, but escaped with a lucky season. Average HC, at best.
3. Gruden - I don't think this will happen, especially with their big win that knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs. But, no one can question that Snyder is an idiot. Long term, Gruden's job is tenuous. But I don't believe that ANY coach should get canned after one season.

PROBABLY WON'T, BUT THE SEAT IS GETTING HOT
1. Bradley - Jags are starting to play better, but mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Needs to bring in a OC that can help Bortles out. Next year will be telling.
2. Whiz - No doubt he should have taken the Detroit job. Took over a bad team & has been decimated by injuries at the OL & QB positions. Sound familiar? He'll get another year. After that, the seat gets hot.

VETERAN COACHES WHOSE TIME IS COMING, JUST NOT YET
1. Coughlin - late season surge will probably save him. IMO, he's earned the right to stay.
2. Fisher - Has done just enough to keep his job ONE more year. Needs to make the playoffs next year to keep his job.

DARKHORSE POSSIBILITY
1. Marrone - has had the Bills in playoff contention all year, but there has been a ton of internal bickering with a franchise under new ownership. Benched Manuel, & upper management didn't like that. He said he was benching Manuel, because he couldn't win with him. He told management to fire him if necessary, but he was playing Orton. I've heard that he and the GM had to be separated or it would have come to blows. I'm a Syracuse guy, so I know Marrone well. He's a no nonsense guy that does win. The Bills would be nuts to fire him, but the new ownership didn't hire him, so he's NOT their guy. Would be a surprise, but not outside the realm of possibilities.

 

[Mitch]

Some early predictions:

CHI: If Jim Harbaugh doesn't go to Michigan, the Bears' job makes a lot of sense. The question is---would Harbaugh want to go in a different direction than with Jay Cutler and I think that answer would be yes and that the Bears' organization would agree. Choice #2: Todd Bowles, to bring back the ferocity of the Bears' defense.

NYJ: Darrell Bevell (SEA OC)---they need an offensive minded HC who can develop a young QB.

OAK: Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M)---while Sumlin may be saying right now that he's staying put, I think Reggie Mckenzie will go all out to hire Sumlin who would be a very good HC to match with Derek Carr.

ATL: Mike Shanahan. Few people are going to blame Shanny for what went wrong in DC and that dysfunctional organization. Shanahan gives them the in-game clock and situation management that they need.

SF: Urban Meyer. He fits the profile of what they want to a tee. The charisma and the offensive acumen (an excellent guru for Colin Kaepernick) and all the positive buzz he would bring.

STL: Todd Bowles. You can just see this one coming. Jeff Fisher is losing favor and they believe their defense can be lights-out. Plus, it would thrill them to be able to rub this hiring in BA's face after the comments he made about the Rams to the media. Bowles will have to excite them with his choice for OC---which could well be Cardinals' WR coach Daryl Drake.

JAX: Scott Linehan (DAL). Yes, he struggled as the Rams' HC, but he is having a stellar year calling the plays for the Cowboys and the Jaguars need a good offensive minded HC to develop their offense with the talented Blake Bortles at QB.

I think the Giants are going to stick with Tom Coughlin another year, as he has the team on an upswing.

 

[PACardsFan]

Some early predictions:

CHI: If Jim Harbaugh doesn't go to Michigan, the Bears' job makes a lot of sense. The question is---would Harbaugh want to go in a different direction than with Jay Cutler and I think that answer would be yes and that the Bears' organization would agree. Choice #2: Todd Bowles, to bring back the ferocity of the Bears' defense.

NYJ: Darrell Bevell (SEA OC)---they need an offensive minded HC who can develop a young QB.

OAK: Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M)---while Sumlin may be saying right now that he's staying put, I think Reggie Mckenzie will go all out to hire Sumlin who would be a very good HC to match with Derek Carr.

ATL: Mike Shanahan. Few people are going to blame Shanny for what went wrong in DC and that dysfunctional organization. Shanahan gives them the in-game clock and situation management that they need.

SF: Urban Meyer. He fits the profile of what they want to a tee. The charisma and the offensive acumen (an excellent guru for Colin Kaepernick) and all the positive buzz he would bring.

STL: Todd Bowles. You can just see this one coming. Jeff Fisher is losing favor and they believe their defense can be lights-out. Plus, it would thrill them to be able to rub this hiring in BA's face after the comments he made about the Rams to the media. Bowles will have to excite them with his choice for OC---which could well be Cardinals' WR coach Daryl Drake.

JAX: Scott Linehan (DAL). Yes, he struggled as the Rams' HC, but he is having a stellar year calling the plays for the Cowboys and the Jaguars need a good offensive minded HC to develop their offense with the talented Blake Bortles at QB.

I think the Giants are going to stick with Tom Coughlin another year, as he has the team on an upswing.

Shanahan may end up in Frisco. Bowles is not leaving the Cardinals to go to a horrible ownership group in St. Louis. I could see Bowles in Chicago though. Urban Meyer would be nuts to go to the NFL. He's a system HC, whose perfect at OSU. He doesn't have the flexibility that Chip Kelly has. After seeing how RG3's career has gone, the NFL doesn't want a HC whose QB's are left as exposed as Meyer's are.

 

[Mitch]

Shanahan may end up in Frisco. Bowles is not leaving the Cardinals to go to a horrible ownership group in St. Louis. I could see Bowles in Chicago though. Urban Meyer would be nuts to go to the NFL. He's a system HC, whose perfect at OSU. He doesn't have the flexibility that Chip Kelly has. After seeing how RG3's career has gone, the NFL doesn't want a HC whose QB's are left as exposed as Meyer's are.

The Rams' job is going to be highly coveted---look at the talent on that roster.

I think the Bears would be interested in Bowles if Harbaugh goes to Michigan.

Meyer's time to jump to the NFL is this year or the next and I think he's going to get a lot of consideration. He would be an excellent coach for Kaepernick, imho. Look at what Meyer got out of Tebow...and all 3 QBs at Ohio St. this year. That's not just a function of the "system."

 

[PACardsFan]

The Rams' job is going to be highly coveted---look at the talent on that roster.

I think the Bears would be interested in Bowles if Harbaugh goes to Michigan.

Meyer's time to jump to the NFL is this year or the next and I think he's going to get a lot of consideration. He would be an excellent coach for Kaepernick, imho. Look at what Meyer got out of Tebow...and all 3 QBs at Ohio St. this year. That's not just a function of the "system."

The Rams job may be interesting as long as you don't mind the media circus that follows franchises that look to be moving. The Rams stay in St. Louis is questionable at best.

Disagree regarding Meyer. Yes, Kaepernick would have success in his system, but for how long? He'd be injured half way through the season. Why did OSU go through 3 QB's this season. Because they are completely exposed to hits. Furthermore, OSU's 3 QB's had success exactly because of their "system". I really like Urban Meyer as a college HC, but that offense wouldn't last in the NFL.
Does Meyer have the flexibility to adjust his system to the NFL? If he can, then I'd give him a shot. Otherwise, I don't see the fit working.

 

[slanidrac16]

Trestman is absolutely gone. Shannahan's name is being mentioned already because of his past relationship with Cutler and willingness to work with him.

The Bears can't cut Cutler with his cap hit. I mean, they can, but they won't. There is not another FA QB out there that has his talent...at least physically.

 

[MrYeahBut]

The Jets QB situation is a disaster... who could develop Geno Smith? You can't develop someone who can't be developed.

 

[az jam]

Here is my list of best fits for the HC Black Monday massacre:


Oakland Raiders - Owner Mark Davis breaks the bank to get Jim Harbaugh

New York Jets: Agree with Mitch that Darrell Bevell is a good choice

San Francisco 49ers - Go down to UCLA and bring Jim Mora back to the NFL

Chicago Bears - Mike Shanahan the perfect fit for Cutler. If not then this is where Bowles goes.

I think Atlanta will make the playoffs thus saving Mike Smith. Rivera signed an Extension last year so I see him returning. Whiz & Lovie Smith will be given another year along with Fisher and Bradley. So 4 out for sure don't know if there will be any others.

Bottom line is that Bowles could be here for another year.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

Trestman is absolutely gone. Shannahan's name is being mentioned already because of his past relationship with Cutler and willingness to work with him.

The Bears can't cut Cutler with his cap hit. I mean, they can, but they won't. There is not another FA QB out there that has his talent...at least physically.

It's interesting that Trestman has now made McCown and Clausen look like NFL starters while in Chicago, but he can't help Cutler be anything but Cutler. If their defense didn't look so bad, I wonder if he may have gotten another year with an attempt to trade Cutler.

 

[waterboy]

Our ST and Strength coaches are on the skids. Or should be.

Gotta agree with this. Let's hope that BA is not so stupidly loyal as to keep them around ala Whiz and Russ Grimm. Can't imagine that would ever happen but it will be interesting to watch.

 

[slanidrac16]

It's interesting that Trestman has now made McCown and Clausen look like NFL starters while in Chicago, but he can't help Cutler be anything but Cutler. If their defense didn't look so bad, I wonder if he may have gotten another year with an attempt to trade Cutler.

No doubt the front office made a HUGE mistake signing Cutler to the long term contract. Seeing that Cutler missed most of last season they could have franchised him for this year to get a true evaluation in Trestmans system..but they didn't.

They were looking at long range $$$ and figured they could save money by signing Cutler. As we all know many contracts that seem outrageous today turn out to be a bargain 3 or 4 years down the line.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Urban Meyer is not going anywhere and Harbaugh is not going to Michigan.

Harbaugh will end up in Oakland. He gets to stay on the west coast, the Raiders will pay him, and he's grateful to Al Davis as Al gave him his first coaching job as QB coach.

 

[PACardsFan]

Like almost every year, there will be a long list of possible firings. So much will depend on how the season ends as to who actually gets the axe:

DEFINITES
1. Ryan - no doubt
2. Trestman - Bears are a mess. He may be a decent OC, but a horrible HC
3. Harbaugh - football's version of Billy Martin. Will bring early success, but burns out EVERYONE eventually.
4. Sparano - He actually hasn't done that badly & the Raiders are finishing stronger than expected. I just question whether anyone perceives him as a long term HC.

COULD HAPPEN, MAY NOT
1. Smith - a lot will depend on whether the Falcons make the playoffs. If they don't, he's probably a goner.
2. Rivera - see Smith above. He was on the hot seat last year, but escaped with a lucky season. Average HC, at best.
3. Gruden - I don't think this will happen, especially with their big win that knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs. But, no one can question that Snyder is an idiot. Long term, Gruden's job is tenuous. But I don't believe that ANY coach should get canned after one season.

PROBABLY WON'T, BUT THE SEAT IS GETTING HOT
1. Bradley - Jags are starting to play better, but mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Needs to bring in a OC that can help Bortles out. Next year will be telling.
2. Whiz - No doubt he should have taken the Detroit job. Took over a bad team & has been decimated by injuries at the OL & QB positions. Sound familiar? He'll get another year. After that, the seat gets hot.

VETERAN COACHES WHOSE TIME IS COMING, JUST NOT YET
1. Coughlin - late season surge will probably save him. IMO, he's earned the right to stay.
2. Fisher - Has done just enough to keep his job ONE more year. Needs to make the playoffs next year to keep his job.

DARKHORSE POSSIBILITY
1. Marrone - has had the Bills in playoff contention all year, but there has been a ton of internal bickering with a franchise under new ownership. Benched Manuel, & upper management didn't like that. He said he was benching Manuel, because he couldn't win with him. He told management to fire him if necessary, but he was playing Orton. I've heard that he and the GM had to be separated or it would have come to blows. I'm a Syracuse guy, so I know Marrone well. He's a no nonsense guy that does win. The Bills would be nuts to fire him, but the new ownership didn't hire him, so he's NOT their guy. Would be a surprise, but not outside the realm of possibilities.

Pretty accurate, if I do say so myself. Nice darkhorse call with Marrone, even though it was HIS call. I knew he wasn't happy with the ownership issue in Buffalo. Great hire for Jets, if he does end up there.

 

[Azlen]

Urban Meyer is not going anywhere and Harbaugh is not going to Michigan.

I guess that Meyer might be going somewhere if the truthiness of the second statement is any indication.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

• Marrone opts out of Bills deal, hits market

 

[Dback Jon]

Urban Meyer is not going anywhere and Harbaugh is not going to Michigan.

Harbaugh will end up in Oakland. He gets to stay on the west coast, the Raiders will pay him, and he's grateful to Al Davis as Al gave him his first coaching job as QB coach.

Where is Meyer going now?