Coaching Hot Seats

[kerouac9]

Since we're in the thick of the offseason, when coaching prowess is at a premium and the foundations are laid for successful seasons, I thought that people might want to hazard some guesses about where the head coaches in the NFL might stand going into the season. Here's how I see it:

Temperature: Deep Freeze
Tony Dungy (IND)
Lovie Smith (CHI)
Bill Belichick (NE)
Mike Tomlin (PIT)
Ken Whisenhunt (ARI)
Cam Cameron (MIA)
Andy Reid (PHI)
Bobby Petrino (ATL)
Eric Mangini (NYJ)
Sean Payton (NO)
Mike Shanahan (DEN)

Temperature - Lukewarm
Jeff Fisher (TEN)
Lane Kniffin (OAK)
Wade Phillips (DAL)
Mike Nolan (SF)
Mike Holmgren (SEA)
Mike McCarthy (GB)
Scott Linehan (STL)
Gary Kubiak (HOU)
Brad Childress (MIN)
Rod Marinelli (DET)
Dick Jauron (BUF)
Herm Edwards (KC)

Temperature - Low Simmer
Brian Billick (BAL)
Jack Del Rio (JAC)
John Fox (CAR)
Norv Turner (SD)
Joe Gibbs (WAS)
Marvin Lewis (CIN)

Temperature - Full Boil
Jon Gruden (TB)
Tom Coughlin (NYG)
Romeo Crennel (CLE)

It would seem like there aren't a lot of jobs on the line this season, but I'll bet that 5-7 HC jobs end up turning over. It's interesting to note that Fisher and Belichick are allegedly in the last year of their contracts. If you're Danny Snyder, would you pony up $8 million per season for either of those guys?

 

[Mulli]

Sean Payton coaches where?

 

[Mulli]

For the sake of discussion, why is Norv Turner on a low simmer? Because the owner is a knucklehead?

 

[AZCB34]

I would think Del Rio would be in full boil mode at this point.

 

[kerouac9]

For the sake of discussion, why is Norv Turner on a low simmer? Because the owner is a knucklehead?

Because I think that all of the other guys could afford an 7-9, 6-10 season and not get the quick hook. Unless LDT shatters both his knees and Rivers accidently puts his arm in a wood chipper, Turner's going to be under a lot of heat if the Chargers don't at least win their division. Turner seems to have really disorganized teams and owners are happy to give him a quick hook (cf Washington and Oakland). Nothing will kill a coach faster than chaos on the sidelines.

I would think Del Rio would be in full boil mode at this point.

He's close, but I think John Fox might be closer. Del Rio made the playoffs last season. Yes, they lose to teams that they're supposed to beat, but I think he'll be safe this season as long as the team doesn't put up a 5-11 stink bomb.

 

[Mulli]

Think you are right about Fox.

 

[BigRedArk]

I don't get why Crenel is on the hot seat at Cleveland (not arguing whether he is or not). He took over a team that was terrible (probably the worst team in the league at the time he took over IIRC) and is in the process of rebuilding it. Isn't this only his third season? Give the man some time.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't get why Crenel is on the hot seat at Cleveland (not arguing whether he is or not). He took over a team that was terrible (probably the worst team in the league at the time he took over IIRC) and is in the process of rebuilding it. Isn't this only his third season? Give the man some time.

No. I'm pretty sure this is his fourth. He got KW2, the kid from Michigan, Wimbley, and now Thomas. They drafted 3rd overall this season. He has to show some improvement. I think that 8-8 with a 3-1 finish to the season would be enough to save his job, especially if he has to play Quinn.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

My changes in bold:

Temperature: Deep Freeze
Tony Dungy (IND)
Lovie Smith (CHI)
Bill Belichick (NE)
Mike Tomlin (PIT)
Ken Whisenhunt (ARI)
Cam Cameron (MIA)
Andy Reid (PHI)
Bobby Petrino (ATL)
Eric Mangini (NYJ)
Sean Payton (NO)
Mike Shanahan (DEN)
Jeff Fisher (TEN)

Temperature - Lukewarm
Lane Kniffin (OAK)
Mike Nolan (SF)
Mike Holmgren (SEA)
Mike McCarthy (GB)
Scott Linehan (STL)
Gary Kubiak (HOU)
Brad Childress (MIN)

Dick Jauron (BUF)
Herm Edwards (KC)

Temperature - Low Simmer
Brian Billick (BAL)
Norv Turner (SD)
Joe Gibbs (WAS)
Marvin Lewis (CIN)
Wade Phillips (DAL)
Rod Marinelli (DET)

Temperature - Full Boil
Jon Gruden (TB)
Tom Coughlin (NYG)
Romeo Crennel (CLE)
Jack Del Rio (JAC)
John Fox (CAR)

Great Thread topic !

 

[SuperSpck]

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/coaches.php

Romeo Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history.


I'm very interested to see how this season plays out for them, I'm especially interested in Phil Savage's future, being a big fan of the Ozzie Newsome GM tree (there's a dream guy for any front office).

 

[kerouac9]

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/coaches.php

Romeo Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history.


I'm very interested to see how this season plays out for them, I'm especially interested in Phil Savage's future, being a big fan of the Ozzie Newsome GM tree (there's a dream guy for any front office).

Huh. Maybe it just seems like much longer. But he's 10-22 as a head coach. Denny Green was let go after three seasons, and this is a team that has to get better.

Phil Savage is on thin ice, and this team has gotten worse in the two years Crennel's been steering the ship. I don't think this team needs to make the playoffs, but they do need to be competitive. He had to fire his entire offensive staff to keep his job this offseason.

 

[Young Card]

Del Rio, Gruden, Fox, Coughlin, and Crennel are all on the hot seat. Otherwise, I would say that Billick is safe.

Crennel does need to improve. However, he should get one last season. This team had no talent. has had a rash of injuries and had to transition to a 3-4 defense.

 

[ARZCardinals]

John Gruden is as good as gone.

 

[SightsSoundsBach13]

The list looks strikingly similar to how I would've rated it with one exception being Mike Holmgren. He's not thawing any time soon. They've WON playoff games in consecutive campaigns and last season he had to deal with the injuries to Hasselbeck, Alexander and the entire secondary. My thing about Holmgren is that he's always got competitive squads and if they wanted to get rid of him, what better, more decorated coach would be available? I could see him leaving out of frustration.

It must be lame to be trying to rebuild a franchise like the Lions where not only were they longing so bad to make the playoffs that their fans and management have lost patience before you began, but they were a completely talentless team when you began. Marinelli's defense will have to make strides this year or he is gone.

I do feel if Snyder wants to let Gibbs go, they might paint it as a retirement to embellish his legacy.

Some might say, "how can this guy be on such a hot seat? What if they win a playoff game this year? Is he then off the hot seat?" I think if Marvin Lewis wins a playoff game, he can benefit from the fact that this would be his first win. However, if he loses, he is in a situation where he must explain why he was hired in the first place. A defensive guru who gets to start a top 5 quarterback, two top 15 receivers and a top 10 running back. I doubt the character of his players will be his downfall.

You totally got the last part of your list right. Even if Fox and Gruden win playoff games, they could be gone because those teams have such high expectations.

There is clamoring for Cowher in Dallas if Phillips doesn't work out. AJ Smith might relent power to Pete Carroll if the Chargers are one and done again. Those two first year coaches might be on low simmer.

 

[MlKE49ER]

Torched it regarding a lot of those.

first off Nolan not only has improved the team each and every year, but just had one of the best offseasons of any coach for any team. Yorks know Nolan is highly sought after, and he's going no where.

Turner had the misfortune of coaching under two of the worst owners in sports...Snyder with Washington, where the team had just been overhauled, and Al Davis in Oakland, where Turners decisions were constantly overrulled.

Kiffin is on full boil, as is every coach is in Oakland. There is no such thing as a "building process".

Every rookie head coach is a prospective "one and done".

 

[Brighteyes]

What do you think it would take to put Shanahan on the hot seat?

Since Elway, he hasn't done much. Somehow the quarterback he pays for this year ends up being the cause of all the team's failures in 3 years. I never did understand why he gave Jake the hook mid season.

 

[kerouac9]

What do you think it would take to put Shanahan on the hot seat?

Since Elway, he hasn't done much. Somehow the quarterback he pays for this year ends up being the cause of all the team's failures in 3 years. I never did understand why he gave Jake the hook mid season.

Nothing. I mean, I have a hard time remembering the last time the team was more than 1 game below .500, and they seem to be in the playoffs 2 of every 3 years or so. Only 1 team can win the Super Bowl every season.

It seems like Shanahan has a Svengali like control over ownership in Denver. I don't think he'll ever be on the hot seat.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I agree.

 

[vinnymac]

k-9,

Turner didn't get a quick hook in Washington. I believe he coached there for 7 season. He only had one playoff apperance and win.

Back to the coaches on the hot seat.

I agree that Coughlin and Gruden are on the hot seat. I would put Brain Billick in the deep freeze because he just signed a multi-year contract extension with the Ravens. I would add Marvin Lewis to the boiling hot list. High expectation for the Bengals and he only had one winning season in four years with them. If he doesn't produce this season he will be gone, imo.

 

[SuperSpck]

Turner was the coach of the Redskins from 94-00.
7 years, like vinny thought.

He had a record of and 49 wins and 59 losses.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

What do you think it would take to put Shanahan on the hot seat?

Since Elway, he hasn't done much. Somehow the quarterback he pays for this year ends up being the cause of all the team's failures in 3 years. I never did understand why he gave Jake the hook mid season.

Shanahan got an extension this offseason and Jake was benched because Jake was playing like a rookie, and at that point, it would was more productive to stick an actual rookie in there over a 10-year vet.

 

[PDXChris]

Turner had the misfortune of coaching under two of the worst owners in sports...Snyder with Washington,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Snyder

In May 1999, he purchased the team and their then two-year old stadium for $800 million following the death of the previous owner Jack Kent Cooke. At the time, it was the most expensive transaction in sporting history. The deal was financed largely through borrowed money, including a $340 million borrowed from Société Générale and $155 million debt assumed on the stadium. Annual loan servicing costs are an estimated $50 million.

Since he coached until 2000, I am not sure Snyder had much to do with anything.

 

[vinnymac]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Snyder

In May 1999, he purchased the team and their then two-year old stadium for $800 million following the death of the previous owner Jack Kent Cooke. At the time, it was the most expensive transaction in sporting history. The deal was financed largely through borrowed money, including a $340 million borrowed from Société Générale and $155 million debt assumed on the stadium. Annual loan servicing costs are an estimated $50 million.

Since he coached until 2000, I am not sure Snyder had much to do with anything.

I would love to have an owner like Synder. He is willing to fork out the cash to bring in players. His effort as owner has only brought 2 playoff apperances for the Redskins, but at least he keeps opening his pocketbook to bring in the players his GM and coaches want. Unfortunally it hasn't worked out for him. The redskins stay sold out regaurdless of there record. He must be doing something right.

Norv Turner had all the chances in the world to suceed in Washington. He just didn't work out there.

 

[Pariah]

What do you think it would take to put Shanahan on the hot seat?

Pat Bowlen, the Broncos' owner, is on record saying Shannahan has the job until he doesn't want it anymore.

 

[Skkorpion]

Vinny, I think Pat Bowen is the best owner in football and has been for many years.