Dan Pompei on the Wis

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,396
Reaction score
14,622
From the Sportingnews.com site:



Whisenhunt is a good fit for Arizona
January 15, 2007


Cardinals fans should be excited about the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt.


He has impressed me when I've spoken to him as a bright offensive mind who communicates clearly, and I've thought for a while he would make a fine head coach. He comes from a proven system in Pittsburgh and has worked with some good men like Bill Cowher, Ted Marchibroda and Rod Dowhower.

Whisenhunt is a good fit for the Cardinals because of the presence of Matt Leinart. Whisenhunt, probably more than anyone, was responsible for the development of Ben Roethlisberger. He's a proven play caller who is committed to the run (Edgerrin James should like him), but is unafraid to take risks.

The fact that Whisenhunt has experience on special teams makes him an even more attractive candidate. Coaches who oversee special teams get a broader perspective on how a team fits together than those who never stray from offense or defense. Among those who had special teams experience before becoming head coaches were Bill Belichick, Marv Levy and Dick Vermeil.

Now, I'm not saying Whisenhunt is destined to be the next Belichick. He has a lot to prove before we can compare him with the best coach of an era, or maybe the best coach of any era. But I do like his background.

One thing that sets off an alarm: the Steelers could have hired him and chose not to. They knew Whisenhunt better than anyone, and weren't impressed with him enough to make him the successor to Cowher.

But that doesn't make the Steelers right. Perhaps Whisenhunt is just a better fit in Arizona than he could have been in Pittsburgh.
 

az1965

Love Games!
Joined
Jan 23, 2003
Posts
14,760
Reaction score
0
Location
Austin, TX
One thing that sets off an alarm: the Steelers could have hired him and chose not to. They knew Whisenhunt better than anyone, and weren't impressed with him enough to make him the successor to Cowher.
Hmmm...
 

LoyaltyisaCurse

IF AND WHEN HEALTHY...
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Posts
53,873
Reaction score
19,669
Location
CA
I dont think that is true... Steelers were taking their time and Whisenhunt had no assurance he would be chosen over Grimm, or anyother candidate...He got his chance with Cards because the acted swiftly... Why would he pass up a sure thing?
 

Assface

Like a boss
Supporting Member
Joined
May 6, 2003
Posts
15,106
Reaction score
21
Location
Tempe
What I heard regarding the Rooney's HC search is that they only want someone who coaches "Steelers football" ie, heavy focus on the run and defense. That's why Grimm (the more run oriented coach) was their favorite over the passing oriented Whisenhunt. Everyone else they're interviewing is or was a DC.
 
OP
OP
football karma

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,396
Reaction score
14,622
The Wis interviews alay some of these fears--

it sounds like AZ just moved faster, and then put a take it or leave it offer in front of Wis --

he had to choose between the bird in the hand vs the one in the bush
 

BACH

Superbowl, Homeboy!
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
6,158
Reaction score
1,971
Location
Expat in Kuala Lumpur
The Wis interviews alay some of these fears--

it sounds like AZ just moved faster, and then put a take it or leave it offer in front of Wis --

he had to choose between the bird in the hand vs the one in the bush

Agree.

Whisenhunt made it very clear to the Pittsburgh media, that he had been informed that he still was a candidate in Pittsburgh. He turned that job down himself, by electing the job here.
 

JeffGollin

ASFN Icon
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
20,472
Reaction score
3,056
Location
Holmdel, NJ
One thing that sets off an alarm: the Steelers could have hired him and chose not to. They knew Whisenhunt better than anyone, and weren't impressed with him enough to make him the successor to Cowher.
Another explanation being offered by at least one writer is that the Steelers were so committed to the process of leaving no stone unturned in their search for their 3rd coach in a gazillion years that they wouldn't be tempted to make an early decision.

Whisenhunt was, in a sense, left to dangle in the wind while the Steelers waited for Chicago's season to be over. If he waited - and the Steelers decided to hire Grimm, Rivera or Tomlin - the other coaching jobs might already get filled and Ken would be left high and dry.

The Cardinals - who Jay Glazer says had Whisenhunt rated #1 but also interviewed Sherman a second time because of fear Ken would sign with the Steelers - stepped up to the plate and did all the things they needed to do to convince Whisenhunt to "sign now."

Strategy worked. Everybody's happy. (Except maybe the Steelers. Or maybe not).
 

Billy Flynt

Pirate, 300 yrs too late
Joined
Sep 10, 2002
Posts
2,038
Reaction score
14
Location
port royal, jamaica
The Steelers are being very diligent in their search with two very good in-house candidates they felt they could take their time. Obviously no one, not even Grimm, has blown the doors off the interview room.
 

john h

Registered User
LEGACY MEMBER
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Posts
10,552
Reaction score
13
Location
Little Rock
From the Sportingnews.com site:



Whisenhunt is a good fit for Arizona
January 15, 2007


Cardinals fans should be excited about the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt.


He has impressed me when I've spoken to him as a bright offensive mind who communicates clearly, and I've thought for a while he would make a fine head coach. He comes from a proven system in Pittsburgh and has worked with some good men like Bill Cowher, Ted Marchibroda and Rod Dowhower.

Whisenhunt is a good fit for the Cardinals because of the presence of Matt Leinart. Whisenhunt, probably more than anyone, was responsible for the development of Ben Roethlisberger. He's a proven play caller who is committed to the run (Edgerrin James should like him), but is unafraid to take risks.

The fact that Whisenhunt has experience on special teams makes him an even more attractive candidate. Coaches who oversee special teams get a broader perspective on how a team fits together than those who never stray from offense or defense. Among those who had special teams experience before becoming head coaches were Bill Belichick, Marv Levy and Dick Vermeil.

Now, I'm not saying Whisenhunt is destined to be the next Belichick. He has a lot to prove before we can compare him with the best coach of an era, or maybe the best coach of any era. But I do like his background.

One thing that sets off an alarm: the Steelers could have hired him and chose not to. They knew Whisenhunt better than anyone, and weren't impressed with him enough to make him the successor to Cowher.

But that doesn't make the Steelers right. Perhaps Whisenhunt is just a better fit in Arizona than he could have been in Pittsburgh.

I read that Rooney sometimes likes an infusion of new blood into the system. Some large companies operate on this principal.
 

conraddobler

I want my 2$
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Posts
20,052
Reaction score
237
I've said that I had a feeling that since we drafted Matt that things would work out.

I think we got lucky, I hope so.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
558,135
Posts
5,452,776
Members
6,336
Latest member
FKUCZK15
Top