My theory on the type of coach the Cardinals need to hire for 2007

[Lomax to Green 84]

I am not about to get into who it should be because there are so many potential factors, that to give actual names is just speculation. However, I do have some ideas on the type of coach we need to look at and why:

1. Most importantly, the new hire must not be a knee jerk reaction type of hire. Basically, that means not hire a guy who is the polar opposite of Dennis Green just to try something different. I think that is what brought Dennis Green here in the first place. The Cards brass saw Dave McGinnis as too much of a players coach, so they went and got someone who is not one at all.

2. Don't go get a "tough guy", or a "disciplinarian" just because of the percieved lack of discipline and toughness on this current team. I don't want a Rah-Rah who doesn't know X's and O's just for the sake of being tough on the players.I don't think Eric Mangini is necessarily a tough guy, but his team plays tough because they are well prepared.

3. Do get an solid X's and O's guy who is good at in game managment and decision making.

4. Do get a coach with an established history of success as either a head coach or coordinator (ala Jim Johnson at Philly-someone who has done good work for a number of years).

5. Do get a coach with a plan for his assistant coaches.

6. Do get a coach who has been considered for other head coaching jobs in the past.

7. Don't get a retread, been out of the game type (ala Denny or Buddy Ryan).

8. Don't rule out a great college coach with a pro style offense and defense.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Jon Gruden, period. We need a fiery guy. Look at the way Coughlin stalks the sideline like he's ready to kill someone. Look at the way Cowher jumps in peope's faces and verbally undresses them. Conversely, look at how Denny stands there like the proverbial cat and the canary. We need fire. I say Gruden or Fisher....

 

[Young Card]

Not sure Gruden will be fired. I'm not really sure why everyone keeps talking about him. Is there any indication that Tampa will let him go?

 

[DRVNFAST]

Jeff Tedford. Pro style offense, and a miracle worker with quarterbacks.

 

[azdad1978]

Jim Johnson. I know never been a head coach but wasn't he in the running before the Bidwills gave the job to DG?

 

[Ryanwb]

Jim Johnson. I know never been a head coach but wasn't he in the running before the Bidwills gave the job to DG?

He was the Defensive line coach and the secondary coach of the Cardinals but this was from the mid 80's until like 93 or so

I'm not sure he was ever in the running

 

[football karma]

real live GM first please

 

[ItsInTheCards]

I am not about to get into who it should be because there are so many potential factors, that to give actual names is just speculation. However, I do have some ideas on the type of coach we need to look at and why:

1. Most importantly, the new hire must not be a knee jerk reaction type of hire. Basically, that means not hire a guy who is the polar opposite of Dennis Green just to try something different. I think that is what brought Dennis Green here in the first place. The Cards brass saw Dave McGinnis as too much of a players coach, so they went and got someone who is not one at all.

2. Don't go get a "tough guy", or a "disciplinarian" just because of the percieved lack of discipline and toughness on this current team. I don't want a Rah-Rah who doesn't know X's and O's just for the sake of being tough on the players.I don't think Eric Mangini is necessarily a tough guy, but his team plays tough because they are well prepared.

3. Do get an solid X's and O's guy who is good at in game managment and decision making.

4. Do get a coach with an established history of success as either a head coach or coordinator (ala Jim Johnson at Philly-someone who has done good work for a number of years).

5. Do get a coach with a plan for his assistant coaches.

6. Do get a coach who has been considered for other head coaching jobs in the past.

7. Don't get a retread, been out of the game type (ala Denny or Buddy Ryan).

8. Don't rule out a great college coach with a pro style offense and defense.

Cam Cameron

 

[Toro]

What high level college, OC, DC, or current NFL coach would come here? NONE. The Cardinals are stuck with a retread like Martz or Pendy.

They also need to send more money on coaches.

 

[Assface]

What high level college, OC, DC, or current NFL coach would come here? NONE. The Cardinals are stuck with a retread like Martz or Pendy.

There are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs in the world. There WILL be plenty of takers.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jeff Tedford. Pro style offense, and a miracle worker with quarterbacks.

Huge Tedford fan and I think he'd be a poor NFL HC choice. Jeff is great in college he's got a system that works, he takes 3 star Qb recruits and makes them #1 picks, he's had terrific run games, but I don't think his system translates to the NFL.

I think he could probably be a pretty good OC in the NFL because he's smart enough to adapt his system, but I don't know if he's a HC guy at the NFL level.

 

[conraddobler]

Huge Tedford fan and I think he'd be a poor NFL HC choice. Jeff is great in college he's got a system that works, he takes 3 star Qb recruits and makes them #1 picks, he's had terrific run games, but I don't think his system translates to the NFL.

I think he could probably be a pretty good OC in the NFL because he's smart enough to adapt his system, but I don't know if he's a HC guy at the NFL level.

I think this begs the question, what exactly makes a good HC at the pro level?

I think there are numerous answers to that question, the better question might be what is essential in a HC? What is a must have?

I think the first starting point should be someone able to out think almost everyone given time and a system to do so, someone who's adaptive and yet who's confident enough in their system to stick with it and tweak it to thrive in the NFL.

Here's a brief list from my own thoughts in no particular order.

X and O's master, in other words there is very little chance this guy is going to get the tactics wrong... best example see the Patriots.

The ability to spot talent, example would be DG on a good day.

The ability to sell his ideas, to hold a roster of highly paid babies together, see Numerous coaches.


No coach is the undisputed master of all these but in our case I believe the most important factor would be 1 and 2 because the last one takes care of itself in most cases.

Without a GM, the guy has to spot talent, has to know talent or we're dead, we can't let Rod Graves or his kind pick the roster or we'll die no matter if we have Vince Lombardi's clone as our coach.

Using those factors Martz would be a terrible choice, he's dreadful at talent acquisition, he's awful.

He's also highly dissed in the X and O's department, he's got genius ideas but he gets so wrapped up in that he'd be a positively horrid choice.

Right now you throw yourself at the feet of Charlie Weis, beg, plead, throw money and free food at him.

I think another interesting idea is to hire Sam Wyche as a consultant, the guy is sick and still wants desperately to be back in the NFL, hire the guy, put him on the staff for peanuts, he can't coach but he knows a lot of people and he's an offensive genius, hire him simply to pick his brain on who to hire.

Whatever happens, do not just knee jerk this to someone like Martz, think about this, solicit opinions then act wisely.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think a college coach going to the NFL has a huge problem because in college their "system" sells the team. USC gets great recruits because they see them on tv scoring all those points, they know Carroll was a DC in the NFL which helps recruit defense. Cal can recruit because they know Tedford's rep on offense etc.

But when you get to the NFL outside of UFA, you're not "recruiting" so that stuff is less valuable. Tedford is highly organized which is essential in an NFL coach, but I also think he's a bit too hands on, a really good NFL coach has to be able to get good assistants, let them do their job, and focus on what he does best. That's why I think Tedford would struggle as a HC, I think he could do it but I think he'd be so involved in everything it would take away from what he does best, offense.

A guy who hasn't been in charge at that level yet simply won't realize how involved it is. If the Cards hired Tedford I wouldn't be hopping mad(although it would suck for Cal) but I would sure be pushing for him to hire a proven DC and hope like hell he had a real GM in place to help him do his job.

 

[Russ Smith]

FYI regarding Tedford, according to a SF Chronicle article he's not available for 2 more years. He says he promised his wife and kids he wouldn't change jobs with his kids in school. He left Oregon for Cal right when his sons started highschool and junior high so it worked out. Now his youngest son is a soph in HS he's promised him he won't change jobs until after he graduates, if then.