Second thoughts on firing Green?

[cardcrazy]

OK, I admit I was one who was yelling for the head of Dennis Green. But Im seeing an improvement. It could be just temporary and Im a fool once again. OR... just maybe we are finally seeing the results we were all hoping for at the beginning of the season. Maybe its just taken a little longer to come together. Our Cards look good in the last 2 games, Lienart is improving and making good decisions, The o line is run blocking better, which means James is getting his yards. The running/passing balance is improved. On D we got Dansby back to speed, the d line is getting pressure and not allowing big rushing yards. Improvements by Okeafer, Fransisco, Dockett and Pendergast is calling the right schemes.
What if Greens plan is finally coming together? Yes we are out of the playoffs, but say we end up 6-10 or imagine 7-9 (Cards start 1-8 then go 6-1 in the last 7) and we are the talk of the league. A good draft and continue where we left off instead of firing Green and half his coaches then bringing in a new regime with a new plan.
Would that be the right thing for this team?
Any thoughts?

 

[RON_IN_OC]

OK, I admit I was one who was yelling for the head of Dennis Green. But Im seeing an improvement. It could be just temporary and Im a fool once again. OR... just maybe we are finally seeing the results we were all hoping for at the beginning of the season. Maybe its just taken a little longer to come together. Our Cards look good in the last 2 games, Lienart is improving and making good decisions, The o line is run blocking better, which means James is getting his yards. The running/passing balance is improved. On D we got Dansby back to speed, the d line is getting pressure and not allowing big rushing yards. Improvements by Okeafer, Fransisco, Dockett and Pendergast is calling the right schemes.
What if Greens plan is finally coming together? Yes we are out of the playoffs, but say we end up 6-10 or imagine 7-9 (Cards start 1-8 then go 6-1 in the last 7) and we are the talk of the league. A good draft and continue where we left off instead of firing Green and half his coaches then bringing in a new regime with a new plan.
Would that be the right thing for this team?
Any thoughts?

Well, I think I read on ESPN.com that the Cardinals could be the only team searching for a new coach this off season...That can be good...but, it can be really bad because other teams assistants will more than likely be off limits to whatever new coach the Cardinals bring in.

 

[Russ Smith]

Its tough, if you look at the Points scored points allowed we're -57 which sounds bad but SF is -121, and they're 5-8, Titans are -67 and they're 6-7. The point is, we lost a lot of close games that we could have and should have won, and some of that was coaching. We're playing better now but I'm not yet convinced that we're coaching that much better. I think Green has to win out to earn a reprieve.

Denver is fighting for their playoff lives, San Diego needs to win out to get home field, SF is a division foe. That's 3 games where Green has a chance to earn his job next year. 2 of 3 playing well in the loss is iffy, win all 3 I think you can make an argument to bring him back. I wouldn't, but I could see it.

 

[Mulli]

Its tough, if you look at the Points scored points allowed we're -57 which sounds bad but SF is -121, and they're 5-8, Titans are -67 and they're 6-7. The point is, we lost a lot of close games that we could have and should have won, and some of that was coaching. We're playing better now but I'm not yet convinced that we're coaching that much better. I think Green has to win out to earn a reprieve.

Denver is fighting for their playoff lives, San Diego needs to win out to get home field, SF is a division foe. That's 3 games where Green has a chance to earn his job next year. 2 of 3 playing well in the loss is iffy, win all 3 I think you can make an argument to bring him back. I wouldn't, but I could see it.

Russ, I agree with you, but I heard yesterday that as of now SD has home field. Do they need to win out to keep that?

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ, I agree with you, but I heard yesterday that as of now SD has home field. Do they need to win out to keep that?

SD is 11-2, Baltimore and the Colts are 10-3, New England 9-4. I think technically SD still has to keep winning. OBviously they may have clinched by the time we play them but right now it's not clear they will.

 

[Scott MS]

In general, the Cards have matched up pretty well against everybody they played, except for the downward spiral that traveled through Oakland and Green Bay.

 

[conraddobler]

Russ, I agree with you, but I heard yesterday that as of now SD has home field. Do they need to win out to keep that?

Depends on what the Colts do, they seem to be the only team chasing them up there for that.

I think the Colts are melting down a bit now though, so it probably will mean nothing at all when we play San Diego. I'd honestly rather play them with something on the line.

I don't think we'd win but I think we'd make a game of it.

 

[Ed Burmila]

If the first thought is "Fire Dennis Green" the only second thought should be "How soon can we do it?"

They won the last two games in spite of him. His decisions went from bad (earlier this season) to not making any sense at all. It's completely random at this point and he's probably already been informed that he's a lame duck.

 

[Russ Smith]

Depends on what the Colts do, they seem to be the only team chasing them up there for that.

I think the Colts are melting down a bit now though, so it probably will mean nothing at all when we play San Diego. I'd honestly rather play them with something on the line.

I don't think we'd win but I think we'd make a game of it.

Totally agree I'd like to be able to use SD as a measuring stick, great team on a roll playing for home field, see how good we really are right now?

 

[joko4]

If we win the rest, I might let Green off the hook. But, under the condition we hire a GM, ASAP. Like it are not, Green would have to play out his final year or be fired soon. If Green would stay, that gives us a year with Green and the new GM,to see how they operate together.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Eventually we need to give SOMEONE 5-6 years to turn it around, not just 3. 3 is the minimum.

I dont know if Green is the guy anymore but like I said we need to give SOMEONE time.

 

[Gambit]

It's good to start well, but better to end well. If Green can keep the team fired up and winning, then he deserves to stay. Maybe his coaching style is a late bloomer. The last 2 teams we beat are fighting for the playoffs, and the Cards forced mistakes and played very well. The team needed to learn how to win close games in the wake of the Monday Night Meltdown. They have done so.

 

[chickenhead]

As many others have pointed out in other threads, it's a matter of extension if that's all Gereen wants. Winning has caused some to question whether he should be fired mid-season, and now at the end of the season. But I don't know if a few wins justify a multiple-year extension on their own. What are the chances of a one-year extension?

 

[john h]

OK, I admit I was one who was yelling for the head of Dennis Green. But Im seeing an improvement. It could be just temporary and Im a fool once again. OR... just maybe we are finally seeing the results we were all hoping for at the beginning of the season. Maybe its just taken a little longer to come together. Our Cards look good in the last 2 games, Lienart is improving and making good decisions, The o line is run blocking better, which means James is getting his yards. The running/passing balance is improved. On D we got Dansby back to speed, the d line is getting pressure and not allowing big rushing yards. Improvements by Okeafer, Fransisco, Dockett and Pendergast is calling the right schemes.
What if Greens plan is finally coming together? Yes we are out of the playoffs, but say we end up 6-10 or imagine 7-9 (Cards start 1-8 then go 6-1 in the last 7) and we are the talk of the league. A good draft and continue where we left off instead of firing Green and half his coaches then bringing in a new regime with a new plan.
Would that be the right thing for this team?
Any thoughts?

My thought is Green has done very poorly for 3 1/2 years. A few good games does not a coach make. Some of his mistakes such has hiring assistants with no experience and firing so many assistance is almost unforgivable. I hope we win out but I hope he goes.

 

[conraddobler]

Totally agree I'd like to be able to use SD as a measuring stick, great team on a roll playing for home field, see how good we really are right now?

I hope the Colts right the ship enough to stay close and keep San Diego honest.

I don't know exactly who wins the tie breaker, could be already over for all intents and purposes but again if they were to need that game against us it'd help a ton evaluating what we have.

 

[Goldfield]

Sorry but Green is a big part 1-8 start. He should have had the correct starting lineup in training camp or atleast benched the obvious crappy players like Step, ALONG time ago.

He has mishandled too many personel moves. He doesnt play to win, he plays not to lose. That is crap.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Green is the weak link on this team. There needs to be a guy hired to evaluate the entire team...and he'd come to the conclusion that Green and most of his staff have to go.

I think this turn around has to do with the players. I'd love to know if there was a closed door meeting, where the leaders stood up and spoke their piece about the season. I'm seeing more heart out there then I saw when the season began.

 

[JeffGollin]

It seems as though fan sentiment fluctuates with each quarter of every game.

The Cards struggled earlier, and everyone was calling for DG's head.

Now they've won 3 of their last 4 and sentiment is swinging back in the other direction.

I really think it would be better to wait til the season is over, review the pros & cons of changing or retaining HC's and then make a reasoned decision based on what will be best for the team in the (near) future.

Part of that equation will have to be: "How does the team look now?"

If you buy into the "We are what we are" principle, the Cards right now are a 4 & 9 team that's playing pretty good football, is improving each week and who's won 3 of their last 4 games.

Will we be better off with a new HC bringing in a new program and new players to a team that's just getting used to itself? Or should we build on what we've got and give it another year?

Not just based solely on we did in our last game, but within the context of where the team has gotten to and where it seems to be going within a broader picture.

 

[Goldfield]

I think all were seeing is 2 things, A) the OLine is playing MUCH better, which was the biggest problem with this team. B) They got a taste of winning it in Detriot dont wanna feel 1-8 again...

 

[Ed Burmila]

It seems as though fan sentiment fluctuates with each quarter of every game.

The Cards struggled earlier, and everyone was calling for DG's head.

Now they've won 3 of their last 4 and sentiment is swinging back in the other direction.

It's really pretty amazing. I was wondering if there would be a Save Denny movement now that we won a couple.

Look, Detroit and STL are terrible. I don't count those victories as any great accomplishment. And even in this little win streak, Green's coaching decisions have been bad. Maybe not as bad as before, but still very bad.

I don't see how he keeps a HC job. He MAY get booted up to the front office on account of his solid drafting, but I don't see him on the sidelines next year.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

It's hard to tell what to do. Is Green's plan all starting to come together and this what he thought would be the case from the start of the season? Or is the emergence of Leinart making the staff look better than it is? THe thing with Leinart is that his good play has kept the defenses off balance and that helps make the OL look better. THe team now has alot of confidence in Leinart and that means alot. Just look at what Edge has said lately about him. Another thing about Leinart's(and the team's play in general) is that the Cards HC position has become very attractive for prospective candidates. When they were 1-8,and seemed to have quit,we were wondering who would even want to come here.

I kind of lean to bringing in a new coach but just slightly. My reason being that,even though the Cards have won 3 of 4,it is alot easier to play when there isn't alot pressure on you. When the pressure was on they were 1-8. On the other hand the team was in a state of flux with a new QB, a new OC, and coming off one of the worse losses i have ever seen in the Chicago debacle. No matter how you slice it,it's a tough call.Especially if they win out. If they would win out,you almost have to let Green stay another year. That would be a 6-2 second half and all the pieces will be in place. So, i guess after saying all this, i don't know what the hell i would do .

 

[Billy Flynt]

As many others have pointed out in other threads, it's a matter of extension if that's all Gereen wants.

Instead of wondering if he is fired, I wonder if he quits b/c he doesn't get the extension he wants. If the Bidwill's want him gone they may not have to fire him - and also makes financial sense for them.

I've been impressed with the way the team has played lately- especially the OL. I wonder if James' lack of participation in the preseason doesn't have something to do with that. The O here is different than Indy. I definitely don't want to lose Pendergast and I like what Kruzcek has done since taking over. I fear dumping Green puts us back at square one- or worse.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Instead of wondering if he is fired, I wonder if he quits b/c he doesn't get the extension he wants. If the Bidwill's want him gone they may not have to fire him - and also makes financial sense for them.

I've been impressed with the way the team has played lately- especially the OL. I wonder if James' lack of participation in the preseason doesn't have something to do with that. The O here is different than Indy. I definitely don't want to lose Pendergast and I like what Kruzcek has done since taking over. I fear dumping Green puts us back at square one- or worse.

No way that he quits and leaves that money on the table. Too much money, especially with the "turnaround" to leave.

 

[RedStorm]

It's really pretty amazing. I was wondering if there would be a Save Denny movement now that we won a couple.

Look, Detroit and STL are terrible. I don't count those victories as any great accomplishment. And even in this little win streak, Green's coaching decisions have been bad. Maybe not as bad as before, but still very bad.

I don't see how he keeps a HC job. He MAY get booted up to the front office on account of his solid drafting, but I don't see him on the sidelines next year.

I think we need to not let the positive emotion of the last few weeks make the decision. You need to look overall.....

I would bump Denny to the FO. Bring in a new HC. Have him keep most of the assistants (Pendergast must stay) and see if that works. If not then next year get a GM and let the HC fire/hire his own assistants.

 

[Renz]

Sign DG to a 5-year extension!

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