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Posts Tagged ‘San Diego Chargers’

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Top 10 NFL Head Coaching Prospects for 2009

In Dallas Cowboys, National Football League, New England Patriots, New York Giants on December 2, 2008 at 1:21 am
New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the brightest head coaching prospects in football.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the brightest head coaching prospects in football.

Also check out the Top 10 NFL Head Coaching Vacancies for 2009.

10. Mike Heimerdinger, Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans

Heimerdinger has a solid reputation for his abilities on the offensive side of the ball. He’s worked under Mike Shanahan twice, helping develop Jay Cutler at quarterback. The Titans’ offense ranks sixth in rushing yards and seventh in points scored in the league.

9. Jim Caldwell, Associate Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach, Indianapolis Colts

Caldwell coached in the college ranks for 20 years and was head coach for eight at Wake Forest. He’s helped develop quarterbacks and passing games in the NFL.

8. Bill Cowher, Former Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers

Cowher sets an aggressive tone with his teams. He has a Super Bowl championship under his belt, two AFC championships, and was named AP Coach of the Year in 1992. Cowher is best with a veteran team.

7. Mike Martz, Offensive Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers

His accomplishments speak for themselves. The former Rams head coach is a great offensive mind. What seems to limit Martz is a reputation for not meshing well with others.

6. Ron Rivera, Defensive Coordinator, San Diego Chargers

The Bears defense fell off in 2007 with Rivera’s departure. He helped lead one of the most dominant defenses while defensive coordinator in Chicago. He has a solid background from his days in Philadelphia.

5. Jim Schwartz, Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans

Schwartz has learned under Jeff Fisher and Bill Belichick. The Titan’s impressive start this year is primarily due to a resurgent defensive unit that has lost many players in recent offseasons due to salary cap restrictions.

4. Rex Ryan, Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens

Ryan has helped lead one of the best defensive units in nine seasons with the Ravens. In his three seasons as coordinator, Ryan’s defense has ranked among the top six in the league each year. Baltimore was No. 1 in the NFL in 2006, surrendering the fewest points.

3. Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots

What McDaniels has been able to achieve this season without Tom Brady is remarkable. He’s learned under one of the best in the business in Belichick. He’s considered a good evaluator of talent.

2. Jason Garrett, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have one of the league’s most dangerous offensive units. Garrett is the type of coach that’s perfect for a team looking to rebuild and develop young players. He’s unproven, however—this is only his second season as coordinator.

1. Steve Spagnuolo, Defensive Coordinator, New York Giants

Spagnuolo is the architect of a defense that applied relentless pressure on the Patriots’ record-setting offense in Super Bowl XVII. He’s turned around a defensive unit that ranked 25th in the league before his arrival, now ranked No. 3 overall in the NFL.

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Top 10 Possible NFL Head Coaching Vacancies for 2009

In Dallas Cowboys, National Football League on December 2, 2008 at 1:00 am
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat.

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat.

Also check out the Top 10 NFL Head Coaching Prospects in 2009.

10. Dallas Cowboys

If the playoffs started today, the Cowboys wouldn’t qualify. If Wade Phillips doesn’t lead the team into postseason play, owner Jerry Jones may decide to part ways. He may be influenced by having hot commodity offensive coordinator Jason Garrett on staff.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

Despite Andy Reid’s impressive record with the Eagles, the team will miss the playoffs this season and is in decline. Reid is also in charge of football operations with final say on personnel matters—the players that he’s assembled simply aren’t good enough to compete for a championship.

8. Kansas City Chiefs

This season is shaping up as the Chiefs’ worst season since Lamar Hunt founded the franchise in 1960. Fans are rightfully growing impatient with Herman Edwards, although the team is one of the youngest in the league.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jack Del Rio may be on the hot seat. The Jaguars were widely picked as a Super Bowl contender this year. The players have aged and younger players haven’t emerged to replace them. The Jaguars have drafted only one Pro Bowl player since Del Rio was hired.

6. San Diego Chargers

It’s difficult to understand how Norv Turner continues to have a coaching position in the league. Coming off a season in which the Chargers where a game away from reaching the Super Bowl, the team is languishing in one of the worst divisions in the league and will miss the playoffs.

5. St. Louis Rams

The Rams may fire Jim Haslett after the season. He possess a meager .458 career win percentage as a head coach. The team might take this chance to bring in an entirely new staff and completely retool.

4. Oakland Raiders

It’s unlikely that owner and general manager Al Davis will keep interim coach Tom Cable. Cable lacks high level head coaching experience prior to this season. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is widely considered head coach material, but Davis passed on him after firing Lane Kiffin.

3. Detroit Lions

Most teams will give a coach three years to turn around a team. Rod Marinelli is now in his third season, he has a 10-33 career record, and the Lions may become the first winless team in NFL history.

2. Cleveland Browns

Now in his fourth season, Romeo Crennel has had one winning season in Cleveland. Despite the team’s lack of success against the Steelers in recent seasons, analysts wrongly predicted the Browns would be one of the up-and-coming teams, following a 10-6 campaign last year. The team has regressed badly this season.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

In six seasons with the Bengals, coach Marvin Lewis has had one winning season. The Bengals have some of the league’s most potent offensive players. The negative locker room culture has been widely documented. Although Lewis isn’t the one making the executive decisions, for better or for worse, he’s the ringleader.

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Shotgun Formations Don’t Kill Prevent Defenses, Prevent Defenses Do—Sometimes

In National Football League, New York Giants on November 28, 2008 at 5:41 pm
The margin between wins and losses in the NFL is small.

The margin between wins and losses in the NFL is small.

“All a prevent defense does is prevent you from winning.”—John Madden, broadcaster and former coach

…And so the old adage goes—but in reality, it’s not quite a chip-shot field goal.
Last season, nearly half of all NFL games were decided by eight points or less and 22 percent by three points or less.

It’s late in the game and your team is in shotgun formation looking for the go-ahead score or in prevent defense to keep the other team from scoring. What are the chances your team will get the job done?

Slight Margin of Error

Last season, the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants both won 10 games last year, but the Browns missed the playoffs and the Giants won the Super Bowl.

The Giants were 5-1 in regular-season games decided by seven points or less, the Browns 5-4 in those situations. The Giants responded big in the playoffs, winning three of four games by seven points or less.
The New England Patriots won three Super Bowls, each by three points.

Head Games

With so many good athletes throughout the league, the deciding factor between wins and losses isn’t physical, but mental. Teams that are good in the fourth quarter when the game’s on the line with two minutes to go is the difference between a championship and a high draft pick.

Teams That Are Headstrong

It’s just past the half-way mark of the NFL season, but some trends are emerging as to which teams are getting the job done and which ones aren’t.

At the top of the heap?

No surprise, the Tennessee Titans. They are a perfect 4-0 in games decided by eight points or less. The difference between an unblemished season until Week 11 and a mediocre 6-5 record is small.

The defending champion Giants are 3-0 through Week 11, as they carry-over their superiority in performing in tight games from last season. The Giants have simply learned how to win.

Other notable mentions: Carolina Panthers (3-0), Indianapolis Colts (5-1), Washington Redskins (6-2), Denver Broncos (5-1), and Atlanta Falcons (3-1).

History dictates that the ability to stay cool under pressure in the fourth quarter consistently in the regular season pays dividends under the heat of playoff competition.

Teams That Are Head Cases

It doesn’t bode well for your team’s overall success if it doesn’t exhibit mental toughness. Mental toughness is measured by coming through when the game’s on the line. Plain and simple.

The worse teams this year so far?

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs are both 0-4. The Chiefs are rebuilding, but the Eagles had playoff aspirations. At this pace, the Eagles will most likely miss this year’s playoffs.

Other teams on this list with big plans this season, but that have failed to come through so far include: New Orleans Saints (2-4), San Diego Chargers (1-6), Green Bay Packers (1-3), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3),  Browns (2-3), and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5).

Teams Getting Their Head on Straight

Teams that missed the playoffs recently, but who are learning to win during the fourth quarter include: Miami Dolphins (3-2), Minnesota Vikings (4-4), and Arizona Cardinals (3-2).

Although these teams are mediocre so far with winning in the fourth quarter, they have improved on this stat from previous campaigns and are heading in the right direction as they rebuild.