Alpe d'Huez said:
True or False?
10. More than seven coaches will be canned on Black Monday (five were last season, 7 the year before). Top contenders currently include: Rex Ryan, Mark Trestman, Tom Coughlin, Ron Rivera, Ken Wisenhunt, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Smith, Marvin Lewis, Jay Gruden. Plus Tony Sporano by default.
Here are the records of active 2014 NFL Head Coaches (bold are the top 10 contenders you named):
TEAM....HEAD COACH.....HIRE......W…..L…....PCT
OAK......
Tony Sparano......2014.......1......6......0.143
BUX......Lovie Smith…......2014.......2.......9......0.182
TEN......
Whisenhunt........2014.......2.......9......0.182
JAX......Gus Bradley..........2013.......5.....22......0.185
WAS.....
Jay Gruden.........2014.......3…....8......0.273
MIN......Mike Zimmer........2014.......4…....7......0.364
BUF......Doug Marrone......2013.....11....15......0.423
STL......Jeff Fisher............2012......18.....24......0.430
HOU.....Bill O'Brien.........2014........5.......6......0.455
CHI......
Trestman............2013......13......14......0.481
CAR......
Ron Rivera.........2011......28......30......0.483
MIA......Joe Philbin..........2012......21......22......0.488 (renewed life, for now)
NYJ......
Rex Ryan............2009......44......46......0.489
CIN.......
Marvin Lewis.....2003......97......88......0.524
NYG....
Tom Coughlin.....2004.....93......78......0.544
DAL.....Jason Garrett......2010.....37......30......0.552 (really renewed life)
SD.......Mike McCoy.......2013......16......11......0.593 (2014 start was hot. Injury issues now?)
ATL......
Mike Smith........2008......64......43......0.598
SEA......Pete Carroll.......2010......45......30......0.600
PIT......Mike Tomlin.......2007......77......45......0.631
NO......Sean Payton.......2006......78......45......0.634
CLE......Mike Pettine......2014........7........4......0.636
DET......Jim Caldwell......2014........7........4......0.636
BAL.....John Harbaugh....2008......68......39......0.636
GB.......Mike McCarthy...2006......90......48......0.651
KC.......Andy Reid...........2013......18........9......0.667
PHI......Chip Kelly...........2013......18........9......0.667
IND......Chuck Pagano....2012......29......14......0.674
ARI......Bruce Arians.......2013......19….....8......0.704
DEN.....John Fox............2011.......42......17......0.712
NE…....Bill Belichick.......2000......171.....63......0.731
SF.......
Jim Harbaugh….2011.......43......15......0.737
With exception of Fisher, the HCs with the 10 worst winning percentages are first or 2nd year HCs with that team. Should they therefore get more time?
Sparano - well no HC is going to get a long shot there, given history
Wisenhunt - I can see that
Trestman - I get that also, given this year's backslide
But Gruden - I don't get that one being a major contender yet. I mean give the guy a chance. Most of what he's got talent wise was messed up by the previous regime and the trade for the rights to draft RGIII. AND as talented as RG was coming out, I said back then he was a project because he, a bit like Manziel, relied too much on talent in college and did not need to develop pro quality skills in college.
Then if you put Gruden on the hot seat, you almost have to put Gus Bradley there too based on record. I would not put Bradley on the bubble yet though because he's still building his talent base, and moves he's made seem pretty sound. For now.
Rivera - too much backslide and talent loss there for his own good. Especially for a team that was on the cusp of being a good playoff team. I heard one analyst today say that with the loss of WR talent, that Cam has been using his legs more (like Wilson or Kaep) but in the process this has messed up his footwork in the pocket. So who would you blame for that if he was asked to use his legs more (e.g. in game plan)? The HC, or Cam? I would put that more on Cam.
Ryan, Lewis, Coughlin, and Smith - those on the bubble goes without saying. Coughlin will likely be given slack through the end of the season with his record overall.
Not just Ryan though in NYJ land. There is talk that GM Idzik is also on the bubble. What makes it triple worse for Ryan and Idz is how well Marc Sanchez is doing at QB in Philly!!! That just has to frost the Jets owner.
HEAD SCRATCHER - You said it earlier... any team making plans to fire their HC better have a plan or good idea who they want to hire afterwards, or it can just get worse. Look who's got the best winning percentage as a career HC. The guy in SF that reportedly may be gone after the season ends. I agree, that if SF fires Harbaugh, and I was OAK, I'd make a big push to get him. He will be a highly sought after HC if let go by SF.
Sometimes when working relationships are not good, it's best if the GM or owner just backs off, realize what they've got in a HC, and put up with it as long as the HC keeps winning. NOT LIKE Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson did. Fools stir up trouble, wise people bring calm.