The Football Diner Big Top 5
Head Coach Shoogly Pegs
by Jody Jamieson
6/12/2008
With 4 weeks to go in the NFL season the play-off picture is taking shape, but for some, it's just the beginning of the planning for 2009. With no post season aspirations for some franchises, while Head Coaches may be planning for free agency and the draft, ownerships may be ready to act before these guys even get the chance to take in the BCS championship game. This week, Top Fives look at 5 Head Coaches who may, as we say in Scotland, find themselves on "shoogly pegs". That's the hot seat for everyone else. I've done the whole Andy Reid angle so he gets a one week stay of execution from some bashing. I still think it's time for change, although I'm glad he at least allowed Marty Mornhingweg to call offensive plays against Arizona. See what a little balance can do for you?
5. Rod Marinelli
Marinelli has been handcuffed by some poor drafting from upstairs, but this is the National Football League, and despite the shortcomings of the Lions front office, this is perhaps the worst team I've ever seen. There is a degree of sympathy for Marinelli with the job that Matt Millen did and the Ford family's refusal to do something about it till it was too late this year, but surely surely SURELY Marinelli could have found a way to get this team just one measly win? After going 17-0 up on Tampa Bay, I thought finally this terrible team would finally crack the win column. The outcome? 38-20 in favour of Tampa Bay.
The funny thing with Detroit is that there is something there to build on offensively. Cuplpepper is still talented, and could have a pretty good 2009. Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson look like keepers, and of course, they'll likely have the number 1 pick. However the offensive line looks terrible, and 2008's first round draft choice Gosder Cherilus looks average at best. Defensively they are pretty terrible. Ernie Sims is a guy I like, and I was surprised the Browns were willing to let Leigh Bodden go so easily last year, but other than that they might as well have nothing. Did you see the effort (or lack of) by the defense on Chris Johnson's long TD run on Thanksgiving? That defense not only lacks direction, but heart.
Outcome - He'll likely be sacrificed. Which might be a shame, but in fairness, if they do go 0-16 then he probably deserves it.
4. Jack Del Rio
While I love fantasy football, I'm one of those guys that does believe fantasy football has really harmed the . Everyone panics when a wide receiver or running back goes down injured because they know all about them, but when almost an entire offensive line goes down, some don't get the magnitude of the problems this can cause. Some think that Maurice Jones-Drew is having a down year and Fred Taylor is getting over the hill going by their numbers, but the fact is that when your offensive line loses 4 of their 5 starters then there will be turmoil. David Garrard has had his struggles with interceptions, but because of the running game being slowed down and the team finding themselves behind in games, then he's had to air it out a lot more than he'd like.
Jacksonville were tipped by many to be Super Bowl contenders after an excellent season last year, but as they've said themselves, the expectation came a little too soon for them. Defensively they've had problems both stopping teams and keeping on the right side of Jack Del Rio. After middle linebacker Mike Peterson started posing and flexing his muscles after a sack despite trailing the hapless Bengals 21-3 at the time, Del Rio didn't take too kindly to it. It seemed that Peterson was made the scapegoat for the Jags troubles which is probably unfair as he's had a good year, but it's one of my pet hates seeing guys posing after individual achievements when the team is getting well beaten. Maybe the situation wasn't handled correctly, but I understand Del Rio's sentiments. I like the job he's done in Jacksonville and I hope he doesn't get the blame for problems outwith his control.
Outcome - I'd keep him. You can't possibly underrate the loss of so many players on the offensive line, and he should absolutely be given another chance.
3. Marvin Lewis
The Bengals have had their share of problems, both on and off the field this year. All the off field stuff has been well documented, but losing a franchise quarterback like Carson Palmer is really going to put paid to any chances of having success for the teams like Cincinnati. However, much like Detroit this teams should surely have found a way to be better than they are. A win over Jacksonville that they nearly threw away, and then a bizarre tie with the Eagles are all they have to show for this season and their struggles. Ocho Cinco is still a problem (although not as much of a problem as he was on the off-season) and their one bright spark on offense will likely leave in the off-season. TJ Houshmandzadeh is a free agent and I'm not 100% convinced that the Bengals will slap the franchise tag on him.
There is a discussion over on the nfluk.com forums about whether last years 1-15 Miami Dolphins would beat this years 0-12 Detroit Lions. I actually think last years Dolphins would not only comfortably beat the Lions, but they'd probably beat the Bengals too. People are forgetting that this team sucked even when Palmer was in, other than one good performance in the Meadowlands, where they lost in over time. While technically I shouldn't call for Lewis' head after losing Palmer but want to stick with Del Rio after losing his offensive line, Del Rio has built a good team that should be good when he has the sum of all his parts together. The Bengals sucked with Palmer, and are even worse without him.
Outcome - I thought he should have been gone last year. This year is no different.
2. Romeo Crennel
Cleveland was the sexy pick for the AFC North this off-season. I was one of many sucked in by this team, and while we were all aware of their defensive shortcomings, we thought they could at least make teams one dimensional after plugging Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams on the defensive line. I thought they'd be a team that would stuff the run and be able to get to the passer, but may struggle in the secondary when the pass rush is neutralised. Turns out they've been as bad this year defensively as they were last year. Cleveland's offense carried the team last year and with the addition of Donte Stallworth at wide receiver to go with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow you thought they'd have a pretty potent offense. With the offensive line led by standout second year left tackle Joe Thomas opening holes for the rejuvenated Jamal Lewis, even if the defense didn't improve they'd still be a match for anyone.
But it's been a season of disaster for Cleveland. The offense has really taken a step back. Derek Anderson's accuracy failed him, as did Braylon Edwards hands. Stallworth has spent most of the season on the sideline, and once Anderson got benched in favour of Brady Quinn, last year's 22nd overall pick broke a finger which ruled him out for the season. The offensive line has protected the quarterback fairly well, but when it comes to the running game, it's been a different story. Cleveland are fans of the unbalanced like which will see teams line up from left to right like so - TE, LG, C, RG, RT, LT or subtle variations like that. Unfortunately they Browns haven't gotten to grips with the system in the run game yet they persist with the formation. That hasn't been the limit of Crennel's struggles as he's been horrible with clock management and in the first two weeks of the season sent the field goal unit out while trailing 28-7 to Dallas in the 4th and 10-3 down to Pittsburgh with 5 minutes to play. I can forgive him slightly for it against the Steelers with the weather that night, but what was he trying to do in Week 1? Save face in the BCS voting?! Crennel signed a 5 year contract last off-season after a 10-6 season. The knives are out and justifiably so.
Outcome - It may sound silly in the ever powerful world of the NFL, but the economy may give him a chance. But realistically he's likely gone.
1. Norv Turner
Marty Schottenheimer was a victim of his own success in San Diego. After taking the Chargers to a 14-2 record in 2006 when LaDanian Tomlinson had his record breaking year, a first round play-off exit at the hands of New England caused the Chargers front office to can Schottenheimer and look for his replacement. After all, with such a talented team, how can you possibly lose in the first round at home? The fact that he coached them to such a dominating regular season was forgotten on the back of 4 turnovers and a 54 yard miss by Nate Kaeding giving the Patriots a 24-21 victory. After Schottenheimer was fired, in stepped Norv Turner.
Turner had been pretty much a failure everywhere he'd been a Head Coach, so the decision to give him the post was a bit of a head scratcher. An unconvincing win over the Bears in week 1 was followed up by 3 straight losses including a home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. It does seem like forever ago that the Chiefs started a season 4-3 doesn't it? San Diego eventually found themselves at 5-5 before winning their last 6 games. Wins over Tennessee and Indianapolis were followed by a close loss to the Patriots. The Chargers came out with a lot of credit as they were without Tomlinson, Gates, and had Phillip Rivers playing on one leg, and did a good job staying close.
2008 has been an unmitigated disaster for the Chargers. After a last second TD pass by Jake Delhomme to Dante Rosario gave Carolina an improbable win in Week 1 and then Ed Hochuli handed the Broncos another improbable win in Week 2, you wondered how the Chargers would bounce back. They did win their next two games, but if we're being honest they haven't really bounced back at all. Big wins over the Jets and the Patriots really glazed over what has been a horrendous season. The loss of All-Pro linebacker Shawn Merriman has played a big part in their struggles, but it's not an excuse for this team to be playing as poorly as it is. They currently sit 4-8 and have the Raiders at home on Thursday night. That really should be a bit of respite, but would you put money on the Chargers? I know I wouldn't.
Outcome - The Chargers say they will stick with Turner, but can they justify it? Sure, they don't have to justify anything, but Turner has somehow taken this team from contenders to losers.
Random Thoughts
The 2009 Wembley game has been announced, and yet again the UK fan is about to be spoiled with another marquee game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots. Tampa will be the home team for this one, and after two teams built on offense combined for 69 points in October, next time round it could be a fascinating matchup of a great offense versus a great defense. Anyone who watched the Bucs game on Sunday has to marvel at Monte Kiffin's defense, and if as expected Tom Brady is back, it could be a classic. Mind you, if you believe some of the goofballs who actually think the Pats might trade Brady then it might still be Cassel. but that's another story. Combine the efficient if unspectacular offense of Tampa Bay with the powerful, if slightly vulnerable New England defense and you have a match that could be a fantastic advert for the game.
The you know what has really hit the fan in the Star-gate situation. Charles Grant, Will Smith and Deuce McAllister of New Orleans, Pat and Kevin Williams of the Vikings and Houston's Bryan Pittman will miss the last four games of the regular season for taking a weight loss substance from Starcaps which contained a banned substance. Of course, this situation is far from over as the banned substance wasn't listed in the ingredients of the products. Roger Goddell is taking a big risk by going through with the suspensions while there's still a case to be heard. The Goddellfather has hardly been famed during his reign as commissioner for his patience when someone puts a stain on his league, but I do worry this is a case that may come back to bite him. The diuretics in the Starcaps products can be used to mask the use of steroids, but the primary use for the substance is to eliminate water from the body, which is hardly illegal. Add onto that the fact that the NFL knew the diuretics in Starcaps were there but never informed the NFLPA. I like Goddell, but I worry this is a fight that he might not win.
And Finally...
It seems that 6 suspensions wasn't enough for this NFL week. You really couldn't make up the Plaxico Burress saga. Burress became a hero in New York just 10 short months ago, catching a fade pass from Eli Manning to win Super Bowl XLII. The subsequent 10 months have been an unmitigated disaster for Burress, and as much as you'd love to feel sorry for him for his fall from grace, he really has no-one to blame but himself. The Giants paid the man $35 million ($11 million in guarantees) after a fabulous '07 campaign in where he was the MVP of the offense, despite playing on a badly injured ankle for the entire year. But as can happen in all sports, once the money is in, the problems start. Some guys put in a year for the ages in a contract year, and go on to shut it down once they get their big contract. Burress hasn't shut it down on the field as such, as when he's there, he's a factor. However his idiotic behaviour off the field has culminated in a self inflicted gun shot wound, a possible suspension, and maybe even jail time.
I am not advocating complete banishment, as I can't exactly welcome Michael Vick's return and then get rid of Plaxico. But in this situation the Giants should really cut their losses. Burress helped achieve what every franchise ultimately aims for last season, but has become nothing but a complete nuisance. Credit has to go to the Giants for still getting it done despite the turmoil. With the Giants sitting 11-1 even without their best receiver, it shows how good a team they really are. this situation is just the type of thing that can start to ruin a team, but Tom Coughlin and his team continue to roll. If they can do it without Burress now, what motivation is there to welcome him back when this is resolved? Time to move on. They won a championship with Burress, and are a good bet to do it without him. On the other hand the guy I feel sorry for is Antonio Pierce, who seems to have got caught up in this and had to make a snap decision whether to stick by or rat out his friend. It seems like he's made a decision that might come back to bite him, but put yourself in his shoes for a minute.
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