Tribal Warfare
01-06-2009, 11:11 PM
Filling the NFL head coach openings (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=fillingthenflheadcoachop&prov=tsn&type=lgns)
By Albert Breer - SportingNews 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Black Monday came and went eight days ago and, still, the NFL’s coaching carousel is moving at a crawl.
Why?
First, because a handful of teams are looking at adding a personnel chief first, then letting that man pick his sideline general.
Second, because the pools of candidates between the teams with openings often overlap, giving some hot candidates options.
And third, because of the specter of heavy hitters like Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher, whose unemployment might give owners pause before hiring a younger coach.
This can only go on so long, though. One date looming over these proceedings is Jan. 19, the start of Senior Bowl practices and a time when most clubs would like to have the bulk of their hiring done so they can move into the offseason process.
Here’s where each search stands, and how things might shake out:
CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Cast: Kirk Ferentz, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, Jim Schwartz, Steve Spagnuolo, Mel Tucker
The Plot: Randy Lerner and Co. are likely on hold until they get word from Scott Pioli—the hottest name in this hiring cycle—on whether he’ll choose Cleveland or Kansas City, or stay in New England. If the Browns are his choice, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz or Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who were both with Pioli in Cleveland in the early 1990s, would be logical picks for head coach. Mangini was there, too, and probably takes the catbird seat if Pioli turns the Browns down.
The Final Act: Members of the Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick football tree have a history of taking a hard look at club ownership before accepting a job, and it says here that Pioli will be no different. That gives Kansas City and the Hunt family, stability personified, the edge in the chase for Pioli, and could land Mangini in Cleveland with Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis as his right-hand man. If Baltimore continues to balk at allowing Kokinis to walk, the Browns would be well-served to take a look at another member of Ozzie Newsome’s staff—director of college scouting Eric DeCosta.
DETROIT LIONS
The Cast: Todd Bowles, Leslie Frazier, Jerry Gray, Mike Mularkey, Schwartz, Spagnuolo
The Plot: The promotions of Tom Lewand to team president and Martin Mayhew to GM were curious to say the least. And that makes the coaching vacancy tougher for the team to fill. To the Lions’ credit, they’ve cast a wide net and have been aggressive and unafraid to go off the beaten path in their interview process. This isn’t as bad a job as one might think. Any new coach will be given time to build, there are some good young players in place, and the team holds two picks in the top 20 and five in the top 82 of April’s draft.
The Final Act: Hiring Bowles, currently a Dolphins assistant, would make a lot of sense. He’d bring a Parcells-type discipline to Detroit, and as a former player and long-time assistant, he’d demand accountability from the jump. It would go against “The Code” to rob the Dolphins’ cupboard, but ideally, Bowles could bring Miami quarterbacks coach David Lee with him to run the offense—and develop Sam Bradford or Matt Stafford, who will likely be tabbed atop the draft should they declare. Remember, before all this “Wildcat” business, Lee was responsible for rearing Tony Romo in Dallas.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Cast: Rick Dennison, Frazier, Jason Garrett, McDaniels, Morris, Spagnuolo
The Plot: This job is the brass ring of this winter’s market. Strong ownership. Local support. A franchise quarterback, cornerstone left tackle, and two playmaking receivers, all 25 or younger. A rabid fan base. One thing that might be worth noting here, while Pat Bowlen conducts a rather exhaustive search, is that the owner isn’t likely looking for a mercenary. As his history with Dan Reeves (12 years in Denver) and Mike Shanahan (14 years) would indicate, he’ll probably look for someone who wants to stay a while.
The Final Act: I’ll say it here, and be very clear: McDaniels and the Broncos are a match made in heaven. He could bring Romeo Crennel in to run the defense, which needs a major rebuilding job, and maximize the considerable potential of Cutler and the offense. At 32, he’s the type of guy Bowlen would love to put in place and allow to run the show. McDaniels has been patient as his name has come up over the last few years, waiting for the right shot. This would be it.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Cast: Herm Edwards, Ferentz, Schwartz
The Plot: OK, so this one isn’t open yet. But word out of K.C. is that Pioli’s interview with Clark Hunt went very well. Pioli has reason to be intrigued—the roster has been blown up, and last year’s draft class looks like it could be a cornerstone going forward. The Chiefs are again stocked with draft picks, starting at third overall. And if Pioli’s hired, Edwards is likely gone.
The Final Act: If Pioli lands in K.C., it’s pretty likely that Ferentz or Schwartz will come with him. If it’s, say, Chris Polian, Edwards might have a shot to stay. Hunt is looking to put a long-term foundation in place. So is everyone, you say? Well, like Bowlen, the Hunt family has a history of stability in its organization, as Carl Peterson’s 20-year run would attest.
NEW YORK JETS
The Cast: Bill Callahan, Russ Grimm, Jeff Jagodzinski, Ron Meeks, Rex Ryan, Brian Schottenheimer, Spagnuolo
The Plot: This is about one clown away from turning into a complete circus. The front-office structure is fluid. The owner has been wintering in Europe. The players are spewing venom into every mic in sight. And after swinging and missing on Bill Cowher—Woody Johnson’s absence in the early parts of the process is said to be a factor—the Jets’ search is wide open.
The Final Act: Johnson’s need to sell premium seating and PSLs in the new Meadowlands stadium, opening in 2010, could be a factor here. Which is why Cowher made a lot of sense. And it’s why, despite the fact he’s never been a head coach, Spagnuolo fits like a glove. Spagnuolo could juice up the defense, and there’s some big-time pieces there, and invigorate a fan base that, since he already coaches at the Meadowlands, knows him well.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
The Cast: Tom Cable, Kevin Gilbride, Jim Harbaugh, Terry Robiskie, Rob Ryan
The Plot: If the Jets’ situation is a circus, this is a full-blown carnival (don’t rule out the bearded lady), and because of a cloud of secrecy emphasized by Al Davis, there’s little indication how close the Raiders are to making a decision. It’s worth noting that Cable was impressive down the stretch, winning his last two after posting a win in Denver (we know how Davis feels about Shanahan) in midseason. The players, at the very least, played their tails off for Cable.
The Final Act: The development of JaMarcus Russell is paramount to this organization, and chances are Davis will want someone who’d be willing to keep Rob Ryan in place as defensive coordinator. Check and check, for Jim Harbaugh. The Stanford coach would be a little bit of an offbeat hire, but those types have been Davis’ best. Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden and Lane Kiffin were all considered too young and inexperienced. Shanahan and Gruden became exemplary generals, and I’d wager dollars to dimes that Kiffin will prove to be one too in awakening Tennessee football.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Cast: Bowles, Jim Fassel, Frazier, Jim Haslett, McDaniels, Winston Moss, Rex Ryan, Ray Sherman
The Plot: It’ll take the right man to right this ship—one with a $66 million QB that’s been just OK the past two seasons, and a mix of leftover vets from the club’s heyday and young talent. The Rams, like the Lions, have ignored recent results and promoted from within to restructure their front office, giving Billy Devaney GM duties, and they are beating the bushes to find a coach. No fewer than seven prospects have either interviewed or are scheduled to this week.
The Final Act: Ryan’s performance in 2008—and particularly under the playoff spotlight in Miami—should help his candidacy, and this appears to be a good fit, with some high-level young talent (Adam Carriker, Chris Long, free-agent-to-be O.J. Atogwe) on defense that he could mold into cornerstones of an aggressive unit. He’d need a strong offensive coordinator and could pluck Ravens quarterback coach Hue Jackson—who gets high marks from the QB he developed, Joe Flacco—to run the offense in St. Louis.
By Albert Breer - SportingNews 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Black Monday came and went eight days ago and, still, the NFL’s coaching carousel is moving at a crawl.
Why?
First, because a handful of teams are looking at adding a personnel chief first, then letting that man pick his sideline general.
Second, because the pools of candidates between the teams with openings often overlap, giving some hot candidates options.
And third, because of the specter of heavy hitters like Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher, whose unemployment might give owners pause before hiring a younger coach.
This can only go on so long, though. One date looming over these proceedings is Jan. 19, the start of Senior Bowl practices and a time when most clubs would like to have the bulk of their hiring done so they can move into the offseason process.
Here’s where each search stands, and how things might shake out:
CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Cast: Kirk Ferentz, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, Jim Schwartz, Steve Spagnuolo, Mel Tucker
The Plot: Randy Lerner and Co. are likely on hold until they get word from Scott Pioli—the hottest name in this hiring cycle—on whether he’ll choose Cleveland or Kansas City, or stay in New England. If the Browns are his choice, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz or Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who were both with Pioli in Cleveland in the early 1990s, would be logical picks for head coach. Mangini was there, too, and probably takes the catbird seat if Pioli turns the Browns down.
The Final Act: Members of the Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick football tree have a history of taking a hard look at club ownership before accepting a job, and it says here that Pioli will be no different. That gives Kansas City and the Hunt family, stability personified, the edge in the chase for Pioli, and could land Mangini in Cleveland with Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis as his right-hand man. If Baltimore continues to balk at allowing Kokinis to walk, the Browns would be well-served to take a look at another member of Ozzie Newsome’s staff—director of college scouting Eric DeCosta.
DETROIT LIONS
The Cast: Todd Bowles, Leslie Frazier, Jerry Gray, Mike Mularkey, Schwartz, Spagnuolo
The Plot: The promotions of Tom Lewand to team president and Martin Mayhew to GM were curious to say the least. And that makes the coaching vacancy tougher for the team to fill. To the Lions’ credit, they’ve cast a wide net and have been aggressive and unafraid to go off the beaten path in their interview process. This isn’t as bad a job as one might think. Any new coach will be given time to build, there are some good young players in place, and the team holds two picks in the top 20 and five in the top 82 of April’s draft.
The Final Act: Hiring Bowles, currently a Dolphins assistant, would make a lot of sense. He’d bring a Parcells-type discipline to Detroit, and as a former player and long-time assistant, he’d demand accountability from the jump. It would go against “The Code” to rob the Dolphins’ cupboard, but ideally, Bowles could bring Miami quarterbacks coach David Lee with him to run the offense—and develop Sam Bradford or Matt Stafford, who will likely be tabbed atop the draft should they declare. Remember, before all this “Wildcat” business, Lee was responsible for rearing Tony Romo in Dallas.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Cast: Rick Dennison, Frazier, Jason Garrett, McDaniels, Morris, Spagnuolo
The Plot: This job is the brass ring of this winter’s market. Strong ownership. Local support. A franchise quarterback, cornerstone left tackle, and two playmaking receivers, all 25 or younger. A rabid fan base. One thing that might be worth noting here, while Pat Bowlen conducts a rather exhaustive search, is that the owner isn’t likely looking for a mercenary. As his history with Dan Reeves (12 years in Denver) and Mike Shanahan (14 years) would indicate, he’ll probably look for someone who wants to stay a while.
The Final Act: I’ll say it here, and be very clear: McDaniels and the Broncos are a match made in heaven. He could bring Romeo Crennel in to run the defense, which needs a major rebuilding job, and maximize the considerable potential of Cutler and the offense. At 32, he’s the type of guy Bowlen would love to put in place and allow to run the show. McDaniels has been patient as his name has come up over the last few years, waiting for the right shot. This would be it.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Cast: Herm Edwards, Ferentz, Schwartz
The Plot: OK, so this one isn’t open yet. But word out of K.C. is that Pioli’s interview with Clark Hunt went very well. Pioli has reason to be intrigued—the roster has been blown up, and last year’s draft class looks like it could be a cornerstone going forward. The Chiefs are again stocked with draft picks, starting at third overall. And if Pioli’s hired, Edwards is likely gone.
The Final Act: If Pioli lands in K.C., it’s pretty likely that Ferentz or Schwartz will come with him. If it’s, say, Chris Polian, Edwards might have a shot to stay. Hunt is looking to put a long-term foundation in place. So is everyone, you say? Well, like Bowlen, the Hunt family has a history of stability in its organization, as Carl Peterson’s 20-year run would attest.
NEW YORK JETS
The Cast: Bill Callahan, Russ Grimm, Jeff Jagodzinski, Ron Meeks, Rex Ryan, Brian Schottenheimer, Spagnuolo
The Plot: This is about one clown away from turning into a complete circus. The front-office structure is fluid. The owner has been wintering in Europe. The players are spewing venom into every mic in sight. And after swinging and missing on Bill Cowher—Woody Johnson’s absence in the early parts of the process is said to be a factor—the Jets’ search is wide open.
The Final Act: Johnson’s need to sell premium seating and PSLs in the new Meadowlands stadium, opening in 2010, could be a factor here. Which is why Cowher made a lot of sense. And it’s why, despite the fact he’s never been a head coach, Spagnuolo fits like a glove. Spagnuolo could juice up the defense, and there’s some big-time pieces there, and invigorate a fan base that, since he already coaches at the Meadowlands, knows him well.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
The Cast: Tom Cable, Kevin Gilbride, Jim Harbaugh, Terry Robiskie, Rob Ryan
The Plot: If the Jets’ situation is a circus, this is a full-blown carnival (don’t rule out the bearded lady), and because of a cloud of secrecy emphasized by Al Davis, there’s little indication how close the Raiders are to making a decision. It’s worth noting that Cable was impressive down the stretch, winning his last two after posting a win in Denver (we know how Davis feels about Shanahan) in midseason. The players, at the very least, played their tails off for Cable.
The Final Act: The development of JaMarcus Russell is paramount to this organization, and chances are Davis will want someone who’d be willing to keep Rob Ryan in place as defensive coordinator. Check and check, for Jim Harbaugh. The Stanford coach would be a little bit of an offbeat hire, but those types have been Davis’ best. Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden and Lane Kiffin were all considered too young and inexperienced. Shanahan and Gruden became exemplary generals, and I’d wager dollars to dimes that Kiffin will prove to be one too in awakening Tennessee football.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Cast: Bowles, Jim Fassel, Frazier, Jim Haslett, McDaniels, Winston Moss, Rex Ryan, Ray Sherman
The Plot: It’ll take the right man to right this ship—one with a $66 million QB that’s been just OK the past two seasons, and a mix of leftover vets from the club’s heyday and young talent. The Rams, like the Lions, have ignored recent results and promoted from within to restructure their front office, giving Billy Devaney GM duties, and they are beating the bushes to find a coach. No fewer than seven prospects have either interviewed or are scheduled to this week.
The Final Act: Ryan’s performance in 2008—and particularly under the playoff spotlight in Miami—should help his candidacy, and this appears to be a good fit, with some high-level young talent (Adam Carriker, Chris Long, free-agent-to-be O.J. Atogwe) on defense that he could mold into cornerstones of an aggressive unit. He’d need a strong offensive coordinator and could pluck Ravens quarterback coach Hue Jackson—who gets high marks from the QB he developed, Joe Flacco—to run the offense in St. Louis.