Is firing a head coach midseason a good idea?

[JBS]

hey guys, I am just curious as to what your thoughts are on firing a head coach midseason. Obviously we see success stories of franchises in other sports like the MLB, NHL, and NBA where they fire their headcoach and the team does a complete 180. However, I do not recall any of these success stories in the NFL. I am really not sure how I feel on the topic but I figured it is something I probably should have an opinion on.

 

[theebs]

no nfl coach that has taken over during a season has ever made the playoffs.

nba I have no idea.

Mlb i think it has happened.

Nhl it happens yearly and works.

 

[Bluestang]

Don't think there is enough games in the season, especially mid-season. It does give the team something to build on if they win ball games when new HC takes over.

 

[cowboyjoe]

hey guys, I am just curious as to what your thoughts are on firing a head coach midseason. Obviously we see success stories of franchises in other sports like the MLB, NHL, and NBA where they fire their headcoach and the team does a complete 180. However, I do not recall any of these success stories in the NFL. I am really not sure how I feel on the topic but I figured it is something I probably should have an opinion on.

to me all depends on how your assistant coaches are set up as teachers etc,
and who the head coach would be coming in

has been done in the past changing head coaches mid stream has turned a team around, but generally hard to do

 

[Ren]

no nfl coach that has taken over during a season has ever made the playoffs.

If you fire your coach mid season then that season would have been pretty much over anyways. No one fires their coach when the team is playing well

 

[cowboyjoe]

Don't think there is enough games in the season, especially mid-season. It does give the team something to build on if they win ball games when new HC takes over.

exactly

 

[JBS]

If you fire your coach mid season then that season would have been pretty much over anyways. No one fires their coach when the team is playing well

his point was that in other sports it has happened, but not in the nfl. And it has definitely happened in the MLB and it is about to happen again with the Rockies.

 

[Clove]

I think that could scare some good coaches away if an Owner did that. I'd advise against it.

 

[Hostile]

I think it's a poor idea personally.

 

[masomenos]

If you plan on switching coaches at the end of the year anyway, then I think it's a good idea to get the transition started as soon as possible. That said, I think the only time that you really have a lame duck coach is when a team has suffered from years of poor finishes.

 

[The30YardSlant]

It can't hurt. Nothing is going to happen under Wade Phillips. I'm normally reasonably optimistic, but it is time to call a spade a spade.

 

[wileedog]

his point was that in other sports it has happened, but not in the nfl. And it has definitely happened in the MLB and it is about to happen again with the Rockies.

I think the Brewers did it last year as well, but its a completely different situation with baseball to football.

Baseball managers fill out a lineup card, manage the bullpen, and get themselves thrown out of a game occasionally to try to spark the team. Other than that they are pretty much irrelevant.

Football you are not going to fire a coach midseason and make a difference IMO. There is no time to put in the new coaches philosophy, game plans etc unless they are already part of the organization. And if they are, how much of a change is there going to be?

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Actually in this case it may. Make Garrett the interim HC and the odds of him becoming our next HC because reduced drastically.

 

[masomenos]

It can't hurt. Nothing is going to happen under Wade Phillips. I'm normally reasonably optimistic, but it is time to call a spade a spade.

See, I think that's premature. We're a season removed from a 13-3 season where we lost a close game to the eventual Super Bowl winners. It's not like Wade hasn't had any success here, nor do I think it's a foregone conclusion that we can't have a playoff victory under Wade. Is he a perfect coach? No, but a 1-1 start is far too early to be writing him off.

 

[The30YardSlant]

See, I think that's premature. We're a season removed from a 13-3 season where we lost a close game to the eventual Super Bowl winners. It's not like Wade hasn't had any success here, nor do I think it's a foregone conclusion that we can't have a playoff victory under Wade. Is he a perfect coach? No, but a 1-1 start is far too early to be writing him off.

It isnt the 1-1 start. Hell, we are a couple bad bounces away from being 2-0.

My problem is this team's lack of heart under Phillips. We werent great under Parcells, but our guys played their ***** off under him most of the time. If this year's team with this level of talent played with the kind of intensity the 2003 team did, we would be the best team in football.

Under Phillips, we have been infiniately more talented, but absolutely gutless. The losses to end ast year and last week's game just further prove the point made by the 2007 season: We are a team that has absolutely no desire to be great. I really HOPE that is due to the coaches, because if it isnt then we have much bigger problems than coach front butt.

 

[wileedog]

See, I think that's premature. We're a season removed from a 13-3 season where we lost a close game to the eventual Super Bowl winners. It's not like Wade hasn't had any success here, nor do I think it's a foregone conclusion that we can't have a playoff victory under Wade. Is he a perfect coach? No, but a 1-1 start is far too early to be writing him off.

I don't like Wade at all but I see little advantage in firing him mid season for the reasons I stated above. The die is already cast for this year.

I can honestly see a scenario where Wade wins the SB this year and we don't bring him back - with something about him "retiring on top" - and I'm fine with that. BUt I don't think we are necessarily better off dumping him mid-season.

 

[Air Force One]

Ordinarily I'd be against it but this is Wade Philips we're talking about here. Besides, if it comes to that, things will be so bad that I figure we'll all agree it was as good a time as any.

 

[Ren]

See, I think that's premature. We're a season removed from a 13-3 season where we lost a close game to the eventual Super Bowl winners. It's not like Wade hasn't had any success here, nor do I think it's a foregone conclusion that we can't have a playoff victory under Wade. Is he a perfect coach? No, but a 1-1 start is far too early to be writing him off.

He was brought inn to fix the defense and he's pretty much failed. What other use could there be for this man if the 1 thing he's supposed to be good at is the one thing he's failed the most at?

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I dont think we necessarily need a 3-4 guy as the potential new coach. We could hire a 4-3 guy and "suggest" a 3-4 as his coordinator. Creating a more versatile D

Only Ware, Spears, and Igor are tailor made for the 3-4. And all 3 could play other spots in a 4-3. Igor and Spears as DT's. With Ware, Ratliff, or Spencer as the DE's. You can do a ton of things w/ this and Rat is more dangerous

I think Jason Williams can start at OLB in a 4-3 next year as well w/ Bradie in the middle.

Possible combinations of head coach/DC? W/O bashing Wade....

 

[DaBoys4Life]

See, I think that's premature. We're a season removed from a 13-3 season where we lost a close game to the eventual Super Bowl winners. It's not like Wade hasn't had any success here, nor do I think it's a foregone conclusion that we can't have a playoff victory under Wade. Is he a perfect coach? No, but a 1-1 start is far too early to be writing him off.

Actually it's that mentality that is the problem. In 08 that we the excuse well we 13-3 in 07 and blah blah blah. You can't keep looking at they year as a justification to keep him plus the lack of success in december and the playoffs is more than enough reason. With that said I don't see a bright future with Wade as the HC for the cowboys.