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from bigredbaer's SportingBlog
Since the closing of the 2006 season several head coaching changes have been made. Whether they were fired, or just left the teams, six teams will have new coaches in 2007.
Those six teams are Miami, Dallas, Arizona, Oakland, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.
Here is a quick overview of each team, ranking the best opportunity from six-to-one, with one being the best job to have.
6. Oakland.
The Raiders have finished with a paltry record since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2002. This is what they have done since. In 2003 they finished 4-12, 5-11 in 2004, 4-12 in 2005, and 2-14 in 2006.
Art Shell, hired by Al Davis before the 2006 season, lasted just one year in his second stint with the Raiders. Davis dismissed Shell and began a search for Shell’s successor. Oakland found 31-year-old Lane Kiffin — the University of Southern California’s Offensive Coordinator — and announced he had been hired on January 23.
Kiffin most likely will go through a year or two of ups and downs, as he has only added one coach that Shell didn’t have — offensive coordinator — and will have to add another as Fred Biletnikoff retired. Biletnikoff, the wide receivers’ coach, had been with the organization for over three decades as a player and coach. I don’t understand why personnel changes haven’t been made. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go from the basement to the top with all but two of the same personnel as the previous year.
5. Arizona
Arizona hired ex-Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt on Jan. 14. They get a good offensive mind for an offensive minded team. With Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Bryant Johnson on the other side of laser-armed quarterback Matt Leinart, and Edgerrin James there to run the ball, Whisenhunt has set himself up for success.
“The Whiz’s” biggest problem will be whipping that defense into form. Arizona was 29th in total yards allowed per game last season, and it doesn’t matter how much you score if you can’t hold the opposition. As the old adage goes, “defense wins championships.”
4. Atlanta
After firing Jim Mora, Jr. on Jan. 1, the Falcons hired Bobby Petrino just seven days later. Petrino — the former University of Louisville head coach — comes into a team that has some troubled waters. With one of the best athletes in the game, they have a great running game. The problem is that athlete is their quarterback, and he doesn’t play like a quarterback — he can throw some, but he will never get Atlanta a ring.
Petrino’s biggest task will be converting that team into a balanced attack, instead of a one-dimensional offense. The NFL saw what they could do through the air against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, but got away from it after the Bengals game, losing four straight.
The defense is a little below average at 20th in the league in yards per game. So Petrino will have some work there as well. His best move was dumping all but three of Mora’s staff. This team should be a playoff team, and if Petrino plays his cards right, they will be contenders in 2007.
3. Dallas
There is nothing wrong with this team — other than Terrell Owens. Bill Parcells is a Hall of Fame coach who has dealt with several big mouth players, including Keyshawn Johnson. Even Parcells couldn’t contain T.O., though, and that helped force his hand into retirement.
Dallas has a strong player-foundation though, with Julius Jones, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Terry Glenn, as well as a solid defense. Whoever this team brings in needs to know how to handle T.O.
I really think Dallas is waiting for Ron Rivera, the defensive coordinator of the Bears. They announced on January 31 that they were going to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce a coach. Indication? Maybe.
The Cowboys should be able to make the playoffs again in 2007, most likely winning the division.
2. Miami
On Jan. 3, Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban decided he wanted to continue his role as the world’s biggest liar when he changed from not wanting the Alabama job, to eventually taking it. Saban bolted the ‘Fins and sent owner Wayne Huizenga into a coaching search of fury. The reason this job is No. 2 is because of Huizenga. He will do anything — and I mean anything — to get a winner in Miami.
He didn’t care how long it took to find a coach, and doesn’t care how much money it will cost to build a winner, because that’s what he wants. On Jan. 18 — 15 days after Saban left — Cam Cameron was announced as the new head coach. Cameron was the offensive coordinator for the offensive juggernaut in San Diego. Miami had the fourth-best total defense in 2006, and that shouldn’t change in ’07. Cameron should get that offense clicking, and help this team contend.
1. Pittsburgh
What could be better than taking over a team just one season removed from a world championship? Well, for Mike Tomlin, nothing. On Jan. 5, Bill Cowher retired as the coach of Pittsburgh. Cowher had coached in Pittsburgh for 15 full seasons —that many years are not frequented in the NFL.
The Steelers coaching search had them interviewing five candidates. Somehow the 34-year-old Tomlin came to the surface, even though he had just one year as a coordinator.
The reason this job is the best comes down to two main things. First, the owner, Dan Rooney, loves to stick with a coach, even through rough times. Cowher and Chuck Noll were the only head coaches since 1969 — a ridiculous fact. Second, there is a solid foundation of players on both sides of the ball.
Although several coaches have left or been let go, the coaches should restore this team to glory, and fight for the division win. Whether they get there or not is up to Tomlin.
Since the closing of the 2006 season several head coaching changes have been made. Whether they were fired, or just left the teams, six teams will have new coaches in 2007.
Those six teams are Miami, Dallas, Arizona, Oakland, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh.
Here is a quick overview of each team, ranking the best opportunity from six-to-one, with one being the best job to have.
6. Oakland.
The Raiders have finished with a paltry record since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2002. This is what they have done since. In 2003 they finished 4-12, 5-11 in 2004, 4-12 in 2005, and 2-14 in 2006.
Art Shell, hired by Al Davis before the 2006 season, lasted just one year in his second stint with the Raiders. Davis dismissed Shell and began a search for Shell’s successor. Oakland found 31-year-old Lane Kiffin — the University of Southern California’s Offensive Coordinator — and announced he had been hired on January 23.
Kiffin most likely will go through a year or two of ups and downs, as he has only added one coach that Shell didn’t have — offensive coordinator — and will have to add another as Fred Biletnikoff retired. Biletnikoff, the wide receivers’ coach, had been with the organization for over three decades as a player and coach. I don’t understand why personnel changes haven’t been made. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go from the basement to the top with all but two of the same personnel as the previous year.
5. Arizona
Arizona hired ex-Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt on Jan. 14. They get a good offensive mind for an offensive minded team. With Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Bryant Johnson on the other side of laser-armed quarterback Matt Leinart, and Edgerrin James there to run the ball, Whisenhunt has set himself up for success.
“The Whiz’s” biggest problem will be whipping that defense into form. Arizona was 29th in total yards allowed per game last season, and it doesn’t matter how much you score if you can’t hold the opposition. As the old adage goes, “defense wins championships.”
4. Atlanta
After firing Jim Mora, Jr. on Jan. 1, the Falcons hired Bobby Petrino just seven days later. Petrino — the former University of Louisville head coach — comes into a team that has some troubled waters. With one of the best athletes in the game, they have a great running game. The problem is that athlete is their quarterback, and he doesn’t play like a quarterback — he can throw some, but he will never get Atlanta a ring.
Petrino’s biggest task will be converting that team into a balanced attack, instead of a one-dimensional offense. The NFL saw what they could do through the air against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, but got away from it after the Bengals game, losing four straight.
The defense is a little below average at 20th in the league in yards per game. So Petrino will have some work there as well. His best move was dumping all but three of Mora’s staff. This team should be a playoff team, and if Petrino plays his cards right, they will be contenders in 2007.
3. Dallas
There is nothing wrong with this team — other than Terrell Owens. Bill Parcells is a Hall of Fame coach who has dealt with several big mouth players, including Keyshawn Johnson. Even Parcells couldn’t contain T.O., though, and that helped force his hand into retirement.
Dallas has a strong player-foundation though, with Julius Jones, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Terry Glenn, as well as a solid defense. Whoever this team brings in needs to know how to handle T.O.
I really think Dallas is waiting for Ron Rivera, the defensive coordinator of the Bears. They announced on January 31 that they were going to wait until after the Super Bowl to announce a coach. Indication? Maybe.
The Cowboys should be able to make the playoffs again in 2007, most likely winning the division.
2. Miami
On Jan. 3, Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban decided he wanted to continue his role as the world’s biggest liar when he changed from not wanting the Alabama job, to eventually taking it. Saban bolted the ‘Fins and sent owner Wayne Huizenga into a coaching search of fury. The reason this job is No. 2 is because of Huizenga. He will do anything — and I mean anything — to get a winner in Miami.
He didn’t care how long it took to find a coach, and doesn’t care how much money it will cost to build a winner, because that’s what he wants. On Jan. 18 — 15 days after Saban left — Cam Cameron was announced as the new head coach. Cameron was the offensive coordinator for the offensive juggernaut in San Diego. Miami had the fourth-best total defense in 2006, and that shouldn’t change in ’07. Cameron should get that offense clicking, and help this team contend.
1. Pittsburgh
What could be better than taking over a team just one season removed from a world championship? Well, for Mike Tomlin, nothing. On Jan. 5, Bill Cowher retired as the coach of Pittsburgh. Cowher had coached in Pittsburgh for 15 full seasons —that many years are not frequented in the NFL.
The Steelers coaching search had them interviewing five candidates. Somehow the 34-year-old Tomlin came to the surface, even though he had just one year as a coordinator.
The reason this job is the best comes down to two main things. First, the owner, Dan Rooney, loves to stick with a coach, even through rough times. Cowher and Chuck Noll were the only head coaches since 1969 — a ridiculous fact. Second, there is a solid foundation of players on both sides of the ball.
Although several coaches have left or been let go, the coaches should restore this team to glory, and fight for the division win. Whether they get there or not is up to Tomlin.