Gridiron Experts

For a head coach in the NFL the most important two words are “Job” and “Security”, even more than win or playoffs.  For most new coaches heading up a poor squad, these words can ruin sleeping patterns worse than a 2 a.m. cup O’ Joe. This season there are some highly unimpressive performances from a number of teams across the league, so it’s likely that there will be a few head coaching changes in the upcoming season. The Bills, Browns, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Lions, Panthers, Rams, Raiders, Redskins, and Seahawks are all miserable teams and each one has at least enough talent on it to boast a semi decent record, well except for maybe the Browns.

Top 10: Coaching Failures Of 2009

10. John Fox, Carolina Panthers

John Fox is a fantastic coach who is in the midst of falling into jeopardy depending on how this season turns out. Occasional flashes of brilliance from his team and long standing tenure should hold him in place at least for this season, and the maybe the next.

9. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs

A highly anticipated front office addition in Kansas City, Haley brought with him a great offensive scheme from Arizona and has a very strong history of player development. Don’t expect his departure just yet.

8. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams

Spags is just beginning a brand new career; clearly he hasn’t figured out the ropes yet, but the front office can more than willingly accept this in his first year of business. Spagnuolo is a defensively oriented head coach, something the Rams need desperately. This investment will take time and the Rams know it.

7. Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

The Lions are miserable, have been for years, and likely will be for the next few seasons to come. However I don’t foresee Schwartz losing his job this year because of the team’s future potential. The Lions spent a pretty penny in the offseason acquiring some new players, including 1st overall QB Matthew Stafford, and highly touted TE Brandon Pettigrew.

6. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raheem Morris’s job could be saved by Josh Johnson. Johnson is by no means a star in this league, but he is providing a slight glimmer of hope for the organization. If the Bucs continue to progress, Morris shouldn’t lose his job this season, but if Tampa ends up in the 4-12 or 3-13 range he could find himself squarely in the hot seat.

5. Jim Mora Jr., Seattle Seahawks

Mora is not ready to be the head coach of a team in the NFL just yet; it was evident in Atlanta, and it is evident now. Mora is likely to stick around for at least one more season because Seattle invested so heavily in him, but if there’s no production next year, bye bye Jim.

4. Dick Jauron, Buffalo Bills

Personally I think Jauron should be fired immediately; the Bills are riddled with talent and should not be performing as they are. One key example of the coaching ineptitude in Buffalo is the lack of involvement of Terrell Owens, the coaching staff just cannot figure out how to use their most talented player! That being said, I doubt that Jauron will be fired this season, Marv Levy seems to have great confidence in him and is going to let him roll with the punches.

3. Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns

No longer is anyone mesmerized by the fact that Mangini worked with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The team’s performance is not solely his fault; you can’t make apples out of oranges, likewise you can’t make Patriots out of Browns. But he still has not done enough; look for Mangini to be taking the high road at the end of this year.

2. Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins

It is now known that Zorn is going to be fired and at the end of the season. Dan Snyder is being graceful enough to let him finish up the season in the hopes that Zorn may produce, or at best preserve a shot at a future job.

1. Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders

From the beginning of the season controversy has swirled around Cables head, like the stars that swirled around the co-workers head he punched. At least once a week in the NFL community we are graced with a new Tom Cable- Al Davis development, almost as if he were the new T.O. Watch for Cable to be fired A.S.A.P., he may not even last the entire season.

Related posts: