9 NFL coaches already on the hot seat for 2016
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http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/9-nfl-c ... 5647bd39fd
9 NFL coaches already on the hot seat for 2016
We continue our early look at the 2016 NFL season with the coaches who are already feeling pressure to win before the offseason even gets underway.
1. Jeff Fisher, Rams
If you need a team to finish 7-9, Jeff Fisher is the man for the job. I’m not sure why you’d need such a thing. Maybe it’s a Major League situation, where you’re an evil sports owner who wants to move his team out of the Midwest for a city with a warmer climate — WAIT, that’s exactly what happened. Anyway, Fisher survived yet another mediocre season despite having a roster that is capable of so much more. You have to wonder how Fisher has stuck around the league so long. It’s been seven years since his last winning team, and it’s not like he’s seen as some X’s and O’s genius. I’d assume he’s more of a motivator, but the Rams have laid some eggs against teams they should easily handle over the last few seasons. I can’t see Fisher surviving another 7-9 season, but I’ve been saying that for three years now.
2. Marvin Lewis, Bengals
The Bengals are still waiting for their first playoff win under Lewis. It’s hard to see them waiting another year with how last year’s playoff exit went down. Cincinnati would have finally snagged that elusive postseason win if not for total lack of discipline. Some of that has to fall on the head coach. Lewis’ seat is particularly hot since a winning record won’t be enough for him to secure his job. The Bengals need to have some playoff success to justify a 15th year with Lewis at the helm.
3. Chuck Pagano, Colts
It looked like Pagano’s days in Indy were done after the Colts missed the playoffs, but somehow he ended up with a three-year contract extension. Despite that new deal, it’s unlikely he keeps his job if the Colts miss the playoffs again. Getting Andrew Luck back will help. The young quarterback has carried league-average defenses, which are supposedly Pagano’s specialty. Even if the Colts manage a winning record, they will have to do so while looking like a championship contender in order for Pagano to be totally safe.
4. Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Jerry Jones loves him some Jason Garrett, who is now the longest tenured coach during Jones’ reign as Cowboys owner. He’s led Dallas for five full seasons and has produced one measly playoff appearance. The Cowboys’ problems in 2015 had nothing to do with coaching, so it makes sense that Garrett was given another year. But expectations are high, and I’m not sure this team is good enough to live up to what Jones has in mind. A one-and-done postseason will likely cost Garrett his job, and in a stacked NFC, that is more than likely.
5. Mike McCoy, Chargers
Count me as one of the people who thought the Chargers were smart for keeping McCoy despite a second consecutive losing record. San Diego has had terrible injury luck over these last two years, particularly on the offensive line. That’s kind of important when the offense is built around Philip Rivers being able to work from the pocket. Bringing Ken Whisenhunt back to San Diego is a wise move. He was there when McCoy led the Chargers to the playoffs in 2013. San Diego should be in for some serious regression to the mean in 2016. The team’s point differential suggests the Chargers played more like a six-win team than a 4-12 outfit, and their injury problems have to subside at least a little bit. But even if San Diego is struck with more bad luck, McCoy will not get the benefit of the doubt once again.
6. Jim Caldwell, Lions
Here’s a shot of Caldwell when he found out he was keeping his job
That’s his “unbridled joy” face. It looks a lot like his “Oh, look, the refs just screwed us again” face. It did not look like Caldwell would be back in Detroit after his team got off to a 1-7 start, but the Lions won six of their last eight to save his job. At the same time, that hot end to the season may have raised expectations a little too high. If the front office expects them to carry that momentum into next season and contend with the Packers and Vikings in the NFC North, they will be disappointed. And a disappointed front office is not good for a head coach’s job security.
7. Gus Bradley, Jaguars
The slow, painful rebuild in Jacksonville continues. There were bright spots in 2015 to keep it going, but not enough to think this team is going anywhere under Bradley. The offense is loaded with young, exciting prospects. The defense, on the other hand, looks to be regressing, and defense is Bradley’s specialty. He’s found it hard to recreate the Seattle defense he led through 2012. It turns out, it’s much harder to stop opposing offenses when you don’t have Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman at your disposal.
8. Mike Mularkey, Titans
Say hello to this year’s version of Jim Tomsula. This uninspired hire just screams “We couldn’t find a suitable candidate, so we’ll use this poor guy as a stop gap.” The Titans have the NFL’s least talented roster, so Mularkey is set up to fail. Not that he needs any help losing games with his .316 career winning percentage as a head coach. The only thing that could save Mularkey’s job is Marcus Mariota taking a gigantic step in his development. Any sign of regression for Mariota, which is common for second-year passers, will likely get Mularkey fired.
9. John Harbaugh, Ravens
This is definitely the biggest stretch on the list, but the Ravens have missed the playoffs two out of the last three seasons. They were another team that was ravaged by injuries in 2015 so Harbaugh should get some leeway for last season’s debacle. Even so, a third year without postseason football would at least get the conversation started in Baltimore. Somebody would likely have to take the fall, and it’s not going to be general manager Ozzie Newsome, who is beyond reproach in Baltimore.
9 NFL coaches already on the hot seat for 2016
We continue our early look at the 2016 NFL season with the coaches who are already feeling pressure to win before the offseason even gets underway.
1. Jeff Fisher, Rams
If you need a team to finish 7-9, Jeff Fisher is the man for the job. I’m not sure why you’d need such a thing. Maybe it’s a Major League situation, where you’re an evil sports owner who wants to move his team out of the Midwest for a city with a warmer climate — WAIT, that’s exactly what happened. Anyway, Fisher survived yet another mediocre season despite having a roster that is capable of so much more. You have to wonder how Fisher has stuck around the league so long. It’s been seven years since his last winning team, and it’s not like he’s seen as some X’s and O’s genius. I’d assume he’s more of a motivator, but the Rams have laid some eggs against teams they should easily handle over the last few seasons. I can’t see Fisher surviving another 7-9 season, but I’ve been saying that for three years now.
2. Marvin Lewis, Bengals
The Bengals are still waiting for their first playoff win under Lewis. It’s hard to see them waiting another year with how last year’s playoff exit went down. Cincinnati would have finally snagged that elusive postseason win if not for total lack of discipline. Some of that has to fall on the head coach. Lewis’ seat is particularly hot since a winning record won’t be enough for him to secure his job. The Bengals need to have some playoff success to justify a 15th year with Lewis at the helm.
3. Chuck Pagano, Colts
It looked like Pagano’s days in Indy were done after the Colts missed the playoffs, but somehow he ended up with a three-year contract extension. Despite that new deal, it’s unlikely he keeps his job if the Colts miss the playoffs again. Getting Andrew Luck back will help. The young quarterback has carried league-average defenses, which are supposedly Pagano’s specialty. Even if the Colts manage a winning record, they will have to do so while looking like a championship contender in order for Pagano to be totally safe.
4. Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Jerry Jones loves him some Jason Garrett, who is now the longest tenured coach during Jones’ reign as Cowboys owner. He’s led Dallas for five full seasons and has produced one measly playoff appearance. The Cowboys’ problems in 2015 had nothing to do with coaching, so it makes sense that Garrett was given another year. But expectations are high, and I’m not sure this team is good enough to live up to what Jones has in mind. A one-and-done postseason will likely cost Garrett his job, and in a stacked NFC, that is more than likely.
5. Mike McCoy, Chargers
Count me as one of the people who thought the Chargers were smart for keeping McCoy despite a second consecutive losing record. San Diego has had terrible injury luck over these last two years, particularly on the offensive line. That’s kind of important when the offense is built around Philip Rivers being able to work from the pocket. Bringing Ken Whisenhunt back to San Diego is a wise move. He was there when McCoy led the Chargers to the playoffs in 2013. San Diego should be in for some serious regression to the mean in 2016. The team’s point differential suggests the Chargers played more like a six-win team than a 4-12 outfit, and their injury problems have to subside at least a little bit. But even if San Diego is struck with more bad luck, McCoy will not get the benefit of the doubt once again.
6. Jim Caldwell, Lions
Here’s a shot of Caldwell when he found out he was keeping his job
That’s his “unbridled joy” face. It looks a lot like his “Oh, look, the refs just screwed us again” face. It did not look like Caldwell would be back in Detroit after his team got off to a 1-7 start, but the Lions won six of their last eight to save his job. At the same time, that hot end to the season may have raised expectations a little too high. If the front office expects them to carry that momentum into next season and contend with the Packers and Vikings in the NFC North, they will be disappointed. And a disappointed front office is not good for a head coach’s job security.
7. Gus Bradley, Jaguars
The slow, painful rebuild in Jacksonville continues. There were bright spots in 2015 to keep it going, but not enough to think this team is going anywhere under Bradley. The offense is loaded with young, exciting prospects. The defense, on the other hand, looks to be regressing, and defense is Bradley’s specialty. He’s found it hard to recreate the Seattle defense he led through 2012. It turns out, it’s much harder to stop opposing offenses when you don’t have Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman at your disposal.
8. Mike Mularkey, Titans
Say hello to this year’s version of Jim Tomsula. This uninspired hire just screams “We couldn’t find a suitable candidate, so we’ll use this poor guy as a stop gap.” The Titans have the NFL’s least talented roster, so Mularkey is set up to fail. Not that he needs any help losing games with his .316 career winning percentage as a head coach. The only thing that could save Mularkey’s job is Marcus Mariota taking a gigantic step in his development. Any sign of regression for Mariota, which is common for second-year passers, will likely get Mularkey fired.
9. John Harbaugh, Ravens
This is definitely the biggest stretch on the list, but the Ravens have missed the playoffs two out of the last three seasons. They were another team that was ravaged by injuries in 2015 so Harbaugh should get some leeway for last season’s debacle. Even so, a third year without postseason football would at least get the conversation started in Baltimore. Somebody would likely have to take the fall, and it’s not going to be general manager Ozzie Newsome, who is beyond reproach in Baltimore.