This is an odd time to think about the next class of NFL head coaches but the long days between offseason workouts and training camps are an odd time. Robert Klemko wrote an interesting article for Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback site about 32 coaches that might be up next. Coaches that could become NFL head coaches when others are inevitably fired during or at the end of the 2015 season. Klemko looked to 24 people that might be "in the know" for the "goods" on potential NFL head coaches. Agents, scouts, coaches, front-office executives, and plugged-in reporters. Those sort of people in the football business. Klemko identified eight coaches that are "On the Cusp" of an NFL head coaching job, 17 coaches that are "Building a Case." And seven more coaches that have "Something to Prove." 32 coaches total. Enough to replace all 32 current head coaches in the league. It's fine work from Robert Klemko. MMQB is an excellent football resource.
Here's a look at Klemko's list of 32:
On the Cusp
1. Adam Gase, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator
2. Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots offensive coordinator
3. Teryl Austin, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
4. Jim Mora, UCLA head coach
5. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M head coach
6. Pep Hamilton, Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator
7. David Shaw, Stanford head coach
8. Frank Reich, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator
The coach on this list that intrigues me the most is Teryl Austin but I'd put him in the "Something to Prove" category. He did a fantastic job with the Lions defense in his first and only year as a defensive coordinator. He also had Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairly (especially Suh) in the front of his defense. He doesn't have that this year. Austin has been coaching since 1991 but he's only received attention outside the football community in recent seasons. He was a position coach as recently as 2013. If his Lions defense excels this year, I'd put him near the top of the list in January. I really think that Josh McDaniel's next head coaching job will be nothing like his first (and only) head coaching job. That's a good thing. He might be #1 on my list if I was looking for a head coach for 2016. Frank Reich is the other coach on this list that really intrigues me. I'm not sold on Adam Gase, Kevin Sumlin, Pep Hamilton, and David Shaw yet. I think that everyone knows what they get with Jim Mora. He's great if that's what you want. He might still be coaching in Seattle if he wasn't dumped for Pete Carroll.
Building a Case
1. Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach
2. Sean McDermott, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator
3. Pat Shurmur, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator
4. Hue Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator
5. Greg Roman, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
6. Darrell Bevel, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
7. Rob Chudzinski, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach
8. Joe Lombardi, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
9. Kyle Shanahan, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
10. Vic Fangio, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator
11. Scott Linehan, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator
12. Jim Schwartz, free agent
13. Eric Mangini, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator
14. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants offensive coordinator
15. Tom Cable, Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach
16. Mike Shanahan, free agent
17. Ray Horton, Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator
The two things that stick out here are these: 1) It's an absolute mystery as to how Hue Jackson is not an NFL head coach right now. The Washington Redskins should have hired him from the Bengals staff last year before they hired Jay Gruden. 2) The 31 other coaches on Klemko's list should get a head coaching shot before Eric Mangini gets another one. I like Jackson, Vic Fangio, and Ray Horton from this group of coaches. Ben McAdoo, like Reich on the previous list, intrigues me. It would be kind of cool to see Vince Lombardi's grandson as a head coach in the NFL.
Something to Prove
1. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach
2. Mike Patricia, New England Patriots defensive coordinator
3. John Pagano, San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator
4. Kris Richard, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator
5. Mike Smith, free agent
6. Vance Joseph, Cincinnati Bengals defensive back coach
7. Anthony Lynn, Buffalo Bills running back coach
Mike Patricia has intrigued me since he became the Patriots defensive coordinator in 2012. Partly because he looks more like a lumberjack than a football coach. It's tough to tell how much of an impact a Bill Belichick defensive coordinator truly has on a defense. But Belichick does know coaching talent. I really like John Pagano. Vance Joseph and Kris Richard too but they might be a couple of years away from serious head coaching shots.
Flea Flicker Top Head Coaching Candidates
1. Hue Jackson
2. John Pagano
3. Ray Horton
4. Josh McDaniels
5. Vic Fangio
6. Frank Reich
7. Teryl Austin
8. Kris Richard
9. Anthony Lynn
10. Ben McAdoo
No comments:
Post a Comment