Looking ahead, there are several teams that have coaches hanging by a wire. I feel the following coaches will be fired after a poor performance by their team. Lovie Smith - CHI Not finding a qb for the last few years will kick this guy out the door. There is only so much DEF and Hester can do for you. Its an aging defense too, that has a closing window of opportunity, ala MIA two and three years ago. 2. Herm Edwards - KC How many times does this guy actually have to prove he is terrible? Seriously? His organization had a great draft (on paper) and seems to be rebuilding, but even with a high powered offense in which Herm inherited, KC still played bad football. The rebuilding mode will begin with a new coach after this year, it has to!! 3. John Fox - CAR His time is running out. His team underachieves every year, and there really isn't any reason for optimism there beside a great one two running game. Too much of the status quo kicks Fox to the curb. Honorable Mentions: E. Mangini: NYJ M. Lewis: CIN M. Nolan: SF What do you guys think?
Marvin Lewis of the Bengals. No appreciable progress in last few years. Team is uncontrolled. Came in as a defensive guru, has had one of the worst defenses for his entire tenure. If they dont make the playoffs no question hes gone. Lane Kiffen of the Raiders. Well, theyve publicy asked him to leave. Not necessarily a bad coach, and the team might challenge for a playoff spot. But then again its the raiders, nobody would be shocked if they went 3-13 either, and Al Davis is basically senile so who knows whats going on. Mike Nolan of San Francisco. First season was a bang and has gone downhill since then. Alex Smith is a disaster it seems. If they dont show significant improvement this year he could be on the outs. And finally, not fired, but retired, Mike Holmgren. Certainly if he misses the playoffs I dont see him coming back, and it might take a deep run to keep him as well. Just time for a change.
wisenhunt(sp) the coache of the cardinals ...with their offensive weapons theres no reason they shouldn't be competitive. except the fact they just named kurt warner as starting qb. clean-up on isle 9..kurt "clean-up" warner on isle 9.
Tough call between Nolan and Kiffin but I'll go with Nolan because there's a good chance he'll get fired during the season and replaced by Martz. I don't see Davis - senile or not - doing that with Kiffin. As for Edwards, he's a lousy coach (worst in the business, if you ask me) but he'll get another season ... young team, lots of rookies, that kind of thing. I don't see Chicago giving the boot to Smith just yet but Lewis is a good candidate. A couple of other possibilities: Wade Phillips (no SB appearance and it's bye bye Wade, hello Jason Garret), Jeff Fisher (if the Titans are going to have the year I suspect them to have then he's out) and Scott Linehan.
I believe Nolan may go, as I put him in my honorable mention list, but I think it is unlikely that Martz takes over. If I remember correctly, he had heart problems when he was coaching, and has no interest in taking on the responsibilities and stress associated with the HC job anymore. Wade Phillips is interesting, if only because Garret is such a high profiled commodity now. J. Jones may feel that if he doesn't give him the job, someone else will scoop him up, which almost happened this year. Interesting.
Nolan, unless the Niners have an amazing turnaround. Herm for sure, this guy just can't run a team for crap. They regress under him. I'd hate to Kiffen go, but like it was said, you never know with Davis in charge. I think it's too soon for Wisenhunt to get axed, the Cards are used to mediocrity.
Or singletary imo, think they are gonna rely more on D than O, would be an interesting choice though These days its almost easier to name those NOT on the hot seat lol
Gone - Nolan, Marvin Lewis, Scott Linehan Nolan is going no where with that team and it saddens me because I think he's a good person but just not a head coach. I'd look for the top candidates in the Bay Area to be Mike Martz and Mike Singletary. Regarding Marvin Lewis, I think unless he wins a couple playoff games, he won't be in Cincinnati next year. I think that they may surprise some people despite being perrenial underacheviers. Lewis doesn't make the acquisitions or any decisions of the team which is why he'll be gone. I don't know if Lewis would have done better if he was able to do the acquiring of players. If he was able to make off-season acquisitions, they may have had a good defense by now. He didn't want Chris Henry and now he's stuck with him. The owner made him look like a fool after Lewis made a statement about how their team needs football players and high character was a priority. To boil it down to a couple words, Lewis is gone in my opinion simply because he is constantly disagreeing with the owner. Scott Linehan HAS to make progress. If he doesn't, he's a goner. On the bubble - John Fox, Wade Phillips, Herm Edwards Fox needs to get the Panthers in the playoffs or he's gone. I think they can get into the playoffs if Delhomme doesn't make questionable decisions. I expect their defense to be outstanding once again. Peppers is fired up again, Chris Gamble is in a contract year so he'll be playing for the money next off-season. At Safety, they have a rookie in Charles Godfrey out of Indiana whose a good player. I'm not sure how he will fair at that spot but he's gotta make something out of it. For Wade, its simple as this, Super Bowl or bust period. If he doesn't win the Super Bowl with the talent they have, he will be replaced by Jason Garrett and you can bank on that. Only reason I put him on the bubble is because he has a team that can win the SB. Herm Edwards is a guy whose got a boat load of young guys. He isn't likely to have a winning season but he has made a mess of a once great offense. I put him on the bubble because he could get a pass for having a young team. I'd keep an eye on him. I can't see Kiffin going unless Davis really has a problem with him. Even though Kiffin has ignored Al Davis and has told Davis "I'm running the show", I think Raiders will surrpise some people this year, possibly winning seven games and Kiffin will keep his job. Kiffin has them headed in the right direction. If the Raiders fire him, that organization needs help. Lovie Smith won't be fired in my opinion. I think he got a new contract about a year ago, didn't he? One guy that isn't a head coach but will be gone after this year in my opinion is Bob Babich. He's the Defensive Coordinator in Chicago and hasn't done a great job replacing Ron Rivera.
My thoughts exactly. For the same reasons you say. Nice job. Marvin Lewis is a good coach, I just feel he's completely lost that team. I think a change of scenery for him would be a great idea. As for Nolan, he's lost alot of his control out there too it sounds like. A lackluster performance out there again this year and he's toast.
I dont see Lovie as being gone really. Its not necessarily his fault the team wont buy him a real QB. But if they dont play well and are competitive he could be on the hot seat. Ken Whisenhunt wont get fired either, the Bidwells are to cheap for one. They wont pay for years of him doing something else. Plus, they have a decent enough team to make a run and possibly get a playoff spot. The Leinart thing isnt really his fault, not his QB (unless im totally losing it lol) so cant count that against him. One guy I forgot, who probably wont, but should be mentioned, is Mike Shanahan. His team has been in a downward spiral for years and Im not sure they improve this year either. Something to watch at any rate. And lets not forget, Romeo Crennel was all but fired before the Brows inspiring performance last year. However, early reviews is that they havent been impressive in camp, and if the Steelers and Ravens walk over them could see him in hot water again.
Nolan Lewis Linehan any Raiders coach is one game away! Childress Edwards just a few that come to mind
