Coaching in football, more than in any
other sport, is essential to a team's success. The Harbaugh brothers were
flying high on different coasts before Jim jumped to Michigan, one going to
three straight NFC title games and the other winning the Super Bowl (over the
other brother, no less). New York fans have called for Tom Coughlin's ouster a
few times over the last six years, but he has helped deliver two Super Bowl
titles, while Bill Belichick has had one losing season (his first, 2000) since
taking over the Patriots, taking them to six Super Bowls.
In the NBA, any team that has LeBron or Shaq in
his prime would be a title contender. In baseball, a team is essentially
only as good as its starting pitching (or payroll). Joe Torre won four World
Series with the Yankees, but many forget he was run out of town after coaching
the Mets and Cardinals to poor seasons.
Football is very different. There are so many
players involved on the field that it requires an excellent coach and coaching
staff to teach, motivate and organize into a successful unit. Think about
football on-field personnel: 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense, special
teams players, and even specialized personnel, such as third-and-long defensive
backs or running backs used only in short yardage situations. It takes hours of
time, patience and talent to organize players into an effective group. As
preseason kicks off next week, here are some teams that made coaching changes
to try and upgrade weak areas.
Falcons: Plenty of offensive talent on this team with QB
Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones. But the defense has been terrible, which is why
they bring in Dan Quinn as head coach. Quinn comes fresh from the Super Bowl,
running the Seattle defense under Pete Carroll. One of the top pass-rushers
dropped to the Falcons in the draft, as Vic Beasley was somehow available in
the eighth spot. They then took LSU cornerback Jalen Collins in the season
round, so the new coach will teach the young kids on defense to improve while
Ryan runs the offense.
Bills: Rex Ryan was rumored out of New York the entire
second half of last season but wasn't unemployed long. He even gets to stay in
the AFC East and haunt his old team. Rex was always loading up on defensive
players with the Jets and now must be in heaven, inheriting a talented Buffalo
defense that was fourth in the NFL in points and yards allowed. They can get
after the quarterback with Marcell Dareus (10 sacks), Mario Williams (14.5
sacks) and Jerry Hughes (9.5).
Now about that offense...QB Kyle Orton retired, so the
onus is on E.J. Manuel (5 TDs, 3 INTs). They hope the trade for RB LeSean
McCoy is a plus, though he is more a finesse back than the kind of power backs
Ryan had with the Jets. They also took a shot with WR Percy Harven and Ritchie
Incognito, so the Rex-circus may have simply moved a few miles north from the
Meadowlands to Buffalo.
Bears: John Fox tries to provide some veteran stability
after the Marc Trestman implosion. There are multiple challenges for the new
coach. The Bears defense was so bad (30th in yards allowed, 31st in points
surrendering 27.6 ppg) fans were picketing for 81-year old Buddy Ryan to
return. The defense transition to a 3-4 and adds rookie NT Eddie Goldman,
a second round pick.
And on offense Fox has to deal with problem
child Jay Cutler. He threw 30 interceptions with 9 fumbles last season and in
six years in Chicago has 37 fumbles and 93 picks. From Peyton Manning to this
guy? They might as well double Fox's salary now for jumping into this
mess.
49ers: San Francisco went from Super Bowl contender for
three straight years and budding dynasty to a train wreck in less than one
year. New Coach Jim Tomsula was hired as defensive line coach in 2007 and
stepped in as head coach for the finale in 2010 (they beat Arizona, 38-7). The
49ers only hope that trend continues, but there are problems galore.
San Francisco was 8-8 last season while getting
outscored by -34 points. The defense was fine despite injuries, finishing 10th
in points allowed and 5th in yards, but loses two starting cornerbacks. The
offense regressed badly as QB Colin Kaepernick (19 TDs, 10 TDs) was asked to do
more but couldn't, getting sacked 52 times. Was that because of offensive line
injuries? Or does this guy hold onto the ball too long? Perhaps he excelled
early on with athletic ability rather than elite decision making skills. The
49ers carry a 0-6 ATS run into the new season.
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