Yesterday, all you football gurus listed the NFL teams that are going to fire their head coaches this offseason.
Now, I want you to take this challenge one step farther.
I want you to list the unemployed former coaches or current assistant coaches or college coaches you think are candidates for these jobs. Then, I want you to match up the coaches to the team with the organization that fits their personality and football I.Q.
I admit, this challenge has a high degree of difficulty. We have high standards here at “Inside the 49ers.”
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Would love to see Greg Roman get a head coaching job and AS will follow him to his new team. Do you believe in miracles? Would like to see Norv Turner get canned and be the new offensive coord again for the Niners, but that might be a clash with slick Jim.
Neal
I don’t want Norv Turner as the OC here in SF. If Roman leaves, Geep Chryst would be my first choice for a replacement. I think Roman is a very good OC. His hands are tied by the inabilities of the QB. He’s constantly forced to limit the play book and utilize only half of the field – in order to make things simple for Alex so that he doesn’t make mistakes. He wants Alex to be a one read and dump off kind of guy.
You single (simple) minded guys that have to twist every subject into the denigration of Alex Smith are really fatiguing.
Its not fatiguing M2, its funny that they will say anything and everything without thinking it through.
FDM/M2
Can you refute what I said?
How can you refute a system and style of offensive football that coincides really well with an exceptional defense that wins games? You cannot.
You are just speculating that Romans hands are tied and that its only a one read option to limit mistakes.
Nick, are you in the meeting rooms and game planning sessions? Do you know forsure that this is what the coaches are thinking? If so, provide insight or just tell me what that its your opinion?
@Nick:
Why do the rest of us have the burden of refuting what is no more than mere speculation on your part? How about you first provide support for your claims? Let’s start with the claims that Roman is limiting the playbook or forced to use only half the field in order to keep things simple for Smith. Do you have any factual support for those claims or did you just pull them out of your backside?
Agree with Claude. Nick you just posted something straight out of a conspiracy novel. You can’t even remotely back up what you just posted here.
Claude and Rocket,
Here are some quotes from Football Outsiders. These are not my words. There’s no conspiracy. Film doesn’t lie and these guys breakdown a lot of film.
“… the Niners, generally, win working around Smith”.
“Instead of having Smith make tougher throws or harder reads, Harbaugh has asked him to perform the same basic tasks, but in different schemes and concepts”.
“Throwing out of base personnel on first down is a great way to help Smith. Not only does it offers the benefit of unpredictability, but Smith gets to face base defenses, which means fewer blitzes and disguises. Additionally, it makes for more potent play-action, which is a great tactic for giving Smith defined and half-field reads.”
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2012/film-room-49ers-giants
Here’s another article from FO with a nice comparison of Alex Smith with Aaron Rodgers and how one is utilized and the other is protected.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2012/film-room-packers-niners
Jeez Claude and Rocket, If this were a prize fight you would be slobbering on the canvas listening to the 10 count. Ouch.
If these guys break down so much film then this statement:
“but Smith gets to face base defenses, which means fewer blitzes and disguises”
is an idiotic non-starter. Hey film guys, what does your film study show about AS’s success against the blitz?
Nick,
Here’s what you said:
His hands are tied by the inabilities of the QB. He’s constantly forced to limit the play book and utilize only half of the field – in order to make things simple for Alex so that he doesn’t make mistakes. He wants Alex to be a one read and dump off kind of guy.
Now unless you have a secret microphone or video cam in the lockerroom or in the box with Roman calling plays, this kind of statement is speculative and has zero credibility.
Outsiders breaks down film, same as Cosell, same as everyone else. Just like everyone else, they are not privy to playcalls or the idealisms behind given plays. Alex has plays where it’s a 3 step and throw just like everybody else. He has different personnel packages that are brought in just like everyone else. Trying to say you know a Coach is hamstrung by his QB limitations is hypethetical nonsense Nick.
Instead of looking at a breakdown from the guys at outsiders and thinking it gives you insights to the offensive motivation, why don’t you tell us all what it is you believe the Niners Coaches believe Smith can’t do and provide us some evidence of that?
Nick
Why do you spend so much time looking up articles/stats/quotes which tell us that the Niners starting QB sucks? Why not be happy, spend your time instead on finding articles/stats/quotes that say how we the best team in the past 2 years instead?
It would take up the same amount of your time, and you’d be a happier person for it to boot.
Given the choice, Forrest Gump chooses to be happy. Don’t be outsmarted by an idiot.
One other thing to Nick, I suggest you do some research into the Stanford offense while Harbaugh and Roman were there and tell us what you find.
BS,
Please read Football for Dummies before you respond to any posts on here. You and FDM are the blog idiots on here. Nick you said it all, the Smithers just can’t handle the truth.
Are you being wussy or a welcher right now? This is 23 now. ‘Cause no way there can be two people as ignorant and stupid as you.
AS is the QB. You don’t even get it.
@Nick, Houston:
Did you guys actually read those articles?
There’s nothing in them* that supports Nick’s sweeping claims. In fact, the 49ers-Giants film room article (1) notes the “obvious improvements” in Smith’s game, (2) specifically mentions that the 49ers have put more on Smith’s plate this season and (3) comments on “the diversity of Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s play-calling.” How do you read that and think it supports the claims that Roman’s hands are tied or that he is “constantly forced to limit the play book”? It doesn’t; it refutes them.
The sole mention of “half-field reads” comes from a mention of the benefits of using play action action on First and 10, which is part of a larger discussion of Smith’s excellence on first down. There is nothing in the article that even remotely suggests the 49ers are forced to use only half the field due to Smith’s “inabilities.” Moreover, given Smith’s relative effectiveness on play action throws, I’d say this is much more a case of designing plays that play to his strengths than it is designing plays to hide his weaknesses.
What this makes clear is that Nick read an article without understanding it, selected a phrase that sounded negative about Smith and then repeated the phrase out of context.
Houston, perhaps you should have actually read the articles before jumping up and down so excitedly. Once again, your haste to take a shot at those who don’t think Smith is terrible has caused you to make yourself look foolish.
—————-
Note: I only skimmed the September 6 article because it was written prior to the first game and therefore does not reflect what the 49ers are doing this season.
@ Claude, I did read the article and it’s clear that only an imbecile could come to the conclusions that they don’t fully support what Nick originally stated – Smith has achieved a moderate amount of success because the 9ers have limited his reads, and given him half the field to work with before dumping down. The articles fully support exactly what Nick wrote. You’re blind allegiance to the One Niner you love makes you attempt to refute anyone even remotely disparaging your hero. It’s simply moronic to try to say those articles don’t support Nick’s opinion.
@ Houston:
You’ve got to be joking me. Where in the article does it say that the 49ers are “constantly” using only half the field? It doesn’t. Half-field reads are mentioned a single time and then only in passing while discussing the benefits of play action passing. How is it that you are unable to understand that?
Moreover, the article expressly states that the 49ers are putting more on Smith’s plate this season. That’s pretty much the opposite of “constantly” limiting the playbook.
Talk about being blinded by hate and desperate not to admit you are wrong. You’re on the 23jordan/bay level now.
Finally, given your inability to understand what you read, perhaps you shouldn’t throw around the term “moron” so loosely.
@ Claude. The entire premise of the article is what a mastermind Harbaugh is with his development of a decent NFL offense with such limited talent at QB. In fact the title of the section is “Niners Coaching.” It’s not about Alex Smith becoming some great passer. I never said the article indicated the 9ers “constantly” use half field reads. Not sure why you put that in quotes to somehow suggest I said that when quite clearly I did not. Again, you trying to spin things in your favor without a hint of rational thought. Here are a few quotes:
“No offensive coach has done more with less than Harbaugh.”
“In Week 1′s Film Room post we highlighted some of the ways Harbaugh protects his moderately-skilled quarterback.”
“Instead of having Smith make tougher throws or harder reads, Harbaugh has asked him to perform the same basic tasks, but in different schemes and concepts.”
Smith has gotten better under Harbaugh for the exact reasons stated in the article and the exact reasons stated by Nick. Harbaugh has simplified the offense and used more half field reads to maximize Smith’s production.
@ Houston:
I didn’t put “constantly” in quotes to suggest that you said anything. I put it in quotes because Nick used that term in his comment and then cited to the article as support for his assertion.
Even though it does praise him, I never said the article was written to praise Alex Smith. I also didn’t deny that the article was written generally to praise the 49ers’ coaches for designing plays that played to Smith’s strengths.
What I said was that it did not support Nick’s very specific assertions, namely, that Roman’s “hands are tied by the inabilities of the QB. He’s constantly forced to limit the play book and utilize only half of the field – in order to make things simple for Alex so that he doesn’t make mistakes. He wants Alex to be a one read and dump off kind of guy.” The cited article simply doesn’t say those things.
I don’t study film so I don’t know about “half field reads” or that sort of thing. I have noticed that The Precious is still limited to the fewest pass attempts per game again this year and the coaches have been bringing in the backup in red zone situations.
If the coaches truly don’t feel Alex is limited they have a strange way of showing it.
The play in which Smith hit Hunter on the first drive of the 2nd half is a great example of a half field read.
There is some truth to that with Smith. It is part of why he is so good off play action and against the blitz. They both limit his reads.
Jack
The Niners should be finding a way to put both FG and KH on the field. Those 2 can do everything. Before the season I knew what we had with FG/KH. I didn’t know what we had with the WR’s. Right now, I think FG/KH are better than any WR combo. And maybe those 2 in the backfield will help free up VD more.
I think Fangio will get a HC gig before Roman does. But both could leave for HC jobs if the Niners win the Super Bowl this year.
Gruden to the Cowboys.
Rob Ryan to the Bills
Todd Haley to the Chargers
Bill Cowher to the Jets
Likely openings:
San Diego – Pete Carmichael
Carolina – Bill Cowher
Dallas – Bob Stoops
Philadelphia – Chip Kelly
Indianapolis (Due to the Coach’s health) – Bruce Ariens
Buffalo – Ray Horton
Now my reasoning:
Carmichael is Sean Payton’s OC and San Diego will be looking to start over at GM and HC. Payton worked wonders with Brees and the Chargers will feel Carmichael can do the same with his former understudy in Rivers.
Cowher lives in Carolina, has been rumored to be itching to get back into the league and Carolina offers him everything he needs to hit the ground running. The only question will be whether the owner anti’s up the kind of money Cowher will command.
Jerry Jones and Bob Stoops talk every offseason and I think Stoops is ready to leave the College game. Jerry will be looking for a splash name and after trying to get Stoops for years, he’ll finally succeed.
Chip Kelly I admit is a stretch going to Philly, but I think the Eagles will be looking for the next Andy Reid. An offensive innovator that can turn the franchise around and use some of the amazing skill athletes they have on offense.
Bruce Ariens is an obvious choice to continue Luck’s development if Chuck Pagano cannot return.
Ray Horton is going to be a hot commodity after the way the Cards defense has performed and his lineage as a long time Steeler Coach. He fits the mentality in Buffalo and they will most likely be looking for a defensive minded HC to try and get the most out of all the money they’ve spent on that side of the ball.
I’m not going to speculate on Coaches for teams like Cleveland, Detroit and KC because I think they’ll get at least one more year.
Rocket, excellent post. I don’t think there will be six changes but who knows at this point. I’m not sure about CKelly in the NFL. It is more risky than promoting an OC or hiring an experienced HC. Regarding RHorton, he is best suited to replace KWhisenhunt if that is the direction the owners go in AZ. I think Carolina replace one possible two OCs and RRivera stays for another year. It will be interesting…
Rocket..
Alot of good coaches in your post…one thing I kinda disagree with and that’s the Dallas choice. Do you think Bob Stoops is willing to be a ‘yes-man, stooge’ for the Cowboys? Jerry Jones has a serious case of Al Davis-itis, and isn’t going to hire anybody that wants decision making power. Jones may interview him, but unless Bob Stoops is willing to toe the company line, he won’t be their HC.
55,
Good points. My thought process here is that Stoops is coming to a point where his window to enter the NFL is closing. He has been at OU forever and a day now, is losing his 4 year starting QB in Landry Jones and I think he may be looking for a different challenge. I don’t think he’ll be a yes man, though of course Jerry will have final say. JJ through the years has been able to check his ego after not having success; it’s what allowed him to convince Parcells to take the job a few years ago. Stoops and JJ are friends and there has long been an inkling that Stoops may one day be the HC of the Cowboys. My guess is that is coming this year…but of course I could be completely out to lunch as well.
@ Rocket…
Jerry Jones and Bob Stoops may be friends, but Jones is running a multi-multi-million dollar business.One thing I learned a l-o-n-g time ago…there’s no such thing as friendship, in business..
Some of us discussed this here last night:
JGruden to Clev or SD (wherever he gets decision making power)
BCowher to KC (perfect fit and he’s ready)
RDennison to Bills (Top OC available to be promoted)
Sorry. But John Gruden sucks
Today’s NFL is largely about drafting your guys and teaching them. Gruden did a horrible job in that.
He went to the Raiders and immediately started to get veterans. He did the same in Tampa.
You can’t do that anymore. Salary cap will kill you if you keep signing veterans instead of drafting well and getting those players to become good players.
I still say that with his pick of teams Cowher wont touch KC with a ten foot clown pole.
A Super Bowl winning coach sucks. What a brilliant analysis. I must have missed where Gruden said something mean about The Precious.
San Diego’s ownership might be desperate enough to give Chucky carte blanche but I sort of wonder if Gruden hasn’t grown comfortable in his talking head role.
Gruden loves every QB he ever seen just listen to him talk.
Jon Gruden inheritated an already made for a championship team. Who do he develop in his career? Good motivator but as we seen with Mike Singletary, rah, rah, takes you to one -two years and fired.
Axel, same can be said for MTomlin (even more so) yet many believe he is a top 5 HC!
I think Mike Tomlin has done a decent job there. They always draft well, dont spend big in free agency and their teams are always competitve, even since Cowher left. The players play hard for him and with an aging roster, they might still win the division.
there were times in the past where i was very concerned about a 49er coordinator getting hired elsewhee as a HC but not now i think jeep chryst and jim tomsula are both prepared to take over our coordinator jobs without missing a beat.
I think Ed Donatell will be a defensive coordinator or head coach soon as well.
Got an interview request for TB job, but 49ers prevented it from happening. Seems like a great DC candidate for us if Fangio gets offers.
Vic Fangio goes to philly.
Bill Cower goes to Browns
Steve Mariucci goes to Arizona
Nick Saban goes to SD
Brad Childress goes to bills.
I’d like to add that I believe that Whisenhunt comes to SF as their new DC to replace Vic.
Whisenhut is an offensive guy, no defensive coordinator expereince. And with Donatell, and Tomsula on staff currently, they would be the next in line.
My mistake. Thank you. I think he’d be a great replacement for Greg Roman who I don’t think stays on the SF staff next year. Defensively, I beleive you are right that they promote within.
Where do you think Roman will coach next season?
Matt,
Instead, why not promote Geep Chryst to OC if Roman leaves?
Nick,
That is my guess as to what they would do.
As for Roman, he isn’t ready to be an NFL HC yet IMO.
What about college head coach? Would Roman be a good candidate to replace Chip Kelly at Oregon if Kelly left for the NFL?
Oregon ould be a good fit for Roman. His offensive concepts are similar so it could be a seamless transition there. The only question is, Can he recruit?
I believe Greg Roman goes to a D1 college team. I think oregan or Cal would both be good fits for Roman. I also don’t think he is ready to coach in the NFL.
Kelly isnt going anywhere and no Roman would not be a good fit for my Oregon Ducks. You want an Oregon coach go after Mike Belloti, he is the one that really got the Oregon program going.
Oh took me awhile, now I see your guys evil ways, cant beat Oregon so go after their Headcoach so the rest of the Pac 12 has a chance to win. Noooo!!!!
Mariucci in Arizona is very intriguing. Gets to play SF twice a year, and for once I wouldn’t dislike their coach
I hadn’t even thought about Mooch…..
I think he loves his cushy tv gig too much. I didn’t even know his name was in the rumour mill??
There was an article that listed the top 12 unemployed coaches in the NFL. Mooch’s name came up. They sited his poor record in Detroit, but then refuted the claim by saying no one could have won in Detroit at that time.
I think Mooch would leave the booth for a contending team. Az seems to be flat with Whisenhunt. They have a lot of pieces there, they just need one or two additions to be a serious contender. I think that would bring Steve out of the Box.
Mooch is an interesting name. I wonder if he is even interested? He seems to enjoy his TV gig.
If Jim Harbaugh is’nt smart enough to bench Alex Smith he will be out of a job by the end of december
Sure thing Trent Baalke. How much are they paying you to call the shots again? Thought so.
0.00023% chance of Harbaugh being out of a job in December, even if they tank the rest of the season and he punches out a journalist during a 1/2 time “interview”.
Old coach
Not going to happen but ur free to dream if it makes u feel better. Remember the lessons of a John York ownership. Fire Mooch after he goes to the playoffs every year so u can IMPROVE by hiring D.Erickson ,Nolan and Singletary? How did that work out for us?
Whether with coach or QB. Dont make a change unles u have a better candidate coming in
@BOS i was kidding i just wanted to see if any of the alex haters would bite
You making me laugh Old Coach, I can see as of yet no takers on your bait.
Damn you old coach, I fell for it!
Coach
Got me. hook, line, and sinker. I should have known better I remember u being a rational person :)
Buffalo – Perry Fewell. They spent all that money on defense and have received nothing in return. To compete in their division they need to be able to stop the Patriots and that means getting pressure on Brady and who know how to do that better then Fewell.
Carolina – Kyle Shanahan. He’s young but he has a very successful resume so far. He had the 4th ranked offense in Houston and already is receiving praise for his handling of RG3, if Griffin continues to exceed expectations Shanahan’s star will only burn brighter for owners to see.
San Diego – John Gruden. Norv Turner is and always has been a softy which is why he cant get his team to win for him. Gruden will shake things up and get peoples attention and bring some discipline and order to a talented but rudderless team. The window is closing fast so Gruden might look elsewhere knowing that a rebuilding project is only a couple-three seasons away. If Gruden turns them down I’d Consider Cam Cameron as a posibility.
Cleveland – Marty Mornhinweg. The Browns new owners ties to Philadelphia makes this make a little less surprising when you start to think about it. If Philadelphia cant get their offense back on track then this pick will likely fade to oblivion but if the Eagles make it to the tournament you can all come here and give me my due credit when he’s named the Browns head coach.
Arizona – Ray Horton. It wont please many in the desert but the Cards will promote from within. Horton has been quietly garnering attention as a head coach and has been receiving a lot of praise for his scheme in Arizona. The Cards owner have always been cheap and lazy and this kind of hiring is right up their alley.
Dallas – Bill Cowher. If Jones gives Cowher carte blanche then I can see this marriage happening. The team is not all that different from San Diego, tons of talent but no leader. Cowher is probably one of only a few guys that would have a chance of getting that team turned around and probably the only one that Jerry would be willing to hand over the keys to and let run the show.
I hear Fangio and Romans names mention but Brad Seely has as much of a chance of getting hired away as they do. John Harbaugh was a special teams coach before getting hired as a HC so it’s not impossible and when you factor is 10 years of experience with Belichick and the success he’s had with our ST he’s just as hot of a commodity as our two coordinators.
Grant, what are your lists?
The Bills should have promoted Fewell when they fired Jauron. And they should have brought Turk Schonert back as OC (Turk is a friend so I’m biased).
There will likely be some coaching-go-round. If A. Reid’s or R. Ryan’s teams sack them, I could easily see them ending up as HCs somewhere else.
Not Reid, not for 2013 anyway. He is worn down and tired. He’ll take a year or two off, work for ESPN, get paid lots of money, then have his agent start rumors that he wants to be a HC again someday so that ESPN is forced to give him a raise.
Admittedly, I don’t know a ton about coaching candidates available for the process next year… so here’s a few guesses from my nether regions (one’s that I’d like to see, anyway):
Bill Cowher – Browns – His old division. Something to prove. Obviously solid coaching chops. Has a shiny new RB and some key pieces to start building around.
John Gruden – SD – This guy has a major thing for QB’s – who wouldn’t want to see his Chucky face and Rivers’ scowl on the tube every Sunday? lol
Mike Nolan – Dallas – Jones is all about style w/o substance. For his HC, I can’t see a better fit than No-win.
Wade Phillips – Philly – Wouldn’t this be fun? A little in-your-face to Jones and an HC with a mind for defense on a team with would-be/has-been stars but little cohesion as a unit?
Mike Holmgren – Bills – Buffalo has shown a tendency to overspend for a name. This would be their perfect opportunity, imho.
Cool wish list. I like your Wade Phillips to Philly.
Say what you will about Nolan, (like, for example, he was a terrible, terrible head coach), I for one liked the suits.
Wade Phillips wont be offered another head coaching job and Holmgren wont take one. Nolan still has probably at least one more HC opportunity in his lifetime but I doubt he’ll fare much better, he’s far better cut out as a coordinator then head coach.
Thanks, Angus. And yeah, I kinda dug Nolan’s suits, too. heh
Coffee, Holmgren just dropped a hint the other day that he “misses” the coaching aspect of his football life. If that’s not a hint in that direction, I’m not sure what is. And, admittedly, I think the Phillips job in Philly would never happen, he’s just too passive a coach for that market, but I was trying to think out of the box a bit.
I really think if he was going to coach again he would have taken the Browns job himself it was perfect for him at the time.
I think when you decide to take front office jobs over coaching jobs you’re admitting to yourself that you don’t want that kind of lifestyle anymore, sleeping at the office working 70-80 hours a week tends to lose it’s appeal when your president position had you home at 5 and watching the game from your sweet luxury box rather then freezing your balls off on the sideline.
What QB has Gruden developed? Gannon was getting screwed by other teams. He was always good. Even I knew that at the time. In a link msc had awhile back, A. Rodgers talked about how Gruden promised him that TB would take him if he was available. He was, and “The Super Bowl HC” passed on the supposed best QB now.
So how is that the Niners get hated on for passing on AR, but Gruden, who actually promised AR he’d take him, then not doing so…is seen as a good HC..I don’t follow that logic.
Who was that HC after Johnson in Dallas? He won a Super Bowl. But in the following years he did nothing. Just like Gruden.
Way too much made of Gruden’s Chukie face. He bought into his own press. The exact opposite of JH.
I’m not sure about Dallas but I could definitely see another HC opportunity for Nolan. His tenure in SF wasn’t any worse than Belichick’s time in Cleveland.
(no, I don’t think Nolan is the next Belichick. Nolan wouldn’t be caught dead in a hoodie)
Heck if Pete Carroll got 3 chances to be a head coach Nolan should atleast get 2.
Pete is a better HC then Nolan but I’d take Nolan as a DC over almost anybody.