2016-17 NFL Coaching Carousel/ Offseason Thread

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

McVay is brilliant. I've not heard a single person say otherwise. The moment Gruden handed over playcalling to Sean, the Redskins offense took off. You'll almost definitely end up with Wade Phillips to run the D. Wes Phillips, Wade's son, may leave the Redskins with McVay and he's been really good with our TEs. I've even heard a rumor of Norv Turner coming on at the OC there. That's a pretty smart way to go for the youngest HC ever.

Agreed. I have read up a little on him, and I am intrigued. But it's so odd to see such a young guy get this shot. It's the first time a team I follow has hired a coach who is younger than me, and he is younger by a LOT.

ESPN has already reported the Wade Phillips move, and I liked that move right away.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Agreed. I have read up a little on him, and I am intrigued. But it's so odd to see such a young guy get this shot. It's the first time a team I follow has hired a coach who is younger than me, and he is younger by a LOT.

ESPN has already reported the Wade Phillips move, and I liked that move right away.

Yeah, if he goes with Wade and Norv as his coordinators, and brings a guy like Wes Phillips that he already has coached with, that's a smart approach that matches his reported brilliance. It may not work out, especially if Goff can't be coached up, but he's a good risk to take.

His only weakness, at least in playcalling, is he will abandon the run at times. The Skins were 6-1-1 in games with 20 or more carries this season. If we were just a single TD down, the run plays often stopped getting called. With that said, he was better at it this year than last and his play designs are excellent.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

I've even heard a rumor of Norv Turner coming on at the OC there.

I probably missed this when it happened, but did we ever get an explanation as to what happened with Norv this year? I had assumed it was medical/stress, but if he's rumored to already be coming back, is that not it?

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I probably missed this when it happened, but did we ever get an explanation as to what happened with Norv this year? I had assumed it was medical/stress, but if he's rumored to already be coming back, is that not it?

I think he just got out of dodge. Bridgewater and Peterson were down, they were winning despite the offense, and apparently Zimmer didn't like the way Turner was running the offense.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Man, this is a game changer.

NFL To Move All 32 Teams To Los Angeles - The Onion - America's Finest News Source

[QuikSand]

I can see it already... the front office changes for the Rams look great, and fantasy keeper leagues everywhere are jarred by "so what do I do with Todd Gurley now?" I will be among them. Based on 2016, he's a throwback, but based on the eye test and optimism about the non-middle-school system they will put in place, he could be the Ezekiel Elliot of the 2017 season -- unproven, but pieces seem to fit really nicely, so where do you take the risk?

[CrescentMoonie]

McVay's weakness is not calling enough runs.

[CrescentMoonie]

Hearing Mike Vrable's name popping up as a potential DC for the Skins.

[Thomkal]

Not good news for former Jets star Mark Gastineau:

Mark Gastineau suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's

Being affected by one of these things is bad enough (my dad had a Parkinson's like disease), but all three is just horrible.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I can see it already... the front office changes for the Rams look great, and fantasy keeper leagues everywhere are jarred by "so what do I do with Todd Gurley now?" I will be among them. Based on 2016, he's a throwback, but based on the eye test and optimism about the non-middle-school system they will put in place, he could be the Ezekiel Elliot of the 2017 season -- unproven, but pieces seem to fit really nicely, so where do you take the risk?

I'd still run away from him as fast as I could unless they put some serious coin into upgrading the offensive line during the offseason, which is absolutely horrific. Seems to me that Zeke was the perfect storm of one of the top offensive lines in football, a freak of nature at the RB position and it didn't hurt that the QB surprised everyone and was a threat to run the ball occasionally as well.

Even though I got burned on Zeke this year by not even considering him in the first and watched him win some of my leaguemates a title, I think I'm going to have the same approach on Fournette unless he goes to a team that either has a decent offensive line or a definite commitment to running the ball (ala Peterson in Minnesota before the suspension)

[miami_fan]

The teams that currently have offensive coordinator openings are:

Jets
Browns
Texans (The Texans will not be hiring a OC. Bill O'Brien will be the defacto OC I guess)
Washington
Rams

DC openings
Chargers
Washington

[CrescentMoonie]

Washington is almost certain to promote either Callahan or Cavanaugh with Gruden going back to calling plays on offense. They've interviewed either 8 or 9 DC candidates already and apparently have someone from the remaining 4 teams that they want to talk to before making a decision. Wade Phillips was target #1 but he refused to interview with them with the rumored reason being a lack of talent on D.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

I'd still run away from him as fast as I could unless they put some serious coin into upgrading the offensive line during the offseason, which is absolutely horrific. Seems to me that Zeke was the perfect storm of one of the top offensive lines in football, a freak of nature at the RB position and it didn't hurt that the QB surprised everyone and was a threat to run the ball occasionally as well.

Even though I got burned on Zeke this year by not even considering him in the first and watched him win some of my leaguemates a title, I think I'm going to have the same approach on Fournette unless he goes to a team that either has a decent offensive line or a definite commitment to running the ball (ala Peterson in Minnesota before the suspension)

I think Dalvin Cook is the better prospect & the best chance for a similar situation is Fournette falling to the Raiders or Oakland trading up to pick him. As someone who has the #2 pick in a dynasty league I am so excited to see who drafts him or if I should take the trade offers.

PS I said it as a joke in October, but is there actually a chance Trump goes after Goodell? Brady/Belichick/Kraft might be his three best "friends" outside of his family.

[CrescentMoonie]

Depending on how FA and the early part of the draft goes, Cook or Fournette could easily be the Redskins pick at 17.

[QuikSand]

With both coordinator spots in flux, and a quarterback in franchise limbo, I think the Washington situation might be the most in flux in the league right now. No real way to know how much credit McVay should get for their recent offensive successes, no real way to know mow much blame the outgoing D coaching staff deserves for their stink, and no way to know whether they will have stability at the #1 position in sports next season.

The coaching hires certainly are a bit part of this... but I find this team mystifying going forward. I don't think their defensive talent is awful, I don't think their offensive talent is great, and I could see them regressing toward the mean on both fronts.

[cartman]

Grigson is out as GM in Indy.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by cartman

Grigson is out as GM in Indy.

There's at least one huge fan of this

Pat McAfee on Twitter: "Thank God"

Pat McAfee on Twitter: ""Unwarranted Arrogance" just ran into a brick wall called karma."

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

With both coordinator spots in flux, and a quarterback in franchise limbo, I think the Washington situation might be the most in flux in the league right now. No real way to know how much credit McVay should get for their recent offensive successes, no real way to know mow much blame the outgoing D coaching staff deserves for their stink, and no way to know whether they will have stability at the #1 position in sports next season.

The coaching hires certainly are a bit part of this... but I find this team mystifying going forward. I don't think their defensive talent is awful, I don't think their offensive talent is great, and I could see them regressing toward the mean on both fronts.

The offense took off in 2015 when McVay was given the reigns for playcalling. He also added aspects of the Shanahan offense to the Gruden offense. To top it off, he was the biggest proponent of Cousins in the building.

Joe Barry deserves a ton of blame for the defense. He got here and took a D that had finished 15th and 18th in the preceding years and guided them to a 28th place finish both years. He also was terrible in Detroit. At some point you do know it's mostly the coach.

The offensive talent is good to great. Cousins can play. He's probably top 10-12, not the guy who threw for 9k yards and 50 TDs the last two years. The WR corps this year was excellent, as was the TE position. The OL is also vastly improved in just two years of having a real GM. The offense overall might slide out of the top 5 range, but they'll be top half of the league barring several injuries hitting or flopping in FA.

[albionmoonlight]

And I can't imagine that Dan Snyder inspires a lot of confidence for fans of a team in flux.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

And I can't imagine that Dan Snyder inspires a lot of confidence for fans of a team in flux.

True, but he hasn't meddled in things since McCloughan showed up.

Meanwhile, Greg Manusky was just announced as being promoted from OLB coach to DC. Really good chance they go in house for OC as well.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

The teams that currently have offensive coordinator openings are:

Jets
Browns
Texans (The Texans will not be hiring a OC. Bill O'Brien will be the defacto OC I guess)
Washington
Rams

DC openings
Chargers
Washington

The Falcons OC will also be open. I'm hoping Jay Glazer was wrong in the pre-game, and Chip Kelly is not a candidate.

[stevew]

Grigson and Pagano went thru couple's counseling? What craziness is this?

[QuikSand]

I do want Kelly to land an NFL job this year. Just too entertaining to sit around on deep cable.

[NobodyHere]

Colts hire Chiefs' Ballard as GM

So Chief fans, who is this?

[miami_fan]

San Francisco 49ers to name John Lynch general manager

Umm, ok?

[Thomkal]

wow that came out of nowhere, and makes little sense given he has no experience with that side of things.

[Atocep]

Ballard should be a big upgrade over Grigson.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

The Falcons OC will also be open. I'm hoping Jay Glazer was wrong in the pre-game, and Chip Kelly is not a candidate.

That Shanahan system works so well for the Falcons roster as constructed. If I were they, I'd hire someone who promises to base his offense on that system. Seems kind of insane for them to re-boot with a new system after he leaves.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

wow that came out of nowhere, and makes little sense given he has no experience with that side of things.

So they hired a former player turned analyst with no front office experience?

Matt Millen likes this.

[bhlloy]

In surprising news, Mark Davis' judgement appears to be just as bad as you would expect from a man with that haircut

[Thomkal]

We get one more season of Larry Fitzgerald to enjoy:

Larry Fitzgerald Will Play In 2017

[mckerney]

Pat McAfee's retirement press conference.

Breaking News: Pro Bowl Punter @PatMcAfeeShow has retired from the NFL to join @BarstoolSports Welcome aboard Pat! pic.twitter.com/E6kPt45TDi

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 2, 2017

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

So they hired a former player turned analyst with no front office experience?

Matt Millen likes this.

You really only hear about it when it fails. John Elway fits most of that criteria. He didn't become an analyst, but his NFL front office experience was zero. He owned an arena league team and a bunch of car dealerships.

I think things turned out pretty good with that hire. I think Lynch is incredibly smart and was always a thinking mans player. Just a guess, but I think he'll do well.

[INDalltheway]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Pat McAfee's retirement press conference.

Breaking News: Pro Bowl Punter @PatMcAfeeShow has retired from the NFL to join @BarstoolSports Welcome aboard Pat! pic.twitter.com/E6kPt45TDi

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 2, 2017

This gave me such mixed emotions. As a longtime Barstool fan I love it, as a lifelong Colts fan it kills me. I love that he insisted on staying in Indy. Also we are lucky he's a punter (a damn good one) and not at a more vital position.

Can't hate on the guy for wanting to do something that he wants to do. It would have been much easier to stay the path of most towards the guaranteed money in the NFL, instead he is taking a risk following his passions. Good luck to the Boomstick.

[Atocep]

Love McAfee. Great guy at WVU and one of the best story tellers there is.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Love McAfee. Great guy at WVU and one of the best story tellers there is.

There was a chance I was gonna QB on Thursday..last season after @Hasselbeck, Luck & Charlie Whitehurst died, I was close & had a plan (18+) pic.twitter.com/AvPP7vSYBr

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 27, 2016

I loved this one by him.

[Abe Sargent]

HOF Class is chosen:

LT, Morten Andersen, Terrell Davis, Jason Taylor, Kurt Warner, Jerry Jones and Kenny Easley.

I think LT, Taylor, and such are obvious, glad to see Morten Anderson as well.

Interesting about Terrell Davis, which I think (hope?) opens the door for Tony Boselli soon.

[Julio Riddols]

Somewhat surprised Davis made it on what.. 4 years?

His playoff production alone is enough to convince me he was one of the best, but that's one hell of an accomplishment to get in on 4 years of production when the field is so damn crowded.

[Abe Sargent]

One of the interesting things of the TD era, is that that era was marked by the dominance of the every down RB that is very, very good and a centerpiece of your offense. From the early 90s to the mid 2000s, we saw a lot of truly powerful RBs. Take Fred Taylor. The knock on him was always that he never got a bunch of Pro Bowls, even though he had great stats each season. But in the AFC alone he went up against so many epic RBs - Edgerrin James, Marshall Faulk, Eddie George, Curtis Martin, Terrell Davis, Rickey Williams for his explosive Dauphins stint, Jerome Bettis, Jamal Lewis, Corey Dillon, Priest Holmes, Travis Henry, LT, and Larry Johnson all having great careers or powerful seasons in teh 10 year period for 96 to 05, and that's a hard lineup to break. And most of those finished with worst career stats than Taylor, who is currently 17th on the list in rushing yards, as one example (he was 16th heading into this year on yardage, but AP eclipsed him)

So props to LT and Davis for making it out of that era with HOFs.

[Warhammer]

I thought Lawrence Taylor was already in the HoF.

[EagleFan]

Dawkins should have made it.

[Scoobz0202]

An arguably top three receiver of all time not making it? Makes sense.

[JPhillips]

What do they have against Tagliabue?

[CU Tiger]

Dawkins and TO should have made it.

[ISiddiqui]

So apparently Sarkisian is going to be the next Offensive Coordinator for the Falcons? That's unexpected. Much happier with it being him rather than Kelly, that's for sure.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Dawkins and TO should have made it.

On the MMQB Ten Things Podcast, they talked about TO. Apparently, the story is that the locker room cancer stuff is way bigger than we've realized.

Not just the "he's not a great guy," which probably should not affect one's HOF case. But more of a "He was such a cancer that he made it harder for his teams to win."

[JonInMiddleGA]

Steve Sarkisian will be next offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons

[CrescentMoonie]

Sarkisian is doing a great job of failing up after the USC debacle.

[albionmoonlight]

I think Atlanta dodged a Chip Kelly bullet there. He did not seem like a good fit for that offense.

[Chief Rum]

I am much more curious to see who Bama grabs for the OC spot. I am thinking if anyone can hire big or touch radioactive, it's Saban. Kelly? Briles? Sterling Gilbert is still out there, too. Maybe the former Montana head coach? Only problem is none of those guys runs the kind of pro system Saban likes.