NFL 2016 Head Coaching and Offseason Stuff

[Dutch]

I like the Dirk Koetter move mostly for the illusion of stability for Winston. He is a players coach, but he knows he's not one of the boys, so I like that. Winston respects him and Koetter isn't just an X's and O's guy, but a lifelong teacher. So I'm hopeful.

Bringing in Mike Smith is seen as a positive as well since the two combined seem to have a good vision of what NFL talent looks like...and they will dismantle the Tampa-2....which was an attempt by Lovie to cram a square peg (90's ball) into a round hole (modern defenses). I expect improvements and expect the Bucs to shake their laughing-stock image. Tough mountain to climb though.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I expect improvements and expect the Bucs to shake their laughing-stock image. Tough mountain to climb though.

I think that Winston is the real deal. Getting a star QB will do wonders over the next 3-5 years. As long as the coaches/front office can field an average or better defense, the Bucs should be a playoff team sooner rather than later.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I like the Dirk Koetter move mostly for the illusion of stability for Winston. He is a players coach, but he knows he's not one of the boys, so I like that. Winston respects him and Koetter isn't just an X's and O's guy, but a lifelong teacher. So I'm hopeful.

Bringing in Mike Smith is seen as a positive as well since the two combined seem to have a good vision of what NFL talent looks like...and they will dismantle the Tampa-2....which was an attempt by Lovie to cram a square peg (90's ball) into a round hole (modern defenses). I expect improvements and expect the Bucs to shake their laughing-stock image. Tough mountain to climb though.

Almost like a reverse Falcons of 2012-2014 coaching staff. In that case it was Mike Smith as HC and Dirk Koetter as OC. I just find it interesting.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

I think you could do a lot worse than pick a coach whose mentor, including playoffs, is 172–121–1 (.587) during his career.

I like Andy Reid. Always have. Dumb clock manager, but I like his style and his teams. That said, I do not necessarily care about his coaching tree. Like most head coaches, there are some hits and misses. I fully believe the Eagles went the wrong way in both their firing of Reid and their hiring of Pederson.

All of this is just my opinion. I never expected Carrol to succeed in Seattle. I think Lurie crapped the bed. Maybe Pederson will prove me wrong. (fwiw the Eagles are my favorite team in that division so I will be hoping he does well regardless of how well I think he will do.)

[SteveMax58]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Yeah, the Giants are in a difficult spot. How many years does Eli have left, and is there enough time for him to learn a new offense? The offense was pretty good this year, so I can see why they'd want that continuity. It may not work, but it has some sense to it.

Yeah and it'd be nearly guaranteed to be yet another wasted year with Eli as your QB, who isn't getting any younger.

I felt like the Giants should have parted ways with Coughlin 2 offseasons ago. Last offseason I was 50/50 on it. This season, I feel like Coughlin actually had the team highly competitive despite the lack of talent. Though being competitive means you will be in close games, where being smart matters. And nobody (at least not me anyway) ever accused Coughlin of being a smart tactician.

I also feel like McAdoo shares some of that blame (and a little praise as well). While he did a good job schematically, I never found his playcalling to be anything special, least of all his late game playcalls (which Coughlin accepts blame for, but I'm not convinced he was the one making those calls).

I expect McAdoo to be a bit of a continuation of Coughlin. And despite the Giants typical stability, I expect McAdoo and Reese to both be gone in 2 seasons. I hope I'm wrong.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by SteveMax58

I expect McAdoo to be a bit of a continuation of Coughlin. And despite the Giants typical stability, I expect McAdoo and Reese to both be gone in 2 seasons. I hope I'm wrong.

That's the real issue. Keeping Reese, when he should have been the first let go, means that you're tying the two together for a couple years at least because no strong GM candidate is going to take the job after next season if he's being stuck with a coach with no history of success. So you have to give them two years to figure things out and then maybe you just wasted the final two years of Eli's potential as a Super Bowl-caliber QB.

[SteveMax58]

Originally Posted by Logan

That's the real issue. Keeping Reese, when he should have been the first let go, means that you're tying the two together for a couple years at least because no strong GM candidate is going to take the job after next season if he's being stuck with a coach with no history of success. So you have to give them two years to figure things out and then maybe you just wasted the final two years of Eli's potential as a Super Bowl-caliber QB.

Yep, and assuming things don't go unexpectedly great, I think they reboot with a new GM and coach at that point. Potentially with or without Eli.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I think that Winston is the real deal. Getting a star QB will do wonders over the next 3-5 years. As long as the coaches/front office can field an average or better defense, the Bucs should be a playoff team sooner rather than later.

Gerald McCoy is a gritty player, but he's almost alone sans defensive scheming. We need some muscle up front.

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Almost like a reverse Falcons of 2012-2014 coaching staff. In that case it was Mike Smith as HC and Dirk Koetter as OC. I just find it interesting.

I dont know of a situation like this...although I'm sure its happened. I think Mike Smith will drop back to coordinator without much trouble...they are apparently good friends....and I see them as in the right order personality-wise.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by SteveMax58

Yep, and assuming things don't go unexpectedly great, I think they reboot with a new GM and coach at that point. Potentially with or without Eli.

I would say there's a 100% chance it will either be with or without him. I see no other outcomes.

[Kodos]

Shrewd analysis. This is why I stay at FOFC.

[SteveMax58]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I would say there's a 100% chance it will either be with or without him. I see no other outcomes.

I report, you decide.

I really just mean that at that point they won't care to try and salvage the Eli years and will be looking for the longer term solution at head coach and GM whether Eli stays for an extra season or not.

[Thomkal]

A sad story of what playing NFL Football can lead to:

Former Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El: 'If I could go back, I wouldn't [play football]' | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[Abe Sargent]

Whoa! Thanks Thomkal!

[BillJasper]

Raiders, Oakland to work on a lease for 2016 | ProFootballTalk

Am I the only one that would play hardball with the Raiders on this lease? Getting them to commit for more than a single season.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

A sad story of what playing NFL Football can lead to:

Former Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El: 'If I could go back, I wouldn't [play football]' | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

He went back the following day and took back a vast majority of the comments, but did say he would stick to baseball.

I hear those type of comments a lot. It's really easy for a guy to say he would choose baseball. The problem is baseball is a freaking brutal sport to be good at. In football you are competing against a bunch of American athletes. You also go right to "the show" if you are good.

In baseball? You get past the first or second round and you aren't getting a living wage.

If health were really the dominating decision maker for these athletes, they would obviously choose baseball or basketball. I don't think health is the motivating factor. I wonder if 18 year Randall-El would look at the options before him and still stick with baseball.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I wonder if 18 year Randall-El would look at the options before him and still stick with baseball.

You know the answer to that & I know the answer to that ... and it'd be the same choice he made the first time.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You know the answer to that & I know the answer to that ... and it'd be the same choice he made the first time.

What would have been interesting for him is had he switched to baseball after college. I wonder if playing QB did as much damage in his time at that position as the time he spent at WR did.

[MrBug708]

These athletes who say they would pick another sport instead. The vast majority play the one they were the best at. And when Randall El failed at baseball and was possibly working at a Dick's sporting goods, he'd wonder if he should have picked football.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

Raiders, Oakland to work on a lease for 2016 | ProFootballTalk

Am I the only one that would play hardball with the Raiders on this lease? Getting them to commit for more than a single season.

Not at all. I would rake them over the coals unless they gave me a multi-year deal. They have no leverage whatsoever, rip them a new one.

[stevew]

I'm fairly sure Randel El would have had at least 3/5 elite tools in baseball(fielding, speed, throwing)and his 14th round selection was based on the fact that he was signed to play college football. But who really knows.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Not at all. I would rake them over the coals unless they gave me a multi-year deal. They have no leverage whatsoever, rip them a new one.

Really? You think the NFL doesn't have other options? Oakland tells the Raiders they won't sign a multi year deal in that POS stadium and the NFL will force Oakland to stay?

The only reason Oakland kept the Raiders right now is because of Al Davis and their vendetta against him. (along with Silent Stan's money) The Raiders would like to wait until the rest of the dominos fall before they make their decision, but if forced they could be out of Oakland next week and the owners would approve it. (Toronto, San Antonio, St. Louis, San Diego (which would still have a superior stadium to the one in Oakland), etc.

Sorry, I disagree. Oakland has zero leverage here. When your stadium has multiple sewage problems each year, you really can't hold anyone hostage.

[Thomkal]

Johnny just can't stay out of trouble it seems. By all means Dallas trade for him

Report: Police Question Johnny Manziel Over An "Altercation" With His Girlfriend [UPDATE]

[Toddzilla]

So Manziel's girlfriend calls the cops, claims there was an assault, disappears when the cops get there, won'y cooperate with the cops when they do find her, claims her boyfriend (Manziel) is in danger, and when the cops do find him, he's fine.

WHY is this a story? If anything, it speaks to her character, not his.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

So Manziel's girlfriend calls the cops, claims there was an assault, disappears when the cops get there, won'y cooperate with the cops when they do find her, claims her boyfriend (Manziel) is in danger, and when the cops do find him, he's fine.

WHY is this a story? If anything, it speaks to her character, not his.

I did not see or it wasn't there when I posted this-about the Fort Worth PD statement. It does sound like here its the girlfriend who is troubled. So what happened with the assault? who was involved? Its a story because Johnny is associated with her. These days anything in his "orbit" is going to be reported on.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I did not see or it wasn't there when I posted this-about the Fort Worth PD statement. It does sound like here its the girlfriend who is troubled. So what happened with the assault? who was involved? Its a story because Johnny is associated with her. These days anything in his "orbit" is going to be reported on.

Pretty much. This is an instance of the problem being "us" and not him.

[CU Tiger]

or him choosing who he associates with as has been a problem for a while...

[claphamsa]

looks like megatron is retiring... seems like the 2 best players in my memmory to retire young were both Lions....

[claphamsa]

then again, he has banked 113M so...why keep playing

[Scoobz0202]

Megatron, HOF or not? I thought, "Oh yea, one of if not the greatest WR in this generation."

Then I looked at the numbers and ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Career vs Peak

[claphamsa]

ive always struggled to understand the offensive stats in NFL, its so variable on talent around you and system....we need an NFL WAR!

[stevew]

Will be interesting to see how intent they are on making him pay back the 3.2

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

looks like megatron is retiring... seems like the 2 best players ever to retire young were both Lions....

Ever?

[BillJasper]

Calvin Johnson needs to do what is best for him.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Ever?

fixed

[cuervo72]

Ok, better.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

or him choosing who he associates with as has been a problem for a while...

I think we've all had a crazy girlfriend before settling down.

[Julio Riddols]

I honestly don't think Calvin is quite HoF material, but if Terrell Davis got in, then Calvin could too. He had those 3 really good years 2011 to 2013, but really wasn't at the top of his position for more than that. There are just too many receivers in line to get in, and guys like Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, T.O, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, etc. deserve it more in my opinion for their consistency and longevity before Calvin gets in.

That's not to say Calvin wasn't great, but his numbers were really only tops in the game for a year or two and I just don't think that's enough in today's NFL to really separate from the field.

[stevew]

Megatron is a peak value argument. I think he was a position defining player and people will talk about him for far longer than guys like Holt, Harrison, and Johnson at least. If there's still an NFL in 20 years, your children/grandchildren will ask what it was like to see him play.

[albionmoonlight]

I like Calvin Johnson a lot. He seems like a super class act and a great guy.

But I also see a lot of people on the internet talking about him retiring in his prime. I don't see that. He is no longer in his prime. He's still an above-average player. But he was clearly entering the grizzled veteran stage of his career. This isn't like he chose to retire after the 2012 season.

I guess we are so used to athletes playing until they literally are unable to play anymore that we find it notable when a guy with anything left in the tank decides to quit.

Wish him all the best. Certainly a unique talent.

[cuervo72]

Similar Players:

Career Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Cris Collinsworth, Sterling Sharpe, John Gilliam, Mark Clayton, Bob Hayes*, Laveranues Coles, Herman Moore, Mark Duper

[BillJasper]

Not sure I see Calvin Johnson as a Hall of Famer.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

then again, he has banked 113M so...why keep playing

$113M goes a long ways in Detroit anymore.

[CraigSca]

To ease Detroit's pain, at least they were to score Randy Edsall.

[Kodos]

The influence of Peyton Manning can be seen in how numbers changed since he arrived - NFL

Interesting article about Manning.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Everything in this thread from post #327 - #343 sucks.

Calvin Johnson will be in the Hall of Fame.

I keep seeing a lot of chatter about people think Cam Newton is bad or a thug or something. I have no idea what's happening here. He seems like a super nice, friendly, out going, sharp-dressed guy. I don't get this. It's stupid. Much like posts #327 - #343.

The NFL is also stupid.

I don't care who plays in Los Angeles.

Randy Edsall is also stupid.

[Dutch]

I keep seeing a lot of chatter about people think Cam Newton is bad or a thug or something. I have no idea what's happening here. He seems like a super nice, friendly, out going, sharp-dressed guy. I don't get this. It's stupid.

I have no idea where this has come from. I think you can basically make any extreme story you want from cherry picking stupid shit off the Facebook or off the Twitter or off the America On The Line. Raci$m sells, we love it and are enthralled by it, so we have to endure RACIST 'MURICA stories because a black guy is the quarterback in the Super Bowl.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Dutch

I have no idea where this has come from.

He's an unlikable showboat, so he's getting called out by noted racists like ... Charles Barkley. "Thug" might, in this instance, be an inaccurate use of the word. Then again, him playing the race card was so silly that maybe it isn't all that far off either. People don't Cam-hate because he's black, they Cam-hate because he's an insufferable asshole on the field.

The Cam Newton hate is over his showboating, not his race « Hot Air Headlines

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

He's an unlikable showboat, so he's getting called out by noted racists like ... Charles Barkley. "Thug" might, in this instance, be an inaccurate use of the word. Then again, him playing the race card was so silly that maybe it isn't all that far off either. People don't Cam-hate because he's black, they Cam-hate because he's an insufferable asshole on the field.

The Cam Newton hate is over his showboating, not his race « Hot Air Headlines

And the outrage over Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, JJ Watt, etc?

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

He's an unlikable showboat, so he's getting called out by noted racists like ... Charles Barkley. "Thug" might, in this instance, be an inaccurate use of the word. Then again, him playing the race card was so silly that maybe it isn't all that far off either. People don't Cam-hate because he's black, they Cam-hate because he's an insufferable asshole on the field.

The Cam Newton hate is over his showboating, not his race « Hot Air Headlines

He seems to genuinely have fun playing the game. The league needs more like him.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by rowech

And the outrage over Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, JJ Watt, etc?

What outrage? All I know about any of this is what I've seen on ESPN. (EDIT: And I'm not saying there isn't, but none of my friends are outraged by Cam Newton...they may or may not like him and some may not like him because of his celebrations but they aren't outraged.)