The 2013-2014 NFL Offseason/Coaching/Free Agency (non-draft) Thread

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Matthean

I don't know many coaches who would win with what was given to him at QB post Warner. The fact that the offense improved from Turner to him pretty much supports the idea that he can coach.

I'm not so sure. He was only 27-22 with Warner and 18-29 without. Not to mention he had to have known that Warner was a short-term solution at QB and he utterly failed to develop even a mediocre QB to replace him when he retired.

[Matthean]

Or maybe the blame goes to the GM for not giving them a QB to follow Warner? It's not like Leinart struck gold elsewhere.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Patriots12

I saw that Tennessee fired Munchak, cant say I'm surprised because Tennessee has been mediocre for the three years he has been there.

Saw that, and couldn't believe it had been 3 years already.

[flere-imsaho]

Lovie Smith & Rex Ryan illustrate, to me, the somewhat obvious point that if you're going to have a HC who only really wants to pay attention to one side of the ball, you're going to have a mainly .500 team, with swings in either direction based mainly on fortuituous (or not fortuituous) circumstances.

The thing GMs/NFL Presidents/Owners need to realize is that the HC is more of a CEO job, not an Xs-and-Os job. Find good people. Get them on the same page, strategy-wise. Delegate. Take everything seriously and expect results.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Lovie Smith & Rex Ryan illustrate, to me, the somewhat obvious point that if you're going to have a HC who only really wants to pay attention to one side of the ball, you're going to have a mainly .500 team, with swings in either direction based mainly on fortuituous (or not fortuituous) circumstances.

Lovie Smith is 81-63 (.563) and went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at QB. What exactly should his winning percentage have been?

Mike McCarthy is 82-45 (.645) but has had Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers at QB and is primarily an offensive guy.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I'm not so sure. He was only 27-22 with Warner and 18-29 without. Not to mention he had to have known that Warner was a short-term solution at QB and he utterly failed to develop even a mediocre QB to replace him when he retired.

This. Cardinals had some pretty awful QB's at the helm during the last couple years of his time as head coach-his ability to develop QB's is questionable at best. He ignored what was probably the best solution at the time in Matt Leinart because he didn't like him and his off field antics. None of his solutions for the offensive line worked. Maybe he does better working with veteran QB's and can get Stafford on track, but I certainly wouldn't be jumping for joy if I were Detroit fans.

(yes this is a biased opinion )

[BillJasper]

Dolphins fire Mike Sherman.

Miami Dolphins & NFL | MiamiHerald.com

Wish they would've dumped Ireland as well.

[Izulde]

Maybe Ireland will still get canned?

[Izulde]

PRESS RELEASE: Miami Dolphins And Jeff Ireland Mutually Agree To Part Ways

YES!!!!!!! HAPPY DAYS!!!!

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Izulde

PRESS RELEASE: Miami Dolphins And Jeff Ireland Mutually Agree To Part Ways

YES!!!!!!! HAPPY DAYS!!!!

The article has been deleted. Still hope it's true...

[Izulde]

It was also posted on the Dolphins' Facebook page.

[claphamsa]

espn too
Miami Dolphins, GM Jeff Ireland part ways - ESPN

[cartman]

Now only if Jerry would fire his GM.

[Logan]

The usual names reporting that Washington has hired Jay Gruden.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Logan

The usual names reporting that Washington has hired Jay Gruden.

I'm hoping this puts Hue Jackson in his place. I like Hue.

[korme]

It will. I'm happy for Jay, though. Would love to keep Zimmer but he deserves a HC job more than Jay does.

[Butter]

I'm more worried about losing Zimmer than Gruden.

[claphamsa]

Wonderful news, addition by subtraction.

[korme]

Don't discount how well Gruden developed Dalton from year one to three. Basically had a young offense and did a damn fine job with them.

[Julio Riddols]

Yeah, Gruden did well, he can get production out of his guys. I just think Hue connects better with his players. He was working miracles in Oakland and they canned him for some dumb ass reason, so Cinci is very lucky to have him. Will probably only have him for a year or two though before he gets another HC shot.. I'd be totally fine with he or Zimmer being the HC in Cinci too.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by cartman

Now only if Jerry would fire his GM.

oh please please please please please.....DAMN!!!

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Yeah, Gruden did well, he can get production out of his guys. I just think Hue connects better with his players. He was working miracles in Oakland and they canned him for some dumb ass reason, so Cinci is very lucky to have him. Will probably only have him for a year or two though before he gets another HC shot.. I'd be totally fine with he or Zimmer being the HC in Cinci too.

Hue Jackson is a terrible head coach. His ego got waaaay too big. However he is a great offensive coordinator and the Bengals should be happy with him over Gruden. They'll be better offensively

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Danny

Hue Jackson is a terrible head coach. His ego got waaaay too big. However he is a great offensive coordinator and the Bengals should be happy with him over Gruden. They'll be better offensively

I thought they would have been well served keeping Cable around and letting Hue continue running the offense, but I feel like the only major misstep was that big trade they pulled when Campbell went down. They were playing real good ball that year, but then Palmer was rusty and working with brand new extremely young receivers in a new offense, so it didn't pan out too well.. But I think if Campbell stayed healthy, they had a shot to compete that year.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

I thought they would have been well served keeping Cable around and letting Hue continue running the offense, but I feel like the only major misstep was that big trade they pulled when Campbell went down. They were playing real good ball that year, but then Palmer was rusty and working with brand new extremely young receivers in a new offense, so it didn't pan out too well.. But I think if Campbell stayed healthy, they had a shot to compete that year.

Jason Campbell is somehow simultaneously the most underrated and overrated QB in the NFL.

[Desnudo]

Redskins never bothered canceling interviews after Gruden deal | ProFootballTalk

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Redskins never bothered canceling interviews after Gruden deal | ProFootballTalk

Not sure when the followup stuff was posted, but better follow that link again. It appears that the report is bogus or possibly from a disgruntled Skins employee.

[jbergey22]

Snyder must have fired his secretary/personal assistant/office manager person.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Redskins never bothered canceling interviews after Gruden deal | ProFootballTalk

Maybe Dan Snyder just wanted to have options in case the team doesn't look good in training camp or starts the pre-season 0-2?

[BillJasper]

Damn. What does that say about the Lions job when you get turned down by Ken Whisenhunt?

[Julio Riddols]

I wonder if Stafford may be unwilling to work on his game, so people see it as a lose/lose scenario?

[Matthean]

I respect Dungy as a coach, but it seems like he is the go to guy to find out if coach is worth hiring or not. Caldwell does nothing for me.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

Damn. What does that say about the Lions job when you get turned down by Ken Whisenhunt?

The Lions are fucking up yet another coaching search. Probably will end up with another OC/DC who is unproven and will get run out of town in 3-5 years. I am not sure Whisenhunt is the absolute answer, but he was probably the best option out there and now he is in Tennessee.

Hard being a Lions fan these days.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Yeah... so the Lions are the most attractive gig. Well, they should be. They'll probably end up hiring Caldwell, who might be a great coach, but we don't have Manning. He did a good job with the Ravens... until he had a full season.

There I was yesterday watching the Chargers offense & thinking "The Lions could look like this."

Can't they at least talk to Roman & Pep? Oh, that's right. Their ideal is a guy who was a head coach before... even if he failed at the assignment.

Whatever. Same old Lions.

[Desnudo]

Lions would be a great gig except for the owners

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Lions would be a great gig except for the owners

I don't see how the Fords are such a problem. There are certified douchebags out there (Cleveland, bough, cough) and the Fords are not one of them. They may be too loyal and occasionally a bit cheap, but right now I don't see William Clay Ford as a problem.

It can only be speculated why Whiz went to Tennessee instead of Detroit, but I bet it has a lot more to do with flexibility to put his stamp on the team than who owns the damn thing. In Tennessee he gets to start basically from scratch, and if he doesn't have immediate success it's because he has to redo a great deal. He can remake the defense and offense into his vision. In Detroit he would just have to fix what doesn't work, and with everything we have heard about the QB who looks more like a guy in the stands on his 8th beer than a professional QB, that might be more than he wants.

I guess he wasn't that impressed with the interview Stafford gave him.

[BillJasper]

Jim Caldwell is the Lions top choice according to rumors? Damn. You take away that 14-2 first season in Indy and he was 12-20 and the Colts were a flat disaster when Manning wasn't able to play.

I'd go with someone like Jim Tomsula before handing the keys of my franchise to Caldwell. He simply looks lost on the sidelines.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Lions would be a great gig except for the owners

I am not sure what's wrong with the Ford family as owners from the perspective of a prospective coach or any new hire. Yes, the Ford family has had zero success and have made some poor choices, but they pay very well, they want to win, are willing to spend to do so, and are very loyal to a fault. From a fan's perspective, I can see why people are frustrated with the ownership, but not so sure from a coach.

Originally Posted by BillJasper

Jim Caldwell is the Lions top choice according to rumors? Damn. You take away that 14-2 first season in Indy and he was 12-20 and the Colts were a flat disaster when Manning wasn't able to play.

I'd go with someone like Jim Tomsula before handing the keys of my franchise to Caldwell. He simply looks lost on the sidelines.

I agree. I think Caldwell would be a terrible hire. Peyton Manning has been successful wherever he's been: Tennessee, Indy and Denver. I don't think Jim Caldwell had much of anything to do with his success. Baltimore's offense was pretty awful this year. They couldn't even score a touchdown against the Lions, though they did kick 37 field goals that game.

That said, none of the candidates currently being discussed: Caldwell, Kubiak, Munchak really do anything for me. If any of those three are hired it will be met with a large "meh" from the Lions fan base. There will be no buzz or excitement. All expectations will be 3-5 more years of poor to mediocre football - wasting Calving Johnson's career - until a new GM and head coach are hired.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[mrtourette]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

The Lions are fucking up yet another coaching search. Probably will end up with another OC/DC who is unproven and will get run out of town in 3-5 years. I am not sure Whisenhunt is the absolute answer, but he was probably the best option out there and now he is in Tennessee.

Hard being a Lions fan these days.

These days? Looks like it's been a tough gig for decades.

[BillJasper]

I really don't understand the sudden love for Adam Gase? The guy has served one year as an offensive coordinator and had Peyton Manning as his QB. I'd like to see him as an OC for a couple more seasons with a different QB before making him a Head Coach.

Whoever hires him, Peyton Manning isn't coming with him.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

That said, none of the candidates currently being discussed: Caldwell, Kubiak, Munchak really do anything for me. If any of those three are hired it will be met with a large "meh" from the Lions fan base. There will be no buzz or excitement. All expectations will be 3-5 more years of poor to mediocre football - wasting Calving Johnson's career - until a new GM and head coach are hired.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

If it were me, I'd be rooting for Kubiak as I think he's the best of the retreads. Especially if your goal is to get the most out of Matt Stafford and that offense. Kubiak played QB, was a good offensive coordinator and did have quite a bit of success with Matt Schaub before the wheels came off last season.

[Logan]

Caldwell to the Lions is done.

I think that's just an awful, awful move.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Hope Caldwell proves everybody wrong, convinces Stafford that drinking beer is not the best method of curing turnovers and... whatever.

Too early to speculate on the 2017 Lions coach?

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

Too early to speculate on the 2017 Lions coach?

Definitely. You need to first speculate on the 2015 Lions coach before you do that.

[Logan]

Before we move on let's reflect upon the new coach a bit more.

Jim Caldwell’s timeout explanation doesn’t make sense | ProFootballTalk

That was a good one.

[Arles]

I don't get why the Lions always struggle with coaches. Then again, if an interview with Jim Schwartz sold you on him - I guess I can see how you could get fooled into hiring Caldwell

[BillJasper]

I really can't believe that the Lions hired Caldwell. I can't think of a more uninspiring hire in a long, long time.

I hope I'm wrong but I thought Lions fans deserved a better hire than this.

A team that plays lackadaisical and undisciplined and you hire a guy that isn't exactly known as a motivator or a disciplinarian?

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by BillJasper

I really can't believe that the Lions hired Caldwell. I can't think of a more uninspiring hire in a long, long time.

I hope I'm wrong but I thought Lions fans deserved a better hire than this.

A team that plays lackadaisical and undisciplined and you hire a guy that isn't exactly known as a motivator or a disciplinarian?

Well think about it this way. People thought that coaches like Schwartz and Mooch were great hires and they turned out to be less than hoped for. So maybe an uninspiring coach hire will be a smash success!

Right? I mean the Lions haven't had a winning coach since the 70s, so they're due right?

*cries*

[M GO BLUE!!!]

At least they got him before Baltimore fired him.

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Well think about it this way. People thought that coaches like Schwartz and Mooch were great hires and they turned out to be less than hoped for. So maybe an uninspiring coach hire will be a smash success!

Right? I mean the Lions haven't had a winning coach since the 70s, so they're due right?

*cries*

At least you're not getting another year of Joe Philbin like us Dolphins fans!

[Matthean]

This has to be like Christmas day for Bill Simmons.