NFL Coaches On The Hot Seat

There are two months left in the 2007 NFL Season.  A lot can happen in the next couple months – especially on the coaching front.  Here’s a quick look at some coaches on the hot seat entering the second half of the season.  Not all these coaches will be fired, but they all face a high degree of pressure.

Cam Cameron, Miami: I prefer not to kick a guy while he’s down in his first season as a head coach.  Cameron is not a dynamic coach, but he’s not as bad as his 0-8 record suggests.  He walked into a bad situation with Miami.  After several years of instability within the organization, the cards are crashing down and the defense has suddenly aged.  The will likely overhaul this organization and build from scratch – which is long overdue.  It begins perhaps next week if John Beck begins seeing the field at quarterback. 

Scott Linehan, St, Louis: I couldn’t hope this situation on even my worst enemies.  Linehan has had no opportunity to win this season due to a mass production of injuries on both sides of the ball.  It would be cold to cut ties with Linehan only after his second season and the circumstances he’s been dealt with this season.  But the Rams have to decide whether they believe Linehan has the personality to lift the franchise out of this mess and whether he has the players behind him.  I have doubts there as some players are grumbling – most notably Marc Bulger.  And Bulger isn’t going anywhere with his new contract. 

Brad Childress, Minnesota: Childress has lost some credibility among the players for not having a solid contingency plan at quarterback.  Childress is respected as an offensive coach, but doesn’t have a great support system in Minnesota.  Many players in Minnesota feel Childress is too distant. 

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville: There aren’t many 5-2 coaches on the hot seat, but the season has a long way to go – especially if they struggle with Quinn Gray at quarterback until David Garrard returns.  If the Jaguars fail to make the playoffs, it wouldn’t be surprising if the club goes in another direction since both sides have never been truly on the same page. 

Norv Turner, San Diego: Turner was brought into a few tough situations.  Replacing Marty Schottenheimer isn’t easy.  And the Chargers have enough talent to compete for the AFC Title, which puts pressure on Turner to win big immediately.  I believe the Chargers and Turner have found a comfort zone over the past few weeks, but it remains to be seen how the Chargers handle pressure and expectations down the stretch under an unfamiliar group of coaches. 

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati: I believe Lewis is a solid head coach, but he’s responsible for acquiring many of the problems players on the roster.  The Bengals are light in the personnel department, which puts a lot of pressure on Lewis and his coaching staff to scout players each year.  And that usually means they don’t have the time to research their backgrounds and coaches tend to believe they can change players.  That has left the Bengals with a talented, but distracted roster of constant off-field issues hovering over the franchise.  Lewis will be given another year to clean up these problems. 

Bob Petrino, Atlanta: There’s a little disconnect between Petrino and many of the players in Atlanta.  Petrino has a personality that is in stark contrast to that of Jim Mora – so it’s been a tough adjustment on the players.  Petrino is also trying to win with players acquired over the last few years under a different system – especially on the offensive side of the ball.  Unless there is a complete meltdown, I don’t believe Petrino will be fired, but he could be tempted to return to the college game if the right job opens up.  Whether Petrino returns or not, Rich McKay has some tough decisions to make regarding the core of this football team.  I believe they have to part ways with some talented players to build a new culture. 

Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay: Winning has put this situation in the background, but it’s clear that Gruden doesn’t have complete support within the organization.  And it runs deeper than the situation surrounding Chris Simms’ future.  Stay tuned. 

Brian Billick, Baltimore: There are rumblings within the organization that some team officials would like to move in a new direction.  Billick has struggled to build an offense in Baltimore despite his background on that side of the ball.  Nobody can deny what Billick has done with this club from a leadership and organizational standpoint over the years.  But his voice is losing steam after so many years and it might be time to turn the page.  Whether its at the end of this season or next depends upon how the Ravens finish the season. 

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