PFW: Bills, Browns get the most out of talent on hand

[The Answer]

More praise for The Corpse and his coaching job this year.....

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFList/2007/nflist2221.htm

Better than expected
Bills, Browns get most out of talent on hand

By Mike Wilkening
Nov. 29, 2007


As the NFL season enters its final month, here’s a look at the coaching staffs who have done the most with the talent they have on hand. PFW’s editors were polled for their take on this issue, and scouting evaluations were made on condition of anonymity.

1. Buffalo Bills — The Bills have overcome a spate of injuries on defense to remain competitive. It speaks wonders to the job head coach Dick Jauron and his staff have done that the Bills have been blown out only by the Patriots (twice) and Steelers.

~The Answer

[MarshawnIsDaMan]

Re: PFW: Bills, Browns get the most out of talent on hand

Dick Jauron has been getting alot of respect around the league. This is about the 5th thing I have heard/read about him doing a great job even without a QB and a rash of injuries.

[The Answer]

Re: PFW: Bills, Browns get the most out of talent on hand

Dick Jauron has been getting alot of respect around the league. This is about the 5th thing I have heard/read about him doing a great job even without a QB and a rash of injuries.

The Answer used to be one of The Corpse's biggest critics - but he's done a masterful job this year given the circumstances. From the QB controversy, ridiculous amount of season ending injuries including the ominous opening day injury to KE, and also dealing with a cheapskate owner that for the most part refuses to bring in top FA's on a regular basis.

If he ever adds an offensive coordinator to his staff that knows how to gameplan and utilize the talent we have than we might finally end the playoff/division title drought.

But make no mistake - The Answer would trade The Corpse in a heartbeat for The Schottenheimer. The guy just wins!

~The Answer

[Tatonka]

Re: PFW: Bills, Browns get the most out of talent on hand

But make no mistake - The Answer would trade The Corpse in a heartbeat for The Schottenheimer. The guy just wins!

~The Answer

except when it counts in the playoffs..

[MarshawnIsDaMan]

Re: PFW: Bills, Browns get the most out of talent on hand

except when it counts in the playoffs..

I think its hard to blame him on that. Look at who has beaten him in the playoffs
The unstoppable Bills of the early 90's
The John Elway Denver Broncos of the late 80's
The New Englad Patriots of now
8 games were lost by 5 points or less


Cleveland Browns
1985
AFC Divisional Playoff
Dolphins 24, Browns 21 (Lost by 3 points)
The Browns led 21-3 midway through the 3rd quarter, but Miami then scored 21 unanswered points. The winning TD came with 1:57 left to play. I surmise that Marty tried to sit on his team’s lead, which lead to their demise.
1986
AFC Divisional Playoff
Browns 23, Jets 20 (OT) (Barely squeaked that game out with a FG in OT)
AFC Conference Championship
Broncos 23, Browns 20 (OT) (Lost by 3 points)
This game is best remembered for "The Drive" when the Broncos drove 98 yards to tie the game with 37 seconds left in regulation. The Browns then lost by a FG in overtime.
1987
AFC Divisional Playoff
Browns 38, Colts 21 (Good win)
AFC Conference Championship
Broncos 38, Browns 33 (Lost by 5 points)
This game is best remembered for "The Fumble" when Browns running back Earnest Byner fumbled at the Broncos' 3-yard line with 65 seconds remaining.
After the Browns only scored 3 points in the first half, they nearly made a miraculous comeback by scoring 21 points in the 3rd quarter and 9 points in the 4th quarter. Apparently the Browns had the firepower to score points, so where was it in the first half? My guess, Marty Ball wasn’t working in the first half, and like many times in his long career, he was forced to give the QB the keys to the car, after running it into a ditch, where the QB is forced to drive it like a Ferrari, and Kosar nearly bailed the team out.
Side note: Broncos lost by 32 points (42-10) against the Redskins in the Super Bowl
1988
AFC Wild Card Round
Oilers 24, Browns 23 (Lost by 1 point)
The Cleveland Browns were down 21-16 in the 4th quarter, when the Browns QB Pagel threw an interception that lead to an Oilers FG. This broadened the Oilers lead from 5 to 8. QB Pagel responded by throwing a TD to Slaughter towards the end of the game, which closed the gap to only 1 point. You might be asking "Why didn't Marty go for the 2-point conversion?" The 2-point conversion, unfortunate for Marty, was not added to the NFL rules until 1994. Marty Schottenheimer resigned on December 27, 1988, due to a dispute with Team Owner Art Modell.
1989 - Did not make playoffs
1990
AFC Wild Card Round
Dolphins 17, Chiefs 16 (Lost by 1 point)
The Chiefs were up 16-3 going into the 4th quarter. Marty tried to run out the clock, but gave up 14 uncontested points in the 4th quarter, which led to another playoff loss for Marty Schottenheimer.
1991
AFC Wild Card Round
Chiefs 10, Raiders 6 (Won by 4 points)
Steve DeBerg's 11-yard TD pass to Fred Jones and a Lowery FG is all it took for the Chiefs to beat the Raiders, since the Raiders only scored two FG's.
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Bills 37, Chiefs 14 (Lost by 23 points)
The Chiefs got shut out in the first half. The two TD’s scored by the Browns in the second half were not nearly enough to overcome scoring 0 points in the first half.
1992
Chargers 17, Chiefs 0 (Lost by 17 points)
Shut out by the Chargers
1993
AFC Wild Card Round
Chiefs 27, Steelers 24 (OT) (Won by a FG in OT)
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Chiefs 28, Oilers 20 (Won by 8 points)
After scoring 0 points in the first half, and only 7 points in the 3rd quarter, the Chiefs had a remarkable change of pace by scoring 21 points in the 4th quarter.
AFC Conference Championship
Bills 30, Chiefs 13 (Lost by 17 points)
Chiefs got destroyed.
1994
AFC Wild Card Round
Dolphins 27, Chiefs 17 (Lost by 10 points)
The Chiefs scored 17 points in the 1st half, but in the 2nd half they turned the ball over twice and scored 0 points. So, while tied 17-17 after the 1st half, they ended up losing 27-17.
1995
Colts* 10, Chiefs 7 (Lost by 3 points)*
The Chiefs lost four turnovers and missed three field goals enroute to a loss. Considered one of the biggest NFL playoff upsets of the 90's. The Chiefs scored a TD in the 1st quarter, and did not score another point for the rest of the game.
*The Chargers put up a much better fight against the Colts in the AFC Wild Card Round, losing to the Colts 20-35.
1996 - Did not make playoffs
1997
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Broncos*14, Chiefs 10 (Lost by 4 points)
The Chiefs scored 0 points in the 1st half. They scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter, which gave them a 3 point lead going into the 4th quarter. In the 4th quarter, the Chiefs scored 0 points and gave up 1 TD, which lead to a 4th quarter loss.
1998 - Did not make playoffs

Not a head coach in the NFL
1999
2000

Washington Redskins
2001 - Did not make playoffs

San Diego Chargers
2002 - Did not make playoffs
2003 - Did not make playoffs
2004
AFC Wild Card Roud
Chargers 17, Jets* 20 (OT) (Lost by FG in OT)
*Jets lost to Steelers 17-20 in AFC Divisional Playoffs.
After employing a dynamic offense during the regular season, the Chargers turned into another team. They uncharacteristically became very conservative and predictable in their play calling. During the regular season they employed multiple WR sets and shotgun formations, but against the Jets in the playoffs, the formation of choice was the I-Formation. The Chargers lost by a FG in Overtime. Some Chargers fans are confused where the change of identity came from, while others are sure that it was from the head coach: Marty “Marty Ball” Schottenheimer.

2006
AFC Divisional Playoffs
Chargers 21, Patriots 24 (Lost by a FG)
After leading the team to a 14-2 record against a weak schedule, he had Home Field advantage guaranteed throughout the playoffs. Despite that, Marty failed in the playoffs again.
In week 17, Philip Rivers injured his ankle, and Marty continued to play him. After another one and done playoff loss, Rivers said that he wouldn't have been able to play another game anyways, due to his injured ankle. For me and others, it seemed like very poor judgment to continue to play an injured Rivers in week 17 with the playoffs clinched.
Due to pressure from the players, Marty agreed not to get involved with the play calling in the playoffs. He made critical mistakes anyways: throwing red flags that had no chance of resulting in an over-turned call; telling Cam, the Offensive Coordinator, to go for it on 4th and 11; and other bad decisions. The Chargers were given an opportunity to make a last minute drive to tie or win, but Marty had already used up the time outs by throwing red flags. Although Marty's role was limited, he was able to impact the team in a negative way.
The Patriots barely squeezed into the playoffs, making it as a Wild Card team.