Mike
12-03-2012, 03:52 PM
There are many so I will go with a very short review of the top names and my top guys:
96% John Gruden: Love what he did with the Raiders taking and Rich Gannon. His offensive prowess, imagination, drive, and extreem intensity will definitely help set this team straight I know he already loves some of the talent on this team: Spiller, Johnson, etc...
- I can imagine a place where he becomes Bills coach, gets Rivers and turns him into the next Gannon... Chances of happening might be 1 in a mill but would be fun to watch...
95% Sean Payton: How valuable is Sean Payton? Without him the Saints don't win a SB and with him would probably be in the mix for being one of the top teams in the NFL. No way do I see him coming to Buffalo, but if he does...
93% Any Ried: Great overall coach who knows how to develop a QB. His drafts and talent evaluation are keen as are his abilities to run a winning organization.
93% Mike Holmgren: It has been suggested that he wants to continue coaching. The problem in Cleveland was that he was GM. He created winners in both Green Bay and Seattle taking both teams to a SB! He has a knack for finding and developing a great QB (just look at his track record in GB and Seattle) and might come cheaper as a result of his Browns experience. Great overall coach.
90% Bill Cowher: Kind of like the AFC's version of Andy Ried except with the SB rings. The positives are obvious but for some reason I think he is slightly over rated. In my mind, without Big Ben Bill does not win a SB and is regarded is another very good coach but shy of greatness.
86% Bill Billick: A purported offensive genius who was suppose to be the answer in Baltimore in helping fix the Ravens offense and via finding a franchise QB. After years of little improvement on offense he was fired.
However, talent does go a long way. The Ravens were one of two teams over the past 20 or so years to win a SB without a Franchise QB. Can you guess the other? Thats right it was the Bucs, another team with a great defense which also hired an offensive genius who was suppose to fix the offense and who was later fired because there was little improvement. In this way Billick and Gruden are very similar and it goes to show how hard it really is to find the right offensive pieces. At least they did enough to win the big one.
College:
Chip Kelly: Oregon head coach with an impressive record and a very interesting offense. Would not mind seeing him in Buffalo.
Bob Stoops: Being a part of a top college program in Oklahoma which is destined to continue its winning ways in the short term its unlikely Stoops leaves. What makes it even more unlikely is his 4.5/mil salary.
Brain Kelly: Fighty Irish HC headed to BCS title game. What a turnaround! Irish for years had a hard time putting a winner on the field and it was not for a lack of trying. There were even some in the media who suggested that it was becoming nearly imposible for a private school with high academic standards to compete. In any case, he has done a marvelous job.
Others:
Perry Fewell: NYG defensive coordinator. Considered to be one of the best of the past few years and his SB wins.
Tom Clements: GB offensive coordinator responsible for one of the best offenses on the planet and of course a SB winner.
Bruce Arians: Colts interm. Might win Coach of the year. There is some doubt weather Arians wants to be HC at the ripe old age of 60.
Vic Fangio: SF defensive coordinator. One of best D units in NFL.
Jay Gruden: Cinci offensive coordinator being given credit for Bangles offense, the progression of Dalton, et al.
Ray Horton: Cards DC... falling a little now but was considered reason for Cards success on D.
Mike McCoy: Broncos OC. After getting Manning and showing what talent does, McCoy is now getting hot. To me its too much too soon. Heck I think I would be a decent OC with Manning and Co.
TALENT: In my opinion there is no substitue for Talent. No amount of coaching will help you overcome dramatic disadvantages on the field and most often, irregardless of talent level, QBs and Coaches get a disproportional amount of blame and applause when winning or losing. They get too much credit either way. Just look at Gruden and Billick two of the best offensive coaches and HC. Put on great teams with great FO in Baltimore and Tampa and they still could not turn their respective offenses into well oiled machines. Further, Perry Fewell (and other Bills Coordinators) was blasted in Buffalo for their coach but have received admiration elsewhere with talent around. In the end, no matter how much or little the fan base or ownership wants to admit it, it usually comes down to the talent and how well they execute.
96% John Gruden: Love what he did with the Raiders taking and Rich Gannon. His offensive prowess, imagination, drive, and extreem intensity will definitely help set this team straight I know he already loves some of the talent on this team: Spiller, Johnson, etc...
- I can imagine a place where he becomes Bills coach, gets Rivers and turns him into the next Gannon... Chances of happening might be 1 in a mill but would be fun to watch...
95% Sean Payton: How valuable is Sean Payton? Without him the Saints don't win a SB and with him would probably be in the mix for being one of the top teams in the NFL. No way do I see him coming to Buffalo, but if he does...
93% Any Ried: Great overall coach who knows how to develop a QB. His drafts and talent evaluation are keen as are his abilities to run a winning organization.
93% Mike Holmgren: It has been suggested that he wants to continue coaching. The problem in Cleveland was that he was GM. He created winners in both Green Bay and Seattle taking both teams to a SB! He has a knack for finding and developing a great QB (just look at his track record in GB and Seattle) and might come cheaper as a result of his Browns experience. Great overall coach.
90% Bill Cowher: Kind of like the AFC's version of Andy Ried except with the SB rings. The positives are obvious but for some reason I think he is slightly over rated. In my mind, without Big Ben Bill does not win a SB and is regarded is another very good coach but shy of greatness.
86% Bill Billick: A purported offensive genius who was suppose to be the answer in Baltimore in helping fix the Ravens offense and via finding a franchise QB. After years of little improvement on offense he was fired.
However, talent does go a long way. The Ravens were one of two teams over the past 20 or so years to win a SB without a Franchise QB. Can you guess the other? Thats right it was the Bucs, another team with a great defense which also hired an offensive genius who was suppose to fix the offense and who was later fired because there was little improvement. In this way Billick and Gruden are very similar and it goes to show how hard it really is to find the right offensive pieces. At least they did enough to win the big one.
College:
Chip Kelly: Oregon head coach with an impressive record and a very interesting offense. Would not mind seeing him in Buffalo.
Bob Stoops: Being a part of a top college program in Oklahoma which is destined to continue its winning ways in the short term its unlikely Stoops leaves. What makes it even more unlikely is his 4.5/mil salary.
Brain Kelly: Fighty Irish HC headed to BCS title game. What a turnaround! Irish for years had a hard time putting a winner on the field and it was not for a lack of trying. There were even some in the media who suggested that it was becoming nearly imposible for a private school with high academic standards to compete. In any case, he has done a marvelous job.
Others:
Perry Fewell: NYG defensive coordinator. Considered to be one of the best of the past few years and his SB wins.
Tom Clements: GB offensive coordinator responsible for one of the best offenses on the planet and of course a SB winner.
Bruce Arians: Colts interm. Might win Coach of the year. There is some doubt weather Arians wants to be HC at the ripe old age of 60.
Vic Fangio: SF defensive coordinator. One of best D units in NFL.
Jay Gruden: Cinci offensive coordinator being given credit for Bangles offense, the progression of Dalton, et al.
Ray Horton: Cards DC... falling a little now but was considered reason for Cards success on D.
Mike McCoy: Broncos OC. After getting Manning and showing what talent does, McCoy is now getting hot. To me its too much too soon. Heck I think I would be a decent OC with Manning and Co.
TALENT: In my opinion there is no substitue for Talent. No amount of coaching will help you overcome dramatic disadvantages on the field and most often, irregardless of talent level, QBs and Coaches get a disproportional amount of blame and applause when winning or losing. They get too much credit either way. Just look at Gruden and Billick two of the best offensive coaches and HC. Put on great teams with great FO in Baltimore and Tampa and they still could not turn their respective offenses into well oiled machines. Further, Perry Fewell (and other Bills Coordinators) was blasted in Buffalo for their coach but have received admiration elsewhere with talent around. In the end, no matter how much or little the fan base or ownership wants to admit it, it usually comes down to the talent and how well they execute.