How many rookie head coaches....

[Iehoshua]

...inheriting a team with a previous year losing record have turned them into winners their first year? Honestly, can we realistically expect anything better than 8-8? Not trying to be a pessimist but I don't want to be ridiculous with expectations. My recent memory goes:
2003:
Marvin Lewis CIN team record: 8-8, prev. year 2-14
Jack Del Rio ( :mad: ) JAX: team record: 5-11, prev. year 6-10
2002:
John Fox CAR team record: 7-9, prev. year 1-15

2004
Buffalo Bills Mike Mularkey:so far: 0-1, prev. year 6-10

Can anyone name a rookie head coach who turned a loser around their first year? Not a rhetorical question, I really wanna know!!!

[Mr. Cynical]

...inheriting a team with a previous year losing record have turned them into winners their first year? Honestly, can we realistically expect anything better than 8-8? Not trying to be a pessimist but I don't want to be ridiculous with expectations. My recent memory goes:
2003:
Marvin Lewis CIN team record: 8-8, prev. year 2-14
Jack Del Rio ( :mad: ) JAX: team record: 5-11, prev. year 6-10
2002:
John Fox CAR team record: 7-9, prev. year 1-15

2004
Buffalo Bills Mike Mularkey:so far: 0-1, prev. year 6-10

Can anyone name a rookie head coach who turned a loser around their first year? Not a rhetorical question, I really wanna know!!!
I've been saying this all along. To expect playoffs this year is crazy. IMO, we will be legit in '06, when JP, Evans, WM, MM and TC have all had the time to get experience. IMO, this year will be 6-10, next year maybe 9-7 (depending on how fast JP ramps up)...then we can talk serious playoffs in '06.

HOWEVER.....this also depends on TD and his decisions. Getting Villarial was a drop in the bucket this offseason and alot more was needed. Defensively, we need to make sure we don't lose key players for the '06 season.

But in the end, this team just isn't good enough offensively right now to have a winning season IMO. And I just don't see this changing very soon, so I'm keeping my expectations in check.

[DaBillzAhDaShiznit]

I guess I can't think of any rookie head coaches who turned a team around....but I will say this.....the Bills didn't need turned around or re-worked....Mularky is inheriting a boatload of talent and not a real mess....so he should (and will) be held to a higher standard than Lewis in Cinn. or the or DelRio or Fox, etc....
One coach, Bill Parcells comes to mind as making a quick turnaround last year...

[Iehoshua]

Parcells is by no means a rookie head coach... He's a proven winner and even more proven at turning around sputtering ballclubs.

True Mularkey inherits talent but I believe that to be true of every NFL team to a degree. I am just saying I think it will be a lot to expect for us to make the playoffs. Then again, first time for everything, why not us why not now?

As a fan, prepare for the worst, hope for the best...