You never know what you have until you try it . . .

[EDS]

Below is the coaching record of an all-time great NFL head coach who recently returned to the NFL after a long absence. His team has not played well despite having the largest payroll in NFL history. I doubt people in Washington are calling for Gibbs' head at this juncture given his track record.

What is interesting though, is that Gibbs started off 0-5 as a rookie head coach back in 1981. The next year, which I guess was a strike shortened year, he went 8-1 and the year after 14-2.

Point is, don't give up on Mularkey just yet. I am not saying that he is the next Joe Gibbs, but I am saying that it is far too early to judge him.



CAREER RECORD
YEAR TEAM G W L T Pct PostW PostL
2004 Washington Redskins 5 1 4 0 .200 -- --
1992 Washington Redskins 16 9 7 0 .563 1 1
1991 Washington Redskins 16 14 2 0 .875 3 0
1990 Washington Redskins 16 10 6 0 .625 1 1
1989 Washington Redskins 16 10 6 0 .625 -- --
1988 Washington Redskins 16 7 9 0 .438 -- --
1987 Washington Redskins 15 11 4 0 .733 3 0
1986 Washington Redskins 16 12 4 0 .750 2 1
1985 Washington Redskins 16 10 6 0 .625 -- --
1984 Washington Redskins 16 11 5 0 .688 0 1
1983 Washington Redskins 16 14 2 0 .875 2 1
1982 Washington Redskins 9 8 1 0 .889 4 0
1981 Washington Redskins 16 8 8 0 .500 -- --
YEAR TEAM G W L T Pct PostW PostL
CAREER 12 years 189 125 64 0 .661 16 5

[TedMock]

Great point. I live in the DC area, and the only thing people are worried about is whether the game has passed Gibbs by. However, they're also confident that if it has passed him by, he'll learn the new NFL just like the old NFL. I'll never compare Mularky to Gibbs, but I will hope that he one day can be compared to Gibbs. I hope nobody in Buffalo is ready to bag MM, that's just ridiculous. Belichick had 1 winning season out of his 5 in Cleveland. You never know. I'll never agree with every play call in a game, but so far I really believe that the offense has been running the right plays. There's just always something stupid that happens. Penalty, sack, missed block, wrong hole, drop, you name it. Quite often the plays are wide open but somebody does something stupid to ruin it.

[EDS]

Great point. I live in the DC area, and the only thing people are worried about is whether the game has passed Gibbs by. However, they're also confident that if it has passed him by, he'll learn the new NFL just like the old NFL. I'll never compare Mularky to Gibbs, but I will hope that he one day can be compared to Gibbs. I hope nobody in Buffalo is ready to bag MM, that's just ridiculous. Belichick had 1 winning season out of his 5 in Cleveland. You never know. I'll never agree with every play call in a game, but so far I really believe that the offense has been running the right plays. There's just always something stupid that happens. Penalty, sack, missed block, wrong hole, drop, you name it. Quite often the plays are wide open but somebody does something stupid to ruin it.

ESPN has an article about Gibbs which inspired my post. They also have another article about Parcells and quote him something to the effect that he thinks he and his staff are not getting through to the players because of all the penalties they are having. Parcells, like Gibbs, is a legend and a know dictator. I am sure he has drilled his players about the penalties in much the same way Mularkey has. Another reason not to give up hope just yet.