Coaches on the Hot Seat
The Gold Sheet
Here's our update on the NFL coaching "hot seat" as we move into November...
Jim Zorn, Washington...Already, owner Dan Snyder (working through GM Vinny Cerrato) has humiliated Zorn, removing his play-calling duties and handing them over to veteran assistant coach Sherm Lewis, who wasn't even on the scene at Redskins Park until later September. The "neutered" version of Zorn continues to lead the Skins, but with each mounting defeat the chances of the former Seahawk QB lasting the season seem to diminish. Zorn and Cerrato might have sealed their own fates by not seeking necessary upgrades for their offense in the offseason while also not preventing damaging deterioration along the OL. The defense remains functional but it cannot overcome an "O" scoring just 13.5 ppg. The rumor mill is already whirring in Washington; one of the juiciest making the rounds is that former Denver HC Mike Shanahan could be interested, especially if Snyder is offering a deal in the $10 million per year range that includes all say in player personnel matters. Stay tuned.
Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville...The Jags' fortunes are fading fast and so might be the prospects for Del Rio, who faces a crucial test of winnable games in the next month. But after losing the first of what would seem to be a manageable stretch against the previously-winless Titans, upcoming games vs. the likes of the Chiefs and Bills can hardly be considered gimmes. It hasn't helped that Del Rio, a supposed defensive expert, has watched his stop unit flounder, barely registering aa pass rush and ranking a sorry 30th vs. the pass, while the offense has been mostly reduced to a series of big plays by RB Maurice Jones-Drew. With local interest in the team waning, owner Wayne Weaver might be forced to make a headline-grabbing hire to revive sagging interest.
Dick Jauron, Buffalo...The Bills squeezed out a couple of unlikely wins in recent weeks, but Sunday's 31-10 home loss vs. the Texans underlines Buffalo's plight and what will likely be Jauron's Orchard Park epitaph: a punchless offense. Starting as many as four first-year players on the OL in recent weeks, the Buffalo attack is having trouble generating even 200 yards per game, and the presence of a fading Terrell Owens (who got temporarily involved in the offense with a 29-yard scoring run vs. Houston) hasn't helped.
Tom Cable, Oakland...Given Al Davis' track record since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, even Bill Walsh in his heyday would have felt uncomfortable these days in the Silver and Black. Mike White, two years in charge; Joe Bugel, one year; Jon Gruden, four years, left after back-to-back playoff appearances (and winning tthe Super Bowl with the Bucs in the year after he left); Bill Callahan, two years, canned just a year after taking the Raiders to the Super Bowl (where he lost to Gruden's Bucs); Norv Turner, two years before getting the heave-ho; Art Shell, one disastrous "not-so-Back-To-The Future" season in 2006 before getting the boot; Lane Kiffin, one season plus another four games in '08 before getting tossed aside in almost tabloid-like fashion; and now Cable, 20 games into his regime, the same amount of games Kiffin coached for Davis. And some AFC West observers are a bit surprised that Davis hasn't already hit the eject button on Cable, who dodged a bullet from the Napa District Attorney's office when no charges were pressed resulting from his summer controversy involving assistant coach Randy Hanson, and now dealing with well-publicized accusations of abuse from his former wife and girlfriend. Come to think of it, maybe Cable fits the Raider image better than we imagined.
Eric Mangini, Cleveland...Things have gone so pear-shaped in Cleveland that one has to wonder if Mangini's status is in jeopardy, even in his first year on the job. The on-field product has been woeful, with the Browns failing to score an offensive TD in half of their games and posting just one win, a 6-3 root canal job over Buffalo. Along the way, QBs Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson (neither of whom posting great numbers...especially Anderson, completing 33% of his passes since taking over as the starter), have hardly flourished while dealing with Mangini's mind games. The front office (and Mangini) have come under fire for benching Quinn, causing some to speculate that the move was cost-related (Quinn now unlikely to achieve specified "escalators" in his contract that are performance and appearance-based). Moreover, Mangini's hand-picked GN, George Kokinis, hired in January, left the team under somewhat mysterious circumstances earlier this week. AFC North observers take this as a clear warning sign from the Lerners that Mangini's job is also likely on the line as we approach the last half of the season. One thing is certain, and it's that whatever honeymoon Mangini had in Cleveland is now definitely over.
Lovie Smith, Chicago...While most of the preseason chatter centered upon Denver and its new HC Josh McDaniels after the controversial Jay Cutler trade, it's the Bears braintrust, including Lovie, that might have more to worry about. While the Broncos raced to six straight wins out of the gate prior to their first loss of the season last weekend, the Bears have been inconsistent, and Cutler unconvincing, in an uneven 4-3 start. Moreover, Kyle Orton has been outperforming Cutler, at least to this point, making the trade for the moment look even worse for the Bears. Other factors have contributed to Chicago's inconsistency, including key injuries on defense (Brian Urlacher KO'd for the season on opening night at Green Bay), a suspect 2ndary and offensive line, and a largely unproven receiving corps. Cutler, however, was supposed to have provided the Bears with the franchise QB they have lacked for generations, and many NFC North insiders believe that Lovie (as well as GM Jerry Angelo) need to get the Bears to the playoffs or else face the consequences. Chicago is still in position to make a postseason run, but if it doesn't, all Windy City eyes are going to be on the McCaskeys, and if they might indeed swallow the remainder of Lovie and Angelo's contracts.
Wade Phillips, Dallas...Cowboys coaches not named Parcells are always on Jerry Jones' short leash. And even though Dallas has looked better in recent weeks, Jones has not given Phillips more than lukewarm endorsements, only going as far as saying that Wade was "the right man...to coach our defense." NFC East onlookers believe that Jones painted himself into a corner last season when all but announcing that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was the heir apparent to Phillips' job, but the way the Cowboys collapsed down the stretch in '08 made it nearly impossible for Jones to promote Garrett under those circumstances. Keep an eye on this situation, because sources say there is little or no chance Phillips would be retained if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs. And even if they do, but don't make the Super Bowl, Jones would be in a better position to finally promote Garrett. There's also the chance Jones could blow up the staff completely and look outside the organization for help of Dallas missed the postseason entirely.
Jeff Fisher, Tennessee...Is it possible Fisher's long run with the Oilers/Titans (since 1994) could be coming to a close? AFC South sources are keeping their eyes on the situation and wondering if owner Bud Adams' public "suggestion" that Vince Young take over at QB might finally push Fisher over the edge. Such proclamations from owners never sit well with coaches, and this situation has been an especially touchy one for Fisher, who yanked Young and went with vet Kerry Collins last season when the Titans won their first 10 games and made the playoffs. This season, Tennessee (also ravaged by injuries) lost its first six games while Collins regressed, so the move to Young wasn't completely unexpected (although we're sure Fisher didn't like the way it all came down). Young, forced upon Fisher by Adams at the expense of Jay Cutler in the 2006 Draft, could eventually be the straw that broke the camel's back in Nashville, although VY did lead the Titans to their first win of the year last week against the Jags. Some observers also questioned Fisher's judgment (and perhaps a sign of his growing discomfort in Nashville) with the recent Peyton Manning "jersey controversy" when Fisher donned a Manning Colt jersey at a recent luncheon honoring Tony Dungy, and joked that he "wanted to look like a winner." Innocent humor, perhaps, but coming right after that 59-0 loss at New England, Fisher's timing was a bit curious. Let's also remember that Fisher wold be in demand for any coaching opening in the league. Might Chicago (where Fisher once played) be a possibility?