The Coaching Carousel: A Look Forward to the 2013 NFL Season

Now that the Super Bowl and the 2012 NFL Season is behind us, ASI guest blogger, Joe Darrah, takes a look at the newly assigned coaches with an eye towards what these placements could mean for the 2013 season.

The NFL’s coaching carousel came to a halt recently when the Jacksonville Jaguars signed former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to a four-year contract. After a rather pedestrian series of acquisitions following Kansas City’s first splash into the coaches’ “free agent” pool by handing the reigns over to its fourth head coach since 1996 in Andy Reid, who had been the league’s longest-tenured, well, NFL chief at that point, things certainly took a turn for the dramatic over a 48-hour period Jan. 16-17 — when Reid’s former flagship in Philadelphia went from on the verge of hiring Bradley to shocking the league and the University of Oregon by agreeing to terms with Ducks’ head coach Chip Kelly, who had interviewed well with the Birds soon after winning the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 4 before “re-committing” himself to the school. Seemingly in stride, Bradley would then fly Florida to interview with Jaguar brass and nab a job that was speculated to go to San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman after the 49ers still current postseason run concluded. But in a league that is more “what have you done for me lately” than any other, Bradley’s interview was so compelling that new general manager David Caldwell didn’t want to wait a few extra weeks to make a hire. 

In the time between Reid’s settlement in KC, Kelly’s second “de-commitment” to Oregon in as many years and Bradley’s contract signing in the “River City,” five other teams also completed new coaching hires (Arizona, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland and San Diego) that didn’t make as much of a blip on the NFL radar or gain quite the number of headlines — unless you count the reports that claim Mike McCoy fell out of grace just as quickly with the Eagles as he likely has with Denver fans after the Broncos’ uninspired offensive performance in the AFC divisional playoff against Baltimore Jan. 12 — as did Kelly, Bradley, or even Reid for that matter. However, they’ll all be held equally to task improving their respective squads without there being too much leniency during the transition. Here are my takes on how successful each may be, ranking them in order of how much each team should fare in 2013:

Chicago Bears - Trestman:  Sure, Trestman is nearly nine years removed from his last NFL job as an assistant coach with Miami, but he brings with him a fine resume of NFL accomplishments, especially related to his work with quarterbacks. He twice coordinated the No. 1 passing offense in the league (with Steve Young and the 49ers in 1995 and Rich Gannon and the Raiders in 2002), led two franchises to AFC title games as an offensive coordinator (2002 Raiders and 1989 Browns) and taking the same 2002 Raiders to the Super Bowl, though not really engineering a good showing there. Still, he managed success with the likes of Scott Mitchell in Detroit and Jake Plummer with the Cardinals, a good indication that he’ll be in fine shape with Jay Cutler and a Bears team that won 10 games in 2012. If Chicago holds onto the majority of its key potential unrestricted free agents on the defensive side (namely linebacker Brian Urlacher, tackle Henry Melton and lineman Israel Idonije), expect a new, more-highly powered offense to better compete with Green Bay and Detroit (is Minnesota really for real?) and be back in the playoffs.

San Diego Chargers - McCoy:  With apologies to the “agonized” fan base in Philly, there isn’t likely any city out there where “addition by subtraction” is more of a rallying cry than in Charger country. Despite his overwhelmingly productive stint as an offensive coordinator for two-time champion Dallas in 1992 and 1993, and a few stellar seasons during his 2007-12 head coaching tenure in San Diego (going 13-3 in 2009 and pulling off a five-game winning streak, including the postseason, to advance to the divisional round the year prior), I can’t help but think that Norv Turner will be remembered much like he is in Washington (1994-2000) and Oakland (2004-05) — for his teams’ ultimate failures and inconsistent play. As it stands, McCoy inherits a nice crop of offensive skill players all over the field and should have his squad challenge for a wildcard spot next season, which could be a make-or-break campaign for quarterback Philip Rivers.

Kansas City Chiefs - Reid:  In some ways, Kelly walks into yet another town that’s truly just happy with change for the moment. But, then again, this is Philly; and for unsuccessful head football coaches it can be a virtual hell pit. Kelly should initiate a much better showing for an Eagles team that is quite peculiar in that it has a lot of glaring weaknesses yet seems to have enough pieces in place to be closer to elite than the cellar. If he utilizes Shady McCoy the way an “arguably the best running back in the NFL” should be and has the benefit of a healthy offensive line, it’s not hard to see the Eagles back in the playoffs in 2013. However, with questions remaining at quarterback (will he draft one as well?), even with the thought that Michael Vick won’t be part of the equation, it’s more probable that Philadelphia will lose some high-scoring games while the defense continues to be rebuilt and Kelly tinkers with his system to accommodate Nick Foles or a player to be named later. That should keep Philly content for a calendar year. Maybe. It’s definitely possible that it could. 

Buffalo Bills - Doug Marrone:  Another coach that should have tempered expectations in the general sense as he’s jumping from college to pro ball, Marrone will probably have a shorter learning curve given that he’s taking over a team that expected to be in the playoffs “yesterday.” Like Rivers and McCoy, it will be interesting to see who has the longer leash with the Bills — Marrone or QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Marrone has brought in ‘offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with him from Syracuse to devote his time to the maligned signal caller, who has proven to light up the stat sheet and fantasy football scoreboards on a fairly regular basis without it translating to postseason success. Likewise, Buffalo has brought on Jets’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to try his hand at fixing the league’s 22-ranked defense, giving Marrone proven coaching commodities to help him pull an already talented team a little further. Let’s call them wild card contenders on the basis that they’ll win at least eight in 2013, even if Marrone isn’t solely credited with miracle-working.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Bradley:  If nothing else, Bradley’s Seahawks had the ability to control games particularly due to its style and attitude (on top of the raw talent, yes). If nothing else, an attitude adjustment is exactly what this squad needs (on top of more raw talent, yes). A terrible team in every sense of the word (OK, Cecil Shorts is a stud and Chad Henne can at least let people forget about Blaine Gabbert temporarily), the Jags should at least be a markedly better defensive team in 2013, which suddenly puts you in position to win more games. They won’t win enough to play more than 16, but if Maurice Jones-Drew sticks around (and has enough in him to remain a concern to opposing defenses) don’t be surprised to see a Jeff Fisher-like induced rebirth a la St. Louis that gives more of a warm, fuzzy feeling in the stands as opposed to nausea. And if that doesn’t happen, maybe everyone can start talking about the Tim Tebow possibility again.

Cleveland Browns - Chudzinski:  The one-time Brown offensive coordinator gets another shot in Cleveland with a more talented, younger nucleus on offense in QB Brandon Weeden and RB Trent Richardson, and gets the “OC” version of the aforementioned Turner, so optimism for at least minor improvement is there. But, really, how good can Weeden be given that there’s not a formidable receiving corps? There’s still more questions than answers, but with new defensive coordinator Ray Horton also brought in; there’s an established presence to assist the first-time head coach. How will former Eagles’ salary cap wizard Joe Banner spend the team’s money? Will he care enough about keeping a decent defense intact?

Arizona Cardinals - Bruce Arians:  Arians is clearly a media darling and a great person to admire in light of the situation he was handed and thrived in with Indianapolis a year ago. But let’s not gloss over that he had Andrew Luck, a player who would make any team better from the jump, and that he’s essentially walking into the NFL’s version of JV quarterbacks (seriously, Larry Fitzgerald, sticking your neck out for Kevin Kolb?) in the desert. Still, a lot of times winning and losing in the NFL comes down to staying appropriately prepared and mentally in check, so don’t look past Arians there. Then again, age and time are not on his side, neither is his lone head coaching track record (21-45 at Temple from 1983-88). He loses a solid defensive coordinator in Horton to Cleveland, so leaning on that unit won’t be likely. Despite temperatures out there, the heart-warming Arian's story could turn chilly pretty quick.

copyright 2013 Joe Darrah All RIGHTS RESERVED

In the Dirt With...Gale Sayers

When Gale Sayers was picked by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the NFL Draft in 1965, he was already a college football star.  His career at University of Kansas resulted in 2,675 yards rushing and 3,917 all-purpose yards gained, and a two-time selection as All-American.   Sayers possessed powerful athletic skill given his stature and his speed had earned him the nickname “The Kansas Comet.”  He was poised for greatness and that is exactly what George Halas expected.

Sayers didn’t disappoint.  In his rookie year with the Bears, he scored 22 touchdowns; six of them in the mud on December 12, 1965 against the San Francisco 49ers in a decisive 61-20 victory at Wrigley Field.  Halas was known for hating to play rookies and kept Sayers off the bench for the first two games, but once he put Sayers in on October 3, 1965, there was no mistaking that, in Sayers, Halas had a powerhouse.  In his regular season debut against the Green Bay Packers on October 3, 1965, Sayers made the only two Chicago touchdowns and had more yards rushing, receiving and returning than any other player on either team.  Two games later, on October 17^th, Sayers would score an unbelievable four touchdowns, one on a 96 yard kickoff return.  In his rookie year, Sayers would score in all but one of the 12 games in which he played, earning Rookie of the Year honors.

In his next six seasons, Sayers would continue to shine in the NFL, winning four Pro Bowl invites, five All-Pro honors, and three Pro Bowl MVP honors.  He’s been named to both the NFL 75^th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.  He has long been considered one of college football’s greatest open field runners and is most definitely an NFL legend.  Sayers was named to both the College Football and Professional Football Halls of Fame, and is the youngest player ever inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sayers will tell you he was just doing what he was supposed to do:  dedicating himself to his craft and giving his team his all.  Dedication, hard work, loyalty; these are just some of the many outstanding characteristics of Gale Sayers.  Love of God and family are two others.  If you asked him what made him so special, Sayers would tell you he is not at all special but that he was just doing his best and making the most with all of God’s blessings.

His strong ethic of hard work and dedication carried him beyond the football field.  While he is famous for his steadfast friendship with his former Bears’ teammate, the late Brian Piccolo, he also went on to coach, became a stockbroker, and eventually founded a successful technology services firm.

“To whom much is given, much is expected.”  In my conversations with Sayers and his wife of nearly 40 years, Ardie, I’ve learned that above all else, Sayers is grateful for all he has accomplished and achieved in his life, and both he and Ardie have a strong sense of social responsibility, believing giving back is not only important, but required of them.

Meeting Gale Sayers was, for me, a milestone moment.  The first book I ever purchased was the Scholastic version of Brian’s Song and I was impressed at the tender age of nine with the bond of friendship between Sayers and Piccolo.  I never forgot that lesson of loyalty and compassion and, as a 49-year old adult, was in awe of the man when I first met him.  Sayers is a quiet man, not prone to a whole lot of words, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have something to say.  On the contrary, Sayers is educated and well-versed in many areas, not the least of which is philanthropy and the importance of leading by example.

While working hard to build his very successful corporation, Sayers and his wife founded the Gale Sayers Center which endeavors to inspire, motivate, and educate the inner city youth of Chicago.  To fulfill that commitment, the center offers a strong educational after-school learning program serving adolescent children that includes computer classrooms, a public speaking program personally developed by Sayers, and a mentoring and motivational program utilizing the skills of some of the best business, civic and sports leaders to reach, motivate and inspire the children to achieve greatness.

In addition to his own foundation, Sayers also works closely with The Cradle Adoption Agency, and the Better Boys Foundation, among others.  He is also the author of three books.  His first book, an autobiography titled I Am Third was the catalyst to the book and movie Brian’s Song.  He also co-authored Papa Bear:  The Life and Legacy of George Halas with Jeff Davis, and Sayers:  My Life and Times with Fred Mitchell.  It is my great fortune to be writing his next book with him on football then and now.

AllStarInc is very fortunate to have Sayers as a client and we love working with him and his wife, Ardie.  He is currently appearing Wednesdays through Sundays at the Art of Music Store in the Mandalay Bay Mall in Las Vegas for the next few months.  This weekend, Sayers will be appearing at the Chicago Sun-Times Sports Collectibles Convention in Chicago, Illinois.  If you are in the area, please stop in to say hello and meet this legendary human being.

Copyright © 2012 Korinne M Jackman ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Gale Sayers appears Saturday, June 30^th at the Chicago Sun-Times Sports Collectibles Convention, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018 from Noon until 1:30 p.m.
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