I'm kinda thinking the same way. If McNair says he is tired of .500 seasons and means it, then we are in for a HC change. Who? I don't have any idea. I will say that is up to you young tyros. I do know that in the last several years Pgh went young and now have 2 SB's to show for it. Baltimore, Denver, KC, and several others have gone to young head coaches with some good experience and they seem to be the wave of the future. So, are there any more out there like that?

Above average for a decade looks really nice from where I'm sitting.

http://www.vikings.com/team/coaches/...6-956773a7b83e

Darrel Bevell enters his 4th season as Offensive Coordinator of the Vikings in 2009.

When Brad Childress began building his Minnesota Vikings coaching staff he had certain qualities in mind for the men who would lead the team into the future. Childress wanted coaches who were good teachers, hard workers and dedicated to the task. Childress had seen all of those qualities years earlier in a gritty QB who led his 1993 Wisconsin Badger squad to the school’s 1st Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth in 31 years.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team...hael%20Jr.aspx

Promoted to offensive coordinator for 2009 after working with the quarterbacks for the last three seasons, Pete Carmichael has been a key contributor in the planning and preparation of the Saints’ record-setting passing attack since 2006.

Isn't that what McNair bought into when he turned his team into South Denver?

NFL is not for long. Just sayin'. Maybe the Eagles system would prove to be better than the Broncos system. Depends on the person. Just look at the New England system. After Belichick, and before this initial run by McDaniels, guys from the Pats system haven't been locks for success.

Teams take on the personality of their head coach. So what personality do we want?

I'll tell you who I want and why...

JON "shut those kids up" GRUDEN

When he was with the Raiders, they went 8-8 his first two seasons. Then, 12-4 where they won the AFC West and went to the AFC Championship game and lost to Baltimore. As you recall, Baltimore won that SB.

The next season they went 10-6, won the division again, and then played the Patriots in the playoffs in a snowstorm. Remember the tuck rule by Tommy Brady? That game. Patriots won the SB a few weeks later.

Everybody says he's a loser because of Tampa after he won the SB. And they all say it was Dungy's team that won it. Well, who's team did he play in that SB? His old Raider team.

Tampa Bay: Had the Bucs not given those draft picks away to get Gruden they still would've had trouble because of impending salary cap issues which lasted through 2007. That's why Parcells turned the job down.


11 seasons, 5 Division Championships

Oh, I love Gruden. Would love to go to a bar and drink beer with him and listen to him talk about the Wildcat. Would go to practice and listen to him say, "are you out of your freakin' mind, are you outta your skull?" However, I don't want him running this team. He's gone from genius to crazy.

The players have to buy in to what the coach is preaching. No way in Hell, do our players pick up what he's preachin' now.

Gruden is a fascination of mine. I always want to hear what he says, which is why I'm glad he's on t.v. He reminds me of some of my Drill Instructors from Parris Island.

Right now, he's on a research and study session. If Shannahan gets hired by the Redskins, Cowboys, Bills, or whoever, it will be interesting to see if he hires Gruden to be the O.C. (assuming Kubiak or "lil Shan" isn't available).

Umm...Sean Payton has a job.

What is Jim Fassell doing these days?
Could we get Al Groh away from Virginia?

Anyone heard of Tim Murphy or Rick Minter at Cinci?

Maybe Todd Bowles of Miami would be sufficient.

Kenny Anderson is the Steelers QB coach, remember him being the original WCO QB? Look it up, Walsh was his QB coach under HC Paul Brown. That is where the WCO started to take shape. It's based on the Paul Brown and Sid Gillman coaching tree.

How about HC Bruce Coslet
OC Ken Anderson
QB coach Turk Schonert
OL Bruce Matthews

Defense
DC Pepper Johnson


I want the offense to attach attach attach, and I want the defense to confuse confuse confuse

What about Greg Williams ? Atleast we might finally have a defense with him in charge.

The Virginia team that gets beat by William and Mary? Groh was hot at one point, but I do not think his star is very bright at this time.

Unfortunately the guy I wanted them to hire after Capers is not willing to leave his college coaching gig. That person would be none other than, Kirk Ferentz. IMO, he runs the closest thing to a pro-style offense and defense in college football and I think he and his system would translate well to the NFL.

I like it. Give me Fassell. I'm putting all my chips in the middle of the table...
His team beat the crap out of the California Redwoods. He did that with J.P. Losman at QB, now that's coaching.



http://www.ufl-football.com/content/.../UFL_CA_LV.pdf

I was actually in Las Vegas the day of the game but too stupid to realize that it was happening.

Well, according to 610 this afternoon, Gruden is not only a name to replace Kubiak being bantered about, but also the guy being talked about to replace Jim Zorn in D.C.

Ferentz was at or near the top of my list too back then -- I liked the ability to spot and/or develop talent he showed with unheralded recruits like Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark, Chad Greenway, and Robert Gallery, his NFL and OL background, and his Belichick coaching tree pedigree (although as Keith points out, that hasn't exactly been an indicator of success upon further review). Iowa looked like it was slipping back into mediocrity since then but has turned that around so far this year. When Scott Pioli was talking to the Browns and then eventually became the Chiefs' GM it was rumored that Ferentz would be joining him, and Iowa extended his contract through 2015.

He's intriguing to me. I've read some quotes from people close to the Bills who said his failed tenure in Buffalo was more a result personnel issues (particularly QB) than coaching. As defensive coordinator in Washington he generally got good results but there were stories about him being an arrogant jerk who lost many of his players by disrepecting them, above and beyond just coaching them hard. Still, other players have had nothing but good things to say about him and he's obviously getting it done in New Orleans. FWIW, he's also a former Oiler and UH graduate assistant.

Texans chick has some interesting info about being a young NFL team at her blog. And on the experience of DC's.

http://blogs.chron.com/texanschick/2...texans_as.html

one might think Texans are just too young to be successful at the moment.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

An idea for if things get much worse. I'd say if we drop 3 games under .500.

I tell you, even though they lost, I was pretty impressed with Brian Schottenheimer Monday night. He seems to have developed a good scheme and game plan even with a rookie QB. I know they have a good OL and RBs (better than ours, at least), but he calls a good game and seems to have a really good sideline demeanor. You could tell Ryan has given him full control of the offense. Can't really question his pedigree either... I'd certainly put him on the interview list if I'm McNair and looking next year.

Are you thinking Schottenheimer as a head coach?

The Jets are 24th in offense and 20th in scoring. Not to mention he has a total of 5 games experience as a coordinator. He would challenge Raheem Morris for least qualified NFL head coach. He's actually far less qualified than Shanahan, who many on this board think is not qualified to be the OC.

I know that sometimes you hit it out of the park with a young guy but far more often you don't. I think I'd open the wallet and pay for someone with a track record long enough to tell me what I am getting. Especially since so many franchises are trying to save money by not paying big named coaches. It means that a team that is willing to can get it done. Why not make a huge offer to Bill Cowher or Tony Dungy?

Why try to catch lightning in a bottle and risk getting burned when you can just open your wallet and buy the same lightning with a gaurantee.

Of course I'd prefer they hire a big-name coach and have stated such in this very thread. I think Holmgren or Gruden would be the most likely big-name coaches that would be willing to come to Houston that would be within McNair's price range. I just don't think it will happen. Certainly not Cowher or Shanahan who will probably have much better choices of location and money elsewhere. You really think McNair is going to outbid Dallas, Washington, Oakland or possibly Carolina (where Cowher lives)? I don't. I'm not even including Dungy because I think he's done coaching.

As for Schottenheimer, I'm throwing his name out there because he's a young assistant with NFL experience and someone who I can see being a potential HC candidate that would interest McNair. Schottenheimer was considered for the HC job in Miami when Saban left and was also a candidate for the Jets HC job before they hired Ryan, so his name is out there amoung HC candidates. I don't think it's all that crazy to have his name in the mix. I can certainly see him being a hot candidate if the Jets make the playoffs with a rookie QB.

EDIT: BTW, I think he's been OC for more than 5 games and I'm pretty sure has a little more experience than Raheem Morris... Maybe he doesn't have the one of best offenses in the league, but they haven't been all that bad and they can play both finesse and smash-mouth. That's something that's sorely lacking at Reliant.

"Though I mentioned this in the comments, I think it is worth discussing the other teams that have as little average age as the Texans (age 26 yo average):

Hou 2-3
Phi 3-1"

The one thing that jumped out at me was the fact that the Eagles were the only "young" team with a winning record.

He has a rookie QB, and almost no WRs until this past week. Also with Ryans scheme on defense the offense is expected to not loose games more so than win them.

As for experience, his resume is sound, and his pedigree is also tops.

Okay, instead of Fassell I want Jeff Davidson. Just a couple of tidbits on the current Carolina O.C. He has coached the Saints, Patriots, and Browns before his current gig. I've posted some of my thoughts on how we could tailor an offense around our multiple TEs to create mismatches, and it appears he is of a like mind.

http://www.kffl.com/player/11532/nfl

Browns | New offense more tight end-friendly
Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:50:17 -0800

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports one of the most noticeable changes in the Cleveland Browns offense under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson has been the use of three tight ends.


http://www.panthers.com/team/coaches...c-d3248bea5e13

Carolina's offensive accomplishments in 2008 included team records of 2,437 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns, 118 rushing first downs and 5.96 yards average gain per play and gaining at least 400 yards in six games. Additionally, the Panthers amassed 5,595 yards, tallied 414 points and scored 47 touchdowns, all of which rank as the second-highest totals in team history.

With the Patriots, he contributed to five playoff appearances, four division titles, three conference championships and three Super Bowl wins as the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach from 1997-2004.

Meanwhile, New England's tight ends, under Davidson's tutelage, accounted for 11 touchdowns and nine pass plays of 20 yards or more.

If the season bombs and McNair has to can Kubiak, he's got to make a splash in the offseason to avoid blackouts in 2010 and one of the few ways to do that is to hire a well-known HC with a successful resume, not an obscure Coordinator no matter how much his potential.

That's kind of funny considering how the Broncos canned their big name Super-Bowl winning Head Coach and hired some Coordinator with potential. That dude even ran off their Pro-Bowl QB in the process. Let's ask Colorado Dude if he can see the Broncos on t.v. on Sundays or if they are blacked out. If said this before, but I guess I'll have to repeat myself, Winning is what puts asses in the seats.

I'm not blaming him for a mediocre offense with mediocre weapons. But I am also not rewarding him for it.

He has been a QB coach until this year and has been the OC of a mediocre offense for 5 games. Maybe he is lightning in the bottle but the cost is 2-3 wasted years if we are wrong. Why chance it when money can buy you a sure thing.

From the jets.comHe has been the OC for 2007, 2008 and now 2009. He was the one calling the plays for Brett Farve. It was his offense, they were ninth in the league in scoring last season, And only 26th the season before when they were forced to played Clements. Now he is training his 4th QB in his system in 3 years, and they are in 1st place in their division.

ughh...it's true. Every Sunday they're on tv and there's not even a hint of the word "blackout".

There are no sure things in coaching. Jimmy Johnson went to Miami and he did not equal his Dallas years.

Only a handful of HCs have won in more than one city. Parchells being one of those exceptions.

As Ken Loeffler said : “There are only two kinds of coaches — those who have been fired, and those who will be fired.”

Very wise. But there is no denying that you have a far better idea what you're getting with Cowher/Dungy than with some young guy.

I see Roy is ready to annoint McDaniels as the answer in Denver. I will wait longer than 5 games. Either way like I said, it's a huge roll of the dice. Notre Dame, Cleveland, Jets, and Cleveland again have all hired New England coordinators with sterling resumes and bombed. Denver may have gotten the real deal. And they may not have.

Either way there are so many proven coaches unemployed right now and so few teams willing to pay in the economic climate, that anyone who opens the wallet can have one (if not their pick). If Bob McNair is willing to spend Billions but draws the line and goes cheap on the single most important thing to an NFL franchise, we can only hope to get lucky.

I know I will get hit on for saying this, but it needs to be said; if Kubiak had allowed Greg Davis to be hired as the new DC, instead of another of Kubiak's favorites, frank Bush, he could just run his offense, and let Greg Williams carry the defense, ala NOLA!! We would not be awash in mediocrity at this time of the season.

First, I will repeat the wise words: 'there's no such thing as a sure thing' because it is true.

Just because Cowher and Dungy have had success, there's no guarantee that their good fortune would be a certainty here. There have been SuperBowl winning coaches who have not repeated that accomplishment with new teams. Remember Dan Reeves in Atlanta after winning in Denver? Holmgren didn't win the Big Game in Seattle. Dick Vermeil couldn't get much done in K.C. Joe Gibbs couldn't rekindle the magic in D.C. Ditka was good enough in Chicago, but not New Orleans. Even as much as I respect Parcells, his only SuperBowl came when he was with the Giants, none with the Cowboys.

While I'm not going to annoint McDaniels, nobody is looking for his replacement at this point in the season. There have been plenty of young no-names who made names for themselves. John Madden and Mike Tomlin come to mind. So, hiring a new head coach is simply hit or miss.

Joe Walsh, Bill Cowher, Parcells, Gruden, Dungy and Belichick didn't have Super Bowl rings when they were hired by their original teams. In fact, Dungy and Belichick were fired as head coaches before another team took a chance.

There are innumerable reasons for a team's success, and a head coach is but one.

You still Frank Bush Hating? The total defense is up to #20 in YPG, #24 against the rush, #19 against the pass.

I hate when guys do this, but I am going to any way. Take away 4 plays and this defense is in the top half of the NFL. Is this as good as New Orleans, no but they also where smart enough to sign a real Safety Darren Sharper who now has 5 INT and 12 passes defensed. Studly numbers.

We have one of the youngest teams in the NFL, our defense is lead by two 5th year guys. And now a rookie is our biggest playmaker. Bush is doing OK with these guys.

I would say Bush has made some progress these last couple weeks and the D looks much better. Cushing, in particular, has really made a huge impact. Not only is he putting up big numbers, he's making plays that actually impact the game. This is something we've lacked for years. As the Morlon Greenwood experience taught us, just piling up tackle numbers doesn't mean you're doing anything to help us win.

To play Devil's Advocate for a moment, I will point out that the other 2 teams whose defenses were just about as terrible as us last year were NOLA and Denver. Both brought in new coordinators this year and both came out of the gates balling and are now undefeated. It's great that our defense is improving, but the NFL season is too short to give away the first month trying to find your legs. Not being ready to go in September may ultimately cost us a chance at the playoffs.

Actually 2 4th-year guys, but you're right PK, after some of those early gaffs involving the Titans Johnson and D-J for the Jags, Bush's D is looking much steadier.

I think that had more to do with Rick Smith and Kubiak than Bush. Bush's defense would have looked a lot more ready to play in September with Dawkins or Sharper. Even someone at Bernard Pollard's level has made a difference. It is criminal that Smith and Kubiak thought we were fine at Safety entering the year.

Fair point. I also think losing Reeves, along with having a rusty Dunta, were also significant problems for the D early on. Having said that, there is no disputing that the D was simply clueless on many occasions to start the year (preseason and regular) and had an unacceptable amount of mental mistakes and missed assignments. This does fall on Bush, IMO.