Hamilton, Shanahan Head Coaching Candidates
Every offseason, a number of head coaches will lose their jobs after disappointing their fan bases and owners alike, creating turnover among head coaches. Many of these vacancies will be filled by notable head coaches. For example, if Rex Ryan does get fired, as it seems he will, he might be a candidate for another opening around the league.
Even over the last few seasons, former head coaches like Lovie Smith and John Fox were fired from their long time jobs. The coaches had taken the Bears and Panthers to the Super Bowl, and remained competitive in their divisions, but eventually the teams moved on from the highly regarded coaches. Smith took over the Buccaneers this past offseason after only a year away from football, while Fox got the head job for the Broncos and subsequently helped sign Peyton Manning and turning the team’s fortunes around quickly.
You can also bet that Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher will have their names floated for potential head coaching gigs. Another recent Super Bowl loser got a job as a head coach this past offseason in Titans‘ new leader Ken Whisenhunt. However, Whisenhunt first reasserted his value as a coordinator, immediately turning around the fortunes of Philip Rivers and the Chargers‘ offense.
The Chargers’ head coach during Whisenhunt’s lone season with the team, was of course first time head coach Mike McCoy. McCoy, who came off of the record setting Broncos’ staff and coached under Fox, was among the hottest coordinators in the NFL that offseason, and the Chargers could not have been happier with the team’s success in his short tenure there.
Bruce Arians has the Cardinals at 8-1 and in first place in the NFC, after leading the team to a 10-6 record last season and narrowly missing the playoffs. Arians got the job after a year as the offensive coordinator under another first year coach Chuck Pagano in Indianapolis. Pagano, like Arians, has known nothing but success as an NFL head coach.
This offseason, while many teams will kick around the same old names, but a few will be aggressive in going after some of the next group of hot coordinators around the league.
The big name on that list midway through the 2014 NFL season is none other than Colts‘ offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. Like Arians, Hamilton has taken superstar quarterback Andrew Luck and maximized his talents, producing a efficient and high-powered offense despite lacking an offensive line of pedigree or a reliable running game.
Hamilton has his Colts’ focused, and has not had time to think about his future away from the team, writes Conrad Brunner of 1070theFan.com. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he said. “I’ve barely had enough time to take a break to step away from watching Patriots film.”
It is that intensity that has him as a rumored favorite for the 49ers’ job should Jim Harbaugh leave the team. Hamilton also could be considered for the Giants job if the team does not retain Tom Coughlin going forward.
Hamilton may be getting most of the hype, but there is plenty of time left in the season for other candidates to emerge or even overtake the top spot. Already, another AFC offensive coordinator is challenging Hamilton in Browns‘ coach Kyle Shanahan, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (via Twitter). Shanahan’s ability to squeeze the most out of Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, and now Brian Hoyer has put him in a position to be considered for a premium NFL job.
This offseason a handful of coaches will leave their teams, and some of those jobs will be filled by big name former head coaches. Even still, both Hamilton and Shanahan, as well as other lesser-known coordinators from around the league will get their chances to interview for high profile jobs.
Free Agency Notes: Suh, Bryant, Pierre-Paul
Many NFL teams are focused on making the playoffs during the home stretch of the season, but many of their top players are also worried about their impending free agency. Field Yates of ESPN.com put together a list of five players who are set to receive huge contracts this offseason (subscription required).
The headliner of that list is Lions‘ defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who may be leaving Detroit this offseason for a contract in the range of what J.J. Watt received this past offseason. Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, Demaryius Thomas, and Randall Cobb also made the list of players set up to be paid after the season.
Here are some other notes on player movement this offseason:
- Along with the list of players who are ready to get big contracts, Yates also listed five players who have seen their stocks soar since the beginning of the season. Much like the five top free agents, the five soaring stocks all come from potential playoff teams. Yates points to DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Hoyer, Mark Ingram, and Chris Harris Jr..
- Bryant appears on Yates’ list of players set up for big contracts, but Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com expects the superstar wide receiver to remain with the Cowboys for at least two more seasons (via Twitter). Archer writes that the Cowboys always keep a player they want, and won’t lose Bryant if they want to keep him (via Twitter).
- One big name player who doesn’t appear on Yates’ list is Giants‘ defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul has been inconsistent since his breakout 2011 season when he recorded 16.5 sacks. The embattled Giant is ambivalent about returning to the team next year, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter). “Hey, if I’m here, I’m here,” said Pierre-Paul. “If I’m not, I’m not.”
NFC Notes: Suh, Seahawks, Rams, Vikings
The Lions boast one of the top defenses in football this year, based on the strength of their defensive line. Where they are particularly strong is the interior of that line. However, the team has a dilemma on their hands this coming offseason, with Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and C.J. Mosley all hitting free agency at the same time. The team will have a hard time projecting their personnel at defensive tackle in 2015, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com puts the odds on re-signing Suh at 51%. He notes that while Suh is intent on reaching free agency, that he will accept the largest offer and that the Lions would be most inclined to give it to him.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- Percy Harvin is the most recent defending champion to leave the Seahawks, but he is far from the only one. Of the 72 players that were on the active roster, practice squad, and injured reserve for last year’s Super Bowl, 25 of them have moved on from the team, with 13 of them stationed on active rosters around the league. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times takes a look at these 13 players and how they have fared since switching teams.
- Rams‘ owner Stan Kroenke owns 60 acres of land in Inglewood, California, which has been rumored to be potential land for an arena for a Los Angeles based team. While neither the team nor the city has mentioned anything definitive about the move, Inglewood mayor James Butts announced that he would have a meeting with Kronke, according to Doug Vaughn of KMOV.com.
- This will not be the first time the mayor has met with Rams‘ owner Kroenke, as Jason Cole of BleacherReport tweeted that the two sides have already met a couple of times (via Twitter).
- No general manager in the NFL hits a home run on 100% of his decisions, writes Matt Vensel of the Minnesota Star-Tribune. While that may be the case, he writes that Vikings‘ general manager Rick Spielman has been pretty close. Vensel looks through the immediate effectiveness of a number of the team’s signings and draft picks, such as Everson Griffen, Matt Cassel, Linval Joseph, Captain Munnerlyn, Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater, and Jerick McKinnon.
Ravens Links: Reed, Reid, Smith, Hill, Forsett
The Ravens have had incredible struggles in the secondary, and that group only got worse as Jimmy Smith was officially moved to the IR. With their rival Steelers bringing legends James Harrison and Brett Keisel back into the fold to sure up their defense, Ravens fans have been left wondering if Ed Reed could be an option for a unit that could use some help.
There is no chance the team brings Reed back in any capacity other than on a one day contract to retire as a Raven, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. He writes that Reed showed nothing on the field last year, either with the Texans or the Jets, and that he would no longer inspire fear roaming center field at free safety.
He adds that bringing him back as a coach or a motivator would be a bad idea, as Reed had become a headache for the team towards the end of his tenure in Baltimore.
Here are some other links from around the Ravens’ organization:
- In his mailbag, Hensley also addresses how the recent purge in the secondary will shape up for the team, how linebacker Arthur Brown is progressing within the defense, and the positions of interest the team should focus on in free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft.
- Offensive tackle Jah Reid underwent surgery on his broken hand, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Whether or not Reid will return at some point this season has not been decided as of yet.
- With Jimmy Smith done for the season, there are questions as to whether the Ravens will be able to stop any legitimate quarterbacks the rest of the season. Brett Foote of EbonyBird.com examines what the team can do to survive the season so thin in the defensive backfield.
- The team only has five interceptions on the season, and Smith is the only member of the secondary contributing to that figure. However, the team believes it could have the answer to improve that, and expects safety Will Hill to be the team’s top ballhawk now that is returning to the field, writes Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com.
- Justin Forsett was cut by the Jaguars in March, but got the opportunity to compete for carries with the Ravens this offseason, with the added bonus of knowing incumbent starter Ray Rice would have to miss two games with a suspension. However, with Rice‘s eventual release from the team gave Forsett the best opportunity of his career, according to offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, as reported by the Associated Press on SFGate.com. “This is probably his biggest opportunity as a player,” Kubiak said. “And he’s really taking advantage of it.”
- The entire Ravens’ backfield should get credit for the improved running game, write Bryan Stauffer of NumberFire.com. Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and Lorenzo Taliaferro are piecing together a formidable unit that has been more productive than last year’s combination of Pierce and Rice.
Seahawks To Activate Jeremy Lane
The Seahawks have activated cornerback Jeremy Lane from the IR, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). Lane should be able to see the field this Sunday against the Giants, his first action since the opening game against the Packers.
Lane was slotted to take most of the snaps as the nickel corner this season, and his injury has forced the Seahawks to find another viable corner after losing Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond to free agency. The team has responded with Marcus Burley, who has held his own given the opportunity.
The team has placed center Stephen Schilling on the IR to make room for Lane on the active roster. That will mark the end of the season for the former sixth-round pick. Schilling has started five games in his four seasons as a pro. He has three starts this season, but none in either 2012 or 2013 with the Chargers.
Minor Moves: Saturday
Here are Saturday’s minor moves that affect teams’ 53-man rosters around the league:
- The Packers have signed offensive tackle Jamon Meredith, reports Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (via Twitter). The team placed wide receiver Kevin Dorsey on the IR to make room on the roster. Meredith was the Packers’ 2009 fifth-round draft choice, and spent time with the Bills, Colts, Lions, and Buccaneers before returning, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN (via Twitter).
- The 49ers have promoted linebacker Chase Thomas to their active roster, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Thomas will slide into the roster spot left open when the team released Demarcus Dobbs earlier this week.
- The Bears have placed guard Matt Slauson on the IR, replacing him on the roster with tight end Blake Annen, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Annen was promoted from the practice squad.
AFC South Notes: Washington, Ball, Savage
Titans‘ wide receiver Nate Washington was rumored to be available at the trading deadline, and he knows that he could be playing in the last eight games with the team, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “To be quite honest, I love Tennessee. I love the city, and I love the people. Would I love to retire here? Of course I would,” Washington said. “My family is here and we’ve kind of made this our home. But I can’t lie – some of those things run through your mind.” Washington is in the last year of a six year deal he signed with the Titans in 2009.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC South:
- Cornerback Alan Ball has been the Jaguars best defensive back this season, but with his contract up at the end of the year, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com does not see him coming back to the team next year.
- While Ball may be leaving the Jaguars, DiRocco sees the team using the draft and free agency to address other parts of the defense. DiRocco believes the team will look to add a defensive lineman, a free safety, and a pair of linebackers this offseason.
- The Texans will be starting Ryan Mallett when they come back from the bye week, but rookie quarterback Tom Savage could still see some game action this season. Tania Ganguli of ESPN addresses the chance that Savage takes over at some point, noting that if at some point the Texans decide Mallett is not the long-term answer, the logical move would be to see what they have in Savage this season.
Ravens Move Jimmy Smith To IR
The Ravens lost their top corner to a foot injury, as Jimmy Smith underwent surgery on his right foot. The decision to have surgery had essentially ended his season, and the team made it official today as Smith was placed on the IR, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
The Ravens signed cornerback Rashaan Melvin off of the Dolphins’ practice squad to provide them help at corner. The 6’2″ defensive back was on IR last year with the Buccaneers, and was released this past September, when the Dolphins signed him.
Smith, 26, was drafted in the first-round in the 2011 NFL Draft. Although he struggled at times early in his rookie season, he excelled late in the year and played a huge role in the Super Bowl win over the 49ers. Since then, he has overtaken Lardarius Webb as the best defensive back on the team.
Now, as the team nears a decision on his future, the injury has robbed Smith of the back half of his best season as a pro. Had he kept his play at this level through the end of the season, and possibly into the playoffs, he could have been in line for a monster extension comparable to some of the top ten cornerbacks in the league. The Ravens will likely still do whatever is needed to keep Smith on the roster going forward, but the price tag may have come down after the injury.
Jets Links: Smith, Ryan, Idzik
Quarterback Geno Smith is getting closer to healthy after suffering a shoulder injury before being benched in the loss to the Bills two games ago, reports Jane McManus of ESPNNewYork.com. Smith will need to be available in case he gets an opportunity to return to the field for the Jets and show something positive before the end of the season, in what will amount to an audition for every team in the league. The Jets will likely have a chance to select a passer high in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Here are some other links around the Jets’ organization:
- Head coach Rex Ryan is confident in the offense and their ability to move the ball, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. With recent addition Percy Harvin joining Eric Decker and Michael Vick, the offense looks very different than years past. “Right now, I feel good about where we are,” said Ryan. “I just think, ‘Man, I’m not so sure I’d want to defend against this offense.'”
- As Jets’ fans continue their campaign against general manager John Idzik, Ryan has come to the defense of the embattled executive, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). “I personally don’t think it’s appropriate,” said Ryan. “I don’t understand how it can be on one man.”
- Ryan can defend Idzik all he wants, but despite what happens these last seven games in 2014 he will most likely be fired, and deservedly so, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. Fitzgerald points to Ryan’s poor record against playoff teams and mediocre teams – while the Jets have feasted on the worst teams in the league – as one reason the team needs to move on. He also points out Ryan’s propensity for getting blown out as another reason to see him leave.
AFC South Notes: Mallett, Jaguars, Brazill
The Texans are going to give former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett his first career start when the team comes back from their bye week on Sunday, November 16th. If Mallett can hold on to the job for the rest of the season, the draft pick the Texans will have to give the Patriots figures to increase from a seventh-rounder to a sixth-rounder, reports Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. Mallett needs to play only 40% of the snaps in order to meet this threshold, meaning he needs only 350 snaps (just under 52 snaps a game).
Here are some other notes from around the AFC South:
- The Jaguars are playing out the season conservatively, focused on not sacrificing long-term health to pad their win total in 2014, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. By protecting their better players and refusing to push them during this losing season, the team could struggle to find many more wins down the stretch, and end up with a very high draft pick.
- While the Colts are pushing for the top overall seed in the AFC, and the Texans looking to make the playoffs, the AFC South has not one but two teams in contention for the number one overall pick. Alex Marvez of Fox Sports One wrote a reverse Power Rankings, trying to figure out which teams would have the best shot of landing that top selection. Both the Jaguars and the Titans are both projected by Marvez to pick in the top five based on their play thus far and their schedule over the rest of the season.
- Former Colts receiver LaVon Brazill was released from the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).