Jesse’s Hot Seats for the Upcoming NFL Season: Coach Edition
NFL Coach Hot Seat!
Here we are in the offseason, some of us feeling good or iffy about our teams and how they have performed in Free Agency and in the NFL Draft. With that, comes a lot of pressures for teams to do well. We have seen a lot of good coaches leave or get let go, some of them with Super Bowl rings, it is safe to say that there are high expectations for teams, and coaches don’t have a long time to get competitive. Some coaches only make it a year as we have seen with Houston coaches before Demeco Ryans, or even Pete Carroll in his one year stint in Las Vegas. So how about we look at some coaches who are going to be under fire if their season doesn’t go well.
Zac Taylor — Cincinnati Bengals
This has to be an easy choice, there was a mass exodus that occured in the AFC North, yet somehow, Zac Taylor was the one who survived. Browns, Ravens, and Steelers all have new coaches, yet the Bengals has been the team who has really struggled the most consistently the past few seasons, which is crazy to say because the Browns are in that division. If Taylor struggles early on again, I could see him not making it a whole season. Taylor is 7–15–1 in September, and is 1–11 in weeks 1 and 2. He is also 5–9 against the Browns who is historically the worst team in the division. Taylor can’t afford to keep these numbers with a top 5 quarterback and a top 3 wide receiver. If Burrow gets beat up on the offensive line again or the defense continues to struggle, this could be Taylor’s last season. I think making it to the Super Bowl is what has carried him this far.
Kevin O”Connell — Minnesota Vikings
Taking the chance on JJ McCarthy may be the one that puts the nail in the coffin. I’m not saying it was his idea, but the coach and/or GM will get the blame. Defensively, the Vikings have been pretty sound under DC Brian Flores, the offense, which is supposed to be O’Connell’s specialty, is struggling with a lackluster run game and quarterback play. That is with an average line play on offense and one of the best duo receiver groups in the NFL. The NFC North is a juggernaut now though with the Bears improving their play, and frankly I see the Vikings being last place in the division this year. Odd thing to say as O’Connell has only had one losing season so far and he could be in the hot seat. This will really depend on how they place in the division and how McCarthy improves this season.
Todd Bowles — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles has a 35–33 record with a 1–3 playoff record. The Bucs have not improved since the departure of Tom Brady. The defense has slowly gotten worse and the offense has been stagnant. They are supposed to be considered a lock in probably what is considered the worst division in the NFL, and yet they missed the playoffs. They had injuries at running back with Bucky Irving, so the run game failed most the season, and with the injury to Mike Evans and Godwin, it was hard to get production just from rookie receiver Egbuka. Bowles didn’t do that great in New York, I think he came in with high expectations from a championship roster, and he has underperformed mightily.
Aaron Glenn — New York Jets
This is too easy, I think Glenn will stay if they just improve any. They drafted considerably well, but we still have questions at quarterback, and they know it too. With as stacked of draft capital as they have and an upgraded roster in skill spots and on defense they got younger and quicker. However, if Glenn underperforms and only wins 1–3 games this season, it is possible the Jets look to find a better coach if one is available. Going 3–14 in his first season, football fans knew the expectations, especially since trading Sauce Gardner and other key pieces of the team. They kept Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall though, which was most of their offensive production.
Jeff Hafley — Miami Dolphins
We spoke earlier about coaches who were fired after a season, this possibly could be one of these situations. However, I think Hafley’s first season expectation is going to be low anyways, either them or the Jets will be last in the division, and many people aren’t expecting malik willis to come have a Pro Bowl type season. Hafley, who is coming from Green Bay is coming entirely to a different situation that he had when being DC in Green Bay or when he worked with the 49ers. Those two teams had stacked rosters, here in Miami, they are literally starting from the ground up. The only time he was a Head Coach was with Boston College where he went 22–26. My thoughts on Hafley as a coach are known, and it basically is that he won’t last long.
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