There are five weeks remaining in the NFL regular season and many teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention or have slim chances of playing in January. Some teams have been unlucky with injuries and others have incompetent coaching that will keep them out of the postseason. Looking at possible head coaching changes after the season, there are 11 teams that might consider firing their current coach and hiring a new face. Here are the coaches I think should keep their jobs another season because of injuries:
Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals- Whisenhunt is an offensive guru that has been missing his quarterback (Kevin Kolb) and two top running backs (Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams) for most of the season. It is hard to win football games with John Skelton and Ryan Lindley under center. The Cardinals should be patient and bring Whisenhunt back.
Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers- Rivera is a defensive minded coach and especially good at developing linebackers. The Panthers lost linebacker Jon Beason early in the season to injury, which was a huge blow to Rivera's defense. Add on season ending injuries to center Ryan Kalil and cornerback Chris Gamble in October, and Rivera should be retained for a third season.
Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys- I don't know if Garrett should come back because of terrible in-game decisions, but I would be surprised if he was fired unless Jerry Jones isn't the GM anymore. The Cowboys have had plenty players go down. The most important have been running back DeMarco Murray and linebacker Sean Lee. Without Murray, the Cowboys running game is non existent and the defense is without a leader in Lee.
Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans- Quarterback and 2011 first round pick Jake Locker hasn't been able to stay healthy. Locker is still developing but his loss was felt by the Titans earlier in the season. Munchak has been part of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization as a player and coach since 1982. He has been the head coach for two seasons and deserves another year in Nashville.
I think that Chan Gailey of Buffalo, Pat Shurmur of Cleveland, Jim Schwartz of Detroit, Romeo Crennel of Kansas City, Rex Ryan of the New York Jets, Andy Reid of Philadelphia and Norv Turner of San Diego should be the seven head coaches relieved of their duties in the offseason. All these coaches have dealt with injuries, but their poor coaching overshadows losing players.
Buffalo has greatly underachieved under Gailey this season. Shurmur is out whether he likes it or not because of new ownership. Schwartz has lost control of his team in Detroit and has made questionable coaching decisions. Crennel isn't a good head coach and the Chiefs might be making front office changes soon. Ryan, Reid and and Turner all need a change of scenery, and the fans might pressure the owners or GM to fire their respective coach.
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Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals- Whisenhunt is an offensive guru that has been missing his quarterback (Kevin Kolb) and two top running backs (Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams) for most of the season. It is hard to win football games with John Skelton and Ryan Lindley under center. The Cardinals should be patient and bring Whisenhunt back.
Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers- Rivera is a defensive minded coach and especially good at developing linebackers. The Panthers lost linebacker Jon Beason early in the season to injury, which was a huge blow to Rivera's defense. Add on season ending injuries to center Ryan Kalil and cornerback Chris Gamble in October, and Rivera should be retained for a third season.
Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys- I don't know if Garrett should come back because of terrible in-game decisions, but I would be surprised if he was fired unless Jerry Jones isn't the GM anymore. The Cowboys have had plenty players go down. The most important have been running back DeMarco Murray and linebacker Sean Lee. Without Murray, the Cowboys running game is non existent and the defense is without a leader in Lee.
Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans- Quarterback and 2011 first round pick Jake Locker hasn't been able to stay healthy. Locker is still developing but his loss was felt by the Titans earlier in the season. Munchak has been part of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization as a player and coach since 1982. He has been the head coach for two seasons and deserves another year in Nashville.
I think that Chan Gailey of Buffalo, Pat Shurmur of Cleveland, Jim Schwartz of Detroit, Romeo Crennel of Kansas City, Rex Ryan of the New York Jets, Andy Reid of Philadelphia and Norv Turner of San Diego should be the seven head coaches relieved of their duties in the offseason. All these coaches have dealt with injuries, but their poor coaching overshadows losing players.
Buffalo has greatly underachieved under Gailey this season. Shurmur is out whether he likes it or not because of new ownership. Schwartz has lost control of his team in Detroit and has made questionable coaching decisions. Crennel isn't a good head coach and the Chiefs might be making front office changes soon. Ryan, Reid and and Turner all need a change of scenery, and the fans might pressure the owners or GM to fire their respective coach.
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