Whether sooner or later, TC will no longer be the head coach of the NY Giants. This isn't a debate on whether he should go or not.
There tend to be very well defined properties that are used to describe head coaches in the NFL. It seems like whenever someone is hired, the same set of characteristics are used to set him apart from his peers.
1. Players Coach vs. Disciplinarian
Our last two coaches were JF and TC, and they were exactly that, one a player's coach and the other a disciplinarian.
2. Offensive minded vs. Defensive Minded
Most HCs are promoted to that level from the coordinator spot, and are known for their work on one side of the ball.
3. Experience level, college vs. pros
Usually comes in one of two forms, either a head coach at the NCAA level is bumped up to the NFL or an NFL former head coach or coordinator.
4. Retread vs. First Timer
Don't necessarily like the 'retread' moniker since it would apply to guys like Parcells and TC, but that's what's used. First go around as a head coach in the NFL versus having held the position elsewhere.
Using examples given from 1-4, what do you think the Giants will be looking for in their next head coach?
As for offensive or defensive minded, again don't care because I hope they have competent coordinators.
Belichick might be the best defensive mind of our generation, and his teams have had the best or among the best offense the better part of the past 8 years.
I think the coach needs to be a good motivator, a good communicator, and a good leader, and be able to adjust game plans during the game and maybe most importantly beyond that select competent coordinators.
..but I was trying to break out unique features of head coaches. It's sort of implied that any coach you hire would be a good leader, communicator and motivator. When's the last time you saw someone hired and it said 'Great X's and O's guy, but not the greatest communicator'?
2) Variability: Doing what works on a game by game or series by series basis. Look at what Belichick has done over the years by mixing it up. Or another example would be what happened when we played at Indy a few years ago. Fewell tried to trick the Colts by playing extra DBs and Peyton just kept on running the ball, even if their initial gameplan didn't call for rushes on 7 out of 8 plays
3) Game management from the Harbaugh/Belichick/Payton school where they actually consider game situations and expected values over rote conventional wisdom born 30 years ago
He also needs to be able to inspire a club through motivational efforts. An enlightened disciplinarian works best in that he runs a tight ship but isn't so dogmatic as to alienate players over immaterial actions.
Organization is extraordinarily important as is talent evaluation.
Is Harbaugh a disciplinarian or a player's coach? He's back-slappy like players coach, but probably a real hardass too. People would say Pete Carroll is a players coach because he claps a lot on camera, but maybe he runs a super-tight ship and is a dick in the film room.
I think those qualities - which you're saying are a given, are all i'd hold the line on, the rest to me is irrelevant for the right candidate.
I hate feeling like after "club fassel" we NEEDED Coughlin's style, and because Coughlin is/was a disciplinarian (and an offensive HC) we need a players coach now and a defensive HC.
If I am Reese (assuming he still is making the decision) or Mara I don't have any preconceived notions about what my head coach should be. I'll know him when I see him.
Same thing with what I've read about John Madden. He's always had a rep as a very laid-back players coach because he coached the loony-tune '70s Raiders, but he was a stickler for detail on the field. He ran a tight ship in practices, he just wasn't remotely interested in what his players did out of uniform.
2. Defensive Minded = Belichick
3. Experience level = Pros
4. First Timer
Know any?
I think he would have an excellent re-pore with our current QB
1. Disciplinarian
2. Both but lean towards Defense
3. Old and experienced. With age comes wisdom. When wisdom is applied to experience you lots of WINS.
This is also why I like TC so much. I admit he has turned a little more towards being a players coach than I prefer but I don't think there is a better coach than TC available.
I'd like to see TC stay through 2015 to see if he could continue to get a SB for us every 4 years. The good news is that his contract does extend through 2015 I think.
GE didn't just sit around waiting for Jack Welch to call it quits, they had a succession plan. I'd be highly disappointed in JR if he didn't manage a list of guys he thought would make good HCs to break out when the situation necessitated a change, whether voluntary or forced.
Is it because he came in with Eli who gave our Offense such a big spark?
I also think a good head coach would evaluate the current primary players on the team he is brought in to coach and consider that while determining what types of Offense and Defense they want to install. The major talent on the team could limit what you can and can't do.
I don't know that. I don't think anyone of us knows TC's daily schedule.
- agnostic about whether he is an offensive or defensive minded coach, as long as he hires the best coordinators available and delegates playcalls to them management to them. I want my head coach focussed on overall planning, strategy, motivation, in-game management and player management
- i would prefer a coach who has nfl experience at some point and in some capacity even if they also are from the college ranks; there have been way too many examples of college coaches who are offered lucrative nfl positions without the nfl experience that don't pan out (spurrier, saban, schiano to name a few); the game and players necessitate a different type of coach.
Perhaps Parcells's greatest strength was his ability to put together a coaching staff and manage it. Coughlin has struggled in this area with the Giants, although he seemed to churn out head-coaching candidates regularly when he was with the Jaguars. With the Giants, he's had to fire one offensive coordinator and two (going on three) defensive coordinators.
Fassel, Reeves, H-----y, Parcells, Perkins, McVay, Arnsparger,
Webster, "Goodbye Allie" Sherman, Howell, Owen, Friedman, Andrews, Potteiger, Alexander and Folwell? (-:)
Player coaches work well. Look at Carroll, the Harbaughs and even Rex Ryan at first.
It also depends on the players though and if you can get a real legit leader in that locker room to really control and keep the players in check.
How's about Jack Del Rio? We did pretty good with our last Jax castoff...
2) his team's have a big penchant for losing as home favorites in the playoffs.
3) Dick Le Beau ain't coming with him.
Enough already with this nonsense.
How about Ray Horton, the Cleveland Def Co?