Serious question. More than just wins and losses because I have heard people say that Parcells' best coaching job was the year Testaverde went down with an injury and they were only 8-8 that year. What do you look at in the first 2-3 seasons for a coach to determine their competence? I have been watching football for over 30 years and I thought I had a decent grasp of how to determine wether or not a coach is doing a good job. These are the things I've typically looked at:
1) Special teams- most teams have lower tier players on their coverage units and it's the preparation and attention to detail from the coaching staff that makes the difference.
2) Do players come to the team and seem to play better than on their previous teams?
3) Rushing defense- I'm starting to see that I may very well be quite wrong about this but I have always thought that a well coached defense, even with average talent, can stop the run. Defending the pass requires a bit of talent in the secondary but stopping the run can be coached...I thought.
4) Well coached teams seem to get better as the year goes on.
I hear so many people complaining about play calling and all but I put that lower on the list. If your players execute, play calling isn't nearly as big of a problem.
I ask this because Shurmur was the guy I wanted them to hire from the get-go. I thought his W-L record in Cleveland was a consequence of poor talent and not poor execution. I concede that I was wrong. What I can't figure out is exactly what is going wrong- this team is so bad in so many areas. Is it talent? Is it a coach that is simply not getting enough out of the players? Could a good coach at least get this team to an 8-8 level?
If every player has a bad game, you have to think it's the coach's fault.
The offensive plays are predictable and the entire defense looks confused. I don't think those are signs of good coaching.
I agree. We all thought this was a 5-6 win team, so why are we surprised we stink? That said, I do think the offensive line- talent wise- should be at least a little better than it was last year. I couldn't figure out how it could be this bad. They all look like they have no idea where the defenders are coming from. None of it made sense until I read that Eric Smith article earlier. There seems to be comedically poor attention to detail.
- Teams get better during games because of adjustments
- Teams get better during the season because of coaching
- Teams that are motivated, even if they are losing, you don't see much of this finger pointing, bitching crap with good coaches
- Teams that consistently are competitive above their talent level
- Teams that have a scheme built around the talent, not built around some philosophy whether the players are able to execute it or not (I hate this)
- Teams that are well prepared, even if they lose
So on well coached teams you don't see continued mis-communication on defense, you don't see players always out of position, you don't see a player run out into a position they have never played, etc.
There is no single "good way'to coach. That vastly oversimplifies the challenge.
That is how you maximize talent. In this regard, there is Bill Belichick, and then everyone else.
The also rans that come to mind (in close to this order)... Pete Carroll. Andy Reid. Sean Payton. Mike Tomlin. I think both Harbaughs are pretty good in this regard, especially Jim.
His in game decisions have cost the team games. He needs to go for that reason alone. He is making the same mistakes he made last season.
Wins and losses.
I would take Tomlin or either of Harbaughs and do back flips as they signed the contract. Gruden, I didn't think much of but you have to give him credit for what he is doing with Mayock in Oakland.
I am totally NOT with you on Garrett though.
Ty: "By height".
Telling is that Eric Smith, the third tackle Sunday, said he hadn't taken a single practice snap at tackle since joining the Giants, Sept. 1. Sure, he may not have a lot of talent, which is why he was on the waiver wire, but how can you not give him a single practice snap when he is your third tackle?