NFL - Random Opinions

Arizona doesn't understand that Michael Floyd can't be clutch and if he has a clutch play it's usually on an early 3rd down.

 

Random Coaching Thoughts -

I see only 5 coaches in the league right now that have zero concerns over what their future employment status could be.
Bill Belichick
Pete Carrol
Andy Reid
Gary Kubiak
Jack Del Rio

After that is a list of 8 that are in that space held by coaches that can acknowledge having some, yet very minimal concern.
Ron Rivera
Mike Tomlin
John Harbaugh
Bruce Arians
Jason Garrett
Dan Quinn
Mike Zimmer
Adam Gase

The next group is one that is held by coaches that should be a little worried moving forward.
Mike McCarthy
Jay Gruden
Dirk Koetter
Doug Pederson
Sean Payton
Todd Bowles
Ben McAdoo
Bill O'Brien
Hue Jackson
Mike Mularkey
Rex Ryan

The next group are coaches that should probably prepare for their job to evaporate at the end of the season.
Marvin Lewis
Jim Caldwell
Mike McCoy
John Fox
Chuck Pagano

And this last group are guys that should have been in the unemployment line yesterday.
Gus Bradley
Jeff Fisher
Chip Kelly

 

I like the way you think, Tim.

Just a brief observation; Jim Caldwell, if he gets the Lions into the playoffs, he will buy more time. I think he should have been gone last season when they were house cleaning, but somehow he survived.

 

Tough to argue with that train of thought.

In Caldwell's situation, I'm projecting a bit because I do expect them to struggle down the stretch and ultimately miss the playoffs. If that happens, I think Jim gets the boot.

Detroit's season could actually hinge on this next game against New Orleans. If they can win in NO, then follow that up with a win at home against Chicago it would put them at 9-4 going into 2 games that I expect them to lose (@NYG, @DAL) before facing Green Bay at home to end the season. At 9-6 they would likely outpace the Packers prior to that last showdown. If they come in at 8-7 the division could be decided on that final weekend and I'll take Rodgers over Stafford.

The interesting option in all of this is the Vikings. Their remaining schedule puts them at an advantage to grind out a division championship. I expect Minny to win 3 out of the next 5 (@JAC, IND, CHI) but dealing the Packers a loss or upsetting the Cowboys this week would go a long way towards closing it out.

But if the Lions win the division I believe you are 100% correct in Detroit keeping Caldwell.

 

How far into the future are you talking...?

 

To start the 2019 season, all 5 of those coaches have the highest likelihood to still be with their respective teams.

 

I'll buy that.

 

pass thrown by TE Frank Wycheck. He was a year ahead of me in High School at Archbishop Ryan in NE Philly. HE was a skinny RB then. They were part of the first ever Catholic League Football Championship Team at the school his last season, as the school was now allowed to play in the PIAA State Playoffs at the time. His wife graduated from my class. I read he has to take a leave of absence from Tenn Titans radio due to CTE as he retired from concussions. Frank is a great guy and from the local neighborhood. Hope he makes a recovery.

 

Tim you have Adam Gase on two lists.

 

i think 5 yrs is too far to assume they are all safe. a lot can happen in 4-5 yrs. the wheels could fall off and they could go in the shitter. baring a health scare only carroll and belichek are safe to me.

 

It has a lot to do with the rosters the other 3 already have in place. I don't see much reason to expect the Raiders, Chiefs or Broncos to fall so far in 3 seasons to make those jobs hot enough to have them fired prior to 2019.

 

nerd...


Nice catch. I had Gase listed twice and left Pagano off the list. I edited it in to correct it.

 

Random Early Draft Thoughts -

I can see a scenario where 5 quarterbacks are taken in the first round this year. Chicago, San Francisco, Arizona, Cleveland and the New York Jets may all look to pull the trigger early. If I had to bet on it right now, I would take 3 as the over/under for first round signal callers.

From an early perspective - Chicago may look at DeShone Kizer for what will more than likely be a top 3 pick. Arizona may look at Patrick Mahomes (my top rated passer at this point) in what will be a top 16 pick. Cleveland taking a player like Trubisky in what will probably be a top 20 pick makes some solid sense. They could probably even move back 5 picks and still get him while avoiding a potential trade back into the first from a team like the 49ers or Jets looking to get that additional year on a rookie QB.

I think the second round will see another 3 more go, and that won't include DeShaun Watson. Luke Faulk looks like a solid target for a Minnesota late in the second if the news on Teddy Bridgewater isn't extremely positive leading up to the draft (NYG is another to watch as Ryan Nassib will most likely be out). San Francisco may try to move back up into the first for a player like Davis Webb, but I can see him sliding down to the top of the second. The third QB I see going in the 3rd will be Brad Kaaya. He will get all kinds of differing opinions leading up to the draft but I think he still will get someone to take him at the top of the second. The Jets come to mind, but also the Redskins later in the round if they can't get a long term deal in place with Kirk Cousins prior to the draft.

 

Tim -- how early is this perspective ? Now? No freaking way Kizer is going that high. I'm a diehard ND fan and there's no guarantee he even declares for the draft. Upon losing to USC announcer Brian Griese said "he has the tools for the next level, but needs more seasoning bf he declares." He has eligibility left. I suggests he takes it. He has regressed a ton this year. He looked great last year. This year he looked like a frighten lost puppy in the woods. He looked lost on plays and his decision making was atrocious for a starting Div I QB who already played before.

Sorry-Kizer better stay in South Bend in 2017!

 

He's listed as the top prospect at the position on almost every major site online. I'm not saying I agree, the truth is I don't, but every year I scratch my head at some of the decisions that are made in the draft.

 

I don't know if I like any of the QBs. I've been a skeptic of all of them for a while and none are standing out much. I am still torn on Watson as I was on many mobile QBs in the past. As for Mahomes, Tim he might just be the best guy in this draft but the defenses he's faced might not show much and he won't have a Bowl game, as won't Kaizer. Will Mahomes declare? I would lean on yes. CBS just mocked Trubisky to Cleveland at #1. I'm going to need to take a closer look at all these guys but he could go in the 1st round and early and he has a bowl game to show some stuff. I will be a bit shocked if a team in need for a starter goes Webb early. He will be development material like Nassib was.

 

I know Mocks are all over the place before they all copy eachother and fall into some BS consensus but I don't know if I've ever seen QBs all over the board this late as much as I has this year. CBS has Trubisky at #1, the Cards taking Watson in the top 10 and then no one else in the 1st.

 

Mahomes and Trubisky moved up my rankings more so than any other quarterbacks but I have Patrick a good distance ahead of Mitch. From the reverse perspective, no quarterback fell farther than Watson. There are some serious flaws in his game that make him a larger project then some of the players that came in ranked a full 2 rounds below him to start the season. Right now I wouldn't draft DeShaun ahead of the third round.

I think Mitch can be a very good NFL starter, but situations play a huge part into a players career arc and drafting him that high to Cleveland just does not equate well for me. I posted in the DPL that there is probably going to be a comparison to how QBs are viewed in this class as to how they were viewed in 2014.

 

i think Kizer stays at ND. No one is touching him in the first 3 rds after this fiasco of a year in South Bend.

 

frightening Tim. And yes the bust warning should be on full alert in 2017! hahahha