NFL Coaching Angles
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- Start date
July 28
From FoxSports
SCOUT'S HONOR: Coaches on the hot seat
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2615690
From FoxSports
SCOUT'S HONOR: Coaches on the hot seat
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2615690
SCOUT'S HONOR: NFL's top head coach candidates
Brian DeLucia / Special to FOXSports.com
Picking the right head coach is the most critical move an organization makes. The right hire creates an unbreakable chemistry or atmosphere that puts his team in position to compete for a championship.
If you owned an NFL team, what kind of head coach would you hire? Do you want a drill sergeant, or a "players" coach? Would you give a longtime assistant a shot after paying his dues, or do you prefer a guy with some head coaching experience?
CURRENT NFL ASSISTANTS
He may not get a lot of headlines and mention for NFL head coaching gigs, but that doesn't mean Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress is not qualified to run a team.
RETREADS (FORMER NFL COACHES)
He may be out of an NFL job this season, but count on former Broncos, Giants and Falcons head honcho Dan Reeves to look for one last job in his quest for a Super Bowl ring as a coach.
COLLEGE COACHES
Ohio State and Michigan get most of the Big Ten ink, but Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has quietly built a big-time program year in and year out.
FUTURE NFL ASSISTANTS
One of the most studious and intense players of his era, former Bears Hall of Famer Mike Singletary is trying to climb the coaching ranks by passing on his LB knowledge.
What makes a great head coach? There are many factors to consider.
Being a productive coordinator should not be the only criteria. There are several solid coordinators who never develop into good head coaches. There are a lot of intangibles that play into becoming a solid head coach ? leadership and vision for the big picture ? are two that come into play.
Coaching Philosophies
Of course, it all starts with coaching philosophies. An owner and general manager look for a head coach whose offensive and defensive philosophies fit the direction they want to organization going towards. And the coaching style is also very important. Is the candidate a good communicator and motivator? Or does this candidate hold the possibility of alienating players with an abrasive personality?
Staffing
Ownership wants to learn about the make-up of the potential coaching staff a candidate is bringing to the organization. How many does he want on the staff? What are their philosophies? Are they versatile at both teaching the game and making adjustments on the fly?
Personnel
How does the coach view the big picture of building the team? Is there going to be an ideal chemistry between the head coach and the rest of the organization in building a winner together? Does he prefer building through the draft or does he want his front office to be active in free agency? How well does the coach know the personnel of the team he is interviewing with? Is he willing to develop younger players? What type of players are required for his offensive and defensive philosophies?
Administrative
There are plenty of non-football issues that are important. How does the coach schedule the off-season workouts? What are his philosophies on traveling issues? How would he handle the bye week in the schedule? What's his philosophy for working with the media? What are the nutritional requirements of the players?
Very good organizations have specific policies in place for handling these issues.
And don't forget the single most important trait ? leadership! When an individual walks into the room and begins talking, ask yourself this question ? Can this individual become the leader that others follow and guide us to a Super Bowl?
Brian DeLucia / Special to FOXSports.com
Picking the right head coach is the most critical move an organization makes. The right hire creates an unbreakable chemistry or atmosphere that puts his team in position to compete for a championship.
If you owned an NFL team, what kind of head coach would you hire? Do you want a drill sergeant, or a "players" coach? Would you give a longtime assistant a shot after paying his dues, or do you prefer a guy with some head coaching experience?
CURRENT NFL ASSISTANTS
He may not get a lot of headlines and mention for NFL head coaching gigs, but that doesn't mean Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress is not qualified to run a team.
RETREADS (FORMER NFL COACHES)
He may be out of an NFL job this season, but count on former Broncos, Giants and Falcons head honcho Dan Reeves to look for one last job in his quest for a Super Bowl ring as a coach.
COLLEGE COACHES
Ohio State and Michigan get most of the Big Ten ink, but Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has quietly built a big-time program year in and year out.
FUTURE NFL ASSISTANTS
One of the most studious and intense players of his era, former Bears Hall of Famer Mike Singletary is trying to climb the coaching ranks by passing on his LB knowledge.
What makes a great head coach? There are many factors to consider.
Being a productive coordinator should not be the only criteria. There are several solid coordinators who never develop into good head coaches. There are a lot of intangibles that play into becoming a solid head coach ? leadership and vision for the big picture ? are two that come into play.
Coaching Philosophies
Of course, it all starts with coaching philosophies. An owner and general manager look for a head coach whose offensive and defensive philosophies fit the direction they want to organization going towards. And the coaching style is also very important. Is the candidate a good communicator and motivator? Or does this candidate hold the possibility of alienating players with an abrasive personality?
Staffing
Ownership wants to learn about the make-up of the potential coaching staff a candidate is bringing to the organization. How many does he want on the staff? What are their philosophies? Are they versatile at both teaching the game and making adjustments on the fly?
Personnel
How does the coach view the big picture of building the team? Is there going to be an ideal chemistry between the head coach and the rest of the organization in building a winner together? Does he prefer building through the draft or does he want his front office to be active in free agency? How well does the coach know the personnel of the team he is interviewing with? Is he willing to develop younger players? What type of players are required for his offensive and defensive philosophies?
Administrative
There are plenty of non-football issues that are important. How does the coach schedule the off-season workouts? What are his philosophies on traveling issues? How would he handle the bye week in the schedule? What's his philosophy for working with the media? What are the nutritional requirements of the players?
Very good organizations have specific policies in place for handling these issues.
And don't forget the single most important trait ? leadership! When an individual walks into the room and begins talking, ask yourself this question ? Can this individual become the leader that others follow and guide us to a Super Bowl?
Saturday, July 31
Gibbs opens first camp in a dozen years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) _ Joe Gibbs kept his coaching staff up until 1 a.m., telling old stories and nervously making sure everything was perfect on the eve of his first training camp in 12 years.
After a little sleep, the coaches made the early morning drive to Redskins Park _ only to find that the fans had beat them there.
``I got here about 6:15; the parking lots were full,'' assistant coach Joe Bugel said. ``They were catching football. It was game day. Then I really started getting nervous.''
By 9 a.m. Saturday, thousands had assembled to watch Gibbs return to the practice field, applauding the return of the Hall of Fame coach who won three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins. The morning and afternoon practice each attracted about 5,000 fans, according to team officials.
``I didn't expect this many fans,'' said quarterback Mark Brunell, who never saw such hoopla in nine years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. ``I knew there was going to be a lot of people here, but it's unbelievable.''
Gibbs concentrated mostly on the offense but also paid close attention to special teams drills _ a significant change from the departed Steve Spurrier, who always stayed close to the quarterbacks.
Asked to compare his emotions to his first Redskins training camp in 1981, the 63-year-old Gibbs joked: ``I'm too old to remember '81.''
``I think it's a lot of the same things, a lot of the same emotions,'' he added. ``Nervous, apprehensive.''
Gibbs was involved in every offensive snap and even played free safety. He faked a blitz once or twice as he and his mostly gray-haired coaching staff lined up to give the offense different looks on pass plays.
``If they can't read us, then they're really in trouble,'' Gibbs said. ``I don't think we're moving at the same speed.''
The session was the most physical Redskins practice since the early days of Norv Turner in the mid-1990s, with live tackling on some inside running plays.
``We're never really taking breaks,'' tackle Chris Samuels said. ``We're always working. Last year and previous years, we would go hard and take some periods off where we're talking through some stuff. But we're on the field, we work hard, we get off the field.''
Gibbs kept the quarterback competition as level as possible. Brunell took the first set of reps, but he and Patrick Ramsey took an equal number of snaps. Gibbs said he won't decide on a quarterback until the final exhibition game.
Meanwhile, Bugel, who oversaw the infamous ``Hogs'' of the 1980s, came up with a new moniker for his new offensive line.
``Dirt bags,'' Bugel said. ``They're going to be down and dirty in those trenches. We like nicknames for our offensive line. It gives them some identity.''
First-round draft pick safety Sean Taylor, who is recovering from a knee sprain, sat out practice and declined interviews.
Gibbs gave the first session a mediocre grade. There were too many botched snaps and poorly run pass routes to make him happy.
``A good attitude _ very rough,'' Gibbs said.<
Gibbs opens first camp in a dozen years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) _ Joe Gibbs kept his coaching staff up until 1 a.m., telling old stories and nervously making sure everything was perfect on the eve of his first training camp in 12 years.
After a little sleep, the coaches made the early morning drive to Redskins Park _ only to find that the fans had beat them there.
``I got here about 6:15; the parking lots were full,'' assistant coach Joe Bugel said. ``They were catching football. It was game day. Then I really started getting nervous.''
By 9 a.m. Saturday, thousands had assembled to watch Gibbs return to the practice field, applauding the return of the Hall of Fame coach who won three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins. The morning and afternoon practice each attracted about 5,000 fans, according to team officials.
``I didn't expect this many fans,'' said quarterback Mark Brunell, who never saw such hoopla in nine years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. ``I knew there was going to be a lot of people here, but it's unbelievable.''
Gibbs concentrated mostly on the offense but also paid close attention to special teams drills _ a significant change from the departed Steve Spurrier, who always stayed close to the quarterbacks.
Asked to compare his emotions to his first Redskins training camp in 1981, the 63-year-old Gibbs joked: ``I'm too old to remember '81.''
``I think it's a lot of the same things, a lot of the same emotions,'' he added. ``Nervous, apprehensive.''
Gibbs was involved in every offensive snap and even played free safety. He faked a blitz once or twice as he and his mostly gray-haired coaching staff lined up to give the offense different looks on pass plays.
``If they can't read us, then they're really in trouble,'' Gibbs said. ``I don't think we're moving at the same speed.''
The session was the most physical Redskins practice since the early days of Norv Turner in the mid-1990s, with live tackling on some inside running plays.
``We're never really taking breaks,'' tackle Chris Samuels said. ``We're always working. Last year and previous years, we would go hard and take some periods off where we're talking through some stuff. But we're on the field, we work hard, we get off the field.''
Gibbs kept the quarterback competition as level as possible. Brunell took the first set of reps, but he and Patrick Ramsey took an equal number of snaps. Gibbs said he won't decide on a quarterback until the final exhibition game.
Meanwhile, Bugel, who oversaw the infamous ``Hogs'' of the 1980s, came up with a new moniker for his new offensive line.
``Dirt bags,'' Bugel said. ``They're going to be down and dirty in those trenches. We like nicknames for our offensive line. It gives them some identity.''
First-round draft pick safety Sean Taylor, who is recovering from a knee sprain, sat out practice and declined interviews.
Gibbs gave the first session a mediocre grade. There were too many botched snaps and poorly run pass routes to make him happy.
``A good attitude _ very rough,'' Gibbs said.<
