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mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
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Sure, but the Patriots kept having great success even while their former coaches failed elsewhere. If they tread water for a couple of years do you think proximity to Bill is going to be that strong of a factor to give guys consideration? If Josh leaves and they hire a new OC, will he get HC opportunities if he gets mediocre production out of mediocre talent? I don't think so.
Charlie Weis and Bill O’Brien poisoned the well for BB’s offensive coaches. McDaniels may eventually get his opportunity (and if he doesn’t, it’s because of his own failure in Denver and his handling of the Indy situation a few years back), but any future OCs would have to shine — the BB connection wouldn’t carry as much weight as, say, working under Andy Reid.

Flores’s success in Miami is probably enough to keep BB’s reputation intact for the defensive guys, Matt Patricia and other failures notwithstanding.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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Sure, but the Patriots kept having great success even while their former coaches failed elsewhere. If they tread water for a couple of years do you think proximity to Bill is going to be that strong of a factor to give guys consideration? If Josh leaves and they hire a new OC, will he get HC opportunities if he gets mediocre production out of mediocre talent? I don't think so.
That's a good question. I don't know.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Darrell Bevell to be hired as the Jags OC. Trevor Lawrence's pro career is not off to a good start.
I think Bevell will be a decent choice. He was very good for Stafford, he like play action, he likes deep shots. Honestly it seems like a lot of his worst seasons came when a conservative coach reigned him in. THis year was a clear case of that, they started the season way more conservative, then when Patricia got fired the offense opened up. Seems like a lot of the same in SEA, where Carroll has since had the same issue with his new coordinators, Pete wants conservatism so the OC reigns it in.
 

ShaneTrot

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Charlie Weis and Bill O’Brien poisoned the well for BB’s offensive coaches. McDaniels may eventually get his opportunity (and if he doesn’t, it’s because of his own failure in Denver and his handling of the Indy situation a few years back), but any future OCs would have to shine — the BB connection wouldn’t carry as much weight as, say, working under Andy Reid.

Flores’s success in Miami is probably enough to keep BB’s reputation intact for the defensive guys, Matt Patricia and other failures notwithstanding.
I know people like to shit on Bill O'Brien for his bad trades and the way it ended in Houston but he had a legitimately good record there. He had two losing seasons out of seven, including this year in which he was canned at 0-4. He won 4 divisional titles. He made the divisional round twice losing to the eventual Super Bowl winner each time. Most fan bases would kill for a stretch of football that good. Saban just hired him. The man has had his issues but he has been a good coach.
 

Cellar-Door

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I know people like to shit on Bill O'Brien for his bad trades and the way it ended in Houston but he had a legitimately good record there. He had two losing seasons out of seven, including this year in which he was canned at 0-4. He won 4 divisional titles. He made the divisional round twice losing to the eventual Super Bowl winner each time. Most fan bases would kill for a stretch of football that good. Saban just hired him. The man has had his issues but he has been a good coach.
Bill O'Brien was a pretty good coach and a terrible GM.
 

Captaincoop

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Jul 16, 2005
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Here's his plan for the franchise— watch your knees!

View: https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/30753733

"When you punch us back, we're going to smile at you. And when you knock us down, we're going to get up.... on the way back up, we're going to bite a kneecap off. Alright? And then we're going to stand up. It's going to take two more shots to knock us down, alright? And on the way up, we're going to take your other kneecap."
So when he practiced his speech in front of his wife that morning...she couldn't have gently talked him out of that section? I trust that my wife would have, one of the reasons I love her.
 

m0ckduck

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Jul 20, 2005
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So when he practiced his speech in front of his wife that morning...she couldn't have gently talked him out of that section? I trust that my wife would have, one of the reasons I love her.
I just love the uncomfortable moment when he gets to the kneecap part, and it tilts perceptibly from “string of motivational cliches” to “uh oh, this guy is working through some personal issues”
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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Jul 15, 2005
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I

I just love the uncomfortable moment when he gets to the kneecap part, and it tilts perceptibly from “string of motivational cliches” to “uh oh, this guy is working through some personal issues”
I love that he said he could spout off coach speak all day, but he won’t, and instead pivots directly into tough guy motivational cliches.

The Lions will win 2 games or fewer in 2021, and he’ll either be fired or fired less than halfway through 2022.
 

JM3

often quoted
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Dec 14, 2019
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I love that he said he could spout off coach speak all day, but he won’t, and instead pivots directly into tough guy motivational cliches.

The Lions will win 2 games or fewer in 2021, and he’ll either be fired or fired less than halfway through 2022.
At least they only gave him 6 years.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
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Apr 23, 2010
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I can't believe the Lions hired Campbell. It's a worse hire than Patricia.
As soon as it was announced that Chris Spielman was going to have a big role with the team and the hire, I knew they were going to hire someone like this.
Spielman definitely ate up the old school, fake tough guy routine. I’m not sure if Spielman thought Campbell’s apparent cannabilism was a positive or negative however
 

rymflaherty

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Jun 27, 2010
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I can't believe the Lions hired Campbell. It's a worse hire than Patricia.
I can’t believe that Lions fans are celebrating the move.
When I heard of the hire, I was shocked, so the first thing I did was head to the Lions Reddit for some schadenfreude...and it was nearly universal approval.
I guess all it takes is tough guy talk full of cliche and platitude to win the average football fan over.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
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I can’t believe that Lions fans are celebrating the move.
When I heard of the hire, I was shocked, so the first thing I did was head to the Lions Reddit for some schadenfreude...and it was nearly universal approval.
I guess all it takes is tough guy talk full of cliche and platitude to win the average football fan over.
Did you miss that whole Rex Ryan thing?
 
Apr 24, 2019
1,278
Rex Ryan has that bullshit macho talk, yes, but has a way above-average defensive mind and is a game plan tactician. Belichick respects that. I don't think this is the same kind of hire, although, yes, the bluster is the same. Gonna be fun.
 

leftfieldlegacy

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Jul 31, 2005
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I can’t believe that Lions fans are celebrating the move.
When I heard of the hire, I was shocked, so the first thing I did was head to the Lions Reddit for some schadenfreude...and it was nearly universal approval.
I guess all it takes is tough guy talk full of cliche and platitude to win the average football fan over.
Seems like the perfect landing spot for Greg Williams.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
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I can’t believe that Lions fans are celebrating the move.
When I heard of the hire, I was shocked, so the first thing I did was head to the Lions Reddit for some schadenfreude...and it was nearly universal approval.
I guess all it takes is tough guy talk full of cliche and platitude to win the average football fan over.
Campbell acquitted himself well in 2015 as the Dolphins’ interim head coach and has since spent five years on the staff of a consensus top-5 coach (Payton). He’s not the guy I would’ve hired, but it isn’t obviously a bad hire.
 

EvilEmpire

paying for his sins
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Campbell acquitted himself well in 2015 as the Dolphins’ interim head coach and has since spent five years on the staff of a consensus top-5 coach (Payton). He’s not the guy I would’ve hired, but it isn’t obviously a bad hire.
That sounds right.

As far as the speech goes, if the target audience likes it, good for him. Some fan bases love that kind of bullshit.

If Detroit is that kind of place, maybe he bought an extra week or three before the fans turn on him.
 

Phil Plantier

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Mar 7, 2002
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Bill O'Brien was a pretty good coach and a terrible GM.
To amplify this:

Doug Kyed has a great series on Patriots drafts from 2000-2020. (https://nesn.com/2021/01/tom-brady-is-not-only-nfls-greatest-qb-but-also-goat-draft-pick/amp/). He uses an rough-but-ready metric for evaluating draft success, both overall and relative to draft position. He tracks every GM's performance from 2000-2020. Bill O'Brien is 116th. Out of 116. (relative to draft position he's 115th)
 

Cousin Walter

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Jun 26, 2006
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To amplify this:

Doug Kyed has a great series on Patriots drafts from 2000-2020. (https://nesn.com/2021/01/tom-brady-is-not-only-nfls-greatest-qb-but-also-goat-draft-pick/amp/). He uses an rough-but-ready metric for evaluating draft success, both overall and relative to draft position. He tracks every GM's performance from 2000-2020. Bill O'Brien is 116th. Out of 116. (relative to draft position he's 115th)
This is insightful, but I find it questionable to attribute draft success to the Pats drafting Ted Larsen, who's only played for other teams and not them. Why give NE credit for drafting a guy only to waive him at the end of camp, not realizing what they have? It's a worse outcome than forfeiting the pick altogether.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
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This is insightful, but I find it questionable to attribute draft success to the Pats drafting Ted Larsen, who's only played for other teams and not them. Why give NE credit for drafting a guy only to waive him at the end of camp, not realizing what they have? It's a worse outcome than forfeiting the pick altogether.
I may be wrong but I don't think it was a case of them not knowing what they had, but that the roster was full. Their starters were Light-Mankins-Koppen-Neal-Vollmer, and they also had Connolly, Wendell, and Ohrnberger. I can't find whether Larsen was on the practice squad then signed to an active roster by Tampa though. Larsen started almost immediately for them though.
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
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Leslie Frazier is now available to take the Houston job ... if that's what they were waiting for
 

67YAZ

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Bears promote Sean Desai from safeties coach to DC. He's the first coordinator of Indian descent in the NFL. He's from Shelton, CT, and went to undergrad at BU, earning a philosophy & poli sci double major. Desai worked his way up through college ranks, earning a doctorate in education administration at Temple while special teams coordinator. He also adjuncted courses at Temple. Apparently, Bears players call him "Doc." Smart dude.

He was hired to the Bears by Trestman and then became Vic Fangio’s right-hand man on defense. Current & former players, as well as media types, are very excited about this - good guy, works hard, detail-oriented, learned to scheme from Fangio. It’s a tough spot - the Bears probably need 10 wins for everyone to keep their jobs - but a great chance for Desai.
 
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Cellar-Door

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In case you thought Urban was going to be different this time.....
One of his first hires is Strength coach Chris Doyle, last seen leaving Iowa under a settlement agreement after multiple accusations of racist bias from players (also notable for having 13 players go to the hospital on account of his workouts).

Trash people stay trash
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
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Well, what do we think?

Saleh: big mess, this D is so bad. Worst point differential.

Culley: looks lost but Texans look professional, better than I expected

Campbell: started well but it is getting away from him. Unlike guys above he has a vet QB

Staley: Thought he would be better. Record not bad but he took over a team with talent

Smith: pretty good, today a mess, he has Matt Ryan who I think is still solid. Don’t have a strong opinion yet

Meyer: was a shitshow, somehow seems like it is getting better.

Sirriani: strange dude but I think his qb is not good and they play hard. He might be doing the best job given the state of their rebuild.

Only half way through year one, too soon for conclusions
 

Phil Plantier

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Well, what do we think?

Saleh: big mess, this D is so bad. Worst point differential.

Culley: looks lost but Texans look professional, better than I expected

Campbell: started well but it is getting away from him. Unlike guys above he has a vet QB

Staley: Thought he would be better. Record not bad but he took over a team with talent

Smith: pretty good, today a mess, he has Matt Ryan who I think is still solid. Don’t have a strong opinion yet

Meyer: was a shitshow, somehow seems like it is getting better.

Sirriani: strange dude but I think his qb is not good and they play hard. He might be doing the best job given the state of their rebuild.

Only half way through year one, too soon for conclusions
I don't think we'll be able to evaluate Saleh until the end of next year. Still so talent-poor. It was worth seeing if Mike White is a unicorn, but I'm sure it'll be back to regular programming next week.

I think you're selling Dan Campbell short, especially off of his best result of the season. He and Culley both seem to be motivating their players, which I think is a big deal.

I can't be objective about Urban Meyer.

I worry about Arthur Smith. His offense shows interesting wrinkles, but they still seem to be underachieving. They might still make the playoffs, though.
 
I worry about Arthur Smith. His offense shows interesting wrinkles, but they still seem to be underachieving. They might still make the playoffs, though.
The Falcons were #31 in DVOA before this week's games, ahead of only Detroit (which will probably zoom ahead after their relatively good showing in Pittsburgh). They will not make the playoffs.

That said, the main issue with the Falcons is their lack of bite in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. You certainly can't do much offensive scheming when your quarterback is always under pressure and your running backs can't find any holes - until that gets fixed, it's hard for me to criticize Smith *too* much.
 

SMU_Sox

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Jul 20, 2009
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I’ve been following the Falcons a bit this year because I live with a Falcons fan. Like @Conigliaro's Potential mentioned they have a deficit in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They also don’t have enough receiving talent right now especially with Ridley out. It’s a talent poor team. I’m shocked they are 4-5 instead of 2-7. They could add talent to virtually any position group. They are probably a year or two away from rebounding but by then Ryan (who I went to high school with same grade) will be 37-38. The good news is Ryan is still playing well and with the way QBs are aging he might still be good even if older by the time the team around him is good again.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
32,620
I don't think we'll be able to evaluate Saleh until the end of next year. Still so talent-poor. It was worth seeing if Mike White is a unicorn, but I'm sure it'll be back to regular programming next week.

I think you're selling Dan Campbell short, especially off of his best result of the season. He and Culley both seem to be motivating their players, which I think is a big deal.

I can't be objective about Urban Meyer.

I worry about Arthur Smith. His offense shows interesting wrinkles, but they still seem to be underachieving. They might still make the playoffs, though.

I don't disagree that this stuff can change but these are my rankings at this moment in time. I think not having Campbell as worst even though he has zero wins is being more than fair. My list is worst to best. About Saleh, a lot of it is personnel, but he is also running a D scheme that doesn't fit his personnel at all. He is a cool guy but for all of our losses, we have not been competitive. To give the uninitiated how bad it is, here we go:

Jets best RB: rookie

Jets best WR: rookie

Jets best oline: rookie

Jets best TE: lol we have no one, but best is not a rookie

Jets best DL: Quinnen

Jets best LB: CJ

Jets best DB: 2nd-year player Hall
 

SMU_Sox

queer eye for the next pats guy
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Jul 20, 2009
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Dallas
I think Staley is doing ok. The Chargers need a right tackle and more importantly they need IDL and better LBs. If you’re going to run a two high system you need a very good front 7 or else you’re going to get run over and that is what we’re seeing now. The Chargers are a competitive squad but they are still missing some pieces that will hold them back from being a great team.