12th's Five Coach Of The Year Candidates

[12thMan]

The past couple of weeks I've been thinking about who will win COY. Although I think New England's Bill Belichick will run away with it, I've decided to make it interesting and add four other names to the list.


Bill Belichick: Not really much to say here that hasn't already been said. Love him or hate him, Bill Belichick is a mastermind and will probably win the coach of the year award. A win against the New York Giants next week just might seal the deal as the Patriots go for the undefeated mark. I guess it's time for those old ass former Dolphin players to finally put away their champagne.

Romeo Crennel: I really like what Crennel has done up there in Cleveland. With the help of his front office bringing in some really good talent via the draft and free agency, Crennel has put together a very solid football team with a really bright future. It took three years, which seems to be the standard nowadays, for the Browns to turn the corner under Crennel's leadership. Now that the Browns have a bonafide quarterback in Derek Anderson, I wonder if they will be looking to deal Brady Quinn during the off season?

Jack Del Rio: During the off-season when Del Rio decided to let quarterback Byron Leftwich go, you almost got the feeling he was starting from scratch with David Gerrard. In hindsight, Del Rio not only made the right decision by letting Leftwich walk but he's probably coaching the most dangerous AFC team not in Massachusetts. Mr. Del Rio definitely deserves some consideration for coach of the year.

Tony Dungy: All the guy does is win games and show up for the playoffs. This year Dungy and the Colts have been flying very quietly under the radar while posting an impressive 13-2 record. I don't think there is one team currently in the playoffs, our Redskins included, that have suffered more injuries to starters than Dungy's Colts. In my opinion, managing around injuries is a true mark of excellent coaching. In all likelihood Dungy's name won't get tossed around that much for coach of the year honors, but he is just as deserving as anyone else.

Joe Gibbs: Let me say right off the bat, Gibbs is probably a long shot to win coach of the year. But consider this, if the Redskins can get into the playoffs with a win this Sunday and catch a team sleeping in the first round I'll almost guarantee, and maybe for sentimental reasons, that Joe Gibbs' name will quickly ascend to the top of some lists for COY. It's amazing how winning a few meaningful games will make people forget a few botched timeouts.

[dmek25]

i hate B.B, but he is hands down the winner. but i love your train of thought with coach Gibbs. but the 2 timeout thing rules him out

[Daseal]

Gibbs over McCarthy, Phillips, and Tomlin? No way.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Gibbs over McCarthy, Phillips, and Tomlin? No way.

Tellya what, let's see what happens if we face McCarthy and Phillips again.

Also, Tomlin? Yeah he might be good but he did take over a playoff ready team, didn't he?

[Beemnseven]

There seem to be a lot of legitimate choices this year. I'm not sure why McCarthy is getting so much love though. Do the Packers get where they are now without Brett Favre?

If Belichick hasn't won it before, he's got to be a shoe-in now. Still, the spying thing will be a factor there. I'm also not sure if every coach who does the three year turnaround is automatic for COtY, so Crennel might not be there either.

In 1991, when Mike Utley of the Lions got paralized, Wayne Fontes won it -- even with Gibbs commanding the most dominant team in the league. So it depends upon what criteria the voters are looking for. In that case, fighting back from the adversity of losing a teammate to a brutal murder, I don't know how Gibbs CAN'T be near the top of the list.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

There seem to be a lot of legitimate choices this year. I'm not sure why McCarthy is getting so much love though. Do the Packers get where they are now without Brett Favre?

If Belichick hasn't won it before, he's got to be a shoe-in now. Still, the spying thing will be a factor there. I'm also not sure if every coach who does the three year turnaround is automatic for COtY, so Crennel might not be there either.

In 1991, when Mike Utley of the Lions got paralized, Wayne Fontes won it -- even with Gibbs commanding the most dominant team in the league. So it depends upon what criteria the voters are looking for. In that case, fighting back from the adversity of losing a teammate to a brutal murder, I don't know how Gibbs CAN'T be near the top of the list.

Exactly. I think records and stats aside, Gibbs has really pulled it together. Let's hope we can seal the deal next week.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Gibbs over McCarthy, Phillips, and Tomlin? No way.

Why Tomlin? That team was stocked full of talent to begin with. Despite the division win, I'll bet even the Steelers fans would admit that this is a flawed team who won't get much past the second round.

[724Skinsfan]

A coach who is caught and penalized for cheating shouldn't be considered Coach of the Year.

[Daseal]

No, Tomlin took over an 8-8 team that didn't make the playoffs. He also completely changed the offensive philosophy.

If you want to start making coach of the year picks on hypotheticals you better go both ways. Phillips and McCarthy both beat us. No one expected GB to be as good as they are. And I certainly didn't expect Dallas to be this good either. Wade is showing us with Bill Parcells team what good coaching can do to a talented team. Parcells couldn't get it done, Wade comes in and the players react to him and they're playing great.

I just think at highest you can consider Gibbs a candidate is around the 10 spot.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Daseal

No, Tomlin took over an 8-8 team that didn't make the playoffs. He also completely changed the offensive philosophy.

If you want to start making coach of the year picks on hypotheticals you better go both ways. Phillips and McCarthy both beat us. No one expected GB to be as good as they are. And I certainly didn't expect Dallas to be this good either. Wade is showing us with Bill Parcells team what good coaching can do to a talented team. Parcells couldn't get it done, Wade comes in and the players react to him and they're playing great.

I just think at highest you can consider Gibbs a candidate is around the 10 spot.

I beg to differ - big time. Phillips nor Tomlin get this far with a back-up quarterback running the show. And by playoff ready, I meant that from a personnel stand point, the Steelers didn't have to change or add much, did they?

[SFREDSKIN]

Funny, I wrote JLC an e-mail last week about this. I say if we make the playoffs and even win one game, hands down he should be the winner. If Cleveland doesn't make the playoffs Crowell should be out of the running, McCarthy has done a great job but choked when the could still be fighting for home field advantage. Del Rio should be considered, Belichick has done an awesome job but has a cheating asterisk. Dungy has had his injuries but still has Peyton Manning. Joe Gibbs, to me this years coaching job is even better than 1992, any of the coaches mentioned above who lose their right side OL, CB, S, LB, FB for about 3 games, an assortment of WR through out the year, QB, backup comes in wins critical games, RT, your 3rd string undrafted, rookie comes in and does a better job than the 2nd string, deserves coach of the year.

[squrrelco3]

I was listening to John Riggins last Friday, and the consensus among the guys was that if the Redskins win out and make the playoffs, Gibbs at the very least gets a truckload of votes.

[sandtrapjack]

McCarthy and Tomlin should be on the ballot as well. Neither were picked to do well during the preseason and both have exceeded all expectations.

[MTK]

I could see Gibbs getting some love. I don't see another team out there that's overcome more this year than the Redskins.

[Daseal]

I beg to differ - big time. Phillips nor Tomlin get this far with a back-up quarterback running the show. And by playoff ready, I meant that from a personnel stand point, the Steelers didn't have to change or add much, did they?

Let's look at your top 4: Where are the Pats, Colts, Browns, and Jags without Brady, Manning, Anderson, and Garrard? I hate all these what if games you keep playing. This is coach of the year, who did the best job coaching. Not the what if bowl. Those teams kept their quarterbacks healthy, attrition is part of football -- it's not an excuse it's something you have to work around and expect.