RI: Something to chew on (Mariucci speculation) (Update: Interview Wednesday)

[WillH]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I don't know the guy and haven't followed his career extremely closely, but that is kind of the impression I got from discussions of his style on NFL Radio (Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan's show - the best one on that station) back when he coached the Lions. The points that they would continually make was that it was a get in, get done, out on the golf course by the afternoon type deal up there. It worked in San Francisco when you had guys like Steve Young, Jerry Rice, et al, but blew up in Detroit when you had Charles and Shaun Rogers (hence the disciplinarian-type Rod Marinelli being hired). Seems kind of like Spurrier minus the stupid offense. Maybe that will work with this locker room, I don't know.

It would certainly be more fitting with Snyder's "splashy pick" style than Fassel, or Meeks, or most anyone else actually. I think a Mooch hire would therefore be in line with everything else we've seen out of Redskins Park lately (i.e. Snyder a la 2003) then any other pick. For that reason I'd be disappointed if that happens. I'd prefer Fassel to Mooch and I don't understand why the majority in this poll would favor Mooch. He did well (sort of, did he ever even advance to a Conference Championship) with very good teams in San Francisco then fell flat on his face in Detroit (as everyone does). Fassel has a much better resume IMO. Is it personality? Fassel's Giants connection? The fact that he was announced when Williams was still in the picture? I don't really get the preference for Mooch. JLC makes some compelling points though (as to why it makes sense given what has happened and how it would fit with Snyder's personality, not that it is a great idea).

I thought you made some good points here, and being that I wasn't crazy about Fassel, and am more comfortable with the thought of Mooch as our coach, I decided to dissect this thing:

Mooch:
SF '97 - 13-3 Lost in NFC championship
SF '98 - 12-4 Lost in Div Round to NFC Champs ATL
SF '99 - 5-11 (ouch!) first yr of transition from Young to Garcia
SF '00 - 5-11 (double ouch!!) Garcia's first full year
SF '01 - 12-4 Playoff Appearance
SF '02 - 10-6 (won NFC West) Lost in Div Round to SB Champs TB

DET '03 - 7-9
DET '04 - 7-9
DET '05 - 4-7 Before he was fired

Overall record: 75-71

Pros:
4 playoff appearances in 6 years
Helped to develop young Brett Favre (Good for JC)
Excells with talented teams
Average Record influenced by young QB (Garcia) and crappy team (Lions)
At 52 he has experience, but could coach here for awhile
His coaching background is a good fit with what we have compiled
Turned SF around after a 5-11 '96 season (11 game W streak as rookie coach)

Cons:
No Super Bowl appearances, only 1 NFC Champ. Appearance
Painfully Average record
Inability to fix sinking ship (Lions)
Success in SF could be attributed to inherited talent (Young/Rice)


Fassel:

NY '97 - 10-5 (1st in NFC East) Lost to Wild Card team
NY '98 - 8-8 (3rd in NFC East)
NY '99 - 7-9 (3rd in NFC East)
NY '00 - 12-4 ("Playoff Guarantee") Lost to BAL in Super Bowl
NY '01 - 7-9
NY '02 - 10-6 Lost to Mooch in Playoffs
NY '03 - 4-12 Fired

Overall Record: 58-53

Pros;
3 Playoff Appearances in 6 years
Coached young Simms and Elway (good for JC)
Went to SuperBowl with Kerry Collins (granted the other SB QB was Dilfer)
Ability to rally team with playoff guarantee

Cons:
Painfully Average record
Lost in Wild Card round 2/3 of playoff appearances
Teams lost disappointing games to teams they shouldn't have
Offenses were at the bottom of the league in Baltimore as OC
Older then Mooch at 59

Overall after looking at this more deeply I still maintain that Mooch is the better candidate of the 2. Their resumes are eerily similar, but even though Fassel has a SuperBowl appearance I think Mooch has the edge with 4 playoofs in which he went farther on avg. Also Mariucci is the younger of the two, so that swings me in his favor as well. Their experiences in DET and BAL are similar blemishes on their careers, but in recent history most would agree that OAK would be the tougher of the two assignments. I could see where others can see Fassel as the better option, however, and I can concede that to you, but I think there is enough evidence in looking at their resumes to suggest that the Majority reaction being more favorable for Mariucci is not simply because of GW, or NYG, but I guess yes maybe the personality helps tip things in his favor.