At the top of the list is Mike Shanahan. The Redskins coach benched Donovan McNabb for the wildly successful Rex Grossman for the final 2 minutes of the Redskins loss to the Lions on Sunday. Grossman promptly fumbled and Ndamukong Suh returned it for a game sealing touchdown. Originally, Shanahan claimed Grossman had a better handle of the 2-minute offense (although McNabb was the QB for the final 2 minutes of the first half), but then changed his tone and said McNabb wasn't enough good enough shape to handle the 2-minute offense. Isn't it Shanahan's job to make sure his players are in proper shape? Missing from his explanations is the fact that Shanahan's offensive coordinator is his own son, who was having problems with McNabb. Benching a player who is not getting along with your son in the final minutes of 6 point football game? Sounds like someone playing a father and not a coach. If he can't prioritize his responsibilities as a coach ahead of being a father, perhaps he shouldn't employ his family.
Our second coach is Brad Childress. As a Vikings fan, reaching the NFC Championship game was very enjoyable. The season was bittersweet though, as I suspected Childress would be given credit for the success and an extension to his contract. Brad Childress has done a terrible job as the Coach of the Vikings, even during last years success. This season, "Chilly" has begun to show his flaws. He ripped his Hall of Fame QB, then traded draft picks for a player he would cut weeks later. Was it really a surprise to anyone who has followed football this decade that Moss would only play when he wanted to and create drama off the field? No? Well apparently it caught the leader of the Vikings off guard. Good usage of next years draft picks Coach!
Our last group of coaches all committed the same crime this weekend: failing to grow a pair and trying to win the game! Buffalo is the only winless team in the NFL. In overtime on Sunday, facing 4th and 7 on the Kansas City 40 yard line, rather than attempt a game willing field goal or a fourth down conversion, Coach Chan Gailey punted. He punted in the opposing teams territory. Grow some stones and try to win the game, Chan! It took Kansas City just two plays to reach the 40 (where they would have started their possession had Gailey gone for it and failed), and they predictably won. In Los Angeles this Saturday, Lane Kiffin and USC were taking on the number one offense in the country against Oregon. With the game still close, Kiffin twice chose to punt on 4th and 1. How can you really expect to win a game against the best offense in the country by punting! After the first punt, it took the Ducks just two plays to pass the original line of scrimmage, and the second punt was returned past the line of scrimmage. USC was later forced to attempt a 4th and 9 as the route was on. Failing to go for 4th and 1s in a close game but going for 4th and 9 in a blowout? That's gutsy Coach.
(Despite his faults, Les Miles never has and likely never will fall in the same category as the coaches above. He may not form complete sentences or know how to use timeouts properly, but he isn't afraid to win a game, instead of hoping not to lose it.)
No comments:
Post a Comment