Quick thumbs-up/down overview of teams who changed their head coach / offensive coordinator during the off-season. May be useful if you want to use as a tie-breaker deciding between two players (except for defensive teams selection) or to spot sleeper opportunities.
Notable absence from this list: for only the second time since 2005, the Redskins have system continuity at offense. That was during Joe Gibb (Dan Snyder version)'s 2nd season and that turned out to be Gibb's best season after he came back to the Redskins.
Arizona Cardinals - OC left but HC Wisenhunt is more than capable of calling the plays. No change to the system. Thumbs up.
Cleveland Browns - Mangini new HC. Can't get worse than Crennel managing the offense, but QB talent, not coaching, is the main issue here. Neutral.
Denver Broncos - Despite the big brouhaha over McDaniels taking over, there is actually some continuity here. Both RB and OL coaches return, so the running game should be in good shape. Passing is a wild-card, depending on how many more players McDaniels pisses off this season. Thumbs down for passing game, at least this season.
Detroit Lions - HC Schwartz comes from the defensive side, which bodes negatively for fantasy goodness if he's involved with the offense. OC Linehan favors the running game but not sure if Detroit has the power game personnel to do so, as they did zone blocking last season. Thumbs down.
Indianapolis Colts - Lots of turnover on the surface, but former longtime OC Tom Moore is still around as a consultant and Peyton Manning is the de facto play caller anyways. No big system change for the offense. Thumbs up.
Kansas City - New HC in former AZ OC Todd Haley. However, Chan Gailey remains as OC and an offensive-minded Todd Haley will be a more aggressive play-caller than Herman Edwards. For instance, there probably will be smarter decisions on 4th down and more scoring opportunities. System doesn't change much, still using spread-offense. Thumbs up.
New England Patriots - Bill Belichick lost his boy-wonder OC, but this is still the Bill Belichick - Tom Brady axis of evil we're talking about. Like the Roman empire, it'll take awhile for this foundation to crumble. Thumbs up.
New York Jets - Rex Ryan becomes the HC. He was the Ravens' DC, and favors the conservative power-running game. Brian Schottenheimer remains as OC, as Ryan was forced to keep him. I'd imagine Schottenheimer has only 1 season to prove himself. I'm not sure both coaches are on the same wavelength philosophically, so I'm saying Thumbs Down.
Oakland Raiders - Technically, no new changes but stay far, far away if you are factoring coaching in your drafting decision.
St. Louis Rams - New HC Steve Spagnuolo is focusing on upgrading the Rams' defense. Rebuilding the Rams' offense falls on new OC Pat Shurmur, formerly of the Eagles. This means west-coast offense and probably any improvement in the Rams' passing offense from last season's disaster. Thumbs up after maybe an adjustment period during the first third of the season.
Seattle Seahawks - Jim Mora is the new HC, and he doesn't have as good a reputation as Mike Holmgren for the offensive side. Even worse is that OC Greg Knapp is ditching the long-time West coast offense for a more conventional running-based offense with play-action passing. This may help Julius Jones but for the rest of the offense, I'd say Thumbs Down.
Tampa Bay - New HC Raheem Morris is from the defensive side, and his OC Jeff Jagodzinski will have to overcome the reputation of Jon Gruden as an offensive genius. Since both men have never served in an equivalent position before, there is quite a bit of uncertainty on how well they will do. They could surprise, but there is more risk than average here. Thumbs Down.
Notable absence from this list: for only the second time since 2005, the Redskins have system continuity at offense. That was during Joe Gibb (Dan Snyder version)'s 2nd season and that turned out to be Gibb's best season after he came back to the Redskins.
Arizona Cardinals - OC left but HC Wisenhunt is more than capable of calling the plays. No change to the system. Thumbs up.
Cleveland Browns - Mangini new HC. Can't get worse than Crennel managing the offense, but QB talent, not coaching, is the main issue here. Neutral.
Denver Broncos - Despite the big brouhaha over McDaniels taking over, there is actually some continuity here. Both RB and OL coaches return, so the running game should be in good shape. Passing is a wild-card, depending on how many more players McDaniels pisses off this season. Thumbs down for passing game, at least this season.
Detroit Lions - HC Schwartz comes from the defensive side, which bodes negatively for fantasy goodness if he's involved with the offense. OC Linehan favors the running game but not sure if Detroit has the power game personnel to do so, as they did zone blocking last season. Thumbs down.
Indianapolis Colts - Lots of turnover on the surface, but former longtime OC Tom Moore is still around as a consultant and Peyton Manning is the de facto play caller anyways. No big system change for the offense. Thumbs up.
Kansas City - New HC in former AZ OC Todd Haley. However, Chan Gailey remains as OC and an offensive-minded Todd Haley will be a more aggressive play-caller than Herman Edwards. For instance, there probably will be smarter decisions on 4th down and more scoring opportunities. System doesn't change much, still using spread-offense. Thumbs up.
New England Patriots - Bill Belichick lost his boy-wonder OC, but this is still the Bill Belichick - Tom Brady axis of evil we're talking about. Like the Roman empire, it'll take awhile for this foundation to crumble. Thumbs up.
New York Jets - Rex Ryan becomes the HC. He was the Ravens' DC, and favors the conservative power-running game. Brian Schottenheimer remains as OC, as Ryan was forced to keep him. I'd imagine Schottenheimer has only 1 season to prove himself. I'm not sure both coaches are on the same wavelength philosophically, so I'm saying Thumbs Down.
Oakland Raiders - Technically, no new changes but stay far, far away if you are factoring coaching in your drafting decision.
St. Louis Rams - New HC Steve Spagnuolo is focusing on upgrading the Rams' defense. Rebuilding the Rams' offense falls on new OC Pat Shurmur, formerly of the Eagles. This means west-coast offense and probably any improvement in the Rams' passing offense from last season's disaster. Thumbs up after maybe an adjustment period during the first third of the season.
Seattle Seahawks - Jim Mora is the new HC, and he doesn't have as good a reputation as Mike Holmgren for the offensive side. Even worse is that OC Greg Knapp is ditching the long-time West coast offense for a more conventional running-based offense with play-action passing. This may help Julius Jones but for the rest of the offense, I'd say Thumbs Down.
Tampa Bay - New HC Raheem Morris is from the defensive side, and his OC Jeff Jagodzinski will have to overcome the reputation of Jon Gruden as an offensive genius. Since both men have never served in an equivalent position before, there is quite a bit of uncertainty on how well they will do. They could surprise, but there is more risk than average here. Thumbs Down.
Comments