NFL 2019: New head coaches revisited with realistic expectations

There were many head coaching vacancies in January, but how many of our new NFL head coaches still feel like great hires? We revisit the teams and slap realistic expectations upon their seasons to come.

Back in January, we ranked the NFL head coaching openings in terms of the best spot for a new coach to land. We agreed on the top three (though differed on the order) of the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Green Bay Packers. We also agreed on the worst landing spot: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

How things change eight months later. Our new NFL head coaches don’t all fit with their new teams, but each must make it work or get fired trying. We slap some realistic expectations upon these coaches and teams as we revisit the franchises that once looked so promising.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the NFL 2019 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Todd Salem:

I’m not yet admitting I was wrong, but expectations have certainly shifted for our teams with new coaches. While I am worried about who Green Bay and New York brought in, I feel pretty good about the way the Buccaneers are trending.

What I said back in January about the reason to hate Tampa Bay was:

"Is it better to start with a blank slate or a blueprint that is proven to fail? Tampa Bay is committed to Jameis Winston, which is a major issue for any new head coach. There isn’t much talent on the rest of the roster either, and although things change quickly in the NFL, the NFC South has three clearly superior teams to fight against."

That final point is still true, but with the season about to begin, it feels much better to have a foundation built than go in with, say, what the Dolphins or even Cardinals are doing.

Arizona has taken a wild swing that will cost many people their jobs if it doesn’t connect. Tampa Bay did what franchises always do. It played it safe, brought in veteran Bruce Arians, and is now considered a playoff sleeper and fantasy darling for this immediate season.

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On the other side of our previous rankings, it is hard to love the stories coming out of Green Bay. Matt LaFleur is one of the most under-qualified coaches we’ve seen in quite some time. Well, at least we would normally be saying that if not for the questionable hirings of Zac Taylor and Brian Flores the same offseason. Regardless, LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers need to develop a rapport fast or the news cycle will overwhelm them both, as it already is to a degree.

And what of Adam Gase in New York? He didn’t want Le’Veon Bell, seemed to maybe get his GM fired and is being called crazy “in a good way” by his players in training camp. I normally love when failed head coaches get that second opportunity. It’s almost as good as getting that failed head coach as an overqualified coordinator.

But Gase failed so recently and isn’t making the right kind of headlines heading into the start of that second chance. I almost wish Gase and LaFleur switched spots.

I still want that offensive mind to lead Sam Darnold and the Jets. LaFleur is that guy. But letting him grow with the team feels better than having him pretend he’s going to boss around Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, Gase has three years of head coaching experience and three years of being a lead coordinator that would aid him when trying to jump-start a previous contender. Alas, we have acquired the opposite.

Dan Salem:

It’s truly interesting to view these “new” head coaches with an offseason’s worth of hindsight. Some are rookies, while others are in fresh colors. All have a lot to prove this season and you’re not wrong to question if the situations are set up for them to succeed immediately.

It would be interesting to swap coaches among these teams, but that is impossible right now. What is possible is winning, and you skillfully omitted one team who has found itself in a very winnable scenario in the AFC North.

We both found the Cleveland Browns’ coaching vacancy to be rather attractive, yet no one could have predicted how quickly the team would rise up the hype rankings to become favorites to win their division. I personally believe everyone needs to slow their role because Baltimore is also very good and the Steelers are far from dead.

That being said, with the elimination of the Colts from our list of assured playoff contenders, the Browns are in a great spot to make the postseason. They were on top of our rankings in January and remain as sound a pick in August.

As for the Buccaneers, I do like the hiring of Arians to run the show in Tampa Bay. If anyone is up to the task of squeezing a successful season out of Jameis Winston, it’s him. But perhaps the best thing Arians did was hire Todd Bowles to coach his defense.

This assures a competitive team, as Bowles will do great things with his unit. I don’t know if the Buccaneers will be very good, but they have the playmakers to get over the 8-8 hump this season. One or two key injuries to their NFC South rivals and Tampa Bay shoots up the standings.

I must respectfully disagree with your criticism of Adam Gase in New York. He is the right coach to lead this young team and he has hired the ideal staff to whip the Jets into a firey team of winners.

They needed a hothead with personality after getting lulled to sleep by their previous regime’s quiet demeanor. New York needed more accountability and higher expectations. The Jets needed a wacky coach who ignores the media with ease, yet can make their offense pop. Gase added Gregg Williams who will do wonders for their defense. This is not to say that LaFleur wouldn’t have successfully grown with New York, but a coach with experience was needed.

I do worry about the Packers because they too needed a coach with experience. Unless LaFleur and Rodgers become two peas in a pod, the young coach will struggle to reign in his future Hall of Fame quarterback. Now the opposite may also be true. Rodgers’ experience and success may enable LaFleur to flourish, but the two need a positive rapport. All indications are that this has yet to materialize.