The Drubbing

Shanahan fired

Hiring a  Coordinator to be a Head Coach has a lot more to do with the type of leader and team strategist than their play-calling and strengths on prior teams.  Look at the following head coaches and what their specialties were known for:

Brian Bellick – offensive “guru”  Was the Minnesota Viking’s Offensive Coordinator during their record setting season.  As a head coach in Baltimore, their defense seemed to score more offensive points than their offense.

Tony Dungy – Defensive “mastermind” – Tony was the Defensive Coordinator for the Vikings when they had top defense in the NFL in 1992.  As a head coach, the Colts have a prolific offense, and I can run through/over them on defense.

Bill Belichick – Defensive “genius” – During his days with the Giants, Bill was the defensive coordinator on a SB winning team that shut down the Bills.  Now as a head coach he had the highest scoring team of all time in 2008 and puts on the field a defense that looks like members of the AARP.

Coordinators call each play, make adjustments on a play-by-play basis and are very detailed oriented.   Most head Coaches do not call plays, rather they will have the last say in a key moment, or when to challenge or go for it on 4th down.  Coordinators really do the grunt work for helping the team succeed on each side of the ball while the head coach develops plans, strategy, and makes key game-time decisions. So with the Head Coaching Vacancies on the Chiefs, Broncos, Browns, Raiders, Jets, Seahawks, Lions dont necessarily think a Defensive Coordinator hired as a head coach will lead the Broncos to the playoffs, since he will solve their one glaring weakness.