NFL Coaching Hot Seat: Jason Garrett Sweating It Out
By Erik Lambert
Aug 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on the sidelines during the game against the Denver Broncos at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
One week into the NFL season and already some coaching seats are starting to heat up. Who is in the worst shape?
Jason Garrett – Dallas Cowboys – Seat: Hot
Same team, same old song and dance. Tony Romo threw picks. The Dallas Cowboys defense stiffened when it was way too late to matter and Jason Garrett was left with another humiliating loss at home. Jerry Jones may be disillusioned up to this point, but sooner or later the losses are eventually going to clear the fog out of his eyes. Garrett better reach into his bag for a magic wand because it’s likely nothing else can save his job in 2014.
Dennis Allen – Oakland Raiders – Seat: Hot
Wins aren’t going to come any easier for Dennis Allen and the Oakland Raiders in 2014. Losing on the road isn’t bad per say but it was still the New York Jets and they could’ve won the game. Allen is 8-25 as a head coach thus far in Oakland. That is the one statistic he is unable to escape. Rest assured the Raiders won’t even keep him until the end of the season if the losing continues.
Tom Coughlin – New York Giants – Seat: Warm
These are not the same New York Giants teams of the last decade. Tom Coughlin has steadily watched his roster deplete around him and it’s starting to come to a head, emphasized by the ugly showing in Detroit. His quarterback has lost his edge. The defense is toothless and the offense lacks explosiveness. Coughlin has lived off the aura of winning two rings in New York, but any former manager or coach will say that doesn’t fly for long.
Jeff Fisher – St. Louis Rams – Seat: Mild
Misfortune is as much to blame for the struggles Jeff Fisher has gone through as poor coaching. He simply has no control over the health of Sam Bradford and now the St. Louis Rams are devoid at the most important position yet again. Fisher may have the confidence of his front office and many players but he was hired to get the team back to the playoffs. Thus far he has failed. He probably has another year to make it work regardless of what happens in the 2014 NFL season, but that may not be true.
Mike Pettine – Cleveland Browns – Seat: Mild
Keep in mind that owner Jimmy Haslam has a Jerry Jones edge to him. He likes to be heavily involved in his Cleveland Browns and already has made unexpected coaching changes once before. Also note that Mike Pettine, whom the team hired during the off-season was not his first choice. Haslam had eyes for Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase but was thwarted by the Broncos trip to the Super Bowl. If Pettine fails to make an impression this season, don’t be stunned if Cleveland makes changes again.