NFL Roundtable: Which Player Benefits Most From New Head Coach?

This latest NFL roundtable discusses the seven new head coaches around the league.  It’s almost a given that schemes are going to change and the personnel required to fit them.  While some players might be left out, others will be set free to play up to their potential.  We asked the Mocks crew which such player is likely to benefit the most.

Matthew Holowiak:

The combo of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson with the Cleveland Browns. Hue Jackson just had his combo of Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill and now he gets another power/speed combination that could thrive very well in his system.

Kyle McKinnon:

Jameis Winston and the rest of the Bucs young offense. Keeping Dirk Koetter means continuity and growth for the Winston and Co., something they’ll need in order to seriously contend for a division title, a division that currently has a team in the NFC title game (Panthers).

David Holmes:

I’m going to go with Ryan Tannehill in Miami. Adam Gase helped Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning have some of their best seasons while he was the OC. I expect Gase will get the most out Tannehill and the rest of the Dolphins offense.

Shawn Spencer:

Colin Kaepernick. With any other head coach, he’s a backup on a restructured deal. With Chip Kelly, he has a chance to be the QB he was on track to be just a few years ago. The hiring of Kelly is the best case scenario for him in San Francisco, as he should get a second chance as the starter.

Eric Robinson:

I agree with Shawn. Kaepernick should be the happiest man in San Francisco. Chip Kelly the coach had the better results of his offense when he had a threat at QB such as Mike Vick. Now he has a Kaepernick who is not a pocket passer and won’t be counted on for 4,000 yard seasons and 40 TDs. The hiring of Kelly more than likely gave Kaepernick a jolt of life into his career which was headed towards cloudy days.

George Stockburger:

While Kaepernick will benefit greatly from Chip Kelly (assuming he gets the chance), I have to look at Chip’s former team and their tremendous star defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Drafted by Andy Reid, Cox was forced into changing defensive schemes at an early stage in his NFL career, shifting from a 4-3 to a 3-4. While he excelled quickly and became known as one of the best defensive lineman in the game, going back to playing in a 4-3 system with DC Jim Schwartz is will be a God send for Cox. He even tweeted his excitement when the news of Doug Pederson and Jim Schwartz’s hires became public.

Erik Lambert:

I’m going to go with DeMarco Murray of the Philadelphia Eagles.  No player chaffed more in the Chip Kelly offense than him as he routinely struggled to find any sort of rhythm.  Doug Pederson is much more flexible as an offensive mind in terms of the NFL level.  Kansas City averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2015, and the bulk of that was done without Jamaal Charles.  He’ll be smart enough to know what Murray does best and to create plays around maximizing it.