Vikings joined the list of teams who have finally filled their head coach vacancy. They announced today the hiring of Bengals former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Zimmer has been coaching in the NFL since 1994 where he started as the defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He would work his way up to defensive coordinator for the Cowboys in 2000 where he would remain until 2006. He served one year as the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 before his five year stint with the Bengals from 2008 to 2013. Vikings will be his first head coaching job.
In his 5 years in Cincinnati the Bengals made the playoffs the last three years. The last three years their defense has been ranked in the top 10. Several teams expressed interest in Zimmer before Vikings hired him.
The Vikings were 31st in total defense last season, and Zimmer's Bengals defense was third overall. The organization will need to address their quarterback issue and try to resign some of their 21 free agents including defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams so Zimmer will need to get started immediately.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Jim Caldwell named head coach of Detroit Lions
Well it didn't take long after Ken Whisenhunt took the Titans job for the Lions to make a decision on their vacant head coach position. According to ESPN, the Lions hired Jim Caldwell as their next head coach.
Caldwell was formerly the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-2011 where he posted a 26-22 record and made both a playoff and a Super Bowl appearance. After being fired by the Colts following the 2011 season he was hired by the Baltimore Ravens first as a quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator during their Super Bowl run.
The Lions started out promising this past season, but finished a disappointing 7-9 leading to the firing of head coach Jim Schwartz. They are hoping that Caldwell can bring that same success he had with the Colts and Ravens to their organization and help QB Matthew Stafford with his mechanics and accuracy. Stafford is known for the ability to throw the long ball but throwing interceptions when under pressure. The experience working with a quarterback like Peyton Manning may help Caldwell lead the Lions in the right direction.
Caldwell was formerly the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-2011 where he posted a 26-22 record and made both a playoff and a Super Bowl appearance. After being fired by the Colts following the 2011 season he was hired by the Baltimore Ravens first as a quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator during their Super Bowl run.
The Lions started out promising this past season, but finished a disappointing 7-9 leading to the firing of head coach Jim Schwartz. They are hoping that Caldwell can bring that same success he had with the Colts and Ravens to their organization and help QB Matthew Stafford with his mechanics and accuracy. Stafford is known for the ability to throw the long ball but throwing interceptions when under pressure. The experience working with a quarterback like Peyton Manning may help Caldwell lead the Lions in the right direction.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Ken Whisenhunt Hired by the Titans
After being the last team to fire their head coach, many believed that the Titans would take a long time to hire a new one. This belief was put to rest when they announced today that they had hired Ken Whisenhunt.
Whisenhunt was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers this past season after serving as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for the previous five seasons. He took the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2007. He had to wait until the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs before he could make the decision to work for the Titans.
Whisenhunt was being considered for the Lions job as well before agreeing to take the Titans job. He comes into a situation where there is a question at quarterback and indecision on the futures of RB Chris Johnson and WR Kenny Britt.
Titans finished a disappointing 22-26 in the last three years and out of playoff contention. Whisenhunt brings playoff as well as Super Bowl experience to a team that is sorely lacking both in the last decade. Whisenhunt may still have to fire several assistants that Munchak refused to fire as well as align the right players to implement his 3-4 style of defense. Whatever the case Titans president/CEO Tommy Smith says he is looking forward to seeing Whisenhunt's vision become a reality for his team.
Whisenhunt was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers this past season after serving as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for the previous five seasons. He took the Cardinals to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2007. He had to wait until the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs before he could make the decision to work for the Titans.
Whisenhunt was being considered for the Lions job as well before agreeing to take the Titans job. He comes into a situation where there is a question at quarterback and indecision on the futures of RB Chris Johnson and WR Kenny Britt.
Titans finished a disappointing 22-26 in the last three years and out of playoff contention. Whisenhunt brings playoff as well as Super Bowl experience to a team that is sorely lacking both in the last decade. Whisenhunt may still have to fire several assistants that Munchak refused to fire as well as align the right players to implement his 3-4 style of defense. Whatever the case Titans president/CEO Tommy Smith says he is looking forward to seeing Whisenhunt's vision become a reality for his team.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Divisional Playoff Weekend Predictions
New Orleans Saints (12-5) vs Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
Saints come in off a win against the Eagles last week in Philadelphia. QB Drew Brees has QB rating of 104.7. He threw 2 INTs last week which he cannot afford to repeat on Century Link Field. Seahawks come in off a bye last week. They have won five straight home playoff games. These two teams met last month in Seattle resulting in a 34-7 win for the Seahawks who held Brees to just 147 yds passing. Prediction: Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts (12-5) vs New England Patriots (12-4)
Colts come in off a comeback win over the Chiefs last week at home. QB Andrew Luck threw 3 INTs last week but managed to rally his team back from a 28 point deficit in the second half to win the game. Luck has a QB rating of 87.0. Pats come in off a bye last week. QB Tom Brady has a QB rating of 87.3, the lowest of his career. The Patriots have a good running game behind RBs Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount. The home team always wins when these two teams faceoff in the playoffs. Prediction: Patriots
San Francisco 49ers (13-4) vs Carolina Panthers (12-4)
49ers come in off a win last week against the Packers in Green Bay. QB Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 30 for 227 yds and 2 TDs to seal the victory. The 49ers improved to 3-1 in postseason undere Kaepernick. They look to try and improve that record this week against Carolina. Panthers come in off a bye last week. QB Cam Newton has a QB rating of 88.8. His number one target WR Steve Smith is still questionable for the game. Panthers won their last seven straight home games. Panthers had the second ranked defense in yards and points allowed. These two teams faced each other in November resulting in a win for the Panthers. Prediction: 49ers
San Diego Chargers (10-7) vs Denver Broncos (13-3)
Chargers come in off a win last week against the Bengals in Cincinnati. QB Philip Rivers has a QB rating of 105.5. This team beat the Broncos just a few weeks ago. Broncos come in off a bye last week. They look to avenge the loss they suffered. Broncos come in off a bye last week. Manning threw for 5477 yds & 55 TDs this season. His QB rating is 115.1. His defense will need to step up this week to get past the surging Chargers Prediction: Broncos
Saints come in off a win against the Eagles last week in Philadelphia. QB Drew Brees has QB rating of 104.7. He threw 2 INTs last week which he cannot afford to repeat on Century Link Field. Seahawks come in off a bye last week. They have won five straight home playoff games. These two teams met last month in Seattle resulting in a 34-7 win for the Seahawks who held Brees to just 147 yds passing. Prediction: Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts (12-5) vs New England Patriots (12-4)
Colts come in off a comeback win over the Chiefs last week at home. QB Andrew Luck threw 3 INTs last week but managed to rally his team back from a 28 point deficit in the second half to win the game. Luck has a QB rating of 87.0. Pats come in off a bye last week. QB Tom Brady has a QB rating of 87.3, the lowest of his career. The Patriots have a good running game behind RBs Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount. The home team always wins when these two teams faceoff in the playoffs. Prediction: Patriots
San Francisco 49ers (13-4) vs Carolina Panthers (12-4)
49ers come in off a win last week against the Packers in Green Bay. QB Colin Kaepernick completed 16 of 30 for 227 yds and 2 TDs to seal the victory. The 49ers improved to 3-1 in postseason undere Kaepernick. They look to try and improve that record this week against Carolina. Panthers come in off a bye last week. QB Cam Newton has a QB rating of 88.8. His number one target WR Steve Smith is still questionable for the game. Panthers won their last seven straight home games. Panthers had the second ranked defense in yards and points allowed. These two teams faced each other in November resulting in a win for the Panthers. Prediction: 49ers
San Diego Chargers (10-7) vs Denver Broncos (13-3)
Chargers come in off a win last week against the Bengals in Cincinnati. QB Philip Rivers has a QB rating of 105.5. This team beat the Broncos just a few weeks ago. Broncos come in off a bye last week. They look to avenge the loss they suffered. Broncos come in off a bye last week. Manning threw for 5477 yds & 55 TDs this season. His QB rating is 115.1. His defense will need to step up this week to get past the surging Chargers Prediction: Broncos
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Wild Card Weekend Predictions
Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) vs Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Chiefs come in off two straight losses while the Colts come in on a three game winning streak. Chiefs started off with a fast 9-0 start only to drop the last 5-7 including a loss to the Colts just two weeks ago. QB Alex Smith has a QB rating of 89.1 with 23 TDs and only 7 INTs this season. Chiefs defense had the second most takeaways this season and will see the return of OLB Justin Houston this week. Chiefs will need to get pressure on Colts QB Andrew Luck if they have any chance to win. Luck has an overall QB rating of 87.0 with 23 TDs and 9 INTs. The Colts offense have the fewest giveaways this season. Their defense was able to put pressure on the Chiefs the last game and force Alex Smith to commit turnovers. This game will be a lot closer but the outcome will be the same. Prediction: Colts
New Orleans Saints (11-5) vs Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Saints come in off a win last week against the Bucs while the Eagles won their final two. Eagles QB Nick Foles has a QB rating of 119.2 with 27 TDs and 2 INTs. His top WR DeSean Jackson caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine TDs. The Eagles are also led by the league's leading rusher LeSean McCoy, who topped the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards while catching 52 passes for 539 yards for a league-best 2,146 scrimmage yards. They will face off against the Saints who were 8-0 at home but only 3-5 away from the Superdome. QB Drew Brees had a QB rating of 104.7 with 39 TDs and 12 INTs. The Saints average only 17.8 ppg away from home all season. They will be dealing with the cold and the elements today and with their starting RB Pierre Thomas out it may be hard for them to overcome. Prediction: Eagles
San Diego Chargers (9-7) vs Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
Chargers come in off a four game winning streak while the Bengals are the winners of two straight. These two teams faced off in week 13 with the Bengals getting the better of the Chargers. This time the two will face off in Cincinnati where weather will play a factor. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has a QB rating of 105.5 with 32 TDs and 11 INTs. Despite facing several major season ending injuries early in the season (Malcolm Floyd, Dwight Freeney) the team has managed to get impressive wins including games against the Broncos, Chiefs and Colts. Bengals QB Andy Dalton comes in with a QB rating of 88.8 with 33 TDs and 20 INTs. His leading WR A.J. Green had 98 receptions for 1426 yds and 11 TDs this season. Despite being 8-0 this season at home Bengals are 0-4 in the postseason in the 11 years with Marvin Lewis as head coach. Prediction: Bengals
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs Green Bay Packers (8-7-1)
49ers come in off a six game winning streak while the Packers come in off a win against the Bears in Chicago. The return of the QB Aaron Rodgers for the final game of the season was the push they needed but he will have to show up big today against the stingy defense of the 49ers. Rodgers comes in with a QB rating of 104.9 with 17 TDs and 6 INTs. Rookie RB Eddie Lacy rushed for 1178 yds on 284 carries and 11 TDs this season. Their defense has struggled down the stretch and will face a huge challenge in the 49ers. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick has a QB rating of 91.6 with 21 TDs and 8 INTs. Their defense is ranked third in scoring and fifth overall. 49ers beat the Packers in the season opener but weather will play a bigger factor in this game. Prediction: 49ers
Chiefs come in off two straight losses while the Colts come in on a three game winning streak. Chiefs started off with a fast 9-0 start only to drop the last 5-7 including a loss to the Colts just two weeks ago. QB Alex Smith has a QB rating of 89.1 with 23 TDs and only 7 INTs this season. Chiefs defense had the second most takeaways this season and will see the return of OLB Justin Houston this week. Chiefs will need to get pressure on Colts QB Andrew Luck if they have any chance to win. Luck has an overall QB rating of 87.0 with 23 TDs and 9 INTs. The Colts offense have the fewest giveaways this season. Their defense was able to put pressure on the Chiefs the last game and force Alex Smith to commit turnovers. This game will be a lot closer but the outcome will be the same. Prediction: Colts
New Orleans Saints (11-5) vs Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Saints come in off a win last week against the Bucs while the Eagles won their final two. Eagles QB Nick Foles has a QB rating of 119.2 with 27 TDs and 2 INTs. His top WR DeSean Jackson caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine TDs. The Eagles are also led by the league's leading rusher LeSean McCoy, who topped the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards while catching 52 passes for 539 yards for a league-best 2,146 scrimmage yards. They will face off against the Saints who were 8-0 at home but only 3-5 away from the Superdome. QB Drew Brees had a QB rating of 104.7 with 39 TDs and 12 INTs. The Saints average only 17.8 ppg away from home all season. They will be dealing with the cold and the elements today and with their starting RB Pierre Thomas out it may be hard for them to overcome. Prediction: Eagles
San Diego Chargers (9-7) vs Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
Chargers come in off a four game winning streak while the Bengals are the winners of two straight. These two teams faced off in week 13 with the Bengals getting the better of the Chargers. This time the two will face off in Cincinnati where weather will play a factor. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has a QB rating of 105.5 with 32 TDs and 11 INTs. Despite facing several major season ending injuries early in the season (Malcolm Floyd, Dwight Freeney) the team has managed to get impressive wins including games against the Broncos, Chiefs and Colts. Bengals QB Andy Dalton comes in with a QB rating of 88.8 with 33 TDs and 20 INTs. His leading WR A.J. Green had 98 receptions for 1426 yds and 11 TDs this season. Despite being 8-0 this season at home Bengals are 0-4 in the postseason in the 11 years with Marvin Lewis as head coach. Prediction: Bengals
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs Green Bay Packers (8-7-1)
49ers come in off a six game winning streak while the Packers come in off a win against the Bears in Chicago. The return of the QB Aaron Rodgers for the final game of the season was the push they needed but he will have to show up big today against the stingy defense of the 49ers. Rodgers comes in with a QB rating of 104.9 with 17 TDs and 6 INTs. Rookie RB Eddie Lacy rushed for 1178 yds on 284 carries and 11 TDs this season. Their defense has struggled down the stretch and will face a huge challenge in the 49ers. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick has a QB rating of 91.6 with 21 TDs and 8 INTs. Their defense is ranked third in scoring and fifth overall. 49ers beat the Packers in the season opener but weather will play a bigger factor in this game. Prediction: 49ers
Friday, January 3, 2014
Lovie Smith Agrees to Terms With Tampa Bay
After spending a year out of the league, Lovie Smith returns to the NFL. Smith has signed a four year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth $5M a year according to sources within the organization. Smith was considered a strong candidate for both the Detroit Lions and Bucs position but was more interested in coaching in Tampa.
Smith last coached the Chicago Bears where he amassed a 81-63 record in the regular season and a 3-3 record in the post season including a loss in Super Bowl XLI. Despite his success and finishing 10-6 in his final season, the Bears organization fired him when they failed to make the playoffs.
The Bucs meanwhile have suffered through four years of losing seasons first with Raheem Morris (17-31) and recently with Greg Schiano (11-21). The Super Bowl XXXVII champs who popularized the "Tampa 2"defense have been in search of an identity since firing Jon Gruden in 2008.
Bucs will need to find a franchise quarterback, a number two receiver and address issues on the offensive and defensive lines. With no GM to start, Smith will have more control of personnel decisions and can bring in the right players through the draft and free agency.
Sources say Smith will bring in former Cal coach Jeff Tedford as his offensive coordinator and is in talks with Rod Marinelli and Leslie Frazier for the defensive coordinator position.
Smith last coached the Chicago Bears where he amassed a 81-63 record in the regular season and a 3-3 record in the post season including a loss in Super Bowl XLI. Despite his success and finishing 10-6 in his final season, the Bears organization fired him when they failed to make the playoffs.
The Bucs meanwhile have suffered through four years of losing seasons first with Raheem Morris (17-31) and recently with Greg Schiano (11-21). The Super Bowl XXXVII champs who popularized the "Tampa 2"defense have been in search of an identity since firing Jon Gruden in 2008.
Bucs will need to find a franchise quarterback, a number two receiver and address issues on the offensive and defensive lines. With no GM to start, Smith will have more control of personnel decisions and can bring in the right players through the draft and free agency.
Sources say Smith will bring in former Cal coach Jeff Tedford as his offensive coordinator and is in talks with Rod Marinelli and Leslie Frazier for the defensive coordinator position.
Bill O'Brien Hired as head coach of the Texans
Former Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans, according to team sources. O'Brien will sign a four year deal with the team on Friday.
Texans had a jump on other teams in the NFL having fired their head coach Gary Kubiak on Dec. 6. They spent the last four weeks interviewing candidates including their defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former Bears head coach (now Bucs head coach) Lovie Smith.
Texans were the AFC South champions the previous two years and were predicted in the preseason to be playoff contenders.
This season the team got off to a quick 2-0 start. Marred by injuries to key players and inconsistent play at quarterback the team fizzled out and dropped the remaining 14 games of the season. Kubiak was axed with three games remaining in the season.
O'Brien was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots from 2007-2011 before taking the head coaching job at Penn State.
The school was recovering from the Sandusky scandal and was in the midst of a bowl ban that led to many of their players transferring. Despite this fact, O'Brien led the team to a 15-9 record including 10-6 in conference play and was named Big 10 coach of the year in 2012.
The future of current defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is uncertain as is the offensive coordinator position.
Texans have the first overall pick in this year's draft and are expected to draft a quarterback.
Texans had a jump on other teams in the NFL having fired their head coach Gary Kubiak on Dec. 6. They spent the last four weeks interviewing candidates including their defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and former Bears head coach (now Bucs head coach) Lovie Smith.
Texans were the AFC South champions the previous two years and were predicted in the preseason to be playoff contenders.
This season the team got off to a quick 2-0 start. Marred by injuries to key players and inconsistent play at quarterback the team fizzled out and dropped the remaining 14 games of the season. Kubiak was axed with three games remaining in the season.
O'Brien was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots from 2007-2011 before taking the head coaching job at Penn State.
The school was recovering from the Sandusky scandal and was in the midst of a bowl ban that led to many of their players transferring. Despite this fact, O'Brien led the team to a 15-9 record including 10-6 in conference play and was named Big 10 coach of the year in 2012.
The future of current defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is uncertain as is the offensive coordinator position.
Texans have the first overall pick in this year's draft and are expected to draft a quarterback.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)