So much of our NFL attention is focused on players, specifically quarterbacks. We make mental lists of who’s good, who’s not, the “haves” and the “have nots” of the league and we should. But there is a position that’s more important than even the QB that doesn’t get enough credit; the head coach. I realize after writing that Bill Belichick’s name gets thrown around as the Super Genius all the time, but outside of him we don’t get the same appreciation of the spot. We place the blame for losses on players, specifically that quarterback, when it’s the head coach that’s truly to blame. Writers and analysts worry over “What’s wrong with Aaron Rodgers?” when the answer is standing behind him burping up buffalo wings.
This weekend’s football served as the perfect example of that. When you really want to look at the “haves” and the “have nots,” you really need to peek at the guy on the sideline wearing the headset. Each week I put together a Coach Ineptitude Rankings in which I count down the current 10 worst head coaches in the NFL. As November draws to a close, I never dreamed I’d still be counting down 10 men. Somebody should have been shitcanned by now and the fact that it hasn’t happened is the final conclusive proof any of us needed that Al Davis is really dead.
Sean Payton gets his revenge
As horrible a coach as Gregg Williams is, he’s an even worse human being as we learned during the BountyGate scandal when he was the defensive coordinator in New Orleans. Williams not only got himself suspended for a season, he also got Saints head coach Sean Payton punished as well with his own one-year ban.
It’s been a few years since then, but Payton has held a bit of a grudge. Sunday he grabbed Gregg Williams by the back of the neck and shoved his face in it by the tune of a 49-21 final score. There was some thought last season that Payton wouldn’t be back with the Saints this year, that he and the ownership seemed to be preparing for a divorce. Instead, they worked it out, signed Payton to a long-term extension and are right back in the hunt with a roster Payton is piecing together weekly.
https://t.co/rzsBalInLg
"Who Dat"— Sean Payton (@SeanPayton) November 28, 2016
Meanwhile the Rams have the worst coaching staff in the entire league. Jeff Fisher just recorded his 163rd loss as a head coach, second all time behind Dan Reeves and in just 22 seasons too. There was a surreal moment the cameras caught on the sideline where Fisher and Williams were shouting at each other over the current Rams’ collapse. It was like watching Michael Moore and Chris Christie arguing about weight loss tips.
Gary Kubiak made the right call
With a little over a minute left in overtime and facing a fourth down, Denver Broncos’ head coach Gary Kubiak made the decision to send Brandon McManus out to attempt a 62-yard field goal that would have won the game.
McManus has a hell of a leg. His career long is a 57-yarder and he’d connected with a 55-yarder already this season. While 62 yards is obviously a lot to ask, it wasn’t a ridiculous call to send McManus out there. Sure, if it was the final minute of the fourth quarter Kubiak would have punted and played for overtime. But this wasn’t the fourth quarter. A punt there is a surrender. You would be playing for a tie and, by God, no real head coach should ever do that.
Gary Kubiak on attempting a 62-yarder in OT: “We’re going to try to win around here. I made that decision & it just didn't work out.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2016
So Kubiak sent McManus out to the logo and he missed. The Chiefs took over at midfield and marched down for a game-winning field goal of their own. Yes, the decision to kick the field goal led to the loss, but not kicking would have been a white flag. A give up play. Something a real head coach should never willingly do.
John Harbaugh is the real Super Genius
Holding onto a 19-12 lead with 11 seconds left in the game, the Baltimore Ravens were faced with a fourth down deep in their own territory. They had to punt.
But really, they didn’t. You see, John Harbaugh is smarter than all of us and faced with that situation he gave his team a simple instruction. “Hold every single Bengals player on the field like they were your long-lost love.” And they did. The refs threw the flags but it was pointless. While the game can’t end on a defensive penalty, it absolutely can on an offensive penalty and the Ravens punter just danced around with the ball until the final whistle, surrendering a safety but not the game.
https://twitter.com/bliv94/status/802982552403398656
It’s not the first time Harbaugh has used this rule loophole. He made the same call to win Super Bowl XLVII against the 49ers.
