Rex Ryan Takes Center Stage On

Will the New York Jets ever get it right? That remains to be seen. For now I will let you chew on this. The only two defensive coordinators to win a Superbowl in their first head coaching job with new organizations are Tom Landry and Bill Cowher. Landry went to the Dallas Cowboys in 1960 after spending the previous six seasons as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. Bill Cowher took over for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992 after having spent the previous three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as their D.C. Landry spent 29 seasons in Big D having won and lost two Superbowls. Cowher spent 15 seasons in the Steel City yielding one Superbowl victory and one loss. It took Landry 11 years to win a Superbowl and it took Cowher his entire coaching career to accomplish the same. Mike Tomlin could very well add his name to this very short and elite list. Making him the quickest to do so in that small class. 

Many of you are going to point out that everyone is an assistant at some point and that they cant all win Superbowls. Surely names like Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick will surface as well. Of course I am sure you will not forget Lovie Smith and John Fox. How much longer are you willing to wait Jets fans?

Don Shula + David Shula = 2 Superbowls

Bum Phillips + Wade Phillips = 0 Superbowls

Jim Mora + Jim Mora Jr = PLAYOFFS!?!? 0 Superbowls

Dick Nolan + Mike Nolan = FIRED 0 no Superbowls

Buddy Ryan + Rex Ryan = ? Superbowls

Big Ben looks terrible in 2009

The Pittsburgh Steelers have looked nothing more than pathetic the past couple of weeks. First, they lose a game where their defense basically had shut down the Superbowl Champion, New York Giants. Then they loose a game to the struggling 4-4 Colts. There has however been a reason, for all this though. The Steelers don’t believe they can run the football.

Troy Polamalu is the Best Safety in the NFL

When the Pittsburgh Steelers had won their last title they had a hard-nose style of football that would pulverize their opponent’s defenses into submission by the 4th quarter. Forcing opponents to have to beat them late in the games, which was a idea not easily fulfilled.The Pittsburgh Steeler’s offense averaged a hearty 35.5 rushes per game, in 2005. They prided themselves on unleashing their dominate offensive linemen on defenses, beating opponents at the point of attack. This tactic, eventually won Pittsburgh a championship. They beat some great teams in the 2005 postseason. Just look at the list. They beat the “High-Powered” Bengals, the Broncos, the Colts, and the Seattle Seahawks, all on the road to win a title. In 2005 we learned, This team had what it takes, however for the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers, we can’t say the same thing. They only run the ball 27 times per game and because of this I am not sure if the Steelers make the post season this year, considering the improving success of teams in the AFC north as well the improved play of the colts.

Jerome Bettis and Alan Faneca no longer play for the Steelers and they were crucial players for the Steelers in 2005

The most pathetic thing is that is that this team’s offensive strategy has grown far to soft for them to be a strong playoff contender. Its really funny how the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers can’t admit this fact to be true, sighting their tough defense saying the names like James Harrison and Troy Polamalu. Many fans however will still admit that, The offensive strategy of the Steelers is set up in a way showing that coach Tomlin expects Big Ben Roethlisberger to play as well as Pittsburgh native Dan Marino. I assure you Big Ben is not as talented as Marino, and their record is suffering for it. Honestly, with all the 4 and 5 Wide formations they are running you would think big Ben would have the fastest release in the NFL, which he does not! Big Ben is a victim in this situation and I really empathize with him. With all his winning, everyone has thought that he was a key player in the recent Pittsburgh success. However, his recent play has been proving this idea to be false. Big Ben has been most successful when he was only a role player QB, and this is a lesson that everyone should be starting to learn by now. The Steelers, in 2005, did not put games in the hands of Big Ben. Ben only managed games and Pittsburgh, however, physically beat up on other teams, as stated before. Big Ben has never been a super great QB, but he has been a decent starting NFL QB, on a great team. He does however, have one Superbowl record. Big Ben has the record for the worst QB rating in Superbowl history for a winning QB, at 22.1. Big Ben was 9/21 for 123 yards and 2 interceptions in Superbowl 40. Honestly, if a team can win a Superbowl game when their QB plays this poor, the team must be incredible. I think the Steelers of the 2005 were a team that had it right, my only question is, “why is Tomlin changing the theories of Bill Cowher that had made this team a titan in the NFL?”

Mike Tomlin Coach of the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers

Could it be that the loss of Alan Faneca, and the poor play of the O-Line has made Tomlin think they can’t be the physically dominating team they have been in the past? Or maybe they lost the power running game when Jerome Bettis retired? Regardless of the reason, I believe that Tomlin thinks he needs to set up the run with the threat of the pass, which is an idea that won’t pan out well for this team, and I suggest they re-think this offensive strategy. The Steeler defense remains, however, to be a top tier defense and because of this if Big Ben does not turn the ball over they could still be successful. What is the remedy you ask to the Steelers offensive woes? It is simple, Run the F****** ball! (And not out of shotgun!)

Otherwise, you won’t see any terrible towels in this years postseason, I promise.

Mad’Nuff Weekly top 10

From now on Each week I will bring you my top 10 Whatever, it could my top ten sports teams or my top 10 sports drinks, who knows,  This week I will give you the top 10 head coaches for 2008 in the NFL.

1.       Jeff Fisher

Gets the top spot for what he is doing with the Titans right now he knows how to give his team the best chance to win.  They are not the most talented team in the league by a long shot but with Jeff Fisher running the team defense first, run second, manage third the Titans are guaranteed a top seed in the AFC playoffs this year.

2.       Bill Belichick

I hate this guy and he is clearly a cheater in my eyes but he is still a pretty good coach, no one in the league schemes a team like Belichick does and I mean no one.

3.       Andy Reid

Andy Reid and his famous offense are what keep the Eagles winning year after year the Eagles never have any #1 wideouts but always mange to put up large offensive number, mostly in part because of the excellent offensive packages he has.

4.       Mike Tomlin

Mike is the head coach of one of the NFL’s most historic teams and he is only 36 years old, he has taken a team that was .500 before he came to the playoffs in his first year, and it seems like this year the Steelers will be a top seed in the Playoffs.  Mike’s willingness to bend just enough for the sake of his coordinators helps him keep his team winning

5.       Eric Mangini

Mangenius is just that; a genius when it comes to coaching if he could beat his mentor more often he might be higher on the list.  There is not a coach in the league that is able to win as much as Mangini with as little talent.  The Jets are one of the most unimpressive teams when it comes to talent but Mangini has the schemes to turn losers into winners….kind of.

6.       Tom Coughlin

From tough as nails to the players coach Coughlin has turned the Giants into a true football team.  He has managed to get rid of egos, and distractions to get his team focused on one goal another Superbowl.  Many coaches find it hard to keep a team focused after they have won it all but Coughlin knows how to manage players and keep them focused better than any coach in the league.

7.       Jeff Fox

Jeff had caught a few tough breaks in his tenure in Carolina but this year he is showing people what he can do when all the guys he needs to run his system are healthy, he needs a big win this year in the playoffs or he may not make the next list because he will no longer be a head coach.

8.       John Gruden

Chucky, the guy is a maniac but he knows how to win with anybody at the helm.  John Gruden is one of the best at putting his individuals players in the best position to win, it doesn’t matter whether or not it is a quarter back, running back, or wideout John will make you succeed if you are starting for him.

9.       Tony Dungy

The man invented the Tampa cover 2, it is still one of the most effective defenses this year.  With his team reeling he seems poised to earn this spot in the top ten by squeaking off enough games to get a hurt and battered team to the playoffs.

10.   Ken Whisenhunt

The guy is winning in Arizona hell Obama couldn’t even do that.   Whisenhunt is an offensive genius and again anytime you can come out on top as the head coach of the Cardinals you have to be pretty good.