Rod Marinelli not on hot seat for 2008 season

[A2Leo]

Perhaps the old man has fallen in love with Hot Rod just like Millen...

NATIONAL COLUMNIST: Rod Marinelli not on hot seat for 2008 season

February 16, 2008

Sean Leahy

USA TODAY

USA Today writer Sean Leahy gives his coaches on the hot seat for the 2008 NFL season:

Now that Giants coach Tom Coughlin has proven there is a path from the hot seat to Super Bowl champion, we must wonder if there's another NFL coach who can achieve it. Coughlin was nearly fired after the 2006 season, when the Giants stumbled to a 2-7 finish and a first-round playoff exit after starting 6-2. Now sitting pretty as the 2007 season's Super Bowl champion, Coughlin is an inspiration to these coaches who could well be out of a job if they don't strike gold in 2008 like the Giants.


Here's our picks for the men with the least job security heading into next season:

Brad Childress: A five-game winning streak down the stretch may have saved him from the ax this offseason. But Childress must hope that stud RB Adrian Peterson can propel this team to the postseason or that his investment in Tarvaris Jackson as the starting QB doesn't becoming his undoing.

Wade Phillips: The Cowboys were the NFC's best team for most of the 2007 season. Having no postseason wins to show for it will not buy Phillips much of a grace period if Dallas does not start the same way in 2008.

Job Gruden: The win in Super Bowl XXXVII seems like so long ago. Gruden led the Bucs through the weak NFC South this season, but their playoff flop to the Giants exposed the team as a pretender. The heat will turn up significantly if this team doesn't look like a Super Bowl contender next season.

John Fox: Injuries took their toll in Carolina this season, but the talent level is dwindling too. Fox needs a really strong draft, and maybe a new quarterback to replace Jake Delhomme, to avoid the calls for his head next winter.

Mike Nolan: A hot preseason pick entering the '07 season, the 49ers fizzled badly. Nolan's relationship with QB Alex Smith went into the gutter this season, a bad sign for a coach who makes far less money. He's already lost control of the personnel; Nolan might lose his job if the 49ers don't contend in the NFC West next year.

Marvin Lewis: With a stud quarterback (Carson Palmer) and two standout receivers (Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh), there's too much talent in Cincinnati not to make the playoffs. Now that it's happened in back-to-back years, Lewis will have very wiggle room.

[DC125]

I don't have a problem with this.... however, when the things that are within a coaches control start going South, thats when you are on the hot seat. I think if you don't see a more balanced offensive attack in which you throw the ball to ROY and CALVIN.... NOT Furrey and McDonald... A Defensive scheme that uses it's talent to keep the other team off the field. One in which they don't rank last in rush def. and 31st in passing defense (or other way around, i dont know, terrible at any rate lol).

Last year, you saw a relatively healthy Lions team play all year... and they faltered down the stretch. I think if you see that happen again, then it's time to start talking change, but not now....

[Murtyle]

I kind of worry about giving up on this staff after next year if we don't make the playoffs... If we end up with 3 wins thats one thing, but they basically have had to re-make this whole roster and they have brought in some good players and made some of the guys who have been around better... I look at guys like DeVries, White, Moore, Alexander, Sims, Corey Smith, CJ, Redding, Furrey, Macdonald, Peterman, Mulitalo, Woody, Raiola and even Rogers... They've all either stepped up their game or been nice pick ups since this staff is here... We've got a decent young core now... Give us another offseason and see who they can bring in here with some $$$ to spare...

[A2Leo]

Well, 3 and out seems to be a theme, or something close to it. IMHO one of Millen's complete failings as a GM has been his inability to create any sort of stability for the players and coaches. I think there's a certain amount of "win now" culture of fear that has been going on. Part of it is our faults, the fans that is. I don't blame us, the fans have every right to be pissed. But, realistically, and due to Millen's ineptness, each new staff needs time to get things going. I would love to hear WCF or Millen step up and say that Marinelli has 5 years to turn this thing around before there will be any considerations of his future. Probably not realistic and I would imagine this might piss off some fans, but I don't see how he can be given' a legitimate shot without having time to work things out... I'm just getting real sick of hearing about two things, one: another coaching staff and another scheme rolling into to town, and two: the complete lack of talent on the roster to support said scheme (or any scheme for that matter).

[DC125]

Yeah... It'll be interesting to see what Rod can do. I do think that most coaches can turn an organization around tho in just a few years. Lets see if this guy can. Of course, it helps when you have a competent GM :lol: