Selecting the right head coach is the most critical move an organization makes.  The right hire creates an unbreakable chemistry or atmosphere that puts his team in position to compete for a championship. 

What makes a great head coach?  There are many factors to consider. 

I believe being a productive coordinator shouldn’t be the only criteria.  There are several solid coordinators who never develop into good head coaches.  There are a lot of intangibles that play into becoming a solid head coach – leadership and vision for the big picture – are two that come into play. 

What are the important traits of a NFL Head Coach? 

Coaching Philosophies

Of course, it all starts with coaching philosophies.  An owner and general manager must look for a head coach with offensive and defensive philosophies that fit the direction they want within their organization.  I also believe coaching style is very important.  Is the candidate a good communicator and motivator?  Or does this candidate hold the possibility of alienating players with an abrasive personality?

Staffing

Ownership wants to learn about the make up of the potential coaching staff a candidate is bringing to the organization.  How many does he want on the staff?  What are their philosophies?  Are they good teachers and communicators?

Personnel

How does the coach view the big-picture of building the team?  Is there going to be an ideal chemistry between the head coach and the rest of the organization in building a winner together?  Does he prefer building through the draft or does he want his front office to be active in free agency?  How well does the coach know the personnel of the team he'’ interviewing with?  Is he willing to develop younger players?  What type of personnel is required for his offensive and defensive philosophies? 

Administrative

There are plenty of non-football issues that are important.  How does the coach schedule the off-season workouts?  What are his philosophies on traveling issues?  How would he handle the bye-week in the schedule?  What’s his philosophy for working with the media?  What are the nutritional requirements of the players?

Very good organizations have specific policies in place for handling these issues. 

And let’s not forget the single most important trait – leadership!  When an individual walks into the room and begins talking, ask yourself this question – Can this individual become the leader that others follow and guide us to a Super Bowl? 

 

 

Top Coaching Candidates:

Jason Garrett – Offensive Coordinator, Dallas

Garrett has always been on the coaching watch, but his star is rapidly rising.  Has proven to be a very smart offensive coach who believes in getting the ball in the hands of his playmakers.  Has tremendous people skills and comes from a highly respected football family.  Will be a coach that you can build an organization around for several years.

Josh McDaniels – Offensive Coordinator, New England

Has been well-groomed within Bill Belichick’s organization.  Has good coaching instincts and a very good feel for developing players.  Also has learned a lot in regards to personnel under Belichick and has proven himsel####ood evaluator of talent.  I really believe McDaniels will be a solid head coach that you can build an organization around in tandem with a strong personnel department. 

Rex Ryan – Defensive Coordinator, Baltimore

I believe this guy is very underrated.  Uses some very unique defensive philosophies on the field.  The most important aspects about Ryan are that he communicates very well with players and also understands personnel very well.  I believe Ryan will help create a lot of cohesion within an organization. 

Jim Schwartz – Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee

Has done an excellent job over the past several years in Tennessee.  Is well-liked by players.  Has excellent organizational skills and understands personnel.  Is very salary cap conscious, which will help build chemistry with certain personnel departments. 

Russ Grimm – Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach, Arizona

Gets knocked by some people because he’s never been a coordinator, but he has an excellent opportunity to become a strong head coach within the right organizational structure.  Possesses very good communication skills with players.  He’s is very simple and has a no nonsense approach, so players know where they stand with him.  Grimm is also known as one of the league’s best teachers. 

Rob Ryan – Defensive Coordinator, Oakland

Is very similar to his brother in that he relates very well to players and knows how to evaluate talent for his scheme.  He will have teams that project a lot of guts and passion.  Ryan is a man who knows how to bring people together towards a common ideal.  

Mike Singletary – Assistant Head Coach, San Francisco

Draws a lot of mixed reviews around the league due to his inexperience and has never had coordinator duties.  On the plus side, he has tremendous leadership skills and will get guys to play for him.  He’ll have a very disciplined team.   Singletary will be successful within the proper organization structure.  He’ll need a strong front office and good coordinators to complement his leadership skills. 

Ron Rivera – Linebacker Coach, San Diego

Has been well-respected the last several years with his knowledge and ability to get a lot out of players.  The Bears’ defense fell off in 2007 without Rivera.  Has good communication skills and relates very well with players.  Also has a solid background from his days in Philadelphia under Andy Reid and Jim Johnson. 

Jim Caldwell – Assistant Head Coach/Quarterback Coach, Indianapolis

Is cut from the Tony Dungy mold in that he possesses a quiet strength and a solid football philosophy.  He has a good reputation as an offensive coach.  Has the respect of a lot of players.  Has head coaching experience with Wake Forest in the past. 

Leslie Frazier – Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota

Has been on the radar for a number of years now, but lost some of his star when he was fired a few years ago by the Cincinnati Bengals.  Is pretty low key and has a versatile background.  He’s worked under Jim Johnson and Tony Dungy as a position coach.  Frazier isn’t a screamer, but coaches with a lot of energy.  He’s also smart and a good communicator.  

Norm Chow – Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee

Chow is a mystery as a head coaching candidate.  He’s never been a college head coach and has only been in the NFL for a few years.  He’s made a tremendous adjustment to the pro game because his offensive philosophy was always very pro-like.  He’s done an excellent job in Tennessee to further his reputation as a tremendous teacher and quarterback guru. 

Tony Sparano – Assistant Head Coach, Dallas

Is not a household name, but has earned a lot of respect around the league.  Is a good offensive coach and teacher.  He has solid communication skills and holds players accountable.  Is very well respected by players. 

Brian Schottenheimer – Offensive Coordinator, N.Y. Jets

Comes from a good football background and has a tremendous knowledge of the offensive side of the football.  Is very complex with his philosophy on the offensive side of the ball and could be a little too creative at times.  He could use another year of experience, but has a solid future and has been groomed to become a coach for several years. 

Clancy Pendergast – Defensive Coordinator, Arizona

Thinks a lot out of the box and is very flexible.  Is one of the league’s better teachers and has excellent communication skills.  Is respected by his players and has a tireless work ethic.  He’s a lot like Jon Gruden in his passion for the game.   

Ron Meeks – Defensive Coordinator, Indianapolis

Meeks has risen the level of play of the Colts’ defense the past few years and has worked under some strong programs in the past.  Is a hard worker who demands excellence from his players.  Meeks is tough, but knows how to relate with players and get the most from them.  Meeks knows the blueprint of building a championship team.

Mike Zimmer – Defensive Coordinator, Atlanta

His name isn’t tossed around as much like it was a few years ago, but he’s still a known commodity.  Is a very intense and aggressive-minded coach who demands a lot from his players.  Zimmer knows how to see the big picture and earned respect by adapting under different head coaches in the past. 

Mike Heimerdinger – Assistant Head Coach, Denver

Has a solid reputation around the league for his abilities on the offensive side of the ball.  He has worked two stints under Mike Shanahan and successfully re-invented the offense during his tenure with the Titans.  Working under Jeff Fisher and Mike Shanahan helps his resume.  He’s very intense and isn’t afraid to hold players accountable.  He’s known as a taskmaster with his players and some have concerns with how he’ll handle the media. 

Mike Smith – Defensive Coordinator, Jacksonville

Has quietly earned respect around the league.  Has done a solid job building a defense around the strength of his players and knows how to adapt. 

 

Future Candidates To Watch:

Raheem Morris – Secondary Coach, Tampa Bay

Is perhaps the hottest young coach in the league right now.  Morris is an excellent teacher and puts a lot of emphasis on fundaments, both which are rare for younger coaches these days.  Has excellent communication skills and is very well-respected by players. 

Rob Chudzinski – Offensive Coordinator, Cleveland

Is another solid young coach who is gaining a solid reputation in just his first season as an offensive coordinator.  Has shown he can relate well to players and understands the importance of establishing a strong ground game while also pushing the ball through the air to his playmakers.  For a young coach, he possesses a solid philosophy and learned a lot from his time on Marty Schottenheimer’s staff. 

Kyle Shanahan – Quarterback Coach, Houston

Has strong bloodlines being the son of Mike Shanahan, but it runs much deeper than this.  Shanahan has gotten strong reviews from a few other coaches for his work ethic and preparation skills.  Possesses a knack to connect naturally with players. 

Perry Fewell – Defensive Coordinator, Buffalo

Has put himself on the radar this season after a growing reputation as a position coach.  Fewell has overcome a lot of adversity with several injuries and personnel limitations on the defensive side of the ball.  He has a lot of energy in his approach and possesses a good reputation as a teacher. 

Hue Jackson – Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta

Has been an excellent position coach for several years and displays a lot of natural feel for the offensive side of the ball.  Jackson is young and has a lot of energy.  He communicates very well and players are energized playing for him. 

 

Top Retreads:

Marty Schottenheimer – Not Currently Coaching

He’s not a long-term hire at this stage of his career, but is very attractive because he’s put together winning teams in multiple stops.  Is one of the best motivators and teachers in the league.  Schottenheimer has a strong presence, but does an excellent job getting guys to play for him. 

Bill Cowher – Not Currently Coaching

Has more longevity than Schottenheimer and did a tremendous job through a few transitions in Pittsburgh.  Cowher sets an aggressive tone with his teams based on his emotion and intensity.  The only question that really surrounds Cowher is whether he can duplicate the success he experienced in Pittsburgh with another organization.  Cowher worked under one of the most stable franchises and had tremendous assistants.  Although he won with a few different groups of core players in Pittsburgh, Cowher is best with a veteran team. 

Gregg Williams – Defensive Coordinator, Washington

One of the league’s best defensive minds for the last several years – dating back to his time in Tennessee.  Has a strong personality, which became overbearing in his initial head coaching experience with Buffalo.  Has learned a lot from his mistakes and his experience working with Joe Gibbs is an added bonus.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williams have a Bill Belichick type tenure in his second go around if he finds the right fit for himself. 

Steve Mariucci – Not Currently Coaching

I believe some owners just can’t forget about Mariucci’s failure in Detroit after fielding some very good teams in San Francisco.  Mariucci coaches with a lot of passion and is very organized.  He usually gets the respect of most of his players.  There could be some front office opportunities for Mariucci at some point.  As a head coach, I believe he needs to be surrounded with strong assistants so he can focus on the big picture. 

Jim Haslett – Defensive Coordinator, St. Louis

Haslett had some rough moments in New Orleans after a strong start as a head coach. He’ll be on the list of a few teams over the next couple years as he is rebuilding the St. Louis defense.  The St. Louis organization is very high on Haslett and the players absolutely enjoy working under Haslett.  The only concern about Haslett is whether his intensity gets the best of him sometimes. 

Jim Fassel – Not Currently Coaching

There are a lot of mixed opinions on Fassel around the league.  Fassel is a solid offensive coach and has a good track record with quarterbacks.  Is very intense and sometimes has a quick temper, which can alienate players at times.  The red flag with some owners is the amount of infighting (offense vs. defense) during his tenure with the Giants.  One thing that I respect tremendously about Fassel is that he’s a fighter.  He battled through a lot of adversity in New York. 

Jim Mora – Secondary Coach, Seattle

Mora is a tremendous coach who provides a lot of energy and tenacity to his players.  Mora is an excellent communicator and guys love playing for him.  He’s proven he can win as a head coach, but must become firmer with discipline in his next stop. 

Mike Martz – Offensive Coordinator, Detroit

Martz is another candidate that draws a lot of mixed emotions around the league.  He’s a great offensive mind and gets a lot out of his quarterbacks.  But the problem with Martz remains his ego.  He doesn’t mesh well with everyone in the building.  I believe he’s more of an offensive coach than a head coach. 

Dan Reeves – Not Currently Coaching

Has a very strong career track record dating back to his days as head coach in Denver, but doesn’t command the same respect as Bill Parcells or Joe Gibbs.  Has struggled at times with younger players and lacks ideal communication skills.  Has a very conservative philosophy towards building a team and prefers to work with veteran teams.  Wouldn’t mind an opportunity to coach again, but it would have to be the right fit.    

 

Top College Candidates:

Kirk Ferentz - Iowa

Is one of the few college coaches who can make the transition to the NFL because he was a well-respected under Bill Belichick.  Ferentz is an excellent big-picture and organizational type with tremendous communication skills.  His leadership skills grade very high. 

Pete Carroll – Southern California

Despite his success at Southern California, I don’t view Carroll as a NFL savior.  He was just average in two head coaching stints in the NFL.  Some coaches learn from their initial head coaching experience in the NFL, but I can’t see Carroll’s personality changing very much.  There are just too many character questions with Carroll away from the field to become a focused head coach at this level.

Jeff Tedford - California

Tedford has a dynamic offensive mind and believes in offensive balance.  He possesses excellent leadership and organizational skills.  His sense of the big picture and his personality in working with people are first-rate.  Tedford has now shown he can build a strong program.  Some people within the league are intrigued with his reputation with quarterbacks.   

Ron Prince – Kansas State

Worked under Al Groh at Virginia and worked under the NFL minority fellowship program in the past.  Has gained a lot of respect with the job he’s done re-energizing Kansas State’s program in just two years.  Prince has tremendous leadership skills and passion.  He is very smart and displays good organization skills. 

June Jones – Hawaii

Wasn’t a big winner as a head coach in the NFL, but is highly respected by many within the league.  Has done some excellent things with quarterbacks and the offensive side of the football in the past.  Works well with people. 

The Eagles have to be pleased by what they saw on Friday Night in Donovan McNabb’s debut following a tough rehab from a serious knee injury. 

 

The Eagles rallied to make the playoffs with Jeff Garcia at quarterback last season.  But they were getting by in the passing game with smoke and mirrors as Garcia’s limitations were exposed down the stretch.  Brian Westbrook carried the offense as Garcia faded.  Now with a healthy McNabb, the Eagles look to have a dangerous offense this season.

 

Some observers are skeptical about the big-play ability of the offense after allowing Donte’ Stallworth to sign elsewhere this spring, but McNabb has a solid group of receivers to spread the ball around.  This allows the Eagles to get back to the roots of Andy Reid’s philosophy to avoid relying on one primary option to build a passing game around.  Reggie Brown has emerged as a playmaker.  He lacks breaking speed and will drop a few balls, but has shown he knows how to get open and make big plays in clutch situations. 

 

Former Ram Kevin Curtis replaces Stallworth.  Curtis lacks the size and ability to create matchup problems downfield like Stallworth, but is more consistent and has enough speed to make plays in Reid’s ball-control passing game.  Hank Baskett and Jason Avant have emerged as solid targets in their second seasons.  Baskett has good size and toughness, but is also a deceptive playmaker downfield.  Avant has proven he can be a reliable option in traffic with his hands and toughness. 

 

L.J. Smith has good athletic skills from the tight end spot, but the Eagles are still waiting for him to display more consistency and avoid nagging injuries.  Meanwhile, rookie Brent Celek has displayed the ability to become a solid intermediate target during camp.  

 

 

Packers rely on youth: The Packers finally pulled the plug on Robert Ferguson.  Drafted by Green Bay in the second round in 2001 based on his tremendous blend of speed and physical skills, Ferguson never developed into the consistent playmaker the Packers envisioned.  His numerous injuries over the years curtailed his developmental time on the field early in his career.  This was the right move by the Packers.  Organizations often have the tough task to balance when its time to give up on a high round draft choice.  Generally, when you realize a young player can’t play and shows little chance for development, its best to cut ties sooner than later.  On the other end of the spectrum, organizations also need to show patience with good athletes.  In the Packers’ situation, they’ve given Ferguson a couple years longer than normal.  Now, the Packers have collected a group of younger receivers that have shown enough to for them to build behind Donald Driver.  Greg Jennings showed good maturity as a rookie last season and added some bulk over the spring.  Rookie James Jones has opened a lot of eyes this summer.  Jones displays a tremendous blend of physical skills and ball skills.  Ruvell Martin has developed into a steady option over the middle with his physical skills.  And Carlyle Holiday rounds out this unit with his excellent size and athletic ability.  Holiday displayed flashes at wide receiver last season.

 

Jaguars changing guard at wide receiver: It’s no secret that Jack Del Rio has grown frustrated with the inconsistency of his wide receivers over the past couple years.  It has reached a boiling point – especially with Reggie Williams.  Williams continues to struggle separating from defenders and make plays with the ball.  And for a receiver that struggles to make plays, he doesn’t catch the ball consistency enough.  Look for Williams to hit the waiver wire later this month.  Dennis Northcutt and rookie Mike Walker have been their best targets this summer.  Northcutt runs the best routes and has brought a level of professionalism to a young unit, but he’s a number three receiver at best for many teams because he lacks ideal size and speed.  Walker also lacks speed, but catches the ball well and displays a lot of natural skills for a rookie.  Unfortunately, many scouts around the league have concerns about the long-term durability of Walker, who suffered a serious knee injury in college.  Rookie Charles Sharon has shown good hands and the ability to make some plays with ball. 

 

In Blakely The Falcons Trust: With knee problems slowing Alge Crumpler again, Dwayne Blakely has capitalized on the opportunity to establish himself within the offense.  Blakely has always had good athletic ability, but is showing the ability to make plays down the seam with his toughness and ability to leap in traffic.  With Crumpler and Blakely, the Falcons have two tight ends who can line up in slot and create favorable matchups in the passing game.  Meanwhile, the Falcons must closely monitor Crumpler’s knee problems this season as he turns 30 in December.  Crumpler has had knee problems in the past and there is some concern about his long-term durability. 

 

Bills look to establish run: Being a Mike Martz-disciple, many people view Steve Fairchild as a passing guy.  But Fairchild’s objective since arriving in Buffalo has been to establish a productive run game.  Fairchild never had much confidence in Willis McGahee last season – especially with his lack of versatility.  Now with rookie Marshawn #### replacing McGahee, look for Fairchild to implement his vision for a multifaceted backfield.  #### has impressed the Bills with his excellent speed and quickness – especially in open space.  Expect #### to make a major impact in the passing game with his ability to create matchup problems for linebackers.  In addition to #### creating headlines, veteran Anthony Thomas is having a very solid camp.  Thomas has displayed an extra bounce in his step this summer and has looked his best in years to provide a solid complement to #### in the backfield. 

The real test begins for the New Orleans Saints as they enter Sean Payton’s second season.  They should remain productive at putting points on the board.  Drew Brees has an instinctive command of the offense.  They have a solid offensive line.  And Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush complement each other very well in the backfield.  They have a nice collection of young receivers, but either Devery Henderson or rookie Robert Meachem must step up as a consistent downfield target to complement Marques Colston.  The biggest question again is on the defensive side of the ball.  They can get to the quarterback with Charles Grant and Will Smith coming off the perimeter.  Now they must prove they can stop the run and create more turnovers if they want to get deep into the playoffs again.  They didn’t bring in any high impact players this spring, but added a host of steady contributors.  Kendrick Clancy provides quality depth upfront to spell Hollis Thomas at times.  Brian Simmons will be a steady veteran presence at linebacker.  Jason David and Kevin Kaesviharn add numbers to a suspect secondary.  Kaesviharn has a knack for creating turnovers. 

If anyone challenges the Saints, it will be the Carolina Panthers.  John Fox still has a respectable defense to remain competitive.  Ken Lucas should rebound at cornerback after injuries slowed him considerably last season.  Richard Marshall proved to be a strong cover guy as a rookie.  They still have Julius Peppers rushing the passer.  They’ve always been strong along the front four, but Mike Rucker is aging and coming off a knee injury.  Kris Jenkins faces an uncertain future after trade talks surfaced this spring.  Jenkins is the key to their run defense.  They can’t afford bitter feelings affecting his play on the field and trading him leaves a major hole upfront.  The offensive side of the ball is a concern.  Jake Delhomme remains respected in the huddle, but must protect the ball better.  David Carr is waiting in the wings if Delhomme struggles again.  Unfortunately, Steve Smith is the only proven target in the passing game.  Dwayne Jarrett could become a solid pass catcher to complement Smith, but will have growing pains as a rookie.  The run game is concern until proven otherwise.   DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams are solid fits in Jeff Davidson’s new zone blocking scheme, but one of them must step forward as a feature back.  Williams has the feet and quickness to break a lot of plays if he stays healthy.  There should be more stability across the offensive line this season if everyone stays healthy.  This is a team at a crossroads after several competitive years under Fox.  They have always bounced back from down seasons, but face a lot of personnel questions entering training camp. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain in transition after losing a number of their cornerstone players the past few years.  But Jon Gruden is going for a quick fix at quarterback to save his job.  Jeff Garcia is the perfect fit to run Gruden’s offense, but I have doubts whether Garcia can remain effective for 16 games.  That’s why Gruden is pleading for Jake Plummer to put off retirement.  Carnell Williams must prove his durability at running back.  Joey Galloway is the only playmaker in the passing game.  They jury remains out on Michael Clayton and tight end Alex Smith.  They are building solid numbers across the offensive line.  You have to give Monte Kiffin a lot of credit for keeping their defense from not falling apart.  They’ve lost a lot of key players the past few years.  They aren’t creating the same pressure from the front four or generating as many turnovers these days.  Gaines Adams was a nice addition as Simeon Rice nears the end.  Kevin Carter is a solid stop gap upfront.  A healthy Brian Kelly helps the secondary if contract concerns stay off the field. 

The Atlanta Falcons are making a paradigm shift under Bobby Petrino.  There is more pressure on Michael Vick than ever following an eventful off-season.  Vick could be a solid fit to push the ball downfield in Petrino’s offense, but must also become a lot more efficient in the passing game and protect the ball better.  Joe Horn brings a strong veteran presence if he can avoid nagging injuries, but Roddy White and Michael Jenkins must become more consistent if the passing game is to take shape.  Despite having the top ranked run game last season, questions exist with Petrino going to a power based attack.  Warrick Dunn showed signs of wearing down late last season.  Jerious Norwood might not be durable enough in this scheme.  On defense, they’ll miss the leadership of Patrick Kearney.  John Abraham has trouble staying on the field.  And they have questions inside as Grady Jackson is at odds with the club over his contract and Rod Coleman is rehabbing a quadriceps injury.  DeAngelo Hall is their lone certainty in the secondary.  The rest of this group is a concern against the pass.  Chris Houston could have inconsistencies as a rookie.  Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker are vulnerable against the pass inside. 

Atlanta Falcons: This group has high upside for the Falcons. There’s been a lot of talk regarding the offensive side of the ball with Bob Petrino arriving in Atlanta, but the Falcons added two starters on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Patrick Kerney in free agency was a blow. They still have John Abraham, but he has trouble staying healthy. Enter Jamaal Anderson to step in for Kerney. Anderson needs work, but has the tools and work habits to develop into a solid presence along the front four after a year of pro coaching. Chris Houston will be a boom or bust at cornerback. He has the physical tools to fit well at cornerback in Mike Zimmer’s scheme and could address the need for a second corner.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Falcons are transitioning to a more physical approach upfront. That makes the addition of Justin Blalock critical towards opening holes in the run game.

Carolina Panthers: I believe the Panthers found some solid components on both sides of the ball. Dwayne Jarrett is a good fit here because he’s not being asked to become the playmaker in Carolina. He’ll provide a complement to Smith in the intermediate passing game for the long-term. With the release of Keyshawn Johnson, they’ll be a lot of pressure on Jarrett to contribute early because Drew Carter is better suited as extra receiver downfield and Keary Colbert doesn’t pose much of a threat. Ryan Kalil should be a nice fit along the interior line as the Panthers are going to a zone-blocking scheme under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson.

Charles Johnson and Jon Beason will add immediate depth, but should be building blocks on this defense in the next year. Johnson will be a starter sooner than later with Mike Rucker fading physically. Johnson may never become a top pass rusher off the edge, but the Panthers have Julius Peppers as their blue-chipper. Beason offers much needed insurance at middle linebacker as Dan Morgan faces uncertainty over the long-term with injuries and concussions.

New Orleans Saints: Sean Payton likes to be aggressive and diverse with his offense. Robert Meachem has the tools to become a complete receiver who can make big plays to complement Marques Colston. The addition of Meachem puts Devery Henderson on the hot seat because Terrance Copper is expected to play a bigger role in the passing game this season as he shows signs of becoming a reliable intermediate threat. Henderson does flash big-play ability, but drops too many balls and disappears too often.

The Saints also took a shot at improving their numbers at cornerback with Usama Young and David Jones. Both are extremely raw, but have intriguing tools as developmental prospects. The Saints hope to develop Young into a press corner in a couple years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers added much needed youth to an aging defense. Gaines Adams has an opportunity to make the same impact in this defense that Simeon Rice did during his prime. Tanard Jackson could be a nice pickup at cornerback. He displays the physical tools to eventually become a solid starter in their zone scheme. Monte Kiffin will use Sabby Piscitelli in a similar role to that of John ####, but I don’t think we’ll see the second coming of #### when it comes to team dynamics.

Aaron Sears should be a nice fit along the offensive line. Jon Gruden loves a strong run game, so pairing Sears with second-year Davin Joseph at the guard spots should help the Buccaneers begin getting more push in the run game. Unfortunately, the one area Gruden couldn’t address is finding a young playmaker in the passing game.

Anytime you make a move for a potential starting quarterback with little or no NFL experience is a major gamble.  The Houston Texans certainly made that bold gamble when they traded draft picks to the Falcons for Matt Schaub.  

Schaub has all the attributes to become a solid fit in Gary Kubiak’s offense in Houston.  He can get outside the pocket and plays with a lot of poise.  He lacks a strong arm, but gets rid of the ball quickly and is generally accurate.  The only major question is Schaub’s ability to make good decisions with the ball.  He tends to force a lot of plays that aren’t there – which is typical of a backup trying to make things happen.  Kubiak doesn’t tolerate that from his quarterback and Schaub should settle down in that regard now that he’s a starter. 

Schaub will now have to make the adjustment of being the focal point of Houston’s offense heading into this season.  I believe Schaub’s leadership ability and poise will earn the respect of his new teammates in Houston. 

Now the focus heading into the draft will be surrounding Schaub with enough talent to succeed.  That was a problem the organization had with David Carr.  Andre Johnson is the only playmaker that worries defensive coordinators.  Owen Daniels is a capable presence at tight end.  They need a lot more depth in the passing game.  And the aging Ahman Green in the backfield and annual questions along the offensive line doesn’t help matters. 

As for the Falcons, this trade certainly makes a lot of sense.  Schaub’s stock is at an all-time high within the volatile market for backup quarterbacks.  Moving up a couple spots in the 2007 NFL Draft and adding a second round pick in each of the next two drafts give the Falcons the opportunity to add a few building blocks moving forward.