The Carolina Panthers enter another season surrounded by uncertainty because they continue trying to find playmakers to complement Steve Smith. 

They brought back Mushin Muhammad after a respite in Chicago.  They also added former Seahawk enigma D.J. Hackett. 

Can they emerge as solid complementary options to boost the Carolina passing game? 

Muhammad provides a lot of experience and can out-muscle defenders over the middle, but showed signs of aging last season and won’t scare too many defenders. 

On the other hand, Hackett could be the playmaker the Panthers need to take pressure off Smith.  Hackett has the size and natural skills to make a lot of clutch grabs – especially in the red zone.  But Hackett has been unable to take his career to the next level as a consistent number two receiver due to injuries.  He’s had a track record of hamstring problems and missed several weeks last season with a high ankle sprain.  A few coaches questioned his toughness to play through injuries in the past. 

The Panthers hope a change of scenery helps Hackett develop into a solid option behind Smith.

These signings also mark the lack of confidence the organization has with Dwayne Jarrett.  Jarrett must display more maturity in his second season as he faces the bust label.  He struggles to separate from tight coverage and had problems learning how to read coverages at the pro level. 

In San Francisco, Mike Martz was brought in to add some much needed energy and restore order on the offensive side of the ball.  The 49ers have attempted to add some short-term stability in the passing game with the recent signings of Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson. 

The 49ers might have had the worst collect of receivers in the league last season.  Bruce is past his best days as hamstring problems have re-appeared from his early days.  While the 49ers shouldn’t count on Bruce for a full 16 games at this stage of his career, he’ll provide some stability and experience with his familiarity of Martz’s offense. 

Johnson has an opportunity to establish himself as a solid number two type after being overshadowed in Arizona behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.  Johnson has adequate size and speed.  He has shown the ability to get downfield and his hands have improved over the past year.  Now he must prove he can be consistent enough to grade as a consistent starter. 

The 49ers also hope Jason Hill overcomes injuries as a rookie to become a solid contributor next season.  Hill intrigues the 49ers with his blend of size and physical skills. 

Mike Martz comes to San Francisco with two main objectives – reverse his tarnished reputation and save Mike Nolan’s job. 

There are a lot of mixed emotions among insiders with the 49ers about bringing Martz into the organization.  Nolan fought hard to hire Martz and will be directly accountable to push the 49ers into playoff contention in 2008. 

The biggest challenge Martz faces is reviving Alex Smith’s career.  At his best, Smith is an ideal fit within Martz’s complex passing game.  He’s smart and not afraid to take hits, but it will be interesting to see how he holds up physically considering the beating quarterbacks normally endure in Martz’s system.  That’s not a great sign for a quarterback coming off significant shoulder problems. 

Martz has a lot of work to do with Smith.  Smith will have to rebuild his confidence and re-establish his mechanics after his setback in 2007.  Smith will be pushed by Shaun Hill during training camp.  Hill has a lot of physical limitations, but is very decisive and accurate with the football – two traits Martz loves with his quarterbacks. 

Surprisingly, the offense won’t necessarily build the offense around either quarterback.  I believe Martz sees tremendous value with Frank Gore in the backfield.  I believe Martz will utilize Gore in a Marshall Faulk type role next season.  Gore is coming off a sluggish season, but is a tremendous runner who also can make plays in the passing game. 

With Martz in the fold, the 49ers will need to find help at wide receiver.  They lack a well-rounded playmaker.  Darrell Jackson had a terrible year and seemed to avoid getting hit often.  Arnaz Battle lacks consistency and Ashley Lelie is one-dimensional.  The organization is intrigued by Jason Hill.  Hill has good speed, but has a lot of development ahead after being slowed by injuries as a rookie.  But Hill is no more than a number three type at this stage. 

With questions at wide receiver – one of the primary objectives for next season will be the progress of Vernon Davis at tight end.  Martz never featured his tight ends much in the past, but it’s hard to ignore his athleticism.  Davis must mature and focus on becoming more consistent in his third season.  If Davis can mature and Martz decides to feature him – he can become a building block that provides a similar impact in the passing game like Antonio Gates in San Diego.

Several years ago here at FOXSports, I did a breakdown of organizational stability around the NFL.  At that time, I projected the 49ers’ Organization to become the next Cincinnati Bengals of this decade.  I guess I was correct in that projection. 

Since that time, the organizational structure has become even more indecisive.  John York is just not qualified as an NFL Owner.  His son Jed handles quite a bit of responsibility.  I like his effort and dedication to the organization, but he’s not the answer to lead this organization.  The two man team of Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan isn’t an ideal solution.

I do give credit to Nolan for trying to create a more disciplined culture since joining the organization.  He’s had a few tough breaks with injuries this season and working with his third different offensive coordinator in three years.  Those factors have setback the organization this season. 

Now there are mixed opinions within the upper management regarding Nolan’s future and direction of this organization.  I believe Nolan has the right vision for where this team should go, but I believe they should have a stronger presence in the front office to work in tandem with Nolan.  Nolan knows what he wants, but he’s not a personnel man.  Scot McCloughan handles a lot of the day to day work for Nolan and is respected around the league, but regarded as a general manager type. 

Overall, Nolan needs to focus on being the coach and they need to hire a strong general manager who can strengthen their organizational direction. 

One of the unspoken fallouts from the resignation of Bobby Petrino in Atlanta has been the loss of a couple strong assistants.  Obviously, they’ll lose a few more good assistants – pending the new head coach.  But they already lost two strong assistants in Paul Petrino (wide receivers) and Brian VanGorder (linebackers).   Petrino quickly emerged as one of the league’s top few receiver coaches.  He’s very demanding in regards to fundaments, which made a difference in the play of Roddy White this season.  And Petrino was doing a good job behind the scenes with the development of rookie Laurent Robinson, who could play a big role next season.  On the other side of the ball, VanGorder has done a solid job with some of the young linebackers on the Falcons’ roster.  Michael Boley has developed into a cornerstone and rookie Stephen Nichols also adapted quickly to the NFL this season.

Among the several holes the Jets need to address this spring, the wide receiver position should see some attention.  The only sure bet for the future is Jerricho Cotchery.  Cotchery is a solid intermediate target, but has very little speed to stretch the field.  The Jets need a playmaker that can stretch the field to pair with Cotchery.  Laveranues Coles has just about reached the end of his career.  His physical skills are on a sharp decline at this point.  He’s finishing the season on injured reserve.  Coles has likely played his last game as a Jet.

The Saints will have to consider adding another cornerback this spring.  Jason David was erratic in his first season with New Orleans.  And Mike McKenzie will be battling back from a knee injury next season and his future is clouded at this stage of his career.  He’s never been a pure cover guy and has relied more on his physical skills than anything else.  Someone who must emerge for the Saints next season is Usama Young.  Young was viewed as a project when drafted last spring.  He’s very raw and wasn’t ready to see the field this season, but has very intriguing athleticism.  Young shows natural ball skills, but has a lot of work ahead of him this spring to hone his techniques and command for the NFL game.  His development will be among the top priorities during the off-season program for the Saints.

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. 

Losing Anthony McFarland was the second major blow for the Colts in the past few weeks.  McFarland brought a jolt to a suspect Colts’ front four when he was acquired from Tampa Bay last season with his quickness and veteran experience.  Rookie Quinn Pitcoc k is now in the spotlight with an opportunity to take over McFarland’s spot.  Pitcoc k is a blue-collar guy from Ohio State with plays with a lot of effort, but has a lot of limitations.  Darrell Reid and Dan Klecko are young veterans who are try-hard guys who can penetrate and get upfield, but possess size limitations. 

Bill Polian has created a strong football culture that allows the Colts to overcome key injuries similar to the environment that has allowed Andy Reid to work through adversity in Philadelphia.  The Colts will remain a competitive football team with a lot of good athletes on both side of the ball, but will face tough odds to repeat after losing their most talented offensive lineman and now a key factor along their defensive front. 

49ers scare: Mike Nolan had a scare a few days ago when Aubrayo Franklin went down with a knee injury.  Luckily, he should only miss the pre-season, but Franklin also missed a few practices last week with an elbow injury.  Franklin is such an important cog at nose tackle towards building the defense Nolan envision when he arrived in San Francisco.  But after working as a reserve in Baltimore, the only question that arrived with Franklin was proving his durability in a full-time role.  Franklin will need to answer those questions during the season.  Without Franklin in the lineup during camp, the 49ers will get good looks at Isaac Sopoapga and rookie Joe Cohen.  Cohen has opened eyes with his active play, but is more of a tweener type.  He lacks the ideal power to play the nose on an everydown basis.  Sopoaga has the size and power to control blockers in the trenches, but his career has been a disappointment to date.  Sopoaga has worked on using his hands better to gain initial control over blockers and must work on not allowing blockers into his chest.  He entered camp on the bubble for a roster spot. 

Rookie impresses Chargers: The Chargers are intrigued with the natural athleticism displayed by rookie wide receiver Craig Davis in practice thus far.  Davis has the ability to stretch the field and give the Chargers an immediate downfield threat, but must prove he’s tough enough to work over the middle of the field.  Davis is being counted on to fill a prominent role coming out of the gate with Eric Parker out for the early part of the season.  Davis has more size and speed, but they’ll miss Parker’s ability to make a lot of clutch grabs.  Vincent Jackson is also being counted on to take his game to the next level with his blend of size and athletic ability, but still must show he can make tough plays in traffic that true number one receivers make in traffic.  Jackson has been nicked up in the early parts of camp.

McIntosh questions: Damion McIntosh’s knee injury will keep him out 4 to 6 weeks.  Scouts around the league have always had red flags on McIntosh over long-term durability.  The Chiefs must hope they can squeeze an effective season from McIntosh while deciding on their long-term direction at left tackle.  Will Svitek will get a long look the next several weeks and that should provide some indication whether Svitek has any opportunity at becoming a long-term solution at left tackle or whether the Chiefs will have to make this position a priority next spring.  Svitek is a former college defensive lineman who lacks experience on the offensive side of the ball and had knee problems last season.  Svitek has good size and feet, but needs a lot of work.