Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss coaches on the hot seat
Thursday 17 November 2016 13:21, UK
Speaking on the 'Inside the Huddle' podcast, Jeff Reinebold and Neil Reynolds talked through the positions of the coaches, analysing whether their seat was safe, warm, or hot. Here's where they came down..
"There is nobody in this game, with the possibility of Bill Belichick up in New England, that has any sort of long-term security," Jeff said.
"It's not what you signed up for when you get into coaching. You want security - call fort Knox!"
With the play-off race heating up, Neil and Jeff assess the head coaches under pressure to deliver.
Chip Kelly - San Francisco 49ers
"It's so early on, and management know they have a depleted roster. I think there were low expectations in this first year, and some changes to come, but I don't think it will be him." - Jeff
"They're still paying Jim Tomsula, they don't want to be paying Chip Kelly and a new coach as well." - Neil
Verdict: Safe
Gus Bradley - Jacksonville Jaguars
"En fuego. For those of us who speak Spanish, that means 'on fire'!" - Jeff
Verdict: Hot
Jeff Fisher - Los Angeles Rams
"There were rumours in weeks two and three that Fisher had signed a contract extension, and the Rams are waiting for the right time to announce it. Surely they would have announced it by now?
"We've talked about the handling of Jared Goff, but there's something that's not right with this team at the moment" - Neil
"This one will be interesting to see how it plays out. Offensively they're not very good, and when everyone anticipated them to be a team that could run the ball well, that hasn't materialised at all. - Jeff
Verdict: Warm/Hot
Mike McCarthy - Green Bay Packers
"When you've got talent on your roster, and you're going through a three-game losing slump, the worst thing is they don't look fired up." - Neil
"When your quarterback comes out and says "we lacked juice", which means you're not emotionally ready to play, combine with how they started against Tennessee, those are both indications that you've got a football team not ready to play." - Jeff
Verdict: Warm
Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals
"The Bengals aren't playing at a level they need to play. Against the Giants the offence was based on trick plays, and once that wore off, the Giants had their way with them.
"They have got some really good players on defence but with discipline issues that continue to haunt them, all of these go back to the head coach." - Jeff
Verdict: Warm, but could get hot
Hue Jackson - Cleveland Browns
"I think he's safe right now. They understand they have a depleted roster, and they're trying to put together a core group of players and change the culture. It's a long haul fix." - Jeff
"Over the coming years, we will put the whole Browns management group on notice - a new approach in Cleveland, building from the start. But I can't trust the management until there's a new alternative at quarterback." - Neil
Verdict: Safe... for now
Todd Bowles - New York Jets
"That seat can get hot real fast with the way the New York media work. This is a difficult one because they came to within a game of the play-offs, followed by an acrimonious contract negotiation with your quarterback who now isn't playing well. That can lead to cracks in the organisation.
"I think Bowles is doing a great job living in the 'fish bowl' that is New York City and the constant criticism you get in the media there." - Jeff
Verdict: Warm
You can follow the results of all the coaches and their teams on NFL Redzone, live on Sky Sports Mix from 6pm every Sunday.
