5-11 - best case
 

No, I'm not saying 5-11 is the best this team can be, but right now, it's what I'm rooting for. I'm sure I'll catch sh!t for this, but this team proved to me today that it cannot get over the hump. We needed one touchdown in the second half to seal the game. One score, and with the exception of the final drive of regulation, we pretty much did nothing. Even then we proved our ineptitude. 3rd and 2 on a drive where we're rolling and our tightend tries to juke a corner rather than just falling forward or running through him. 4th and 1 from the 37 in OT... yeah, going for it was the right decision, but trying to run Deuce on a dive with two tightends and a FB is the wrong play call against Carolina. Stupid!

Yeah, our defense looks a little better, but the bottom line is that we can't stop anyone when it matters. At 3-5 we basically need to go 7-1 or 6-2 to have a shot at the last wild card spot. That's not happening. This team can't do that. So, my hope is that we go 5-11 or worse. That is the best thing for us in the long term. If we are undeniably bad this year, that means regime change, and hopefully we get a coach and GM in here that can do something with all this talent. My biggest fear is that we go 7-9 - enough losses to not make the playoffs, but enough wins to get a middle first round draft pick, instead of a high first rounder, and more importantly, enough wins for Haslett to weasel his way into another year.

I'm for Saban, and I'm done with this team this year. I simply cannot see us digging out of a 3-5 hole. Even if we can, I don't know why we would want that. We've proven FIVE times this season already that we cannot beat good teams. If we go 9-7 and squeak in, we'll just get blown up in the playoffs. Nope, give me 5-11 and a clean slate with a coach that knows how to get the BEST out of his players.

5-11 - best case
 

I can understand your position. I can understand your frustration. But, who\'s to say if we clean house that the next regime is going to do any better? Given Benson\'s past performance on hiring these folks, things have never turned out that way. If your position is that Haslett has had his opportunity and you are ready for anyone other than him to be the coach, then I can\'t blame you, but I take little comfort that things will work out any better.

I\'m not exactly thrilled with Jim Haslett and company, but at this point, I don\'t agree with you. I can\'t honestly say that I believe that Haslett is the right guy. I can\'t even really defend him. But, I\'m not ready to agree with you at this point. To satisfy my on mind, I have to see what happens the rest of the year before I go calling for everyone to be fired.

5-11 - best case
 

Gator -- I\'m very close to calling for a coaching change myself. But, if they win out -- There is no way I would call for a coahing change.

1. Coaching

2. Lack of talent on defense.

3. General Manager.

Something like that. You might could switch the order a little bit.

5-11 - best case
 

I agree with number one, Billy. I think the GM is one of the reasons for number two. You could also lump in whoever\'s in charge of evaluating the talent we brought in this year.

5-11 - best case
 

Whodat, if we do have a coaching change at the end of the year, do you really want Saban? When was the last time a college coach came into the NFL and had real success? Jimmy Johnson?

I think we\'d be better served hiring an OFFENSIVE coordinator from a successful program. Gary Kubiak and Al Saunders come to mind. Then, we can hire a defensive coordinator from the college ranks.

I see your point about not winning anymore games this year, but I just can\'t go there.

I don\'t know. The next nine weeks are going to be tough.

5-11 - best case
 

I agree completely with everything you just said. Nick Saban hasn\'t really impressed me that much in the college ranks. There are much better college coahes than Saban IMO

[Edited on 27/10/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

5-11 - best case
 

I understand what you\'re saying too Billy. However, can you name me a coach who brought his team to the playoffs in one year, then failed to make it in the next three years in a row, and then ever made it to a Super Bowl... or even to the playoffs again? I can\'t.

Point is, that if a coach hasn\'t shown that he can lead his team to a consistently better record each year by the third or fourth year, it won\'t happen. If someone else comes in at least there\'s potential. With Haslett, what you\'ve seen for the last, oh, 16 regular season weeks back to last season, is about what you\'re going to get every week. That\'s unacceptible. If Haslett goes 5-11, he will get fired. So that\'s what I\'m rooting for - not b/c I\'m a fair-weather fan, but b/c I want this team to succeed, and that won\'t happen this year, so I\'m looking long-term for an answer.

5-11 - best case
 

WhoDat --

Like I said -- I can\'t defend Haslett. I\'m not saying your wrong either. That might very well be the best thing for this team. I just can\'t be wishing for this team to lose though. If it works out that way, then so be it.

P.S. - I do not think you are a fair weather fan for hoping that.

5-11 - best case
 

Actually, the guy I\'d really like to see given a chance is Ron Zook, but otherwise, all I know is that Saban is a winner. He\'s won everywhere he\'s ever gone, and that means something to me. I\'m not stuck on Saban. There are a lot of coaches in the NFL ranks that I wouldn\'t mind seeing given a chance... or another chance.

5-11 - best case
 

Whodat, I\'m pretty close to being with you on the coaching change. What I\'m curious about is your list of candidate(s). Do you really think we should go after Saban? If so, what has he shown you that makes him the top candidate? Why do you think he\'d be better than an established NFL OC?

I\'d like to know your opinion.

5-11 - best case
 

I can\'t really say I\'m hoping for them to lose. I think that\'s best for this team, but...

I just plan on watching the games, and seeing what happens. I can\'t say that I\'m going to hope that they win, but I can\'t hope for them to lose either.

5-11 - best case
 

Hire a offensive coach in the NFL for the head coach and an offensive co-ordinator. Then I have a great idea for a defensive co-ordinator from the college ranks. Ron Zook! Bring him back, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

5-11 - best case
 

Maybe Spurrier will get fired and want his old job back. Then we could lure old Ron back. He could be DC and asst. head coach.

5-11 - best case
 

Honestly, and I don\'t mean to skirt the topic here, but more important to me than the head coach are the coordinators. I\'d like to see Zook as a head coach b/c I think he can manage a team really well. Lovie Smith is another good idea. I wouldn\'t mind bringing in Indy\'s O-coordinator and/or KC\'s O-coordinator.

5-11 - best case
 

Someone expain this to me -- How is it when we know that we have to stop Stephen Daivis that he runs for 182 yards. I have a very hard time believing that the talent on defense is that bad. This is the same problem we had last year. Is it the scheme? Is it the talent or both?

5-11 - best case
 

On the topic of new head coaches. My first choice would be Jimmy Johnson. Give him whatever he wants and whatever he needs. I don\'t like head coaches with defensive backgrouds.

5-11 - best case
 

It was said on one of the pre-game shows today that Saban coached in the Steeler\'s organization for a while. Also Jimmy Johnson was asked today by James Brown if he would go back into coaching, he said a very quick no.

5-11 - best case
 

To the best of my knowledge he does not have any NFL coaching experience. I think I would have at least heard of the guy if he had been in the NFL. I would guess at some point in his career that he had worked under someone with NFL experience. I am not a Nick Saban expert by any stretch of the imagination.

Hey, but I do know that June Jones is considered and execellent offensive coordinator with NFL experience.

5-11 - best case
 

Nick Saban
Coaching Experience
1973-74 Graduate Asst. Coach Kent State
1975-76 Linebackers Coach Kent State
1977 Outside Linebackers Coach Syracuse
1978-79 Secondary Coach West Virginia
1980-81 Secondary Coach Ohio State
1982 Secondary Coach U.S. Naval Academy
1983-87 Secondary Coach / Def. Coordinator Michigan State
1988-89 Secondary Coach Houston Oilers
1990 Head Coach Toledo
1991-94 Defensive Coordinator Cleveland Browns
1995-99 Head Coach Michigan State
2000 - Head Coach LSU

I stand corrected!!

5-11 - best case
 

Saban was the secondary coach for the Oilers for year or two
He was the DC for the Browns 91-94.
http://www.nicksaban.net/saban/career.html

I\'m not really a big Saban-phile. Let\'s just for fun assume he was the head coach of any college team but LSU and his name wouldn\'t be on this board.

My two cents--lets go get a Parcell\'s disciple. I\'d be all about getting Maurice Carthon (OC) or Sean Payton (QB\'s) from Dallas. No one has done better coaching than the Dallas guys this year. I\'d vote against any retreads. Guys like Jimmy Johnson are a pretty sure bet to go into the HOF and, after the Miami fiasco, even if they would coach here, they\'d play it too conservatively so as not to upset the HOF ballots.

Let\'s find a guy with something to prove, who doesn\'t mind that NO has chewed up and spit out some guys who used to be decent coaches before they came here. But let\'s find a guy with something to prove who understands football fundamentals and believes in good play in all 3 phases of the game.

5-11 - best case
 

Candidates on campus: Collegiate coaches NFL teams might consider

By Joel Buchsbaum
Nov. 22, 2002



LSU coach
Nick Saban

We asked NFL insiders: If you were picking an NFL head coach from the college ranks and everyone was in play, whom would you select? All responses were made anonymously.

1. Nick Saban, LSU — \"A great pro-style coach in the Bill Belichick mold. He is a great teacher and schemer who may not be great at interviews but can motivate his team.\"

2. Tyrone Willingham, Notre Dame — \"A pro’s pro, in my mind. He is like the general that stresses discipline and never jokes around yet always has the best-prepared and motivated soldiers who would die for him.\"

3. Walt Harris, Pittsburgh — \"Was an NFL offensive coordinator and has done a great, great job at Pittsburgh.\"

4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma — \"He will have a lot to learn about the pro game but will hire top coordinators, listen and learn and is a great motivator.\"

5. (tie) June Jones, Hawaii — \"Most people feel he really wants to stay in paradise. A players’ coach, a passing-game coach and has NFL head-coaching experience.\"

5. (tie) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa — \"Plenty of NFL experience and did a great job of turning the Iowa program around.\"

7. Jeff Tedford, California — \"Great quarterback-offensive coach.\" One expert called him \"another Steve Mariucci.\"

8. Gary Barnett, Colorado — \"He generally wins, and he won at Northwestern.\"

9. Pat Hill, Fresno State — \"NFL experience and a very effective college coach.\"

10. Mike Bellotti, Oregon — \"He made a middle-of-the-road team a perennial Rose Bowl contender and is a pro-type coach.\"

5-11 - best case
 

Billy :
\"I stand corrected!! \"

At least it is on familiar ground .... :P

5-11 - best case
 

Gator --

Steve Spurrier was considered a great coach too and he ain\'t exactly setting the world on fire. I don\'t like the pick of Saban to be the coach of the Saints.

As far as proving me wrong. Well, I told ya I ain\'t a Nick Saban expert. If it were that important for me to be right on the subject, I could have looked it up on the net just like you. The net makes us all smart, don\'t it -- :o

5-11 - best case
 

Gator -- I knew you were.

I must say from reading the article that you posted that Saban sounds impressive. I hold Bill Polian in high regards and if he has that kind of praise for Saban then I have to believe that he\'s a good one. But, I still prefer an offensive minded head coach and a great defensive coordinator.

5-11 - best case
 

The difference here is that Spurrier was obviously a college coach. That\'s where he made his name, and his \"fun-and-gun\" offense can only really flourish in the college ranks. He\'s learning that now.

Saban has succeeded extraordinarily in both college and the pros. He\'s on the top of the list of college coaches ready to make the leap to the pros, and with his name and the way LSU has been playing, he SHOULD get a lot of slack from both Benson AND the fans - allowing him to make the moves he needs to make.

5-11 - best case
 

WhoDat -- Point taken and a good point. But I still say give me an offensive minded coach like Gruden over someone like Tony Dungy.