Training for pilots includes at least 1,500 hours of flight time before they qualify to become a pilot. Not all co-pilots go on to become pilots and fewer still reach the level of captain. But, the process is in place and co-pilots who become pilots better have a lot better record than assistant coaches who become head coaches in the NFL. If they don’t, we are going to have a lot of wreckage to clear off hillsides.
One might think that a person who is skilled at putting together a defensive or offensive game plan as an assistant would be a perfect candidate to take over as a head coach. Turns out, a different skill set is required for the two jobs, head coach and assistant coach.
A number of great assistant coaches that won Super Bowls that earned them a head coaching position with another team have failed like a lifeguard who can’t swim. When I was with the Oakland Raiders in the 1970’s, Don Shula was leading the Miami Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl wins and had a coaching staff that was the envy of the league.
But, when two of those excellent assistants got a shot to be a head coach, they crashed like the Hindenburg. Bill Arnsparger was the architect of the no-name defense that didn’t allow the Washington Redskins to score in Super Bowl VI to complete the only perfect season in NFL history. The final score in that Super Bowl win for Miami was 14-7, but the Redskins touchdown came on an ill-advised pass attempt from kicker Garo Yepremian.
In 1974, Arnsparger was named head coach of the New York Giants, and fired seven games into the 1976 season after winning only seven of 35 decisions.
On the other side of the ball during the Dolphins perfect 1972 campaign, was offensive line coach Monte Clark. He designed the path that led to a trio of runningbacks to slice through opponent defenses, namely Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris. But his success as an assistant didn’t translate to success as a head coach. Clark was hired by the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, but after one season was let go and he later served the same role with the Detroit Lions. In six seasons with Detroit, Clark compiled a head coaching record that had 20 more losses than wins.
The Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowls in a four year span and when their quarterback of those teams, Troy Aikman, was enshrined in the Hall of Fame he had his offensive coordinator from his first two Super Bowl victories, Norv Turner, present him at his induction. It was an honor for his coach and an acknowledgment of the skill Turner mastered as an assistant and offensive coordinator.
But, put Turner in as a head coach, and the results go south.
His first head coaching position was with the Washington Redskins, where he compiled a 50-60-1 record before being fired after 13 games in 2000. He spent two seasons, 2004-05, with the Oakland Raiders and compiled a horrible 9 wins and 23 losses. The third was almost the charm for Turner, as he next spent six seasons as head coach of the San Diego Chargers where he had a winning record of 59-43, but never cracked the Super Bowl field.
Assistants that did crack the Super Bowl field and win multiple rings as members of Bill Belichick’s staff in New England, couldn’t take that success with them when they were hired as head coaches. That list includes Charlie Weiss, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Matt Patricia and current Las Vegas Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
As an offensive coordinator with the Patriots, McDaniels was a six time Super Bowl winner and considered a key to their success. But as a head coach, not so much. His first opportunity was with the Denver Broncos in 2009, and after winning only 11 of 28 decisions he was let go after a dozen games in 2010. Back with the Patriots as an assistant, more successes for McDaniels as an assistant, so he got another shot at a head coaching position this year when Mark Davis hired him to mentor the Raiders.
How is that going?
Not good.
Last year, the Raiders were in the playoff field, this year, they are in last place in the AFC West Division with only two wins in eight games. They have lost all five of their road games while winning two of three on their home field.
This week, they are home and favored over the Indianapolis Colts, who have more problems than a fireman without water.
The Raiders are the kind of team that can take out their frustrations of an overmatched opponent and fail against worthy competition. I don’t think McDaniels is long for his status as a head coach, and I’m glad he won’t be the pilot on my next airline flight, but against the Colts this week at home he gets a rare victory.
Qoxhi Picks: Las Vegas Raiders (-4½) over Indianapolis Colts