Notes From Lombardi

Always been a big believer that you are hiring an executive and more of a "leader" of the organization/program builder as head coach, versus just someone who is just a great offensive or defensive mind. Can you get your guys to believe and play each week? Can you hire a great hands on staff? Do you understand how to manage the game and make good decisions under the gun on game day? Can you handle the PR portion of your role effectively and so on and so on. More 50,000 ft, than 10,000. While Belicheck has been lauded as a great defensive mind and film man, he has built an incredible staff and culture everyone has bought into...including "upstairs." I think the McDaniels thing will be interesting to watch play out...to see if he is just a good coordinator, or to see if he is a potentially great head man for a franchise.

Scot - you have some good points about the linebackers, especially their play in 2007, but it just seems curious at least that after the year the defense just had, including the LBs, that Moss would be the only surviving defensive assistant. I thought Hawk in particular was horrible this year, and Poppinga wasn't far behind. They both seemed to regress. They were still screwing up the same coverages late in the year that they had screwed up earlier in the year, and they never made any positive, impact plays. Maybe it was more Sanders' fault than Moss's, but it still would seem fair that Moss would at least have some fault. Re: the Rams, my cynical guess is the Rams interviewed Winston primarily due to the minority interview rule. I would guess he is the front runner to be the Pack's new D-coordinator, though. Here's hoping he is good. McCarthy's, and Thompson's, jobs may now well depend upon him.

moss would be the wrong move if they want to change the defense and they fired the d coordinator and 4 assistants then why keep moss and why promote him?

Sonny L. - It's not beyond the realm of possibilities that Bowlen told Shanahan to just coach and Mike said No so Bowlen had to fire him.

Gerry - re: Hawk and Pop, how much of those issues were a lack of talent on their parts and how much was a matter of, you don't put players that lack speed and agility in roles that require speed and agility? How much input did Moss have in either of these?

A new article on JSOnline made an interesting point - if Moss were definitely getting the job, it's hard to see where at least one of the other coaches wouldn't have been retained, like Lionel Washington. My guess is that Moss will get a chance to prove to McCarthy that he's got a system that will work but I don't see him having a lock on this.

Scott- I understand the thinking that Moss may have done what his boss says(i.e. play Hawk because hes a #1 pick), but if Moss is so devoid of leadership and balls he gets runnover by his boss--he's no leader and the pack is in trouble. There may be a chain of command but if you don't agree with the decisions, you leave. Just like sly Croom did under Sherman.

Packers need to bring an outside coordinator, completely new blood. I always questioned this season why the Packer LBs consistently lined up 6 or 7 yards off the ball. By the time they moved laterally to the hole, the running back had already gained 3 or 4 yards before meeting the backer. This weekend's playoff games featured several aggressive defenses where on nearly every play one or two linebackers were walking to the line of scrimmage, filling in gaps. The Packers D was very vanilla, and with 4th quarter collapse after collapse, Sanders never took a plunge to shake things up.

I think Jerry Jones will be glad to get rid of Garrett for the same reason that he's announced that Wade Phillips will still be head coach next year. In 2010, the bidding wars for Cowher, Holmgren, Shanahan will be huge. Jones wants Holmgren or Cowher. If none are coaching next season, Jones can be selling the job and negotiating for months. Those three coaches may all sit out next year rather than vie for the crappy Lions, Rams, Browns jobs. From a payday standpoint, these three coaches will get enough of a pay jump in 2010 to forego a few sheckles in 2009. Heck, Shanahan will be paid next year anyway, and Holmgren can run a paper route on his Harley for his spending cash.

Mike,

What's up with Al Davis' son? Is he involved at all with the organization. Is this guy really taking over as General Managing Partner?

Raiders-ownership Situation kind of reminds me of the Steinbrenner-Yankees. Only in that case, the kids stepped up. We're just not seeing that in Oakland.

I agree about Garrett Pete. His sell date has passed. He should have gone last season. Now his offence has underwhelmed and he is yesterdays news.

The Garrett situation is remarkable as one year ago he could have had the Ravens' HC job. Apparently the Princeton grad interviews very well - as you would expect. A year from now, he'll be looking for work as a QB coach. I'm sure the Ravens are thankful, they had to settle on their second choice [Harbaugh] who wasn't a "genius" coordinator so they could hire a proven offensive coordinator.

The people who don't want Moss promoted are probably the same people who want TT fired (aka "the crazies"). The under-performance of the linebackers was caused by the same thing that caused the under-performance of the defensive unit on the whole: injuries/unfulfilled expectations by the d-line. Fix that and everything falls together.

Letting Sanders go was probably the right thing to do as the players probably lost faith in him, but get the line in order and all is well. Winston Moss gives a bit of continuity, which is always good.

The bottom line is that they NEED defensive line help. Ted, draft, sign or trade to get us some pressure on the QB!

Michael,

Heard of you through Simmons. Great website.

When you talk about the Eagles having too many other needs, you noted offensive tackle (which is a huge question mark going into next year with Thomas and Runyan both getting old AND entering into free agency)... But I don't see any othe glaring needs past that.

DEFENSE
- The defensive line is stacked with good, young talent.
- Their young linebackers have played great this season.
- Their secondary might be the best in the NFL, and if not, at the very least top 5.

OFFENSE
- Their TE's couldn't block ME (and I'm slow and weak), which is a need I'd like to see addressed.
- They don't have a FB, but that's seemingly easily addressed.
- They'll have Shawn Andrews (probably will slide out to right tackle) and Jean-Gilles (played well at right guard this year beofre getting hurt) returning next year.
- A physical RB would be nice and a big WR could help.

I agree that McNabb isn't (and shouldn't) go anywhere, but respectfully disagree with the reason why.

Is there a need I'm missing?