For what had to be a first in NFL history three offensive coordinators were fired two weeks or less before the regular season.
Each team—Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Bills—had similar issues before the moves were made. Together they combined for two wins total all preseason. With the first team offense on the field, a time when chemistry and fluidity are expected, combined they scored only two offensive touchdowns.
In the past, if a coach struggles during the early season stages the organization didn’t shy against firing for lack of results.
But when was the last time it has happened so early?
Of course firing the offensive coach doesn’t immediately fix the problems of the lifeless O’s. It can actually turn out to be the start of a chemistry building process that teams would like to have already crafted before or during preseason.
Below is a breakdown of each team’s decision and the fantasy impact it may have.
Many questions surrounded the organization before the move was made after the knee injury to their new quarterback Matt Cassel, during a 14-10 loss to the Seahawks.
The former Patriots QB is expected to miss two-to-four weeks, leaving the Chiefs with Brodie Croyle as the starter for week one. Croyle has never won an NFL game and is 0-8 in the past two seasons.
“I don’t think we’re going to be a high-powered group right now,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley said after the game.
The Chiefs scored only two offensive touchdowns combined in four games this preseason.
Haley, the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals in 2007-08, vows to do everything he can to bring the Chiefs—a team who has won only six games in the past two seasons—to respectability again.
Larry Johnson is still a threat in the backfield, but if teams stack the box he will have nowhere to run.
The loss of tight end Tony Gonzalez will hurt the Chiefs and I don’t expect much play from the Chiefs TEs.
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe returns—the Chiefs leader with 86 receptions for 1,022 yards and seven TDs last season. Bowe is expected to have another good year as part of the third-year wide receiver theory. The Chiefs also picked up WR Terrance Copper who had 38 receptions for 511 yards with five TDs for the Saints last season.
WR Bobby Engram hopes to bounce back a season after injuring his shoulder producing only 47 receptions for 489 yards in 2008. In ‘07 Engram tallied a career-high 94 receptions for a career-best 1,147 yards with six TDs.
“A consistent message is what I’ve been sending these guys,” said Haley, “not the same message but a consistent one.”
Expect Haley to lean on his offensive assistants such as O-line coach Bill Muir who has 32 years NFL experience and was the Buccaneers coordinator for six years (2002-08).
“It’s going to be a lot busier,” said Haley.”I’m grateful that I have some former coordinators around me.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers followed suit by firing their offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski on September 3, ten days before the start of the season. Similar to the Chiefs, they also have a first-year head coach in Raheem Morris, Tampa’s defensive backs coach for the past two seasons.
At 33, Morris is the youngest coach in the NFL. The final decision to fire Jagodzinski fell on the young coach’s shoulders, and many say he is way over his head.
“It was time, before the last preseason game to make the decision so that we could move on and be ready,” said Morris.
Team sources said that conflict had been building since early in training camp with coaches and players disagreeing with Jagodzinski's coaching philosophies and teaching methods.



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