Firing Line? A Breakdown of the Impending NFL Coaching Shuffle

So the Atlanta Falcons are the first team to officially begin a coaching search for the 2008 NFL season. The question is: how many other teams will join the Falcons in a quest to once again attempt to find the right man to lead their franchise? Surprisingly, there may not be that many. As those who one would think are prime canidates, most are coaches in their first or second year of tenure, while others are generals who entered the year on the hot seat may have done enough to save their jobs.

Cam Cameron will likely be saved the harshness of being fired after just one year on the job, regardless of whether his Dolphins become infamous for their losing ways. It's still just his first year as the coach of the team, and with the revolving door at the position that the Dolphins have seen since Don Shula stepped down, one would think Miami would try and find some stability. Of course, when your owner ponders selling the team, stability can be thrown out to sea. In the 12 years that have ensued since Shula stepped down five different men have held the title of head coach in Miami. Do they really want to make it six in 13 years?

One thing that does seem to be working against Cameron is that the sentiment held by many of his players, especially the veterans, seems to echo some of the same sentiments the Falcons locker room had towards Bobby Petrino. Considering both men have college backgrounds, this could be an ominous sign—so perhaps Miami should go ahead and cut ties right now. This was a team some thought would contend for a playoff spot in 07', led by their defense, aided by the addition of Joey Porter. Whoops. Joey Porter has added nothing, Zach Thomas has been hurt, and the offense has been worse than anticipated (though injuries, particularly in the backfield, have played a major role in their ineptitude). Cameron didn't exactly endear himself to Miami fans with the drafting of Ted Ginn and John Beck, and thus far in 2007, neither has shown much to make Dolphins fans feel any better about those picks. Ultimately though, if Miami is smart, they'll hold on to Cameron and give him the 2008 season to show some improvement.

Scott Linehan won eight games in his initial season with St. Louis, replacing Mike Martz in 2006. His eight wins weren't enough for a postseason bid, but the season wasn't completely lost. A defense that allowed the second most rushing yards in the league was to blame for the 2006 season, failing to meet fan expectations. The Rams have lost 10 games already this season. They haven't lost more than 10 games since 1998, which by the way, preceeded their Super Bowl season. Additionaly, Dick Vermeil won just nine games in his first two seasons before the magical 1999 season.

This year's Rams team has played better as of late, winning three of their last five with a painstakingly close loss to division leader Seattle thrown in for good measure. The defense has improved, but it's the offense—which for an offensive guru is never a good thing—that has held this team back. Of course when you've had to rely on Gus Frerotte for nearly half the season, what more can you expect? Steven Jackson hasn't been himself all year either. Through the first half of the season, Jackson had only played in four games, and only in one of those contests did he top 60 yards on the ground. In the Rams' last four games he's topped 90 yards each time out. Not coincidentally, the team's overall play—despite have Frerotte on the field—has improved drastically.

Regardless of how the Rams finish the season (though indications are that it will be on an upswing), Linehan deserves to be back, and likely will be. This is one of those teams you can look at and say they only need a couple more pieces, and with drastic turnarounds seemingly common place in the NFL, the Rams, of any team in the league, seem primed for such improvement next year. Odds are good Linehan will be here to see it through.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?