NFL: The Best and Worst Coordinators of 2008

Typically, each NFL team has one defensive coordinator and one offensive coordinator.  In general, these two men are just a step below the head coach and, in many cases, are hired directly by the current head coach they work with.

The responsibilities of a coordinator can vary but usually include:  managing/coaching players, assisting in personnel selection, game planning, play calling, and managing assistant coaches underneath the coordinator position.

Ultimately, each coordinator is responsible for how their individual "units" perform on the field.  So, who has done their jobs this year and who hasn’t?  Here are the five best and five worst coordinator performances of this 2008 season.

Worst Coordinators of 2008

Tom Moore, Offensive Coordinator, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts organization has spent a lot of money retaining the Colts players on the offensive side of the ball over the last few off-seasons.

Yes, they’re getting older, but are they really that old?  Taking Marvin Harrison out of the equation, the Colts were supposed to have a great wide receiver tandem in Wayne and the young Anthony Gonzalez.

Wayne is now receiving most of the attention from opposing defenses, which should open up more opportunities for Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark, but it’s just not happening.  Peyton Manning himself hasn’t put up numbers this pedestrian-like since the 2001 season. 

Joseph Addai has missed some playing time but the running game doesn’t appear any better even when he’s on the field.  The offensive line is failing to open the holes they once did and this line no longer strikes fear into opposing defenses.

So, what’s the problem?

In general, this team seems confused too often, both on and off the field.  Much of the blame can be tied to Tony Dungy possibly losing his focus, but Tom Moore is failing to grow this offense and his players. 

None, absolutely zero, of his offensive players have progressed this season.  At best, you could pick out a handful of the Colts offensive players that have at least remained constant in their performances on the field.  The rest of them have actually regressed. 

This falls on coaching and Tom Moore is not doing a good job of coaching this year.  Which means the question needs to be asked: Is he just coasting at this point?

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