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?
13 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Nino Colla 7 months ago
You can't argue with all the injuries to the offensive line of the Colts. Jeff Saturday is a huge blow, they've been starting centers moved to guard that weren't even drafted as well. That line is in shambles for the most part and I can understand why.
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Josh AP 7 months ago
What about Jim Colletto? offensive coordinator for the lions? what about the lions defensive coordinator? these two guys are worse than any other coordinators in the leauge. the entire lions coaching staff will be fired this off season, and if this pathetic organization decides to find a coach "within", lions will be looking at another 3 years of losing.
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Dan Boone 7 months ago
Inept Ron Turner is a vicious recurring nightmare that has haunted the Bears for decades. Elm Street had an easier time losing Freddy then the Bears did dumping Turner. Ron needs to join brother Norv somewhere so they can destroy a team together...
The short yeardage fullback dive cost the Bears the Carolina game and turned the Viking game south. His conservative play calling cost them the lead and game against Tampa.
The Bears D coordinator, Bad Bobby Babich, is just as bad.
Or maybe its the guy who hired them...
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Steven Resnick 7 months ago
Hello there's one name on this list that beats everyone on the list for worst defensive coordinator. Greg Manusky in San Francisco is the absolute worst defensive coordinator in the NFL.
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Derek Kreiner 7 months ago
I love the article, but I also feel you cannot discount what Cam Cameron has done in Baltimore. He has taken an team that offensively has been one of the worst in the NFL for years, and turned that into a team that is nearly a top 10 team as far as points scored.
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Paul Augustin, Jr. 7 months ago
Doug Marrone is offensive coordinator only in title in New Orleans. The offense is designed chiefly by Sean Payton and the plays are called by Payton. He really is just a glorified offensive line coach.
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Ryan Callahan 7 months ago
Good article and good call on Gilbride. He has done an excellent job for the Giants this year.
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robert von mehren 7 months ago
I'm surprised that you skipped over Mike Mularkey O-Coordinator of the Falcons. He has done a great job with a rookie QB a new running back and a pretty much un-known o-line. He has simplified it so that Matt Ryan can understand it and be sucsesfull.
I'm surprised you skipped over Clarence Shelmon for worst Ofensive coordinator he had arguably the best QB-RB combo in the NFL and a great O-line and has a dissapointing 5-8 record
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robert von mehren 7 months ago
by the way Clarence Shelmon is the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers
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Kent Nguyen 7 months ago
i'm a colts fan and i was impressed by ur analysis of tom moore. You really went out on a limb and criticise one thats been successful for so long.
Injuries or not. The Colts offense should be way better. 21st in the league. Pedestrian indeed.
manning, wayne , harrison , gonzalez , clark , addai.
Why are they so inept this year?
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kris topher 7 months ago
I didn't like this article, and thought the analysis was dumbed-down.
To the person who asked why the colts offense is 21st in the league, have you not watched a Colts game? I've seen two? this year, and it took me about 30 seconds to see that Peyton was hurt.
Peyton manning doesn't overthrow balls, he just doesn't. Yet, he was doing it this year.
Why does someone overthrow balls?
1.They have no pocket, and cant step into and get on top of throws. They end up using their arm to throw. Ball is overthrown.
2. Peyton Manning has a lower body injury, and thus cant step into his throws. Ends up using his arm to throw but doesn't get on top.
You combine that with Addai being hurt, and you've got yourself ineptitude.
When you judge Coordinators, you've got to judge them like Basketball Coaches. They either take what they have and make it better via scheme, or they know how to exploit the opposition because they have the best player on the field.
You cant really tell if an Offensive Coordinator is Good or not, unless his does something innovative and you watch a TONNE of football. Defensive Coordinators are another story.
You just pick out the worst player on defense, and watch him. How does the Coordinator cover for him? Sometimes there's more than one guy.. watch them. How does the coordinator limit the damage?
Unless you know the absolute skill set of a player, and offense or defense its hard to judge a Coordinator.
I think too much of your argument is predicated on things other than play selection, like injuries.
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Pigskin Heaven 7 months ago
Great feedback by everyone. I would like to respond to everyone's points:
1) Nino, yes, the Colts have been a little dinged up but wouldn't you agree that there have been coaches/teams that have fought through injuries better than the Colts have shown us on offense this year? The coordinator's job is to get the 2nd stringers ready to play and make the necessary adjustments to accomodate for his personnel. I haven't seen the right adjustments being made on offense by the Colts this year and the confusion on the field points directly to coaching.
2) Josh, it's difficult for me to blame ANY of the Lions coaches for what is occurring in 2008. Matt Millen has left that organization so talent-less that I don't think a coaching combination of Vince Lombardi, Bill Bellichick, and Chuck Noll could save them.
3) Dan, agreed on all points.
4) Steven, I agree Manusky has done a bad job in San Fran. The organization has spent a lot of money on the defensive side of the ball and have very little to show for it. It will be interesting to see what happens in the off-season with all of the Niners coaching staff.
5) Derek, I agree Cameron has done a great job in Baltimore and was considered. The way he has brought along the young running backs and Flacco in addition to making the O-line look halfway respectable when there where many question marks is impressive.
6) Paul, yes, I agree Payton is heavily involved in the offense in New Orleans. Every coordinator's responsibilities are different from team to team. Some have play calling responsibilities, some don't. Some are involved in personnel decisions, some aren't. Some have game-planning duties, some don't. From everything I've read, Marrone and Payton work together on designing plays, game planning, etc. so I give him credit for a lot of what is happening with the #1 offense in the league.
7) Ryan, yes, their offensive production this season has been amazing to me. Their offensive line is incredible and just dominates people.
8) Robert, Mike Mularkey was definitely considered for the list. He just didn't make the top 5. He has been brilliant this year. Not only in the development of Ryan, but their young receivers have made HUGE strides in his system. The O-line is performing well and Turner has produced better than I expected he would.
As far as the Chargers, I don't blame all of their woes on the offensive coaching. Their offense has actually kept them in ball games. Yes, they have a lot of talent, but they have produced at a much higher level than their defense. Their defense has been very bad and the loss of Merriman isn't the only reason.
9) Kent, thank you. Yes, I was just looking at the job that the coordinators have done THIS year and if I were critiquing head coaches, unfortunately, I would put Tony Dungy towards the bottom of head coaching performances this season also, even though Dungy is one of my favorite coaches and typically does great work. The Colts have not been coached well this year, no matter which way you look at it. Then, when you toss in a few injuries here and there, the problems look a hundred times worse.
10) Kris, good analysis and I completely agree that a good coordinator takes what they have and makes it better via schemes, play calling, and personnel managing. And THAT is exactly the problem I'm having with Tom Moore this season. To me, I haven't seen anything that he's done to adjust to injuries, aging, or any other changes in his players that we can't see watching from our televisions. I think Moore is just coasting. He hasn't made the adjustments that the Colts offense
desperately needed this season. That is poor coaching.
Compare his situation to Chan Gailey, for example, in Kansas City, who this season alone has had to scheme and game-plan for 3 or 4 different quarterbacks, 3 different starting running backs, and a young and revamped O-line. He has adjusted to his personnel every time it has changed during the season and his offense has at least kept them in some ball games, regardless of how bad the Chiefs defense is (thanks to horrible coaching by Gunther Cunningham).
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Pat Donaghy 6 months ago
How can you leave Philly Def Coordinator Jim Johnson off the list (even honarable mention)? They are the #3 ranked defense playing in the toughest division in the NFL. They are tied for third in sacks, and are among the league leaders in turnovers.
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