NY Giants: Tom Coughlin's Replacement

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Tom Coughlin is a good very coach.

Don't ever forget it!

Since softening his stance over the last three years his players have appreciated him more.  As a head coach you definitely cannot keep everyone happy, and it is hard to understand the pressure Coughlin has to face.

In the New York market, the media alone could crush the faint at heart.  The players are bigger, bolder and more vocal, thanks to the press.  The fans are demanding and it takes a certain individual to handle the Big Apple and lights of New York.

Tom Coughlin has done all of that and then some...and yes, he brought home a Super Bowl trophy!

Not many coaches can say that.  However, there are few things that might just close the door on Tom Coughlin's era as the head coach of the New York Giants after eight successful years:

1. His loyalty to Kevin Gilbride is confusing and at times downright frustrating.  The Giants win games despite his predictable and uninspiring offensive game plan.

2. Jerry Reese stood arrogantly defiant that the Giants didn't need a few, key free agents, leaving Coach Coughlin bare in leadership and experience.  It shows when unhappy players constantly squawk to the press.

3. His unwillingness to play rookies even when it is clear that they can make an immediate impact.

4. His tirades—fiery coaches are famous for being great motivators.  I am not sure Coach Coughlin can still do that with this group of players.  

5. The injuries are never ending.  They have put Coach Coughlin in a difficult position.  He is being forced to play players out of position, and many times puts players on the field that couldn't make another team's NFL roster.

Players that have been or are still on IR:

Boley, Thomas, Beatty, Prince, Goff, Sintim, Baas, Coe, Hixon, Tyron, Austin, Koets (cut)

6. The 2nd Half Slide—that speaks for itself.

When Tom Coughlin is no longer the head coach of the New York Giants he will be missed!

Here are some candidates that should be considered.

Coughlin's Replacement: Pete Carmichael

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The Maras do like familiarity.

Pete Carmichael is a guy that has ties to players, coaches and schools that fit like a glove for the Maras.

He was a graduate of Boston College. In 1995, Carmichael took over as QB coach for Louisiana Tech and in his five years overseeing the quarterbacks, Carmichael and his pupils nearly broke every school passing record.

In 2000, Carmichael's first trip to the NFL was working for the Cleveland Browns and head coach Chris Palmer.  Palmer would later become the QB coach for the New York Giants.  Palmer helped develop Eli Manning's game from 2007 to 2009.

Carmichael did a stint in Washington before settling in with the San Diego Chargers to work with a young gun by the name of Drew Brees from 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, Carmichael left the Chargers and happily signed with the Saints where he was reunited with star quarterback No. 9 Drew Brees.  Carmichael continued to push Brees to be a better player.

Carmichael was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2009 and is Sean Peyton's right-hand man.

Pete Carmichael would be a great, young offensive mind for Eli and company.

Coughlin's Replacement: Jeff Fisher

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Jeff Fisher is so New York Giants football.

For 16 years, Jeff Fisher patrolled the sidelines of the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Oilers. 

This fiery head coach put the Titans on the map going to the playoffs six times during his tenure, including a Super Bowl appearance in 1999.

Over his career as a NFL head coach, Fisher had an impressive record of 146 and 120. 

He also drafted two of the most beloved and successful players in Titans history—quarterback Steve McNair and Heisman Trophy winner, Eddie George.

Even though McNair and George were both drafted as Houston Oilers, Fisher and his stars where immediately opted as sons of Tennessee when the team was moved in 1997.

Fisher, now 53 years old, has worked under some great coaches including Mike Ditka, Buddy Ryan and George Seifert, and has a great reputation around the league.

The former Titans coach is considered a "Player's Coach" by his former players.   They respected him and frequently shared their personal problems and situations with him.

Good, useless knowledge:  in 1983, Fisher suffered a broken leg returning punts when he was crushed by a Philadelphia Eagles linebacker named Bill Cowher.

Coughlin's Replacement: Perry Fewell

Perry Fewell, the Giants' defensive coordinator, wants to be a head coach in the NFL.

In the offseason, Fewell tried to bail out on the Giants and grab a head coaching job with a few teams.   Fewell, however, was not hired, but he does have the experience.

In 2006, the Buffalo Bills hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator.  After just 10 games in that season, head coach Dick Jauron was fired.  Fewell was appointed interim head coach, leading Buffalo to a 3-4 finish.

Even though Fewell did a good job ending with a 3-4 record, the entire coaching staff was canned.

There are times where Fewell shows glimmers of greatness on the defensive side of the ball, and there are times where his players look lost.

If Coughlin goes, it makes sense that he gets an interview.  However, I do not think Perry Fewell is the answer.

Coughlin's Replacement: Jon Gruden

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A hundred wins in the NFL is good.

To get 100 wins with five playoff appearances and a Super Bowl trophy is pretty impressive.

And who does not love the analytical "Gru Dog?" This fan favorite has been committed to ESPN since 2009, and has entertained all sorts of offers and opportunities.

Yet, he still lives in the booth.

Gruden is a very good, offensive-minded coach that made some impressive things happen with two average quarterbacks (Griese and Johnson) who have a fraction of the talent of superstar Eli Manning.

Gruden might not be a fit for the GMEN since he loves the horizontal passing (West Coast) game, which is much different than what has made Coughlin's New York Giants successful. 

Nicks and Manningham might be neutered in a Jon Gruden-style offense; however, four years off the field and a storied franchise like the New York Giants might be alluring to this Super Bowl-winning coach. 

Gruden did recently sign a five-year extension with ESPN, so his availability might be non-existent.

Coughlin's Replacement: Bill Cowher

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Everyone in the NFL with a coaching problem is clamoring for Bill Cowher.  He is tough not to like.

He is the same coach as Coughlin, but 11 years younger.

He is a disciplinarian, a motivator and players love to play for him.   For 15 seasons, he walked the sidelines for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His resume is quite extensive:

• NFL Player from 1979 to 1984

• Two-time NFL Coach of the Year

• Two-time Sporting News Coach of the Year

• 149-90-1 record (62.3 winning percentage)

• 12-9 in the Playoffs

• Super Bowl Championship 2005

Cowher has some distant ties to New Jersey as his daughters Megan and Lauren both played basketball at Princeton University.

Currently, Bill Cowher is doing a great job behind the TV camera and might have just found a new life outside of coaching.  In fact, he may never return, but he would be a welcomed addition to the New York Giants family.  

On the other side of the Cowher argument, he his a younger version of Tom Coughlin.   He drives players, pushes buttons and has his own set of rules. 

Does the team need a fresh approach?  Or an offensive-minded approach?

Coughlin's Replacement: Romeo Crennel

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Do you believe in second chances? 

I would hope so; just not for the New York Giants.  Cleveland is where all good coaches go to die or better yet, derail their career.

Marty Schottenheimer Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, and now Pat Shurmur.

Romeo Crennel is in his second year as the defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.  The passing defensive is respectfully listed in the middle of the pack of the NFL, however their rush defense needs to step up as they are ranked 28th. 

Crennel, of course, has ties to the New York Giants from his younger coaching days.  From 1981 to 1989, Crennel coached the GMEN special teams.

He was promoted to D line from 1990 to 1992; however, in 1993 Romeo followed Bill Parcells to New England.  Three short years later, Romeo Crennel was reunited with Belichick after Bill resigned from the Cleveland Browns.

In 1997, he followed Parcells again to the Big Apple to coach the Jets defensive line.

Romeo Crennel is 64 years old—clearly not what the Giants needs at this time.

Coughlin's Replacement: Steve Spagnuolo

Spags is on the hot seat?

Yes, the New York Giants' former defensive coordinator and fan favorite, Steve Spagnuolo, is coming under fire as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

The impatient St. Louis Rams management and fans want instant gratification because they drafted a quarterback in the first round.

Earth to St. Louis...it takes time to build a team around a franchise quarterback.   In that time you can expect your quarterback to be busted up, hit late, thrown to the ground and downright abused.

The team has been crushed by years of terrible drafting and recent injuries.

The Rams fans bought into the media hype that this team was going to be better, and now they are pointing the fingers at Spags, expecting some kind of miracle in two years.  Currently, the 2-8 Rams are ninth in the NFL in passing defensive and 11th in sacks!

That's amazing for such a a bad team.  The run D is ranked last however, but it's all headed in the right direction.

If the Rams management is that disappointed in Steve Spagnuolo's work, he would look great once again in Giants blue.

Spags helped groom Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora to be the studs they are today. 

As a head coach of the Giants, he would need to find a young offensive mind to make this happen.

Coughlin's Replacement: Russ Grimm

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Russ Grimm coached the Steelers' offensive Line for six years under Bill Cowher. 

While it was surprising that Grimm or Whisenhunt didn't take over as the Steelers' head coach when Cowher left, I am confident that the Rooney have many good things to say about Russ Grimm.

Grimm played for the Washington Redskins for 10 years, making the 1980's "All Decade Team", four Pro Bowls and was considered one of the Greatest Redskins of all time.

Russ Grimm has never held a coordinator job in the NFL, hurting his chances of receiving a head coaching job—he is clearly not the right move for the Giants in 2012.

Coughlin's Replacement: Urban Meyer

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What an intriguing thought.  Urban Meyer as the head coach of the New York Giants.

Steve Spurrier didn't work out in the NFL, however, I think Urban Meyer is a different kind of guy.  Meyer is not just a coach, he's a scholar.  In 1988, he earned his Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio State. 

Ohio State is currently on the lips of many college football fans around the country as rumor has it that Urban Meyer will take over the 2012 Buckeyes football program.

One thing Meyer is—a winner.  He has a 104-23 overall record, 7-1 in bowl games and two national championships.  Not bad.  This guy can punch his own ticket.

Meyer is also the king at the spread offense, though not necessarily the perfect scheme for the Giants.

Maybe Jacksonville for Urban. 

 

Coughlin's Replacement: Rob Ryan

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Rob Ryan, like his brother and his father, is full of life.

And they know football.

The defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys has done an excellent job with the Cowboys defense as they currently rank ninth against the run and 14th against the pass.

In 2003, Ryan was a linebacker coach for Bill Belichick and the New England Pats, who were ranked first in the NFL in fewest points allowed.  It shows he can use different looks to get things done.

Working with Kiwi, Osi, JPP and Tuck should make him hungry for Big Blue football.

Since 2004, Rob Ryan has been the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys.  His fiery style of play would fit in nicely with the Giants bold and brash defensive.

With his twin brother Rex receiving a ton press for just about everything, I would think Rob would embrace becoming the head coach of a very storied franchise that specializes in defense. 

Not to mention a chance to outshine his twin brother on a bigger, better team.