NFL Offseason 2012: Ranking the Remaining Open Head Coaching Positions

With the Indianapolis Colts’ firing of head coach Jim Caldwell on Tuesday, four head coaching positions remain open across the NFL.

After missing out on Jeff Fisher, who came to an agreement with the St. Louis Rams on Monday, owner Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins are still in pursuit for a big hire. In Oakland, newly-named general manager Reggie McKenzie is narrowing candidates as he looks for Hue Jackson’s successor, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, two teams that finished 10-6 just one season ago, are still in the early stages of their respective searches.

From team to team, the selling points differ and each situation has its respective pros and cons. Here are my thoughts on the matter and how I’d rank each of the remaining openings.

4. Oakland Raiders

Of all four teams, the Oakland Raiders may actually have the best chance to win in 2012, yet end up last in terms of places I’d want to end up as a coach.

Without question, there is talent readily available. Darren McFadden may be the game’s best running back under 25 years of age. Carson Palmer is a competent quarterback and is under contract for three more seasons. Even Darrius Heyward-Bey started to resemble an NFL-caliber receiver in 2011.

When it comes to Oakland, though, the negatives heavily outweigh the positives.

While the offense looked good for much of the season, the defense ranked near the bottom in the league. For the most part, they looked overmatched at every position. Beyond linebacker Kameron Wimbley and lineman Richard Seymour, no one solidified a starting position in 2012 as far as I'm concerned. It's going to take a few years to get the defense where it needs to be.

Building in Oakland may actually be impossible, however, for at least the next couple seasons. 

As part of ex-owner Al Davis’ scheme to acquire veteran talent over the last couple seasons, the Raiders are now left without any hope to rebuild through the NFL draft. This season, the Raiders are already without selections in the first four rounds, and in 2013, they'll be short another second- and fourth-round pick.

3. Miami Dolphins

Since the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Tony Sparano back in mid-December, owner Stephen Ross has seemingly been on a wild goose hunt for a big-name coach. After losing out on Jeff Fisher earlier this week, the shortlist has since been narrowed to three names: Joe Philbin, Mike McCoy and Todd Bowles.

While all three are quality candidates for the position, none carry the name recognition that Ross was originally looking for. That's because Miami isn't the dream situation that it may be in the NBA or MLB.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be soon, though.

While the quarterback position is a relative weakness, with Matt Moore and Chad Henne splitting time under center, the Dolphins have some quality youth in place that gives the team a solid foundation for the future. Left tackle Jake Long and center Mike Pouncey anchor the line at two of the most important positions on the field, Reggie Bush looked great in 2011 and Daniel Thomas is in place to take over future duties. Defensively, linebacker Cameron Wake is one of the best in the game at his position and still has a few years remaining in his prime.

Yes, there are holes, but Miami isn't far off from competing. Plus, in the intermediate, the location isn't too shabby.

2. Indianapolis Colts

When I did my first initial ranking, the Indianapolis Colts position surprisingly wound up last on my list. Obviously, it’s moved a little since then.

What worries me about the Indianapolis position is the story that’s being discussed on every media outlet right now: what’s going to happen to Peyton Manning.

In my opinion, a coach's job is to run the team, not be a puppet for upper management. As of now, that's exactly how things are looking like they might go in Indy this season.

With owner Jim Irsay's firings of general manager Bill Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell, it has sent a message that the Colts are interested in a clean slate and entering rebuilding mode. Just weeks ago, rumors indicated that Peyton Manning would be coming back as the team's starting quarterback. Those two things don't go together.

In terms of quality, young talent, the Colts rank near the bottom of the league. None of the team's last four first-round selections (Anthony Costanzo, Jerry Hughes, Donald Brown and Anthony Gonzalez) have done anything for the franchise outside of Brown's sub-par performance in 2011. Meanwhile, the Colts' top three players outside of Manning, Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney and Reggie Wayne, are all in their early 30s and likely have retirement on the horizon.

While it's easy to find faults with the franchise, having the top overall selection in April's draft is a pretty nice selling point. Regardless of whether management chooses to retain Manning, the Colts are fully expected to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who many view as the top quarterback talent to come out of college in the last 20 years.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Just one season ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 10-6, tied for the sixth in the NFC and falling just short of the playoffs by way of a tiebreaker.

In 2010, being young, aggressive and gutty helped the Buccaneers become one of the league’s best upcoming teams. Those same attributes are what caused head coach Raheem Morris to lose control of his players in 2011.

When it comes to Tampa Bay, the pieces are without question in place for the team to be successful. 24-year-old Josh Freeman has demonstrated his ability to lead an NFL franchise. LaGarrette Blount is a quality running back that, with the addition of a change-of-pace runner, could really explode.

Defensively, the Bucs have quite a bit of young talent, especially at defensive line, where they've loaded up with four quality linemen in the last two drafts (tackles Gerald McCoy & Brian Price, ends Adrian Clayborn & Da'Quan Bowers).

Without question, the Bucs have work to do. Wide receiver is a concern after Mike Williams' 2011 regression, as is the linebacking unit and secondary, who were awful down the stretch last season.

Most of all, the Buccaneers need a coach who will come in and change the culture of the team. Last season, the Bucs looked undisciplined, immature and incapable of overcoming adversity. With a little more disciple, the team could be special and compete alongside the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South as early as next season.