Goodbye Retreads, 2012 Is the NFL's Year of the Coordinator Coach

Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers were a couple of muffed punts from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. Harbaugh, a rookie coach in the NFL, restored the pride to one of the NFL's most successful franchise. 

When the 2012 season kicks off, it will feature four rookie coaches trying to follow Harbaugh's path to glory. Greg Schiano, Dennis Allen, Joe Philbin and Chuck Pagano are all former assistants or coordinators taking their first crack at the top spot, while former head coaches Jeff Fisher and Mike Mularkey will try again with new teams.

If you ask me, the rookies are destined to have more success. 

For one thing, the St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars are franchises in disarray. The Rams have no receivers, a terrible offensive line and a quarterback once believed to a be a savior one bad season from entering the bust discussion.

Steven Jackson turns 29 in July, and every season out of the playoffs is another wasted as he reaches the end of his prime. Besides the offensive woes, their defense is terrible, the 49ers are for real, the Cardinals are dangerous and the Seahawks are a quarterback away from being solid. I believe in Jeff Fisher. I do not believe the Rams have the talent to win.    

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a good defense and the dependable Maurice Jones-Drew. After that, they have possibly the NFL's worst receiving corps and a quarterback I believe is destined to fail. Granted, Blaine Gabbert did not have much help outside of Jones-Drew, but he is the worst chuck-and-duck quarterback I have ever seen.

For all of the supposed gifts that made him a first-round pick, I do believe the inability to stand tall in the pocket and deliver a bullet in the face of danger is a skill that can be coached. Mularkey was a failure with the Buffalo Bills and will have his work cut out for him in Jacksonville.

On the flip side, the new coaches are stepping into more advantageous positions. Dennis Allen has an opportunity with the Oakland Raiders most coaches should be jealous of. I believe the Raiders would have won the AFC West had Jason Campbell not been injured.

Now, they have a full season of an upgrade at quarterback with Carson Palmer, return one of the great running back tandems in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, as well as some of the league's speediest receivers. I would be surprised if the Raiders do not make the playoffs in 2012.

Joe Philbin will likely bring in his own Matt Flynn to be the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. With Reggie Bush coming off a breakout season, one of the league's most dangerous wideouts in Brandon Marshall and a talented defense, the Dolphins are a consistent quarterback from being a threat. I believe Flynn is that quarterback, and he will probably land in Miami.

Pagano helped the Baltimore Ravens' defense return to dominance and will aid the lackluster Indianapolis Colts' D. As the team rebuilds around Andrew Luck, he will be given some time to create a winner.  

Schiano steps into a situation featuring one the league's most talented young teams. LeGarrette Blount is a stud, and I believe 2011 will be an aberration in an otherwise stellar career for Josh Freeman. The NFC South is tough, but the Bucs will be as competitive as any to grab a playoff spot.  

Yes, call me crazy but I have to choose the rookies over the more-experienced coaches to turn around their respective franchises in 2012.

Alexander is a featured columnist for bleacherreport.com You can follow Alexander on twitter @thesportsdude7 or become a fan on his bleacher report profile.