Early-Season Report Cards for NFL's New Head Coaches in 2015

Well, at least there will be no debate when it comes to the actual number.

There are seven new head coaches in the NFL leading their teams this season, many of them are off to very good starts. So far, the group has combined for a 17-11 record, and only two of these sideline leaders are below .500 after four games.

So who’s been the best of the newcomers to date and how have all graded out so far after four weeks? We ponder that here, taking their win-loss record into consideration.

Again, there’s an awful lot of football to be played. So these grades are not declarations of greatness or meant to be degrading. It’s just the early state of the union and how these coaches have done so far.

And we’re far from drawing any final conclusions when it comes to 2015.

Jim Tomsula, San Francisco 49ers: C-

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 1-3

Analysis

Well, it certainly started out pretty good. Unfortunately for fans in the Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers have gone from an opening-week victory to now finding themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

After knocking off the Minnesota Vikings in the final game of Week 1, new head coach Jim Tomsula has watched his club be overwhelmed by a combined score of 107-28, with each of those losses by at least 14 points.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has already committed six turnovers and been sacked 14 times in four games, with six of those sacks coming in Sunday’s 17-3 home loss to the Green Bay Packers. The San Francisco offense has scored a total of five touchdowns this season to date, and the club has been outscored a combined 29-0 in the first quarter.

The defense, under Eric Mangini's guidance, has shown occasional flashes of being a solid unit once again. But the club has melted in two road games, allowing a combined 90 points at Pittsburgh (43) and Arizona (47).

Admittedly, Tomsula doesn’t have a lot to work with given the offseason departures, defections and retirements. It will be extremely intriguing to see who is still around by season’s end.

John Fox, Chicago Bears: C

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 1-3

Analysis

John Fox's arrival in the Windy City this offseason certainly brought a glimmer of hope for the Chicago Bears, after a 5-11 showing last year in which the team dropped its final five games.

The Bears’ losing streak would reach eight consecutive games before Sunday’s 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Chicago shackled an offense that was just beginning to come into its own the last few weeks, holding the Silver and Black to 243 total yards. The Bears also overcame three turnovers for their first victory of the season.

It will be interesting to see not only where this team is headed but who will be around by season’s end. Last week, the team dealt defensive end/outside linebacker Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers and inside linebacker Jon Bostic to the New England Patriots.

To be fair, running back Matt Forte is off to a terrific start, and quarterback Jay Cutler (when healthy) has certainly missed not only veteran wideout Brandon Marshall—now with the New York Jets—but injured wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

Sunday’s win was obviously a step in the right direction. But can Fox and the Bears build on it. That’s the challenge for the coach who has taken two other franchises to the Super Bowl.

Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills: B-

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 2-2

Analysis

While the “B” in Orchard Park, New York, may stand for Buffalo, Bills and bravado, head coach Rex Ryan gets a B-minus in his first four games with his second AFC East team.

Following the Buffalo Bills’ disappointing 24-10 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, the boisterous sideline leader was almost defiant in assessing his team’s efforts, as reported by Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today.

“I’m proud of the way this team played. Can we play a lot smarter? Absolutely. But I’ll take a team that will fight over a team that won’t, that will sit back and take it. Any day of the week and bring out the next team. That’s the way I look at it.

Proud? The Bills ran 24 times for 55 yards. They also committed 17 penalties for 135 yards and were a paltry 3-of-16 on third down, as well as 1-of-3 on fourth down. The team’s supposedly fearsome pass rush sacked Eli Manning just once and has only seven sacks in four games.

So which Buffalo team are we to believe in? The one that blasted both the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins or the team humbled at home by the New England Patriots and Giants? Stay tuned. You know Ryan won’t stay quiet.

Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders: B

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 2-2

Analysis

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but eventually it did become a dynasty—well before the days of the Green Bay Packers.

Jack Del Rio is the latest head coach trying to bring back the excellence that was always a big-time commitment when it came to the Oakland Raiders.

Unfortunately, there are constant reminders that the glory days of the Silver and Black have been gone far too long. The team hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2002, and the franchise last hoisted a Lombardi Trophy more than three decades ago during its somewhat-brief stay in Los Angeles.

But Del Rio appears to have this club pointed in the right direction. The Raiders have hardly been world-beaters with a 2-2 record, but there’s a different look to the club. Young performers such as quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, running back Latavius Murray and defensive end Khalil Mack have brought optimism. The team recently snapped an 11-game road losing streak at Cleveland and a win over John Harbaugh and his Baltimore Ravens is always something nice to have on the resume.

We’ll get a real idea of just how far the Raiders have come this week against the aggressive Denver Broncos defense.

Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos: B+

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 4-0

Analysis

Many years ago, Gary Kubiak was Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway’s backup with the Denver Broncos.

Now he’s Elway’s head coach, and in his return to the Mile High City, he has his team playing the kind of football associated with the club nearly 40 years ago.

Defense has been the key to the team’s unbeaten start, as veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and his offensive line get to know each other a little better.

Make that a lot better. Manning, sacked 17 times all of last season, has already been dropped 10 times in four games. The Broncos have yet to score a first-quarter touchdown, and their offensive unit has reached the end zone just eight times in four outings.

Yet, Kubiak’s club has yet to lose. Give a great big assist to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who was Elway’s head coach from 1993-94. Denver’s defense has been relentless, allowing a mere 69 points and six offensive touchdowns to date. The Broncos have already totaled 18 sacks and forced 11 turnovers during their unbeaten start.

It’s somewhat unusual to see Manning take a back seat to the defense, be it during his days with the Indianapolis Colts or the Broncos. Of course, no one has thrown more touchdown passes in NFL history. But as the celebrated signal-caller found out the hard way in Super Bowl XLVIII, against the Seattle Seahawks, a relentless defense can be a nice thing to have at your disposal.

It's also safe to say Kubiak's patience with the offense and his willingness to adapt have been big factors as well. 

Todd Bowles, New York Jets: A-

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 3-1

Analysis

Yes, the New York Jets stubbed their toes at home in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. But it’s been so far so good for Todd Bowles, the 2014 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, who is now perhaps in the running for a few bigger prizes.

The team’s 27-14 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in London was pretty typical of what we have seen from the Jets for most of this season—a relentless running game led by Chris Ivory, steady play from veteran wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and a defensive unit that has allowed only six touchdowns in four contests. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown almost as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes (seven), but three of those picks came in the loss to the Eagles.

What really stands out has been the opportunistic play of a unit that includes defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, inside linebacker Davis Harris and cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Jets have six interceptions, equaling last season’s total, and their 13 takeaways also equal last year’s total.

The Jets (off this upcoming week) will be well-rested when they take on the Washington Redskins in Week 6. So far, Bowles has brought the same kind of intensity and aggressiveness as former head coach Rex Ryan…only with a little less bluster.

Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons: A

David Goldman/Associated Press

Win-Loss Record: 4-0

Analysis

The last time the Atlanta Falcons opened a season with four straight wins, they wound up hosting the NFC Championship Game in 2012.

Of course, that resulted in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Over the next two seasons, the team was a combined 10-22 under Mike Smith, whose tenure with the club ended with a 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers in 2014.

Last season, the Falcons not only finished 6-10, but they also gave up the most total yards and passing yards in the league. Enter Dan Quinn, who spent two seasons as the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator and watched the team rank first in the NFL in total defense and fewest points allowed each year.

Now he’s at the helm of the Falcons, who have looked like a more physical football team since his arrival, both during the preseason as well as the club’s unbeaten start. On Sunday in a 48-21 rout of the Houston Texans, they broke their early-season form of rallying in the fourth quarter to win their first three games and led the Texans from start to finish.

Thanks to an improved running game and the ability to stop opponents from pushing them around in a similar way, Quinn and Co. have been able to overcome some of the team’s shortcomings. The pass rush still leaves a lot to be desired (five sacks in four games), and the Falcons have allowed at least 20 points in all four games.

But there’s one number that certainly stands out. In 2014, five of the team’s six wins came with the woeful NFC South, while Atlanta was a mere 1-9 versus teams outside their division. This season, the Falcons are 4-0 and haven’t played a game vs. their divisional brethren.

So far, Quinn has proven to be the right medicine for this franchise.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.