NFL Players Who Will Most Benefit from Coaching Changes

The NFL coaching carousel moved quickly for the seven franchises that made staff changes. All seven openings were decided by the championship round of the playoffs, which is unusual since some of the top coordinators are still coaching at this time. Now that we know who will be coaching where, we can predict which NFL players will most benefit from these coaching changes.

Interestingly enough, three openings decided on staying within the building for head coaching hires. The New York Giants promoted offensive coordinator Bob McAdoo, and the Tennessee Titans removed the interim label from Mike Mularkey. Both head coaches retained a majority of the incumbent staff, which helps familiarity.

For the other four jobs, there was massive turnover from the top to the bottom of each staff. It’s common for these massive, sweeping changes, since the prior regime obviously failed enough to be fired. The new coaches' success in a new situation will depend on their ability to adapt to the personnel they’ll take over in 2016. Coaches who force players into certain roles or schemes are much more likely to fail.

That being said, we’ve found 10 players who fit their new coaching staff and can expect an improved 2016 campaign. Some will improve based on schematic changes, while others will benefit from continuity. Let’s take a look at which players will trend upwards and why.

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

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One of the biggest wild cards for the 2016 NFL season is the status of Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon. The embattled playmaker applied for reinstatement from the league on January 20, according to ESPN.com's Tony Grossi. Assuming he is reinstated, and the Browns give him one more chance, he will benefit from new head coach Hue Jackson’s presence in Cleveland.

Jackson’s offense in Cincinnati spread the ball to its many playmakers, but his passing game still ran through receiver A.J. Green. The Browns’ surrounding cast pales in comparison to that of the Bengals, which means Gordon should receive plenty of opportunities to replicate his 2013 season. The last time we saw Gordon for an extended period of time was 2013, when he posted 87 receptions, 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.

Jackson’s no-nonsense style should also positively affect Gordon. When he returned from suspension in 2014 and played just five games, he didn’t have the same aggressiveness that allowed him to dominate the previous season. With Jackson overseeing his daily regimen, expect more accountability from Gordon and the rest of this roster.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

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Despite posting 12,166 yards, 75 touchdowns and 41 interceptions over the last three years, it feels as if Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s stock is at an all-time low. While the Dolphins imploded quickly in 2015 and finished 6-10, the 27-year-old signal-caller has been far from being the problem in Miami. A flawed roster and one of the worst coaching staffs in the NFL led to a coaching change in Week 4.

Now with Adam Gase as head coach, the top priority for the Dolphins is to maximize Tannehill. Miami’s inability to build a reliable offensive line has plagued this offense for years. According to Pro Football Focus, this offensive line has never ranked better than 30th in the NFL during Tannehill’s four seasons. It’s hard to succeed with such a habitually awful line.

Expect Gase to ditch Miami’s predictable, horizontally based offense that limited its playmakers and Tannehill’s responsibilities. Gase’s offenses are known to change based on matchups and personnel, which is exactly what good coaches do. This offense should blossom to more respectable levels simply due to a more balanced approach, and Tannehill’s outlook will invariably brighten as well.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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The Colin Kaepernick and Chip Kelly pairing may be a match made in heaven, depending on which offense Kelly implements with the San Francisco 49ers. Before the Kelly hiring, Kaepernick’s days seemed numbered with the 49ers due to his declining numbers and struggles without an elite surrounding cast. Now with Kelly, the read-option based offense may return and play to his skill set.

According to Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole, Kelly was more willing to work with Kaepernick than Mike Shanahan, who was also considered for the position. This information suggests that the front office wanted to give Kaepernick one more season before cutting ties with him, regardless of Kelly’s hire. Either way, he has proven he can build a terrific system around a mobile quarterback.

With an offense more similar to what he ran at Oregon, Kelly makes things easy for his quarterbacks but difficult on defenses. Using Kaepernick as an offensive weapon and not just a traditional quarterback makes the offense more difficult to stop because the game now becomes 11-on-11 instead of a defense dropping that extra defender since the quarterback can't move.

If Kaepernick can't succeed with Kelly running the show, his career will be in doubt. Kelly’s impressive track record mixed with Kaepernick’s skill set gives significant hope that 2016 will be a turnaround season for the quarterback.

Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

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The Philadelphia Eagles underwent an overhaul with their coaching staff, including sweeping defensive changes. Hiring Jim Schwartz to handle the defense should be an upgrade in terms of what they got out of an underachieving unit in 2015. One change he is expected to bring is moving this front from a 3-4 to a 4-3, if his history is a predictor.

One individual who should benefit on the Eagles defense is Fletcher Cox. The defensive lineman had a breakout 2015 season, totaling 9.5 sacks and 71 tackles. A 4-3 front will allow him to see more single blocking than ever before, which bodes well for his 2016 outlook.

For what it's worth, Cox seemed excited about the change on Twitter.

Cox has rare speed and power at the defensive tackle position. He abuses interior blockers in both the run and passing game. Expect Schwartz to use Cox as his version of Ndamukong Suh, who parlayed his production into a $114 million contract in free agency.

Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers disposed of head coach Lovie Smith in favor of their offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter. He has an impressive history working with young quarterbacks, and he will now be in charge of Jameis Winston’s early career. If 2015 is any indicator of what to expect, this pair could be a long-lasting duo.

Winston was tremendous as a rookie despite playing behind a terrible offensive line. He and his arsenal of weapons worked well together, with him, receiver Mike Evans and running back Doug Martin looking like a dangerous trio to defend moving forward. While Tampa Bay needs to re-sign Martin this offseason to keep continuity, Koetter’s ability to squeeze production from the running game is critical for Winston.

Not only will Winston continue to improve because of the continuity within Koetter’s system, but his personal growth as an NFL passer will help. After Winston’s first four games, he cut his interception rate in half by adjusting to what defenses showed him early. His efficiency will continue to rise moving forward because his environment is stable.   

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Tennessee Titans

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The Tennessee Titans made the puzzling decision to retain a coaching staff that went just 2-7 in 2015 after Ken Whisenhunt was fired. Mike Mularkey was an uninspiring choice to become the head coach for the foreseeable future, but his presence should help quarterback Marcus Mariota and receiver Dorial Green-Beckham make strides in 2016. Having to restart with a new offense could have disrupted their development.

Green-Beckham was an excellent selection by the Titans with the 40th overall pick in 2015. His upside is as high as any receiver’s in that class, and he had some dominant performances as a rookie. He finished with 549 yards and four touchdowns on 32 receptions in just five starts last season.

As he continues to gain confidence and expand upon his skill set in Mularkey’s offense, Green-Beckham may join with Mariota to become one of the top young quarterback and receiver tandems. Green-Beckham’s troubled past no longer seems to be at the forefront of the discussion, as we instead focus on his athleticism and ability to impact the Titans on the field. 

Joe Haden, CB, Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns defense was a mess under the previous regime, and in an effort to maximize the talent, the team brought Ray Horton back as defensive coordinator. He coached the Browns defense in 2013, and one player who will be happy to see him return is cornerback Joe Haden. He had arguably his best overall season with Horton in charge.

Haden’s effectiveness dipped in 2015 before he missed 12 games with a concussion. With Horton back in the mix, expect the Browns to be a more aggressive defense that tries to pressure the quarterback quickly. While this leaves cornerbacks on an island, quarterbacks are more prone to make bad throws when they're hurried. That’s where Haden stars instead of trying to be a pure coverage corner.

It’s critical for Haden to be more of a playmaker than he was last season. He’s a high-variance player who relies on forcing turnovers to match his salary. Horton’s defensive philosophy should again cater to Haden’s strengths and help this defense be more effective.

DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

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Another offensive player who will benefit from the coaching change in Miami is wide receiver DeVante Parker. He made several splashy plays late in 2015 once he finally saw consistent playing time. His growing chemistry with Ryan Tannehill gives this offense a pairing that the franchise hasn’t had in a long time.

He may be the biggest candidate to break out as a star in 2016. If new head coach Adam Gase uses Parker in the same way he used Demaryius Thomas in Denver in 2013 and 2014, then Parker will receive plenty of opportunities. Thomas was targeted an average of 163 times and produced an average of 101 receptions for 1,525 yards and 12.5 touchdowns in his two seasons under Gase.

The one area where Parker needs to improve is route running. He proved to be a terrific athlete in 2015, but his route running lacks nuance and technique. As he embarks on the offseason fully healthy, it’s reasonable to expect this aspect of his game to get better. New wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson may also be a positive influence on Parker’s development.

Kwon Alexander, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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There were times in 2015 when Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander was as dynamic as any rookie defensive player. His athleticism is jaw-dropping for a linebacker, and it allowed Lovie Smith to give him a full platter of responsibilities. That proved to be a mistake, though, as Alexander wasn’t ready for that role right away.

Alexander led the NFL in missed tackles with 27 in just 12 games, per Pro Football Focus. While he needs to harness his gifts, his role set him up to fail. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Smith, his role should fit his strengths better.

According to the Associated Press via USA Today, Smith plans on implementing a defense that isn’t nearly as predictable as the Buccaneers were in 2015. His ability to maximize Alexander will be a major factor as to whether this defense actually improves. Expect Alexander to be motivated upon his return from suspension and to be in a situation that allows him to succeed more often.

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

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The New York Giants came away from their head coaching search with a head-scratching decision. While offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo has done an excellent job of working with quarterback Eli Manning, the choice to fire Tom Coughlin for McAdoo is questionable since they retained defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. It just seems unlikely much will change for the better under the first-time head coach.

Nevertheless, Manning is the big winner from this decision. He’s posted back-to-back 30-plus touchdown seasons, and his interceptions have stayed at 14 per year. While the NFL is seeing as efficient quarterback play as ever, the Manning and McAdoo pairing has maximized Eli’s effectiveness. As they enter year three of their partnership, there’s no reason to think his production will dip in 2016.

In fact, if the Giants can successfully add more pieces around Manning, he can continue to post solid numbers. McAdoo hasn’t had much outside of Odell Beckham Jr. to work with as a reliable offensive weapon. That may well change this offseason, as the Giants have the 10th overall pick in the draft and $43 million in cap space to work with.

All stats used are from Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 

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