NFL Preseason 2010: Five Coaches on the Hot Seat

They don't just stand on the sideline and scream at the top of their lungs for no reason. A coach is the backbone of a team. They don't get enough credit for their on and off field contribution. When it's all said and done, coaches provide order, guidance, and encouragement for any team (no matter how good or bad the players are).

Though they never get a break—from meetings, to conference calls, practices, and more meetings—this is a light schedule in the life of a coach. 

This summer a few from the NFL have been in the public eye—from upcoming reality shows to talks with agents. Let's take a look at a few in the hot seat.  

John Fox

A quality head coach and staff could put the California Panthers in the playoffs in 2011, because the last two seasons were a flop. The Panthers had a great regular season in 2008 but fell short in the playoffs, and were 0-3 early in the 2009 NFL season.

Since the 2003 season, which led the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Panthers haven't gone far being wiped out by the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals.

The team got rid of many veteran players and are not replacing them.

Fox will be a free agent coach in 2011 and I look for him to be coaching other teams like the New York Giants. 

Jack Del Rio

His coaching career is limited—on account of the Jaguars losing back to back, season after season.

In his first season with the Jags, Del Rio led the team to a 5-11 record and in the season to follow they missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Although making it to the playoffs in 2005, the Jags lost to the New England Patriots, ending their season.

Now I don't know what he's been doing off the field, but on the field his players can't seem to get it together.  

Gary Kubiak

On Jan. 26, 2009, Gary Kubiak was named the second head coach of the Houston Texans. At start his team seemed to be making progress early on. Houston finished fourth with a 6-10 record in the AFC South and ended the 2007 season with a 8-8 record.

However, they didn't make the playoffs in 2009 and it hurts for Texan fans to see their team canceled out almost closing the season.

Maybe they need to bring in a different coach so that won't occur again in 2011.

Wade Phillips

So all I hear about is Cowboy this and that.

Who's joining the team this year? Who's getting traded?

With Veterans like Roy Williams and newcomer Miles Austin, this team sounds diverse in terms of talent and skills.

So why haven't they won a recent championship?

The Dallas Cowboys failed to make the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, so what is that saying about the coach?

I'm putting Phillips on the hot seat because I have high hopes for his team this year and we shall see how his players execute and move forward this season.

Lovie Smith

His first three seasons as head coach of the Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith looked like he knew what he was doing. He helped the team to the playoffs twice, including a trip to Super Bowl XLI.

Since then, the Bears have gone 23-25 and failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season.

After Smith fired both offensive coordinator Ron Turner and tight ends coach Rob Boras, he was retained by the Bears for at least 2010. What happens after that will most likely be decided after next season.

He's on the hot seat because fans have yet to see improvement in Chicago and, having let go of two members of the staff, we wonder what his motives are.