2011 NFL Predictions: 10 Coaches with Most to Prove This Season

The phrase "on the hot seat" implies that a coach either has a good season--playoff appearance, playoff win, for example—or they get fired. And make no mistake about it, there are a few head coaches out there in that very situation.

But there are also a handful of coaches in the NFL who, although not exactly "coaching for their life," can't keep resting on their laurels  from the past.

And although they all got to this point different ways, all have different styles, and different approaches to the game, for both those subsets of the NFL coaching fraternity, 2011 is an enormous season. 

Time to step it up.   

No. 10: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

Years On The Job: 12 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Super Bowl berth

Even if the Pats went 0-16 this year, Robert Kraft wouldn't be firing Bill Belichick. 

Still, the previous four years under the Hoodie do raise an eyebrow.

During that stretch, Tom Brady has won two MVPs, they've had an 18-0 season, and fell flat in two home playoff games. 

Toss in the additions of Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth, and the fact that he's the highest paid coach in sports, and anything short of a trip to the Super Bowl and the Pats season will be considered a failure. 

That's what happens when you win three rings in four years and are coming off a 14-2, No. 1-seed season that began as a "rebuilding year." 

No. 9: Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

Years On The Job: 8 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Super Bowl berth

Smith performed a minor miracle last year taking the Bears to the NFC Championship Game, but watching their age-old rival defeat them there, on their home turf, then win the Super Bowl had to really sting Bears fans and management.

Look, every team wants to win the Super Bowl every year. But given their history, their loyal and knowledgeable fan base, and the big-time additions of people like Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers, a bit more is expected from the Bears.  

Especially now. If this club doesn't reach the Super Bowl, will anyone in Chicago be content?

No. 8: Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles

Years On The Job: 13 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Super Bowl win

Has an NFL team ever went more "all in" than this year's Eagles?

They gave up a potential franchise quarterback in Kevin Kolb, they gave Michael Vick $10 million, they signed Cullen Jenkins, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin, and even inquired about the retired Randy Moss. All with the simple goal of winning a Super Bowl. 

Reid has reached NFC Championship Games and even a Super Bowl, but now that it's been more than half a century since the Eagles won a title, it's really world championship or bust. 

Like Belichick and Smith, failure to do so won't result in a pink slip, but it will result in a whole bunch of questions. 

No. 7: Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals

Years On The Job: 5 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Playoff berth

Whisenhunt does hold a special place in Arizona sports history, having taken the Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl, a game they nearly won. But last year was borderline disastrous. 

The 5-11 record was pathetic, but for an offensive-minded coach to preside over a team that finishes worst in the NFL in yards rushing-per-game and second worst in the NFL in yards passing-per-game has to be frustrating for ownership.

Now, not all of that is his fault—he didn't draft Matt Leinart or force Kurt Warner to retire. But now that they've added Kevin Kolb, Todd Heap, and Daryn Colledge to an offense with Larry Fitzgerald, that unit had better be much improved. 

No. 6: Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins

Years On The Job: 2 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: .500 record

Although I wouldn't put it past Daniel Snyder to fire a head coach after fewer than three years (he did it to Marty Schottenheimer and Jim Zorn) Shanahan will almost certainly survive "Black Monday" next January.

But after the debacle that was 2010, punctuated by Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb, Shanahan has to show considerable improvement, especially since they had a great draft and signed Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Josh Wilson and trading for Tim Hightower. 

A playoff berth would be nice, but 8-8 with a few wins over the big boys in Dallas, Philadelphia and New York would be huge.  

No. 5: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

Years On The Job: 10 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: .500 record

We all thought Marvin Lewis was on his way out back in January, but he got an extension to avoid the lame-duck status. Still, there has to be a stay-of-execution feel to that deal.

The Bengals have made wholesale changes this offseason, most notably replacing Carson Palmer (sort of) with Andy Dalton, Chad Ochocinco with A.J. Green and Johnathan Joseph with Nate Clements. 

But if the results are largely the same—i.e. four wins—don't be surprised to see the Bengals consider a change. 

No. 4: Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

Years On The Job: 4 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Playoff berth

With the Jets and Patriots in his division, Sparano doesn't have it any easier this year.

And truth be told, that 2008 division title was aided a bit by Tom Brady's torn knee and Brett Favre's late-season implosion in New York, so he really can't rely on that as a job-saver, a point proven by the fact that he was nearly replaced with Jim Harbaugh last winter.

Even though he too was given a contract extension, like Marvin Lewis, considering the recent additions of Reggie Bush, Brandon Marshall, and a pretty impressive offensive line, it's hard to see Sparano surviving a third straight sub-.500 season.  

No. 3: Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

Years On The Job: 5 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Playoff victory

Turner may have done more with the Chargers than Marty Schottenheimer was able to achieve, taking the team to the AFC Title Game in his first year, but between the poor starts and squandered 2009 season, he hasn't done much better since. 

They routinely have one of the NFL's most prolific offenses and a very capable defense, but haven't come close to the Super Bowl since 2007.

They aren't one of those "Super Bowl or Bust" teams, but a playoff victory or at least an AFC West crown isn't too much to ask for. 

No. 2: Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars

Years On The Job: 9 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Playoff berth

Del Rio was probably on the hot seat even before the start of the 2011 offseason, but after trading up in the draft to take Blaine Gabbert and adding free agents in Dawan Landry, Clint Sessions and Paul Posluszny, he's been given more tools and therefore even greater expectations.

The AFC South is not nearly as powerful and deep as several other divisions in the NFL—the Colts aren't invincible, the Texans have never once made the playoffs, and the Titans are starting over from scratch—so a division crown isn't quite as tall a task as it would be for Tony Sparano in Miami or Lovie Smith in Chicago.  

No. 1: Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

Years On The Job: 6 

Bare Minimum Needed In 2011: Playoff berth

Kubiak is locked up in Houston through 2012, but either way, it's hard to imagine that contract reaching it's conclusion: either he'll have a season worthy of an extension or he'll be sent packing.

The Texans have never made the postseason, but this year's club looks as stacked as they've ever had.

You know about the offense: Matt Schaub, 4,000-yard passer two straight seasons, NFL rushing champion Arian Foster, and perennial All Pro Andre Johnson. But now, they would seem to have made huge improvements to the defense with Johnathan Joseph, Daniel Manning, Brooks Reed, J.J. Watt and Wade Phillips. 

With all those weapons, Kubiak has to bring Houston to the postseason...doesn't he?