2011 NFL Predictions: 5 Coaches Who Will Cool Their Hot Seats in 2011

In 1988 Jerry Glanville coined the now famous acronym "Not For Long" in reference to the NFL. Little did he know that the phrase he coined to chastise an official would come full circle and be applied not only to the players in the modern era, but to the very position he held, that of the head coach.

With head coaches more frequently getting a limited time to impress, changes at the top are on the rise, with 2011 seeing six new faces join the ranks of NFL head coaches.

The many new faces have likely left those who clung to their jobs at the end of 2010 hopeful that the new kids on the block would face a tough learning curve this year.

So of the many faces entering the Last Chance Saloon this season, who is most likely to come out swinging?

Norv Turner

The inconsistent and downright erratic San Diego Chargers of recent years will need to lock up the AFC West if Norv Turner hopes to see a sixth year as head coach.

Phillip Rivers and the Chargers have not legitimately looked ready for a Super Bowl run since their 14-2 season in 2006, and have to some extent suffered from media hype ever since.

The media expectation has cooled a little this year, and it could be a great thing for the team, especially since Denver and Oakland are not the strongest of sides right now.

There's no denying that the Chargers are stocked full of talent, and Norv Turner will be hoping that his talented underachievers will perform from the start of the season as opposed to halfway through it. With the likes of Antoine Cason and Ryan Mathews ready to make an impact, 2011 could be a brighter, more consistent year for the Chargers

Chargers fans will bid a welcome return to Jamaal Charles' fumbling problems following the Chiefs' 20-19 loss to Green Bay, and will hope that Charles fails to regain his 2010 success.

Barring heroics from Jamaal Charles, the Chargers should be a shoo-in to take the West and move on into the playoffs, likely securing Norv Turner's job for at least another year.

Marvin Lewis

This offseason there wasn't a soul who thought Marvin Lewis would be back for another year with the Bengals. But lo and behold, Mike Brown signed him to a two-year deal, allowing Lewis to begin the re-build.

Luckily for Marvin Lewis, the departure of Carson Palmer may well have secured his job for both of the two years he signed on for, as expectations for rookie Andy Dalton are sensibly low.

The general consensus is that a better record than last year's abysmal 4-12 record would be a real success.

The Bengals certainly have an easy schedule with the teams of the NFC West featuring on the menu, which should ease Andy Dalton's transition into the regular season before he gets his head knocked off by the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

As opposed to the lofty expectations levied on the 2010 Cincinnati Bengals, 2011 will be about patience and progress. Jay Gruden is an exciting prospect as an offensive coordinator and Lewis will be banking on his West Coast offense showing enough sparkle by the end of the year to warrant more of the same in 2012.

If the Bengals' defense can play like they have this preseason, there is a chance that they could win in the range of 6-7 games, but even the most optimistic of fans wouldn't hold their breath for that to happen.

If Lewis can simply top last year's record (which shouldn't be too tough), he will still be in charge in 2012.

Ken Whisenhunt

In Whiz We Trust. Well... kinda... not so much.

Ken Whisenhunt has done very little to inspire confidence since taking Kurt Warner and the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2008.

It was the perfect season for Whisenhunt, and he followed it up with another solid season posting a 10-6 record before then losing out to the eventual champion Saints in the playoffs.

Then came the exodus of players, with Kurt Warner's departure being the knockout blow, and one from which the Cardinals are yet to fully recover.

Enter Kevin Kolb. Now Whisenhunt's job security rests in the hands of his newest acquisition. The highly touted Kolb will have to beat out Sam Bradford and the Rams to the NFC West crown to fully live up to his own hype.

Largely untested young pass rushers O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho will be itching to get going in the regular season, and with Patrick Peterson lingering in the backfield, plus the addition of tight end Todd Heap and the return of the freshly-paid best receiver in the game, Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals could well make some noise in their division.

A Kolb-led playoff appearance would certainly secure Whisenhunt's job for the foreseeable future, and it is certainly within reach.

Gary Kubiak

Gary Kubiak is flat-out lucky to still be head coach of the Houston Texans and he is most certainly on the hottest seat, going into 2011 with a playoff or bust ultimatum.

In 2010 Kubiak failed to make the playoffs for the 10th straight year (and I thought Marvin Lewis was bad?!).

With the addition of Johnathan Joseph to the secondary, Glover Quin moving to free safety, and three rookies with the potential to start, including former Wisconsin Badger J.J. Watt, the Texans are brimming with talent.

Pro Bowl trio Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Matt Schaub give Kubiak all the tools he needs through the air, and Arian Foster will be hoping he can continue last year's heroics and post big numbers in 2011.

The main issue that has tripped up the Texans has been their defense, but with big additions to the fold and Wade Phillips running the show, it could be time for the Texans to win the division.

With Peyton Manning's health in question, the Texans will be looking to put space between themselves and their rivals right out of the gate in what is their best opportunity to do so in years.

It might not provide long-term job safety, but Kubiak will reach the postseason in 2011 and secure his position for at least another year.

Andy Reid

Andy Reid is on the hot seat for different reasons than our previous faces, having actually had bona fide success in Philadelphia. He finds himself on the hot seat because expectations in Philadelphia are now just that much higher, and Andy Reid just isn't quite cutting it. 

He lead the Eagles to within three points of a Super Bowl in 2004, and has 10 playoff wins under his belt, which is certainly no easy feat. Yet following 11 years in Philadelphia, people are starting to wonder if Andy Reid can ever win the big one.

If his seat wasn't hot last year, it most certainly is now. The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles have more hype going into the season than perhaps any NFL team before them, being labeled the quintessential dream team by many. 

So is this the year that Andy Reid finally has his Bill Cowher moment?

I think so.

Whether or not the Eagles win the Super Bowl won't matter in terms of Reid's job security, but I expect him to take them there. A Super Bowl appearance will revitalise faith in Andy Reid, and will be a great start for the new-look Eagles.