Whoa and Woe: NFL Head Coaches Who Defied Expectations in 2008

The 2008 NFL season saw the triumphant return of the head coach. The significance of the man roaming the sidelines and barking out orders took on meaning once again as so many teams performed outside of expectations.

That's not always a good thing, though. Teams with high expectations coming into 2008 went on a downward spiral as inept coaches appeared befuddled at what was happening on the field.

But some coaches completely ignored what the 2007 season would've indicated for their teams, and led their men to various levels of success. Coaches defied the low expectations set forth for their teams, and turned their men into contenders.

With the NFL's coaching carousel, it's difficult to find coaches that are the actual faces of their organization. Not every team has the benefit of a Jeff Fisher or a Jon Gruden. But in 2008, the league saw a shift where coaches began to transcend their star athletes.

The contrast between the good and bad coaches has been remarkable. A team like the Kansas City Chiefs has been systematically run into the ground by the inept Herman Edwards.

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, John Fox has his Carolina Panthers pushing for the first seed in a conference that was supposed to belong to the defending Super Bowl champions.

It doesn't matter what was expected in 2008—the NFL was turned upside down. And that shift in the league should center directly around the head coaches that made it possible—for the better, and for the worse.

Achieving the Unexpected—In the Good Way

Tony Sparano, MIA: Rookie head coaches aren't supposed to be competing for first place and playoff berths. Better yet—rookie head coaches taking over a 1-15 team aren't supposed to be doing any of that.

Every time a new coach comes in, the expectations for when the team will be a contender again revolve around a three-season plan. After Miami's disastrous 2007, a six-win season would've been a satisfying step in the right direction.

Apparently, Sparano and company didn't receive the memo. Instead, Sparano found a way to get the most out of every single bit of talent on his roster.

In 14 games, he has shown that he has a commitment to seeing his team win. The Dolphins have been applauded for their inventive play-calling, efficient execution, and solid defense.

Mike Smith, ATL: What can be said about Mike Smith that wasn't said about Sparano? Smith took over an organization that required a complete overhaul after being left in absolute shambles. And he returned them to respectability within one season.

The Atlanta Falcons are an NFL anomaly.

Their entire season defies common thinking amongst NFL fans. New coaches, new playbooks, and a young new quarterback all provided brand new fortunes and a new identity for the Falcons.

Smith's infectious attitude and passion for the game made him the right man at the right time. He's brought the very best out of his players on a team where most believed they'd need better players before becoming competitive again.

Bill Belichick, NE: After Week One, it appeared that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would have a new set of expectations—just make it to 2009. New England's bread and butter was gone for the season, and the Patriots suddenly had an inexperienced backup with an aging defense for Belichick to call his own.

But when the significant injuries didn't stop for New England, Belichick made sure that his expectations of the team didn't get placed on reserve until 2009, too.

Most teams would fall directly to the bottom with so many players lost for the season. Teams aren't supposed to be in ties for first place when their franchise quarterback and star defensive players aren't on the field.

Belichick's ability to gameplan for every opponent, and plug different players into necessary positions for similar results is a testament to his championship formula. Being able to replace elite talent and maintain the threat of victory every week is unprecedented.

Belichick's winning system is confirmed. It's not always pretty, but he can still coach one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL—even if they're not always dominating.

When the Coach is the Cancer

Norv Turner, SD: The reason Norv Turner is here is the same reason Bill Belichick is on the other end of the spectrum. Great coaches don't let injuries deter their team from the ultimate objective.

His reputation was never a good one. When he was hired it was an indication that the front office believed their team was good enough to succeed with anyone on the sidelines. That may have been true if it weren't Norv Turner.

A year removed from the AFC Championship game, Norv Turner has managed to run an offensive powerhouse directly into the ground. San Diego struggles with adjustments, and often finds ways to lose games on their own.

When a talented team underachieves, it speaks volumes of the man that prepares them, week in and week out, and his inability to concoct an effective gameplan.

It proves that the other coach is playing chess while Turner's playing checkers.

Rod Marinelli, DET: It's not nice to kick a man while he's down, but it's necessary in this instance. Marinelli is on his way to spearheading the worst season in NFL history, and the blame has to fall squarely on his shoulders.

Calling the Lions' season a disappointment would be an insult to football fans. After the strong start in 2007, the Lions had a model for success that should've been built upon. It seemed like Marinelli may have actually had a plan to bring something worthy of respect to the Motor City.

But with no wins in 2008, there have been no attempts to be inventive. The season is lost—it's been lost since Week Six. Yet, there's no sense of urgency.

The Lions can score, and they can push some teams to the brink. But that's when Marinelli folds. That's when the team becomes conservative, and that's why the season has gone the way it has. 

Romeo Crennel, CLE: The Cleveland Browns were supposed to be great this season. With their surprising 2007 campaign, led by the new, unexpected franchise quarterback, the Browns were supposed to be on their way to AFC North supremacy with Derek Anderson.

But it turns out that the Browns suffer from a staff infection that starts at the head.

An incredible defensive mind, Crennel seems unable to get his team to respond and perform well. Their 2008 season is a blooper reel of inconsistency, dropped passes, and fallen expectations.

He's managed to make the 2007 season resemble luck instead of a sign of great things to come. In fact, a coaching change will probably be in order after Week 17, and it's difficult to make a case for the contrary.

With so much young talent and abysmal results, blaming the coach is the only logical solution. It has to be a question of motivation, and for the entire season Cleveland has seemed to lack it.

Angel Navedo covers the New York Jets for Examiner.com. His work can also be found on NYJetsFan.com, where he is the Head Writer, and on MyGridironSpace.com—a premier social networking site built exclusively for NFL fans.

He is also a Senior Writer at the Bleacher Report, where he is one of the New York Jets Community Leaders.