Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Coaches Who Could Likely Replace Jack Del Rio

For better or for worse.

That's the mantra that now circles above the Jacksonville Jaguars' heads as they drive to yet another losing season. Since their last playoff appearance in 2007, the Jaguars have been a team in disarray.

Earlier this season, when the Jaguars were sitting at 3-8, former coach Jack Del Rio was shown the door. With the losses of David Garrard, Reggie Nelson and others throughout Del Rio's tenure as head coach, the Jaguars have been scrambling to find suitable replacements to complement Maurice Jones-Drew.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert looks like he's going to be a good one for the teal and gold, but he needs help, and it starts with a good coach. Not to say Del Rio was not a good coach, but since the team was sold earlier this year, general manager Gene Smith felt change was necessary.

The coaching carousel in the NFL has already begun. Del Rio was arguably the first domino to fall; then Todd Haley was shown the door by the Kansas City Chiefs. Tony Sparano was the latest coaching casualty, having gotten the axe from Miami.

There will be others to follow.

Of course, there's always going to be the speculation for Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden or Tony Dungy, but for now, here's a look at five potential coaching candidates to take Jacksonville back to the promised land.

1. Mel Tucker

Look at that face, man! Does that not signify intensity, determination and a desire to win?

Mel Tucker has been the Jaguars' defensive coordinator since 2009. Tucker brings a lot of coaching experience, beginning in 1997, when he was a graduate assistant for Michigan State under Nick Saban. Following that, he went to Miami University as a defensive backs coach, and then Louisiana State and Ohio State at the same position.

Tucker entered the NFL in 2005 with the Cleveland Browns as defensive backs coach. Under his tutelage, Cleveland continually ranked in the Top Five in the league and had 73 total interceptions. In 2008, he was named defensive coordinator for the Browns.

In Jacksonville, Tucker quickly led the Jaguars' rise to the fourth-ranked defense in the league. He is the likely No. 1 candidate to replace Del Rio.

2. Mike Martz

Ah, yes, the great wizard of complex offensive schemes. Insert Big Bang Theory logic here.

Make no bones about it, Martz is a good coach. Remember when he led the Greatest Show on Turf? He was the hottest name in the NFL coming off of that run with St. Louis before the Lions snagged him up to be their offensive coordinator.

After failing miserably with the Lions, Martz left to take on the same role as offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. Martz joined good friend and former Detroit boss Rod Marinelli and good friend Lovie Smith in Chicago, where he runs arguably the most complex offensive scheme in the NFL.

Martz's track record shows that he has a better record as head coach than he does as an offensive coordinator. Should Chicago fail at the end of the year, and if Jacksonville came a-calling, I can virtually guarantee Martz would give the Jaguars some serious consideration.

3. Todd Haley

Todd Haley was arguably a victim of circumstance in Kansas City.

Haley couldn't do much with the cards he was dealt once quarterback Matt Cassel went down. Joining Cassel was running back Thomas Jones and several other key players. Injuries happen in the NFL, but it's the letters in the "W" and "L" columns that make the difference.

Haley is a good coach—there is no denying that—when he's in the right place. Jacksonville could be more suited for his coaching prowess, since the level of competition in the AFC South is less than in the AFC West. His offensive scheme can help Gabbert rise to stardom, and when he gets the right coaches around him and a good defense, he could be a great coach in Jacksonville.

Haley will certainly throw his hat into the ring if Jacksonville calls.

4. Scott Linehan

The Lions' offensive coordinator's name has been bandied about for some head coaching positions so far this season, including Washington State University's. Linehan, of course, has declined these offers so far, but if the Jaguars came calling to offer their head coaching position, Linehan would likely take it.

When Linehan was head coach of the Rams, they were in a rebuilding phase. They had just lost Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce was on his way out and Torry Holt was unable to shoulder the load.

Granted, Linehan's tenure as head coach was not very good, but as a coordinator with Minnesota, he turned the Daunte Culpepper-Randy Moss combination into the top one-two punch in the league.

If the Jaguars get some talent in the offseason, and Linehan can continue to build on his success this season in Detroit, he could be given a long look for the head coaching job in Jacksonville.

5. Tony Sparano

The former Dolphins coach won't be sitting around long.

Remember Sparano's first season in Miami, when he led the 'phins to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth after they'd gone 1-15 the year before? Amazing what Jake Long and Bill Parcells can do for ya, huh?

Since then, however, the tides have not turned in Sparano's favor. Quarterback Chad Henne hasn't been able to find his rhythm on the field, though he did find his way out of a job. The defense isn't what it used to be, and Sparano quickly fell out of favor with the new Dolphins management.

Sparano did do a decent job this season, though. When he was fired, the Dolphins had won five games in  a row (I think), and were quickly gaining ground in the AFC East. Sparano is a good coach, and if the cross-town rivals call, you can be sure Sparano will give great consideration.