Dec 29 2008
Three Rookie Head Coaches Going to Playoffs
I always find it interesting when someone states that a rookie head coach is unseasoned and does not bring much to the table. It is difficult to swallow such a generalization. I like to talk more about them on a singled out level so that I am addressing the individual coach and his ability/inability to get the job done. Lane Kiffen was a good example of a coach that could not get it done. Steve Spurrier was a good example of a coach that could not get it done.
Well, today, lets take a 3 rookie coaches that showed that they could get it done. It is funny that all three of these head coaches and their teams held an 11-5 record for this year.
The first has to be the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. I have to say that I really have never heard of Tony Sparano until this season. To me, he was pretty much an unknown. This guy had a great leader sitting in the box upstairs and had some awesome players that were on his sidelines. But, his greatest accomplishment was making Chad Pennington the starting quarterback. It was classical watching Favre fail and the Jets dreams crushed by the one they divorced.
The second would be that of John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. When I thought of the Ravens in the beginning, I never really thought that they would be contenders. Joe Flacco played his heart out and so did the defense. The Ravens did what they need to this season.
The last one would be that of Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons. I really did not think that Matt Ryan and Michael Turner could do the job. Well, frankly, they proved me and a lot of others wrong. They more than did the job.
So, in a nutshell, congratulations to these three head coaches on their trip to the playoffs in their rookie season.
