Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today’s installment covers:
- A former fifth-round pick who’s establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone.
But first, a look at the leading contenders in one of the most intriguing award races …
A few weeks back, in this space, I stated that Robert Saleh deserves recognition as the midseason Coach of the Year. I wanted to give the New York Jets’ head man some love at that moment because I had serious questions about whether his offensively challenged team could continue to defy the odds and stack wins.
Well, Gang Green has lost its past two games to fall below .500, and this feels like a team that could fade into the background. Consequently, despite his admirable efforts to overcome the crushing loss of Aaron Rodgers, Saleh no longer appears poised to hoist the coaching hardware at season’s end.
However, as Saleh’s fame has slightly declined, various head coaches have advanced in what could be one of the most competitive award races. Thus, as we approach the latter half of the 2023 regular season, how does the Coach of the Year ranking appear? Below are my top five contenders.
NOTE: The Coach of the Year odds were pulled from Caesars Sportsbook at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, November 17.
Tomlin has perfected the art of winning games by employing a range of complementary football strategies to compensate for his team’s shortcomings. In terms of coaxing victories from a flawed roster, there is no superior NFL coach.
This season, the Steelers have been outgained in all nine games, yet they are squarely in the playoff picture at 6-3. Their success can be attributed to a playmaking defense and opportunistic special teams, both of which have regularly created scoring opportunities with timely splash plays. Pittsburgh has generated 18 takeaways (tied for first) and holds a +10 advantage in the turnover margin (also tied for first). The defense has added a pair of touchdowns, with Alex Highsmith providing a pick-six and T.J. Watt executing a scoop-and-score. Given the enormous impact of turnovers on the outcome of games, the Steelers’ takeaway prowess has helped them overcome a sputtering offense that has been unable to consistently move the ball or put points on the board this season.
Tomlin’s team may not always win impressively, but they are skilled at making their opponents play to their style in less than glamorous matches. The gritty, determined effort needed to defeat the Steelers often pushes opposing teams out of their comfort zones, leading to more errors and blunders at crucial times. Furthermore, Tomlin’s history of success using various strategies has instilled his players with the belief that they can triumph under any conditions.
In his 17th season as head coach of the Steelers, Tomlin has never posted a losing record. Somehow, he’s also never received Coach of the Year. That could change at NFL Honors this February.
Maybe Ryans was privy to information that the rest of the football fraternity wasn’t when he accepted the role of head coach for the Texans. Even though he inherited a team that most believed needed total reconstruction, the ex-Pro Bowl linebacker has rapidly turned his former team into a potential playoff participant, led by a budding superstar quarterback.
Though C.J. Stroud deserves a lot of the credit for Houston’s surprising 5-4 record, the first-time head coach wisely brought the rookie along slowly over the summer to keep his confidence intact while he acclimated to the NFL game. Instead of handing the starting job to the newbie on draft night, Ryans made Stroud prove himself between the lines to earn the respect of his teammates. Now, the rookie is providing one of the most impressive debut seasons in memory, torching opponents as a pinpoint passer with superb leadership skills and intangibilities.
Ryans, as a team builder and strategist, has hit a home run by equipping his star quarterback with a group of dedicated, blue-collar workers who play tirelessly from start to finish. From the tenacious offensive line that excels in aggressive play to the underrated crew of pass catchers who perform across the field, to an unexpectedly tough defense that is shaping up for the final stretch, Houston suddenly possesses the elements of a genuinely formidable team. Ryans has skillfully manipulated all the correct moves to turn the Texans into a must-watch team, almost instantly.
It’s no surprise to witness the Lions overpowering their opponents with their physicality, toughness, and superior effort if a team is a direct reflection of its head coach. Brad Holmes, the general manager, and Dan Campbell have built a team of hardy individuals who embody the coach’s “grind it out” philosophy and the spirit of Detroit.
The Lions (7-2) set the tone with a Kickoff Game road win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and they have largely continued to roll since that point, relying on an explosive offense and hard-hitting defense to blow past opponents at home and on the road.
The Jared Goff-led offense, in particular, looks like an unstoppable force between the lines. With rising whiz Ben Johnson calling the plays, Goff has flourished by targeting Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond, among others, on catch-and-run concepts at short and intermediate distances. This efficient passing attack has been complemented by a rugged ground game, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs taking turns toting the rock. With the best offensive line in football consistently knocking defenders back at the point of attack in pass protection and on running plays, the Lions can rely on a blue-collar approach with explosive potential to overwhelm opponents in key moments. Campbell has frequently doubled down on his offense with fourth-down gambles that have put the onus on the unit’s shoulders to close out games in the fourth quarter.
Campbell has demonstrated exceptional coaching prowess to lead a determined group of underdogs. This long-struggling franchise has now become a genuine title contender, thanks to its chameleon-like playing style, physicality, and toughness.
After stumbling out of the gate to a 1-4 start, the Vikings have found their stride, with O’Connell deftly rolling with the punches to reverse the team’s fortunes. The second-year head coach reconfigured the game plan and call sheet to overcome the temporary loss of Justin Jefferson — and permanent loss of Kirk Cousins — to reel off five straight victories, the longest active winning streak in the NFL.
First, with his WR1 sidelined by a hamstring injury, O’Connell elevated Jordan Addison into the top role with a menu of plays designed to unlock the rookie on the perimeter. The first-rounder has flourished in his new role, and his emergence should make the Vikings’ offense scary when Jefferson returns to the lineup. With tight end T.J. Hockenson also shining as a designated playmaker between the hashes, the second-year head coach deserves credit for adapting his scheme to accentuate the talents of his top available threats.
Speaking of adaptation, the Vikings’ immediate success with recent trade acquisition Josh Dobbs at quarterback is another example of O’Connell’s impressive work. Just days after Dobbs’ arrival in Minnesota, the offensive wizard cleverly utilized tempo and the communication device to talk the journeyman through his passing progressions and concepts, allowing Minnesota (6-4) to notch an unlikely road win. As Dobbs, who also guided the Vikings to victory this past week, continues to notch wins without the luxury of time to master the scheme, the offensive play-caller continues to look like a miracle worker.
Cleveland lost one of the game’s best running backs, Nick Chubb, to a season-ending injury in Week 2. The team’s $230 million quarterback, Deshaun Watson, missed multiple games due to injury before being shut down for the season this week. And yet, here the Browns are at 6-3, currently holding the AFC’s second wild card slot.
The constant changes in key offensive positions have impacted Cleveland’s scoring ability, however, Stefanski has adjusted his strategy to complement a defense that consistently overwhelms opponents. The Browns have maintained discipline and patience with their running game, occasionally adding in vertical passes to keep their opponents on their toes during crucial moments. Moreover, Stefanski has employed trick plays and gadgets to create explosive plays against defensive lines that aim to shut down the running game and push an inexperienced or limited quarterback to secure the win through passing.
Stefanski’s ability to keep games competitive through the use of strategic “smoke and mirrors” tactics and effective ball movement deserves recognition. With a roster plagued by injuries, the Browns’ head coach has successfully constructed winning game plans, heavily relying on a resilient defense to secure victories in the highly competitive AFC.
Is Sam Howell a legit franchise QB?
The Washington Commanders raised plenty of eyebrows entering this season with Sam Howell installed as QB1. Admittedly, I was among the doubters.
During this past offseason, I explored nine quarterbacks entering a make-or-break campaign, providing confidence rankings as part of the exercise. And yes, I had the least confidence in Howell.
As an ex-Tar Heel, I should have been more mindful not to underestimate Howell’s potential as a franchise quarterback. This second-year professional currently tops the NFL in passing yards (2,783), averaging 344.7 in the past three weeks. He has also achieved an 8:2 TD-to-INT ratio and an impressive 103.0 passer rating during this period. Despite early season struggles with sacks, he’s only been sacked seven times in the last three weeks, indicating improved pocket awareness and diagnostic skills.
Given his production and performance through 11 career starts, including last season’s Week 18 debut win over Dallas, Howell should have silenced the critics who questioned his talent and potential as a long-term starter. Moreover, the quarterback has made a compelling case to deter the Commanders from exploring the 2024 quarterback class in the upcoming draft.
While it initially seems a little crazy to suggest a team with a potential top-10 pick should bypass a chance to grab a blue-chip quarterback prospect in a draft that looks like it’ll be pretty talent-rich at the position, Howell’s emergence as a viable starter should make Washington’s brass pause before adding another signal-caller to the mix.
The second-year pro has exceeded expectations as a former fifth-round pick, blossoming into a prolific passer in Eric Bieniemy’s system. Though the 23-year-old is far from a “system” quarterback, his talents have been accentuated in the quick-rhythm scheme installed by the Commanders’ first-year coordinator. The mix of “catch, rock and throw” passes and short-to-intermediate concepts on three- and five-step drops perfectly match Howell’s skills as a pinpoint passer with a quick release. To take advantage of Howell’s limitless range as a deep thrower, the Commanders have routinely featured various vertical routes that enable the young passer to push the ball down the field. With a collection of speedsters on the perimeter (SEE: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Dyami Brown), a calculated deep throw can produce an explosive play that flips the field or lights up the scoreboard.
Please enable Javascript to view this content
Howell’s presence, as a skilled dual-threat with swift footwork and exceptional on-the-move passing skills, has motivated the Commanders to integrate RPOs and movement passes into their strategy. The merger of zone-read runs with bubble screens or isolation routes such as slants, quick outs, and hitches, not only enhances the running game but also creates easy passing opportunities for the quarterback.
Furthermore, Howell’s ability to improvise has resulted in an array of impressive plays from off-schedule throws. The Commanders’ emerging QB1 showcases a skillset that has the potential to develop into something extraordinary, indicating that the overall No. 144 pick from the 2022 NFL Draft could be a long-term asset in his position.
In conclusion, Howell needs to enhance his game to prevent the negative plays that slow down an offense. This involves minimizing turnovers (11 in 10 games) resulting from poor decisions or risky throws, and improving his situational awareness to cut down on sacks due to user mistakes. As a young player, Howell will inevitably make some errors as he adjusts to the professional game as a starter, but his turnover problems and high sack numbers appear solvable after reviewing his game footage. Most of his negative plays result from his unwillingness to abandon unfavorable situations. Recently, it seems the Commanders have been prompting him to discard the ball instead of attempting a difficult pass.
The Commanders have also adjusted their call sheet to include more strategies with the available running backs as “hot” options or receivers positioned underneath to give Howell a quick outlet. Consequently, the inexperienced quarterback has significantly cut down his sack numbers while improving his efficiency from the pocket.
Given Howell’s impressive progress throughout his 10 starts this season, it’s not difficult to imagine him performing at the level of a top-10 quarterback, especially when he is supported by top-notch playmakers on the field and within a system that highlights his rhythm passing abilities. As the Commanders (4-6) assess and plan their strategy for creating a successful team in 2024 and the years to follow, their first move should be to secure Howell’s position as their primary quarterback.
