YOU’RE FIRED: The Replacements

Following up on last week’s column of coaches on the hot seat, I will look at the potential replacements for those teams.  For purposes of the article I am going to assume that every coach I list on the hot seat, with the exception of Tom Cable.  So if you are a fan of the other nine teams, here is a look at who I think will be your next head coach and why:

Washington Redskins: This hire is going to come from a new GM or President of Football Operations as I also believe the Vin man will be gone.  Most are speculating Mike Shanahan will get the job, but I don’t see it happening.  He will use his position to leverage for the job he wants.  The guy who will be hired will be an offensive mind, there is no doubt about that.  He will also have to be able to work well with a GM. So for those of you hoping for Bill Cowher or Mike Holmgren, think again.  And if you watched the game on Monday night, a certain announcer was sucking up to a lot of the Redskins players.  He went as far as saying DeAngelo Hall is a great tackler. And for anyone who watches the Skins play, they know that is the furthest thing from the truth. The next Redskins coach: Jon Gruden

Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones tends to want what others do.  He loves offense, and will want a great offensive mind.  That makes me think it will be one of two guys.  On the left you have Mike Shanahan and on the right you have Florida Gator head coach Urban Meyer.  While Jones will really want to go with the up and coming Meyer, it will be hard for him to ignore the experience of Shanahan.  More importantly he will make the move to block another team in the division.  The next Cowboys coach: Mike Shanahan

Carolina Panthers: The next coach of the Panthers is blatantly obvious at this point.  While “The Chin” likes his gig at CBS, he has been itching to get back into it.  He will finally have his ideal opportunity close to home. The next Panthers coach: Bill Cowher

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Who would fit in Tampa?  It is hard to say where Malcolm Glazer will go due to the unexpected and disastrous hire of Raheem Morris.  One has to think he will be looking for a steadying force, a guy that has a calm demeanor.  The calm demeanor essentially rules out the perfect guy for the job Jeff Fisher.  Glazer will still go with someone that has proven himself.  The next Bucs head coach: Mike Holmgren

Buffalo Bills: The Bills are going to be the luckiest franchise of all.  When looking at a team that I’d like to coach, I’d look for three things: young defensive talent to build, a good running game, and some talented WR’s.  The Bills have all three of those things.  So what coach will be looking for a job like Buffalo?  The next Bills head coach: Jeff Fisher

Cleveland Browns: This is honestly the toughest job to figure out.  The perfect hire would be someone who is offensive minded and knows what it takes to win in Cleveland.  The perfect answer to that would be Brian Schottenheimer, but I am not sure the Browns will go back to the Jets for another coach.  So where exactly do they go??  My guess is they abandon the thought of an offensive mind and go right to division and state rival for their next guy.  The Browns next head coach: Mike Zimmer

Jacksonville Jaguars: When you need to fill seats and market the team, you hire someone who is well known within the state and brings an exciting style of play to the field.  The owner has been very outspoken of who he wants to draft come April.  For that player to be successful, he needs his current system.  The Jaguars next head coach: Urban Meyer

Tennessee Titans: Owner Bud Adams is already calling for a change at QB, so the change at coach seems inevitable.  Jeff Fisher’s message and style has gone stale in Tennessee, so Adams is going to have to find himself one of those young coordinators in the mold of McDaniels and Harbaugh that can relate to today’s players better.  So there is only one guy out there that comes from a good coaching mold, he learned from his father and Rex Ryan.  The next Titans head coach: Brian Schottenheimer

San Diego Chargers: Who wouldn’t want this job? Phillip Rivers, young talented WR’s, Antonio Gates, Sproles and LT. The Chargers need a coach that knows what it takes to win.  There is no more time messing around with the team they currently have. Championship windows don’t last forever.   I am going out on a limb with this.  The next Chargers head coach: Tony Dungy