AFC Coaching Changes for the 2013-2014 Season
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Coaching changes used to be less-common. An article like this would be just a few paragraphs not too long ago. In today’s age, however, coaches have a short leash, which results in much shorter tenures when things don’t go according to plan. It presents challenges for the NFL betting man to stay abreast of all the different offseason changes. Here are all the coaching changes in the AFC for the 2013-1014 season:
Buffalo Bills: Chan Gailey is out as head coach and Doug Marrone is in. The former Saints’ OC has been the head coach for Syracuse for the past 4 seasons, going 25-25. The progressive offensive mind looks to make greater use of Buffalo’s weapons on that side of the ball this season. His new defensive coordinator is Mike Pettine, who held the same position with the Jets for the past 4 seasons. The new offensive coordinator is Nathaniel Hackett, 33, who was Marrone’s OC for the past two seasons in Syracuse.
New York Jets: Rex Ryan is still in the head coaching position, but adds two new coordinators after a disappointing 6-10 season. In at offensive coordinator is
Marty Mornhinweg, 50, who spent the last 7 seasons on the Eagles coaching staff and is a former head coach for the Detroit Lions. The new defensive coordinator is Dennis Thurman, 56, the former NFL cornerback who was promoted from DB coach, a position he held for the past 5 seasons.
Cleveland Browns: Pat Shurmur is out, paving the way for new head coach Rob Chudzinski, who has been the offensive coordinator for the Panthers for the past two seasons. One of the more unpublicized hires, this will be Chudzinski’s first head coaching position. Helping Chudzinski will be the addition of offensive coordinator and former head coach Norv Turner. The new defensive coordinator is Ray Horton, the former NFL corner who was the DC for the Arizona Cardinals for the past two years.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Mularkey was shown the door after just one season at the helm. The new man in charge is Gus Bradley, the former defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, who helped turn that team into an defensive power. Helping Bradley will be new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, the 36-year old who spent the past two season as the Miami Hurricane’s OC. Running the “D” along with Bradley will be new DC Bob Babich, who has spent the past decade on the Chicago Bears coaching staff.
Kansas City Chiefs: After a demoralizing season in more ways than one, Romeo Crennel is out. The new head coach is Andy Reid, who spent the past 14 seasons as the Eagles head coach. One of the more big-name coaching hires, Reid will be joined by new offensive coordinator Doug Pederson, the former back-up QB who Reid worked with during his quarterback-coaching years in Green Bay. Pederson was also a QB coach under Reid in Philly. The new defensive coordinator is 62-year old Bob Sutton, who spent the past 13 seasons on the Jets’ coaching staff.
San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner is out. New head coach Mike McCoy is in. The 40-year old McCoy was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos for the past 4 seasons and this represents his first head coaching gig. Helping McCoy on the offensive side of the ball will be new OC Ken Whisenhunt, who spent the past 6 seasons as the Cardinals head coach, leading them to their only Super Bowl. On the defensive side of the ball, John Pagano will retain his DC duties.
Oakland Raiders: Dennis Allen will retain the head coaching position after leading the Raiders to a 4-12 season. OC Greg Knapp is out and the new offensive coordinator is Greg Olson, who has spent the past dozen years on the coaching staffs of the 49ers, Bears, Lions, Rams, Buccaneers, and Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts: Bruce Arians, who had to run the team in the absence of Chuck Pagano, is now the head coach of the Cardinals. The new OC is Pep Hamilton, who showed his stuff as the OC for Stanford in the past few seasons. Hamilton was also on NFL coaching staffs for 7 years prior to going to Stanford. Pagano will return as head coach in 2013.
Denver Broncos: John Fox is still in charge, in tow with returning DC Jack Del Rio. Adam Gase, 34, was signed as the new Broncos offensive coordinator, with former OC Mike McCoy taking the head coaching gig with the Chargers. Gase had spent time as the Broncos quarterback coach, which seemed to work well with Payton Manning having an incredible first year with Denver.
