Asked and answered- we're on a message board and we're discussing potential COY's. Nothing is stopping a poster from creating their own criteria no matter how stupid, or well thought out, or nuanced.
Del Rio or whoever the fuck the HC for Tampa is nowadays
This is a good list but I'd still have the top 3 in a different order. I'd rather have Dak than Alex Smith, for starters. Its actually amazing the Chiefs are above .500 with Houston and Maclin missing most of the season.Tier 1: The actual candidates
Jason Garrett is the leading contender for Coach of the Year. USATSI
11. Mike Zimmer -- Vikings (7-6)
The Vikings weren't supposed to compete when Teddy Bridgewater lost his season, yet Zimmer found a way to hold the team together. He's repeatedly dealt with injuries (including to himself), but the Vikings are still a team nobody wants to face because of his defense. I don't think they'd even be a .500 team without Zimmer. A team with a worse coach would've cracked by now, but the Vikings didn't.
10. Mike Mularkey -- Titans (7-6)
We all made fun of Mike Mularkey for his exotic smashmouth and feared that he'd ruin Marcus Mariota's development. Instead, Mularkey has a chance to get the Titans into the postseason because he's turned Mariota into a legit NFL quarterback. His running game also works: The Titans are third in the NFL in yards per carry (4.7) and he revived DeMarco Murray's career. The Titans weren't viewed as a contender to win the AFC South before the season, but they're my favorite to win it. The Titans won five total games in 2014 and 2015. So, give him credit for winning seven already this year.
9. Adam Gase -- Dolphins (8-5)
The Dolphins are 8-5! They're actually on the cusp of playoff success! That feat is impressive considering the Dolphins went 6-10 a year ago and haven't won more than eight games since 2008. It's also impressive given how Gase's tenure started: One win (in overtime against the Browns) in five games. But since starting 1-4, the Dolphins have only lost once. To do that, Gase turned Ryan Tannehill into a pretty dang good quarterback, as he posted career-highs in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating. With Tannehill possible done for the season due to a sprained ACL and MCL, the Dolphins' season will likely end short of the postseason, which will also end Gase's case for Coach of the Year. But if Gase gets Matt Mooreto quarterback the team into the playoffs, he deserves serious consideration.
8. Dirk Koetter -- Buccaneers (8-5)
So, the decision to fire Lovie Smith might've been a good call. In Koetter's first year as the head coach, he's reached eight wins after 13 games. The Buccaneers haven't experienced an eight-plus win season since 2010. Furthermore, they're in line to earn a playoff spot. They're currently tied with the Falcons for the lead in the NFC South.
7. Dan Quinn -- Falcons (8-5)
Dan Quinn was known for his defense in Seattle, but it's his offense that has the Falcons on top of the NFC South (they hold a tiebreaker over the Buccaneers). A year after the Falcons collapsed down the stretch, they're maintaining their level of play. Matt Ryan has been the league's best quarterback in the NFL, Vic Beasley is emerging as a superstar (13.5 sacks), and the Falcons just ended Fisher's job by putting up 42 points in three quarters without Julio Jones.
6. Ben McAdoo -- Giants (9-4)
Firing Tom Coughlin after a dozen years and two Super Bowls was always going to be risky. It ended up being a pretty decent move. The Giants kind of have that Super Bowl feel again, because they're peaking at the right time. Their defense just limited the Cowboys to seven points. They've beaten the Cowboys twice. The Giants haven't finished above .500 since 2012. McAdoo already has them at nine wins and he should snap the team's postseason drought.
5. Jack Del Rio -- Raiders (10-3)
This one's simple: The Raiders are finally good after more than a decade of incompetence. A lot of the credit should be directed toward the front office for landing top talents in Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Khalil Mack, etc. But give credit to Jack Del Rio for his ballsy decision making that has almost always worked in favor of his team.
4. Jim Caldwell -- Lions (9-4)
The Lions lost Calvin Johnson and managed to get better. Barring a collapse, they're going to win the NFC North and maybe even snag a first-round bye. Truth be told, I wish the award could go to Jim Bob Cooter (not just because of his name), but coordinators are not up for consideration. So, give Caldwell some love for the Lions' stunningly successful season.
3. Andy Reid -- Chiefs (10-3)
The weird part about judging coaches is that the only real time we can evaluate them is on Sundays. We don't really get to see the behind-the-scenes work that coaches put in from Sunday night until Saturday night. And so, we're left to judge them off play calling, clock management, and wins. Perhaps that's why Andy Reid is often overlooked as one of the league's best coaches. His complete inability to manage time during games is such a liability that it overshadows his work as a play caller and a, well, winner. He must be doing something right all season long to get the Chiefs to 10 wins so quickly, especially with Alex Smith as his quarterback. We might not be able to see what he does before and after games like we can see him mismanage time, but he's definitely one of the best coaches in the NFL and his team is definitely among the best.
2. Bill Belichick -- Patriots (11-2)
The Patriots are 11-2 despite being without Tom Brady for four games, losing Gronk for the season, and trading away Jamie Collins. They're the best team in the AFC and maybe the NFL. Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in the history of the NFL. This isn't rocket science. He is worthy of winning.
1. Jason Garrett -- Cowboys (11-2)
OK, so here's why Jason Garrett is the Coach of the Year. He isn't necessarily a better coach than Belichick -- he definitely isn't -- but he fits the criteria for the award perfectly. If the award was given to the best coach period, Belichick would win every year. But it's not.
It's given for reasons like these:
That's why Garrett has been the Coach of the Year -- to this point. Belichick can still steal away the award if the Cowboys drop a few games down the stretch and the Patriots wind up with the league's best record by more than a game.
- See substantial improvement after a down year? Check. The Cowboys are 11-2 after going 4-12 a year ago.
- Overcome a bad situation? Check. The Cowboys are 11-2 despite losing Tony Romo to an injury and dealing with multiple suspensions on defense.
- Have a good record? Check. They're tied for the best record in the NFL.
