SportsHoopla.com NFL Coach of the year ....

[Golden Spur]

The candidates, for one of the most prestigious awards in sport:

Bruce Arians
Bill Belichik
Pete Carroll
John Fox
Jim Harbaugh
Chip Kelly
Chuck Pagano
Sean Payton
Andy Reid
Ron Rivera

Poll forthcoming. I'm going to try and talk HammerDown into tweeting the result to the world.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

It'll go to Bill or Andy I bet. All the major sporting media loves those two (especially Bill) and they are going to constantly rave about how the Pats lost SO much offensive support and still overcame! (Despite being in a cake division, and teams like Seattle on offense lost just as much but hey.... )

 

[Golden Spur]

I went with the homer pick, since I wanted the guy fired after week 4, and we're now the #2 seed, and I feel like I owe him.

 

[Golden Spur]

It'll go to Bill or Andy I bet. All the major sporting media loves those two (especially Bill) and they are going to constantly rave about how the Pats lost SO much offensive support and still overcame! (Despite being in a cake division, and teams like Seattle on offense lost just as much but hey.... )

In fairness, BB had one of his better efforts, holding it together in the wake of all the controversy/injuries.

 

[Rvnight18]

I went with Harbs because everyone hates him and I am a major homer

 

[MISKO]

I went with any reid .. he took a losing team and got em into the playoffs

 

[RoboticDreams]

Arians

 

[broncosmitty]

Went with Rivera since GoldenSpur wanted him gone after week 4 and now they're the #2 seed.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I went with Ron Rivera, because before the season started I didn't see the Panthers as a playoff team, but they are now the #2 seed in the NFC.

 

[wildturkey]

Gotta go with Riverboat Ron. I thought about Belichik for continuing to win with a lack of talent and injuries and I also thought about Kelly. But the answer is Rivera because prior to this season, he looked like he had no fucking clue what he was doing. Now its like he's not even the same guy. Bravo Ron. What a turn around.

 

[Breaker99]

The only reason I disagree with Rivera is because of the talent on that team. The job Arians has done in Arizona is nothing short of miraculous. I could see Andy Reid a close second for the turnaround there.

 

[da55bums]

lol, who saw the Chiefs as a playoff team, they were 2-14 last year? how is he not running away with this. Carolina is better than expected but didn't have near the climb to get up the hill.

 

[NinerSickness]

I had to go with Pete Carroll. Substance suspensions notwithstanding; he did an amazing job this season. Especially losing Harvin, 2 pro bowl caliber linemen & others.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

lol, who saw the Chiefs as a playoff team, they were 2-14 last year? how is he not running away with this. Carolina is better than expected but didn't have near the climb to get up the hill.

Most felt the Chiefs would win more than 2 games that year, and they probably thought so because there was talent on the team with Charles, Berry, Houston, Hali, etc; not out of their love for our QB play. Could half-jokingly argue they were the best 2-14 team ever. Not saying I don't think it is Reid, I do think Reid should be the COY as they certainly were not predicted to be a playoff team outside of some homers among other factors.


Edit/Hint: This wasn't going to be a 2-14 team; and it certainly wasn't a team with 2-14 talent in 2013-2014.

 

[520GGATO]

I picked Chip Kelly. First year as an NFL coach. Many questioned his offense coming into the season. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them.

 

[gandydancer]

Riverboat Ron. Life support to a #2 seed. Finished 11-1 when it matters. WHen the players buy into a coach this is what happens!

 

[BusSport]

An article on why it should be Belichick:

Every team has injuries. Every team loses key guys. Some, like the Patriots, could handle it. Some, like the Falcons, could not.

New England had more than injuries. It had an all-out scandal in June, when tight end Aaron Hernandez was led away from his home in handcuffs and charged with murder. That was a huge blow that could have derailed the Patriots before the season even started. But it didn't.

During the season, the heart of the Patriots' defense was gutted. They lost nose tackle Vince Wilfork for the year, linebacker Jerod Mayo for the year and defensive tackle Tommy Kelly for the year. Those were huge losses at defensive positions Belichick values most.

New England lost its only true scoring threat when Rob Gronkowski went down with a nasty knee injury. And that was after Gronkowski missed the first six games recovering from offseason surgeries. The Patriots lost right tackle Sebastian Vollmer to injury. Belichick fleeced Tampa Bay for LeGarrette Blount in April, then pivoted to him in early December after Stevan Ridley lost three fumbles in three games. All Blount did Sunday against the Bills was shatter the Patriots' record for all-purpose yards and become the third player in NFL history to gain 180 rushing yards and 100 kickoff return yards in a single game.

The Patriots were never out of a game all season. They never had that one stinker.

They trailed Denver by 24 yet won in overtime after Belichick boldly took the wind, and not the ball, to start the extra session. They trailed Cleveland by 12 with two minutes to play yet scored a touchdown, recovered an onside kick and scored another touchdown to steal the win. They beat New Orleans in part because Belichick had cornerback Aqib Talib shadow Saints tight end Jimmy Graham all over the field. It was the only game all season Graham failed to make a catch.

And the Patriots delivered the worst beatdown the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had ever suffered at home.

Despite having gaping holes on offense and defense, the Patriots finished with the third-ranked scoring offense and the 10th-ranked scoring defense. Their four losses, all of which came on the road, were by an average of 4.5 points. No loss was by more than a touchdown.

At 12-4, New England won the AFC East. Again. The Patriots earned a first-round playoff bye. Again. And while it is unlikely he will win it, Belichick earned the coach of the year award. Again.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

An article on why it should be Belichick:

Belichick isn't going win this award. He did a nice job, but he's not going to win it for winning the AFC East. That's been a given for a long time and not just because the Pats are good.

 

[NinerSickness]

Y'know what...

I actually forgot about Belichick. I usually don't give him any credit because he's a big fat cheater, but he actually did a really good job this season with a team that has a ton of holes.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Arians