Where Have All The Gurus Gone?
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Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick, San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner, and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid. All three of these coaches have something in common, and it's not just a record of .500 or worse through four games of the NFL season.
The title of offensive guru.
Billick and Reid have found success in head coaching positions, but poor Norv Turner has been maligned at all of his head coaching stops. This season, their clubs are struggling on offense, and the fingers are beginning to wag at the gurus. Considering the fact that of these three teams, the Eagles rank the highest at points per game with 21, and you have to figure that guruing is going nowhere these days.
Perhaps the media's bandwagon mentality about high scoring offenses has trapped these 'offensive minds' into a being a mockery of themselves. They are expected to be pass happy, offensive forces, so they dial up plays that may eat up a lot of clock (all three teams are in the top ten in time of possession) but don't produce many points.
You can't blame them. If they were hired to be offensive starlets, then you have to figure they are going to stick with what got them to the dance. But the NFL season is not long by any measure, and failing to change tunes on offense can turn 2-2 or 1-3 to much worse, quicker than you can say seven-step drop.
Billick...well, let's face it. Steve McNair is old...hobbled, and doesn't have much in the way of mobility. Baltimore fans have said that he looked to be hurt relatively badly in the second half of this game against Cleveland. They need to either protect him, or go with Boller.
Reid...it shows that Westbrook makes that offense go. Sunday's dismal performance nailed that one home loud and clear.