Well, I watched nine plus hours of football yesterday, and I saw two coaching jobs that were so bad that the coaches involved ought to have been fired on the spot.
Romeo Crennel (Browns) was pretty bad. Horrific defensive schemes that apparently involved running away from Jason Witten as if he were radioactive. And honestly, if I owned the Browns, I might have fired him just for the field goal alone.
For anyone not watching the game: The Browns were down 28-7, and the Cowboys driving deep in Browns territory to deliver the coup de grace. But, kids, here comes a gen-you-wine miracle! Tony Romo, who thus far has been under the kind of pressure you expect in co-ed flag football, rushes a throw and it’s picked off by Eric Wright. Browns ball, still down 28-7, but first and 10 on their own 13, with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.
The Browns fans, who had been comatose for most of the quarter, started getting a little rowdy. Jamal Lewis breaks off a big run. Cleveland commits a dumb penalty, but Derek Anderson gets it back, then gets the first down. Crowd’s getting louder. Couple more pass plays and it’s 3rd and 12, Cleveland on the Dallas 26. Anderson is sacked, and fumbles forward; some wide receiver scoops it up and moves a bit with it. It is 4th and 6, on the Dallas 20 or so. There’s just over 10 minutes left in the game.
In comes the field goal unit. The field goal unit. Down by 21 in the fourth quarter of a game at home, and it’s fourth and six, not fourth and twenty. A field goal gets you within 18, which is STILL three scores, the same number you’re going to need if you go for it and don’t get it. And again, you only need six yards. You have Super Bowl aspirations, and you’re afraid to shoot for six yards in opposing territory with your home fans going nuts, down 21 points with 10 minutes to play???
Fired. Done. Right there. Thank you for your time, please leave the field immediately. Single most indefensible head coaching decision of all time.
Scott Linehan (Rams) had just an embarassment of a game plan. Offensively, they were worthless. Bulger threw nothing but swing passes and four yard outs to the tight end even when the Eagles started to pull away. Torry Holt was wasted. I realize the line had Bulger shell-shocked, but for crap’s sake, keep your tight end and fullback in on max protect, let Holt run around a little, then throw him the ball and see if he can catch it. It couldn’t possibly have turned out worse, right?
And then the Rams kicked a field goal down 38-0, for which Linehan should both be fired and forced to wear a sweatshirt that says “Weenie” for the rest of his life.
Jim Zorn (Redskins) looks one-and-done to me. His team was dramatically unprepared for the Giants, his time management was horrendous, and Dan Snyder’s not known for his endless patience.
