Grading the NFL Coaches: AFC

As mentioned in the last issue (when I reviewed the NFC coaches), a good coach is always a plus on any football team – but that's over a period of time, not necessarily in any one, individual football game. It's too easy for the oddsmaker to neutralize a coach's perceived value by using a higher pointspread in one or two games.

It's over the course of the entire season – through injuries, public controversies, and a rugged schedule – that the true ability, strength, and character of a coach are revealed. It is no surprise to sports handicappers that the best coaches are able to produce winning pointspread records with impressive frequency, sometimes regardless of the talent on hand.

Here is how I grade the AFC coaches going into this season:

Mike Shanahan, Denver – A-: Some think I rate Shanahan (two Super Bowl rings) too highly. But were it not for crippling injuries suffered by the likes of QB Brian Griese, RB Terrell Davis, WR Ed McCaffrey, and WR Rod Smith (that's just about your whole running game and passing game, folks), the Broncos would have seriously challenged the Ravens and the Patriots for the last two AFC Super Bowl berths. Just watch his team when they're all healthy.

Bill Belichick, New England – A-: He's surly and domineering. But, hey, isn't that what they said about his longtime mentor, Bill Parcells? Yes, it is. Belichick will never have Parcells' wit. But, his adjustments and excellent situational coaching led a bunch of marginal free agents and a backup QB no one ever heard of to the Super Bowl title. Give him his "A."

Butch Davis, Cleveland – A-: Yes, much of this grade was earned by Davis in college for rebuilding Miami. But, he's already doing the same thing with the Browns, who were in the playoff chase in late November last year despite the biggest injury list in the NFL. He's excellent at defining roles and developing execution.

Brian Billick, Baltimore – B+: He kept his injured Ravens in the title hunt late into January last season, and captured the Super Bowl the previous year despite going in with the worst aerial game since David Woodley and the Dolphins in 1983. He truly believes he is smarter than all of his players, the opposing coaches, and the media. He's usually right (and he's got the book to prove it).

Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh – B+: He's old school, and still one of the best at getting his players "pumped." He lacks that special insight for the QB position that most of the great coaches have.

Jeff Fisher, Tennessee – B+: He's a Buddy Ryan pupil who absorbed the best parts and "shined" Ryan's bluster parts. Because of relocations and injuries, Fisher has seldom had his best on the field without distraction. When he did, he went to the Super Bowl.

Dick Vermeil, Kansas City – B+: He's a George Allen-type perfectionist, worker, worrier … and weeper. He's as genuine as they come. The game might have passed him by a little bit, but he's catching up. He's a hell of a nice guy, by the way.

Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville – B: He's a former Bill Parcells assistant who is just as gruff as his mentor, but doesn't know how to let up. He was downgraded because he coaxed his front office into several bad moves. He was hurt by key injuries lately, and his inflexibility didn't help.

Tony Dungy, Indianapolis – B: He's a professional, intelligent, competent, and classy, but lacks the "Parcellian" insistency and touch to get his teams over the hump in the big games. Maybe the ready-made offense he inherited in Indy will help.

Dave Wannstedt, Miami – B: He's the best friend of Jimmy Johnson, who took over the Dolphins from Jimmy Johnson. He doesn't lack for fundamentals. It's that unique enlightenment that's missing. He's good, but probably never will make "great."

Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego – B: He's good fundamentally, but the game is slowly passing him by. He loves his platitudes. The players are "tuning him out" ever faster these days (for example, an 0-5 start with the Redskins in 2001).

Dick LeBeau, Cincinnati – B: He got a previously disharmonious bunch to play as a unit by constantly giving sermons on principles, discipline, and leadership. Most of his players have "bought in." He's hamstrung somewhat by the stubborn, penurious Bengal front office.

Dom Capers, Houston – B: As the first coach of Carolina, he got the Panthers to the NFC title game in just their second year. He's smart enough to focus on acquiring quality offensive linemen to protect prized rookie QB David Carr. He was tarnished by several incidents with the Panthers, but not all of them were his fault.

Herman Edwards, N.Y. Jets – C-: He's a Tony Dungy and Dick Vermeil protege. He has a lot to learn as a head coach. He couldn't adjust for an early injury situation in his defensive line last year. He hired dubious offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, who "fixed" the potent Jet offense (for the worse) when it wasn't broken, then feuded publicly with QB Vinny Testaverde.

Gregg Williams, Buffalo – D: Last season, his first as a head coach, Williams made far too many changes for his young team to absorb, especially since it had been built for other styles (power running on offense; a 3-4 on defense). Then, in-season injuries made progress virtually impossible. But insiders say Williams has the potential to develop quickly.

Bill Callahan, Oakland – Incomplete: He's a rookie head coach who was moved up from offensive coordinator. He's breaking in, which is difficult enough to do, with Al Davis looking over his shoulder. Players say they "like" Callahan better than they did predecessor Jon Gruden, which is usually an ominous sign.

Chuck Sippl is the senior editor of The Gold Sheet, the first word in sports handicapping for 46 years. The Gold Sheet's popular football preview issue is now on the newsstands, covering the NFL, college football, and exhibition play with inside reports, statistical breakdowns, logs, and upcoming schedules. For more information, call the Gold Sheet at (800) 798-GOLD (4653), and be sure to mention you read about it in Card Player. You can look up The Gold Sheet on the web at www.goldsheet.com.