Henning Out...

I wouldn't mind Skipper taking the OC role and administrating from the sideline, as Fox would prefer. Move McCoy to the role of communicating with Fox that Skipper does now, grab a QBs coach.

 

We've got Geep Chryst working as offensive quality control (McCoy's old gig). He's been a QB coach and an OC before. I kinda wonder if he gets the QB coach spot should McCoy get the OC job.

If I had to bet though, I'd probably bet on Skipper getting the OC. Fox could shock us with somebody out of left field, I suppose. You never know.

 

agreed on GC. He wasn't especially good, but he's got experience. But yeah, Skipper has the esteem and the experience. McCoy's lacking in each.

 

I remember GC's name as being a QBs coach somewhere. Can you remind me where?

 

Copied this from his Panthers bio:

 

AZ he was QBs coach and OC in different instances, I believe; he was also OC with the Chargers under what I believe was the Gilbride or Mike Riley era.

Interesting side note: Fassell worked with Fox in 95 in Oakland (Fox's ill-fated year was 96, I think), and 97-on. Fassell worked with Chryst and Jim Skipper in 1996. Chryst stayed with the Cards in 97 to succeed Fassel, when Fassel brought Fox, Skipper to work with him (Skipper being the playcaller from his RBs spot).

Also, you can never totally count out the possible hiring of Mike Pope, the Giants' innovative TEs coach, as OC. He's been mentioned here before.

 

I remember you mentioning it when Fox was hired. If Pope is still under contract, I doubt the Gmen let him go. Coughlin is in a make or break year.

I find GC's history less than compellinng, but all he needs to do is straighten out Jake's mechanics, at least some. I think I remember him being OC of the Cards.

 

When I saw the news of Henning, Maser, and Perry being fired, I was speechless. Firing Henning has been something we've been bouncing around and griping about for years, but I never thought it would actually happen.

Do I think he was deserving? Probably. I don't think he was a bad coach across the board -- there are some things he did well. I'll even go as far as saying he did most things well. But the bones of contention I have are 1) his serious lack of QB development, and 2) his maddening resistance to adaptation. For those two reasons, I think we can do better.

Maser, OTOH, I don't quite understand. I'll admit our OL has seemed in steady decline since the '03 steroid-enhanced season, but there have been a ton of injuries since then as well -- not to mention an infusion of mediocre talent. The only red flag that sticks out for me is the lack of development of some of our key OL draftees. Gross in particular, but Mathis as well. We've all noticed Gross' glaring absence of physical development and 5 yard drops in pass protection, and those are basics that should've been corrected long ago -- especially in a top 10 draft pick. That being said, he's been asked to make lemonade out of lemons more than once over the past 4 years, and has done an admirable job (IMO) of doing so.

Perry, I'm disappointed about, but I understand. Granted, he's had little to nothing to work with at safety for several years now, but there's no excuse for what's happened at corner -- I'm thinking mainly of Gamble here. The common denominator in the DBs seems to be more mental deficiencies than technique, although that has been lacking in varying degrees as well. Whatever the cause behind the academic dullness of the secondary, the responsibility rests at Perry's feet. It's another case, I think, of being good but not great.

Good, but not great, has been an underlying theme for this team for a while now, and I think it's safe to say we're all getting tired of it -- from JR to the lowliest of us fans. To win it all, you have to know when to let go of mediocrity and strive toward excellence.

 

If I was going to fire three coaches, they would've been Flajole, Crossman, and McCoy.

 

Chryst's appearance on staff does lead credence to the idea that McCoy is a QBs coach in name only, and doesn't handle a lot of that.

Pope could be kept from leaving, sure. I don't think he'd be allowed to interview if he weren't allowed to leave...it's always possible the Maras would allow it to happen for Fox.