Sporting News Today - Best Offensive Coordinators

[awalt]

Cam Cameron is #1!

The rest of the top 5 (they rated 20) -
2 - Chan Gailey Chiefs
3 - Dan Henning Dolphins
4 - Kevin Gilbride Giants (former Steelers OC right?)
5 - Mike Heimerdinger Titans

In the AFCN, Bob Bratkowski of the Bengals is #8, Bruce Arians Steelers #11.

Browns OC? Anywhere? Bueller?

[RavenScallywag]

Maybe in another year or two, someone is going to be smart enough to give Cam another shot at a HC gig, and it'll pay off big time I think.

He's a great coach who just had a not great situation in Miami...he's got a great offensive mind and I credit him just as much as I do Harbaugh for turning this team around last year.

[baltimore_hokie]

...and marvin lewis was a great defensive mind, don't get that confused with being a great HC. harbs and tomlin are great head coaches in my opinion, but not necessarily great coordinators. it's not going to be too hard to be great with LT, gates, a solid QB, good defense, and 5 huge WR's to throw to. i think cam is great, but i just dont know how great of a head coach he is (same argument with rex, possibly).

[Jeremiah W]

...and marvin lewis was a great defensive mind, don't get that confused with being a great HC. harbs and tomlin are great head coaches in my opinion, but not necessarily great coordinators. it's not going to be too hard to be great with LT, gates, a solid QB, good defense, and 5 huge WR's to throw to. i think cam is great, but i just dont know how great of a head coach he is (same argument with rex, possibly).

I think HC is a totally different job than an OC or DC. Mike Martz had a brilliant mind and scheme but terrible personality for a HC. I think Norv Turner is another one of those guys but he is a lot better a HC than Martz. Billick turned out to be a pretty bone headed OC, but was a brilliant leader for a long time and premium face man even with an ugly mug.

[baltimore_hokie]

coordinators play a much bigger role than they are used to, with the OC and DC making most of the game plan. this has opened the door up for great motivators at HC, with the brilliant minds in the coordinator slots, thus making the transition a little more difficult.

[psuasskicker]

Maybe in another year or two, someone is going to be smart enough to give Cam another shot at a HC gig, and it'll pay off big time I think.

He's a great coach who just had a not great situation in Miami...he's got a great offensive mind and I credit him just as much as I do Harbaugh for turning this team around last year.

Miami was Cam's second shot at HC and second subsequent failure. He may get another shot, but it wouldn't shock me at all if he doesn't, at least for several years. Two failures, plus he's pretty old. The very clear trend in the NFL right now is toward younger, untested assistants that could potentially be your coach for the next 20+ years. Cam's the old, twice failed coach who seems better suited for coordinator.

I think we've got him for a while. And I couldn't be more thrilled by that.

- C -

[srobert96]

Miami was Cam's second shot at HC and second subsequent failure. He may get another shot, but it wouldn't shock me at all if he doesn't, at least for several years. Two failures, plus he's pretty old. The very clear trend in the NFL right now is toward younger, untested assistants that could potentially be your coach for the next 20+ years. Cam's the old, twice failed coach who seems better suited for coordinator.

I think we've got him for a while. And I couldn't be more thrilled by that.

- C -

I am fairly certain the NFL was his only NFL head coaching gig.

[HoustonRaven]

Cam was a head coach only once and that was for Miami.

He was the QB coach for the Redskins for a while and was also the OC for San Diego.

[psuasskicker]

He was HC at Indiana and had a horrible record there. It's not the NFL, but when you've got one failed HC tenure with an NFL team, an NCAA failed tenure won't be ignored.

Without Miami, teams likely say "well, could just be college vs. NFL difference." But he's had success in assistant roles in college as well as the pros. With the failed HC shot at Miami, people will say "Well, he has demonstrated he's an excellent assistant, and not a good HC."

It's relevant...

- C -

[purplepoe]

It was widely reported that Cameron lost the locker room very quickly in Miami.

He seems to be the perfect example of a coordinator and not head coach material.

PP

[Raveninwoodlawn]

I personally don't think Cam will ever get another HC shot...you can't lose the locker room and flame out that badly like he did in Miami and expect another job.

Kinda similar to Dick Lebeau in Pitt.

[RAVENOUS52]

Xs and Os-wise, Cam has a pretty solid handle on things. But being the HC of any team in one of the world's top sports leagues is a challenge that requires a certain personality Cam seems to lack.

Dick Vermeil and Tony Dungy seemed like a softees, but both had the types of characters and professional demeanors that made their players run through walls for them.

Cameron appears to be missing that X-factor.

[purplepoe]

Xs and Os-wise, Cam has a pretty solid handle on things. But being the HC of any team in one of the world's top sports leagues is a challenge that requires a certain personality Cam seems to lack.

Dick Vermeil and Tony Dungy seemed like a softees, but both had the types of characters and professional demeanors that made their players run through walls for them.

Cameron appears to be missing that X-factor.

Exactly.

And it's gonna be to our advantage that he does lack the X factor.

PP

[B-more Ravor]

Two failures, plus he's pretty old. The very clear trend in the NFL right now is toward younger, untested assistants that could potentially be your coach for the next 20+ years. Cam's the old, twice failed coach who seems better suited for coordinator.


Not that I think he's going to be getting another chance anytime soon, but Cam is only 48. His birthdate is 2/6/61.

So, while he's not as young as some, I certainly wouldn't consider him to be that old either (although, I guess that's a matter of one's perspective ;) ).

[Losac]

I personally don't think Cam will ever get another HC shot...you can't lose the locker room and flame out that badly like he did in Miami and expect another job.

Kinda similar to Dick Lebeau in Pitt.

I have a feeling Rex "Mr. Fun and Loose" Ryan will be the same way.

[awalt]

I personally don't think Cam will ever get another HC shot...you can't lose the locker room and flame out that badly like he did in Miami and expect another job.

Kinda similar to Dick Lebeau in Pitt.

If Cam keeps rejuvenating this offense I hope Cam stays here as long as LeBeau has been in Pitt!

[Rxdoxx]

All I can say is that last year was the most fun I have had watching offense.

All my agitation with Heap being used too much as a blocker, and the max protect aside.... I saw a lot of great surprises from very unusual things.
After thinking about and 20-20 hindsight, the plays weren't high risk, just uniquely crafted for a certain situation.

Before last year, the surprises were lucky chances, like Sharpe's deflected catch taken down the sideline... this past year exactly how far open was Flacco when Troy threw it? OMG it was fun to see.

Even if they didn't rate Cam first, I do.