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A Final Four
Playoff coaches have had their hits, whiffs
Posted: Thursday January 11, 2001 12:57 PM
By John Donovan, CNNSI.com
Dennis Green, the reigning playoff veteran among the four coaches left in the NFL playoffs, has had his problems in January. And, for sure, he could have some more Sunday, when his Minnesota Vikings head to New Jersey to play the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.
But at least Green knows a little about what to expect. Green can look back on his nine years as a head coach -- and his eight trips to the playoffs -- and get some idea of what it will take to advance to the Super Bowl.
Not that retrospection is something he's inclined toward.
"We're not big on looking back," says Green, who has more playoff coaching experience than his three playoff counterparts combined. "We truly believe that the best way to have success is to get both hands on the plow, look ahead, set a goal for where you want to go and take it one step at a time. That's going to be our approach."
It's probably not surprising that Green doesn't want to check the rearview mirror on that plow. His Vikings are 4-7 in the playoffs since he took over in 1992, including a galling loss to the Atlanta Falcons two years ago in the NFC Championship Game.
Still, if playoff experience means anything to a head coach, Green gets the edge this postseason.
If it means anything.
Here's a capsule look at Green and the other three head coaches now just one win away from the Super Bowl.
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The background: A successful college head coach at Stanford and, before that, Northwestern, Green became the Vikings' head coach in 1992 and has maneuvered them into the playoffs in eight of his nine years. He's never had a losing record as a pro head coach. Green, who also has been an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers, is 96-59 in the NFL, including his 4-7 playoffs record.
A move that worked: He's had lots of them, including going with a supposedly washed up Randall Cunningham at quarterback in 1998 (the Vikes went 15-1 that season), gambling on Jeff George in '99 (10-6 that season) and taking a chance on spectacular wide receiver Randy Moss in the '98 draft. This year, though many questioned him, Green stuck with untested second-year quarterback Daunte Culpepper as his starter (Green bypassed defensive end Jevon Kearse to take Culpepper in the '99 draft). All Culpepper did was push the Vikings to an 11-5 record, throw for 33 touchdowns and run for seven more on his way to being selected as the NFC starter in the Pro Bowl.
A move that whiffed: No failure has been bigger for Green than the 30-27 overtime loss to the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game after the 1998 season, when that high-powered offense managed only one touchdown after the half. Green's postseason record has been criticized, but owner Red McCombs believes in his coach. He has extended Green's contract through 2004.
What to expect: Green is going to make all the decisions, take all the chances and his players -- from Cris Carter to Moss to Culpepper -- have shown a great deal of loyalty to him because of that. Green, 51, is a hands-on guy who fervently protects his players and coaches. He fosters a kind of Vikings-against-the-world mentality. So far, it's worked. If the Vikings fall short of the Super Bowl, though, Green will hear the rumblings again.
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The background: A longtime college and NFL assistant, and a one-time head coach at Utah (1985-89), Fassel had jobs with the Broncos, Raiders and Cardinals before taking over the faltering Giants in 1997. He was coach of the year in '97 when the Giants won the NFC East with a 10-5 record. He is 38-27 in his four seasons as head coach, including 1-1 in the postseason.
A move that worked: In late November, with his team at 7-4 and riding a two-game losing streak, Fassel guaranteed his team would make the playoffs. "I'm raising the stakes right now," he said. "This team is going to the playoffs, OK?" It did, of course, winning its last five, the NFC East and dismantling the Eagles last week in the divisional round.
A move that whiffed: In August 1998, in a preseason game against the New York Jets, Fassel decided to use one of the league's best cornerbacks, Jason Sehorn, to return a kickoff. Sehorn blew out his knee, was lost for the season and the Giants finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs. Fassel was criticized heavily by the media and his own players for the decision.
What to expect: The Giants have been all over the place with Fassel. The defense has ripped the inept offense at times, especially in the '99 season. Fassel, 51, has feuded with outspoken players. The coach has been rumored to be on his way out several times. And he's had his tiffs with the New York area media, too. Things have turned around, though. QB Kerry Collins had the best season of his career and the Giants went 12-4 this season, maybe earning Fassel a contract extension. His current deal reportedly runs out after next season.
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The background: When the Vikings scored an NFL record 556 points in 1998 with longtime assistant Billick as the team's offensive coordinator, he immediately became the hot head coaching candidate. He was considered for Cleveland's top job but took the head coaching job in Baltimore instead and went 8-8 in '99. The Ravens beat favored Tennessee in Nashville last week in Billick's first playoff game. He is 21-12 overall.
A move that worked: Staying with the strength of the team, the defense, and not pushing the offense. QBs Trent Dilfer and, before him, Tony Banks haven't scared too many defenses. But Billick has massaged the offense so it won't get in the way of the NFL's all-time best scoring defense. He'll pull the offense along next season, especially if the Ravens fall short. But for now, patience is paying off. It didn't hurt that he was in on the decision to take rookie running back Jamal Lewis with the No. 5 pick. Many thought that was too high for the Tennessee back, who had injury problems in college. But Lewis has proved to be a reliable weapon (1,364 yards, a 4.4 yard average) that offsets the so-so quarterbacking.
A move that whiffed: Banks as a starter, for one. Even a defense as good as Baltimore's can't carry an offense that doesn't do anything. In 1999, Billick's mouth got him into trouble when he suggested that the Ravens, the former Cleveland Browns, would not get treated fairly by the refs in their return to Cleveland. He tried to cover up the next day, but still got popped publicly by Cleveland owner Al Lerner and the NFL for the comments.
What to expect: Billick, 46, can be hot-tempered, as he showed last week by ripping some in Nashville for trying to show up his team in a pre-game video presentation. But he has been praised, too, as an "intellect," and his outward moves often are very well-choreographed. The Ravens don't completely reflect him yet -- not enough offense -- but the defense certainly meets the head coach's tough standards, and the offense, such as it is, is under Billick's tight rein.
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The background: A college quarterback at Dayton who jumped right into the coaching ranks, the hyper-intense Gruden made his name as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-97) before the Raiders gave him his first head coaching job in 1998 at the age of 35. He's 1-0 in the playoffs -- last week's win against Miami in the Divisional round -- and 29-20 overall in three years.
A move that worked: Jettisoning Jeff George and taking a chance on career backup Rich Gannon before the 1999 season. George and Gruden never meshed, especially when Gruden never quite bought George's story about a groin injury in 1998. And George is a downfield passer, not a controlled guy like Gruden prefers. The fiery Gannon has responded with back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances, the first of his career.
A move that whiffed: There have been a few, but in Oakland, Gruden can do practically no wrong. There were eyebrows raised when Gruden and the Raiders picked kicker Sebastian Janikowski in the first round, and more after the kicker's arrest on drug charges, but those have died down. Gruden also had a DUI arrest. But the biggest criticism of Gruden is he can't beat Denver, something that insatiable owner Al Davis must hate. The Raiders are 0-6 against the Broncos under Gruden.
What to expect: A renowned workaholic who often gets to work at 4 a.m. -- when he doesn't sleep in his office -- the scowling Gruden, 37, is one of the NFL's brightest and most innovative coaches. He uses computers as tools in implementing his game plan and is unafraid of challenging his players, often getting into sideline shouting matches with his quarterbacks. His biggest accomplishment, though, may be his ability to get along with Davis, who has bought into Gruden's controlled offense rather than the bombs-away offense the owner prefers.
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