matthewcannata
FinHeaven VIP
With some people calling for Nick Saban's head, I decided to do some research, and compare him to five coaches who are considered "great" not only by the media, but by many people on this board.
Nick Saban took over the Miami Dolphins, who were in a complete mess coming off a 4 - 12 season. His first year, he finished 9 - 7. This year, the Dolphins can finish no better than 8 - 8. This is a setback. Does this mean Nick Saban is a bust? Let's find out.
Marvin Lewis
Marvin took over the Bengals in 2003. In his first two seasons as head coach, he finished 8 - 8. In his 3rd season, he finished 11 - 5. The Bengals are now a threat every season.
Tony Dungy
Dungy took over the Tampa Bay Bucaneers in 1996. That year, he went 6 - 10. The next year, he went 10 - 6. In his 3rd season, he went 8 - 8. Did people call Dungy a bust? I don't think so. In his 4th year, he went 11 - 5 and turned them into a winning franchise while he was there.
Jon Gruden
Gruden took over the Bucaneers in 2002. He finished 12 - 4 that year, with a Superbowl win. Almost all of this roster was compiled by Tony Dungy.
Gruden then began to put his type of guys on the team. He went 7 - 9 in 2003. In 2004, he went 5 - 11. Was everyone calling for his head? I don't think so.
In his 4th season as head coach, and his 3rd season of putting his kind of guys on the team, he went 11 - 5.
Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil took over a terrible Rams team in 1997. That year, he went 5 - 11. The following year, he went 4 - 12. In his 3rd season, he went 13 - 3 and won the Superbowl.
Bill Parcells
Parcells took over the Cowboys in 2003. He went 10 - 6 his first year. His second year, he went 6 - 10. His third year, he went 9 - 7, and this year, the media is talking about the Cowboys in the Superbowl.
What is the common theme in all of this? All of these coaches took three seasons to completely turn their respective teams around and turn them into consistent winners. The only one who didn't was Tony Dungy, who took four seasons.
There is plenty of research that can still be done to further prove this fact. Only a handful of coaches are able to turn their teams around right away. Bill Belichick is an example, but we all know he is in a league of his own.
So is Nick Saban a bust? The answer, and with the research supporting it, is clearly no! Let's give him a few seasons, four maximum, to turn this team around.
If this team is still missing the playoffs in Saban's fourth season, then he should be considered a bust. But for now, let's just wait and see what he can do with three years remaining on his contract and with his guys on the roster.
Nick Saban took over the Miami Dolphins, who were in a complete mess coming off a 4 - 12 season. His first year, he finished 9 - 7. This year, the Dolphins can finish no better than 8 - 8. This is a setback. Does this mean Nick Saban is a bust? Let's find out.
Marvin Lewis
Marvin took over the Bengals in 2003. In his first two seasons as head coach, he finished 8 - 8. In his 3rd season, he finished 11 - 5. The Bengals are now a threat every season.
Tony Dungy
Dungy took over the Tampa Bay Bucaneers in 1996. That year, he went 6 - 10. The next year, he went 10 - 6. In his 3rd season, he went 8 - 8. Did people call Dungy a bust? I don't think so. In his 4th year, he went 11 - 5 and turned them into a winning franchise while he was there.
Jon Gruden
Gruden took over the Bucaneers in 2002. He finished 12 - 4 that year, with a Superbowl win. Almost all of this roster was compiled by Tony Dungy.
Gruden then began to put his type of guys on the team. He went 7 - 9 in 2003. In 2004, he went 5 - 11. Was everyone calling for his head? I don't think so.
In his 4th season as head coach, and his 3rd season of putting his kind of guys on the team, he went 11 - 5.
Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil took over a terrible Rams team in 1997. That year, he went 5 - 11. The following year, he went 4 - 12. In his 3rd season, he went 13 - 3 and won the Superbowl.
Bill Parcells
Parcells took over the Cowboys in 2003. He went 10 - 6 his first year. His second year, he went 6 - 10. His third year, he went 9 - 7, and this year, the media is talking about the Cowboys in the Superbowl.
What is the common theme in all of this? All of these coaches took three seasons to completely turn their respective teams around and turn them into consistent winners. The only one who didn't was Tony Dungy, who took four seasons.
There is plenty of research that can still be done to further prove this fact. Only a handful of coaches are able to turn their teams around right away. Bill Belichick is an example, but we all know he is in a league of his own.
So is Nick Saban a bust? The answer, and with the research supporting it, is clearly no! Let's give him a few seasons, four maximum, to turn this team around.
If this team is still missing the playoffs in Saban's fourth season, then he should be considered a bust. But for now, let's just wait and see what he can do with three years remaining on his contract and with his guys on the roster.
