posted by friendfromlowry
Saw a graphic for coach of the year candidates: O’Connell, Quinn, Tomlin, Campbell, Jim Harbaugh.
Think I’d go O’Connell with Tomlin a close second. Harbaugh would be last of those five, especially if they lose tonight.
MY COMMENTS ON ALL OF THEM!!!!
O'Connell - having a great season with Darnold as his starting quarterback. I agree that he should be the favorite. They just find ways to win games with a QB who'd been somewhat of a punch line throughout his entire career and have turned that guy into a legitimate starter in the process.
Quinn - in year one with Washington, he's turned them from a perennial joke to a playoff team (barring collapse). But they're more "good" than "great", so I can't see him being tops in this category. Definitely deserves consideration, but can't see him as the top candidate.
Tomlin - they were picked by at least some to be last in the division and currently have a two-game lead with Russ looking like Seattle Russ and nothing like Denver Russ. On the other hand, let's pump the brakes until we see how the Steelers do against their upcoming three-game gauntlet of at Philly, at Baltimore and home K.C. They're 10-3 now and in control, but a rough stretch there could put them into the wild card easily and take some of the praise for his job this year away.
Campbell - Detroit looks like the best team in the league and have done a great job of overcoming a lot of defensive injuries in recent weeks. Difference between him and O'Connell is simply that they were expected to be good and are good; can't say anyone expected that of the Vikings. I mean, if they finish 16-1, I think you'd have to strongly consider him just because 16-1 is great regardless of expectations, but I think some of the other guys have done great jobs with less to work with.
Jim H - well, looks like for once, the Chargers aren't totally underachieving with a talented roster where a person can pen them in for 2-3-4 unexpected losses in games they should have won on a yearly basis. But, like I said, "talented roster", so he's basically gotten a team to achieve around a level where they should be, instead of being below that level.