Quote:I hear this critique of Caldwell often here in the Jungle.  Let's face it, when hiring a 1st time HC, no matter how much actualy research on that person you do, it's a crap shoot because you have no empirical data to formulate your opinion. 

 

Now, don't take this as I'm calling you out, because it is not what I'm doing...  But you must remember back 3 years ago when the hiring process was going on.  Bradley was one of the top HC hiring prospects of the time.  3 years ago, if you remember, going after a successfull Coordinator that may not have HC experience was all the rage.  The entire league was hiring inexperienced OCs and DCs during that period.  3 years ago, the concept of hiring a "retread" HC was not in vogue.

 

This is important to realize, because it's not as though there were any other coaches that were hired 3 years ago that are really lighting the world on fire right now are there?  Just checked, Bruce Arians is the only HC from that period who's killing it now.  Chip Kelley, and Chudzinsky were also in that class.  

 

Again, Bradley was one of the top candidates for multiple teams that year.  On top of that, there is a legit arguement to be made that an ice cream cone type coach is what we needed the first 2 years of this major rebuild.  If only Gus actually grew into this HC position as the team's talent got better, we wouldn't be having this arguement.

 

But the reality is the reality.  Gus was/is a good rah rah HC that kept this team's head up.  But he never advanced beyond that.  Caldwell made a hire in Gus that at the time was not panned by the league.  Matter of fact, he was considered an OK pick.

 

The thing that could indict Caldwell is if he keeps Gus beyond Tuesday after Week 17's game.  The other thing is that Caldwell needs to hire a world class head coach to take this team to the next level.  If those 2 things don't happen, then yeah, Caldwell's in trouble.

 

Well said. I agree nobody can really argue the Bradley hire at the time. He was the hot DC on one of the hot teams and he was a positive guy and this was going to be a full rebuild. Nothing wrong with the hire at that time.

 

Now jump start 3 years later and here we are. Gus is 8-30 as a HC and has lost to some of the worst teams in the NFL, teams with rookie QBs, teams with back up QBs and teams with 40 yr old QBs who haven't taken a meaningful snap in years.

 

Gus is an equal opportunity LOSER. After watching the Gus bus drive this team for 38 games, I am actually surprised that he was able to find 8 wins in there. There's a reason that head coaches are fired when the lose to the Badley lead Jags.

 

The big question now is: how much longer will Gus remain the HC if the Jags just keep on losing like they are?

 

Dave will be forced to make a decision on Gus at some point and at this time Gus is making the decision easy for him.

 

Does anyone know how much longer Gus in under contract with the Jags?

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