Bowles and Ryan know nothing about running an offense. It's evident today. BTW, this isn't just on Bowles, this is on Mac as well. To say the better HCs are defensive HCs, is no longer the case. Especially when that coach has a good defensive mind to help get the defense in order. Times are changing in terms of what coaches on which side of the ball are better coaches. Take into account the rules and everything else. Andy Reid, McVay those 2 are the best coaches in the league not named Belichick. Belichick runs a modified offense, taking ideas from previous coordinators, like Weis. Its continuously being updated.
I agree on wanting a proven veteran HC who can install his proven system and instill discipline and great communication. Nonetheless, I'd prefer a guy steeped in offense, who will push for "O" during drafts and FA signings, rather than the push for "D" we've had an found to not work. But in the end, it's as you said: the right coach with the right system can transform mediocre players into above average or even great players. That's why it's crucial for Bowles to be fired and the RIGHT guy hired.
It's an offensive league now more than ever and the rules continue to favor that side of the ball. We need a knowledgeable offensive mind and definitely need a better talent evaluator than Mac.
If you asked me to identify long term players x potential we have on this team currently, only names I could definitively say are Darnold, Adams, Crowell. MAYBE Enunwa, Anderson, Maye. Everyone else is legit fodder on this team.
Here are the active NFL coaches based on playoff SB wins. BB, Tomlin, Harbaugh and Carol rank 1-4 in playoff wins of active coaches. Out of the top 5 NFL Head coaches who have are currently active who have won SB and a winning playoff record 4 of the 5 come from the defensive side of the ball. Sean Payton who ranks 4th out of the 5 in playoff won/lost record is the only one from the Offensive side. Obviously BB has the most SB and the best playoff winning percentage. John Harbaugh at 10 and 5 is No. 2, Caroll at 10 and 7 is 3 followed by Payton and Mike Tomlin. I would bet that Harbaugh is the only 1 who has done it without a future HOF QB.
We need a great scouting department and GM along with a Great Head Coach to lead the team. Hopefully the Head Coach won't be calling the plays, coaching the OL, TE, WR, Running Backs and QB. Defensive Coaches watch film of offenses. They are knowledgable offensive minds. Just because playing defense is more difficult and offense is easier doesn't mean that's where the focus should be. The Atlanta Falcons 2 years ago scored way more points than Philadelphia did last year. Dan Quinn came up through the defensive ranks.
Exactly the defensive head coach on the other side went in at halftime and made adjustments. The highest scoring team in the NFL was shut out in the second half despite having a rules advantage and the best offense in the league. Atlanta would never have been shut out by an Andy Reid or Sean McVay coached team in the second half. Atlanta beat the Rams in LA last year in the playoffs in LA by shutting down LA's O and TN beat KC in KC by shutting Andy Reid's team out in the second half and coming from behind to win. Because O's have a rules advantage doesn't make the argument for Offensive coaching. The rules are the same for everyone. Balance is extremely important. Attention to detail, discipline a great QB and having players on both sides of the ball that are good enough to exploit the mismatches that develop during the chess match of play calling and scheme on both sides of the ball is what matters. The rules advantage is the same for everyone. Gary Kubiak who is an offensive coach won a SB in Denver playing his defensive mismatches to perfection when his QB was physically broken down. This is recent trend not something from the past.
that's because success is so heavily driven by the quality of the guy you have playing under centre - give any half decent coach from either a defensive or an offensive background, a QB like Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger and they will enjoy consistent success.
I'm still sick. And now the Falcons are taking a train to visit the Jets in the beloved town of Shitsville. No, they aren't playing them. They're just gonna fist bump and be bros. EDIT & P.S.: I just have to bring this up yet again seeing as it's December. Remember when the Jets played Atlanta at home near Christmas? The stupid Flight Whores wore RED instead of GREEN, which is also a CHRISTMAS COLOR, so it made them look like they were cheering for the Falcons. And the Jets also lost that game. So Jets. So, so, so Jets. You can't make it up.
I didn't say it didn't matter I am just saying it doesn't matter as much as who you have under centre - any half decent coach can succeed with a top tier QB