| | A couple of coaches have turned the temperature down on the hot seat, says ESPN NFL reporter Andrea Kremer.
In a chat with ESPN.com users, Kremer talked about Pete Carroll in New England and Norv Turner in Washington and how their success this season has mellowed dismissal talk. She also talked about the problems with the Packers, Jets and Saints and said things look bleak in New York.
If you missed Kremer's Oct. 22 chat, an edited transcript follows.
| |  | | New England's 4-2 record has cooled talk about Pete Carroll being fired. |
Jeff Brantmeier: How about those Packers? How do you think they will respond to last week's loss?
Andrea Kremer: And it was an ugly loss.
You used to be able to look at the schedule and say the Chargers would be a layup. But not any more.
Leroy Butler said, "we were horrible, but we are still leading the division. Tells you how bad our
division is."
Ray Rhodes' road record is horrible and I don't see it getting better this week. It will be Brett
Favre against a tough defense. It will be real tough for them this week to rebound.
Brett: What do you think the Jets should do for the rest of the season?
Andrea Kremer:
Ooooooooooh. There is no better example of the value of one player to a team and having a
backup that knows your system. Rick Mirer had no training camp or any time to get used to the
offense or to get used to Bill Parcells.
Parcells is a Super Bowl coach because he knows how to motivate his team. It is tough when
you are in Week 7 with one win and going nowhere when the expectations were so high. The
question still lingers on what Parcells is going to do next season -- come back or retire. They
are just too devastated by injuries and had no depth at those positions.
Pete: Why is it that the Dolphins have trouble running the football no matter who they acquire?
Andrea Kremer:
They should just run the option and let Huard run the ball. In 17 seasons Dan Marino has run
for 97 yards and in Huard's first game he ran for 54 yards.
They have to stick to the running but it depends on what type of game they are in. If it is a shootout,
you are not going to run the ball. They have been able to run a little when they have needed to.
But with the addition of Kevin Gogan, why have they not been more consistent? JJ has said he
is going to stick with it.
Defenses have been preparing for probably the best pocket passer ever, but now they have
Huard who can roll out and run and that should loosen up the defenses.
Eric Thomas: Hello Andrea Kremer, it is nice to meet you. I just would like to know, as of right now, who do
you see playing each other in the AFC and NFC Championship games?
Andrea Kremer:
Nice to meet you too.
I could tell you who it would be if it was played tomorrow. But with
all the injuries, it makes it very tough to pick.
But if it was played tomorrow, I would say St. Louis vs Washington and Miami vs Jacksonville.
But if you are saying Huard is going to play the rest of the season (and they're not) that changes
the equation. Mark Brunell has done nothing but I think he will get going. St. Louis will hit a
bump in the road. Green Bay could also be in that equation because Washington's defense is a little suspect.
Don't hold me to this until we see all the injuries.
Willie: Will Randall Cunningham be back to making table tops next season?
Andrea Kremer:
He would be a VERY expensive backup. But that is a good question.
I think you will see Randall play again this season. At least the Vikings have their future in place,
you hope, in Dante Culpepper who they can nurse along and not hurry.
This is a mirror of last season. If Jeff George plays well, he'll get a starting job somewhere. But
they are not going to keep both next season. I don't believe Randall lost his quarterback skills in
one year. I think things around him have changed and he has been put in a situation where he
has not been able to do his best. This is a pretty good setup from the Vikings (Cunningham to
George). It's not Mirer to Lucas.
MER: What do you think the Redskins' chances of getting homefield advantage, considering Brad
Johnson stays healthy the whole year.
Andrea Kremer:
Very good if Johnson does stay healthy, but Johnson has shown to be very injury prone. But
their defense is very suspect. Visions of the Chargers come along. The Skins offense reminds
me of the Don Coryell offense, but you have to have SOMETHING on defense. Their defense
is more worrisome to me than Johnson's health -- now that says something.
But Johnson wasn't even healthy heading INTO the season. So I don't know about home field,
but definitely the playoffs.
Corrie: Why can't Rashaan Salaam stay on a team?
Andrea Kremer:
Because he is not very good. When you see a guy bouncing around like this and he has
admitted off-the-field problems (drugs -- self admitted), you know something is wrong. He has
been given ample opportunities to carry the ball.
For every Kurt Warner there is a Rashaan Salaam. If he couldn't beat out Tyrone Wheatley in
Oakland when they wanted to run the ball, that tells you everything you need to know.
Lions Fan: Can the Detroit Lions make a push into the playoffs even with some nagging injuries to key
players?
Andrea Kremer:
It seems every contending team has nagging injuries so I don't think that will be a determining
factor.
That division went from very competitive to wide open. They are just beating up on each other
in the Central. They are all about the same. Once again, if Charlie Batch's back problems
continue, you still have a backup that has been a starter in Gus Ferrotte. He has won some
games and had success. Bobby Ross has done a great job keeping the team together
post-Barry.
This week they have Carolina and it should be a good test for them playing outside.
Bobby: What coaches are in danger of losing there jobs at this point?
Andrea Kremer:
The guy that has been on the hot seat since Day 1 is Norv Turner. But the first guy to go will be
Bruce Coslet in Cincinnati -- it is not if, but when. They will have to beg someone to take that
job with the way that organization is run.
If you look around the league, all the coaches are so new, I don't think anybody is going
anywhere. Ditka has put himself on the hot seat. I think more coaches are likely to walk away
instead of being fired (Ditka, Parcells etc).
Pete Carroll has been on the hot seat and there are always questions in San Francisco.
Mariucci has done a great job with pathetic talent and no depth, and no one to bring along.
Darius: I know you know more than the NFL, but who wins the
World Series and why? Keep up the great work.
Andrea Kremer:
I have to say that since the New York teams are so pathetic in football, the Yankees will have
to bring some sports relief to the town. Yankees is six because of a better bullpen. The
Yankees might outscore the Jets and Giants at this point, they have more offensive firepower.
Mjm1979: Just wondering if you think the Rams will explode on the Browns this week, or if they
will just show up for the show like the Jaguars did?
Andrea Kremer:
I think the Rams will score a lot of point on the Browns -- 40 something. Vermeil has the team
believing they are good. They haven't proven anything yet, and most of the players haven't won
anything at this level. I think Vermeil will have them focused and look at this as a tune up for Tennessee next week.
This week's game is very similar to third game of the season when the Rams where at the Bengals and it was a layup. Big-time
teams (championship caliber) pound on these teams and they need to play a clean, efficient
game. If they play them close, I will have questions if they are a championship team.
The Rams are explosive and fun to watch.
Todd Smith: What about the Saints? I see talent in them and I still believe Ditka is a good coach. Do you
believe they will make the playoffs?
Andrea Kremer:
I think they will be hard pressed to make the playoffs. But I also think Ditka is a good coach.
Injuries have really hurt them, we say this every season, and they lost their best defensive player
for the year. Ricky Williams will not be healthy the whole year and that puts pressure on their
quarterback, which they don't have.
To blow leads like they have during gut-check time has put Ditka over the edge. Even in that
really, really weak division, I think it will be hard for them to make the playoffs at this point.
Exiled in Tennessee: Are the Bears doing it with smoke and mirrors or are they that much better this year?
Andrea Kremer:
They are definitely better. This offense, which some say is just a novelty, is clearly confusing to
many for them to produce like they have. They are one of those teams that have been able to
take advantage of parity in the league. They aren't a great team -- they have given up more
points then they have scored. They are still searching for their indentity and I give a lot of credit
to Dick Jauron.
Thanks for all the questions, they are the best I have had since I started chatting. I appreciate
that. But it might just be my fine moderator John who has a keen eye for good questions. (She
made me type that).
Have a good weekend and we'll try and do this again next week | |
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