The Belicheck Coaching Tree

In football, coaches grow on trees. Some trees are very good, as Bill Parcells coaching tree is very stellar with names such as Tom Coughlin and Sean Payton. However, if you look at one branch, you'll see a familiar name: Bill Belicheck. Belicheck served as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who was lead by Parcells, from 1985 to 1991. Belicheck would then get a head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns and was absolutely awful. However, Belicheck got his second chance and became one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. He has a 144-89 coaching record and a 15-4 postseason record that has netted him 3 Super Bowls.

When a coach succeeds, teams will try and tap the coach's assistants to try and jump start his own teams. Belicheck is no exception. However, all Belicheck has seemed to produce is a whole bunch of bumbling idiots who seem to out think themselves. Here are some of the notables from Belicheck's tree.

Eric Mangini (Currently with Cleveland Browns, career record of 24-32)

This is the one most under fire for his poor decision making. I honestly think that Mangini, who was dubbed "Mangenius" in his first year coaching the New York Jets, truly out thinks himself on the football field and even off of it. On the field, Mangini tries to run complex schemes. The only problem is that he can't find the personnel to run his schemes. Vernon Gholston, the 6th overall pick by the Jets last season, has been an absolute bust as he tried to turn him into a linebacker rather than using his natural defensive end position. Off the field is where Mangini hurts himself though. Prior to the season opener against the Vikings, Mangini tried to hide his starter until opening day. I mean, hide it from everyone, including his own team. The result was an opening day ass kicking by the Vikings. Then, he has "special practice opportunities" for his players. James Davis took place in one of these, and it turned out to be a UFC fight against a linebacker. Davis is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Mangini should be on the street by the end of this year.

Charlie Weis (Notre Dame Head Coach; Career Record: 35-25; 1-2 in Bowl Games)

Who better to run Notre Dame football than an arrogant prick. It totally matches the program's personality, which mirrors the New York Yankees. Weiss has actually had some success at Notre Dame. The only problem is that it was with Ty Willingham's players who had the same record as Weiss did through three years, but lost his job there. The point is that since Weiss had to bring his own players into the fold at Notre Dame, success has been few and far between. Jimmy Claussen, who was supposed to be an all-world quarterback, has looked rather mediocre. Weiss has a solid record at Notre Dame, and should keep his job because ND jumped the gun by signing him to a 10 year contract after his first season in which the Irish went 11-2 and lost to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Nick Saban (Alabama Head Coach; Career Record 120-50-1; 4-6 in Bowl Games)

Saban was an assistant for Belicheck when he was in Cleveland. Saban then went on to coach at Michigan State and LSU before bolting for the NFL for 2 unsuccessful seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Saban ditched the Dolphins after the 2006 season and went to Alabama, where the Crimson Tide has been revived after a lengthy hiatus from the national championship scene. They are currently #2 in the BS...I mean BCS standings and are looking towards a play-in game (not technically, but figuratively) against Florida in the SEC Championship in a couple weeks.

Josh McDaniels (Denver Broncos Head Coach; Career Record 6-3)

McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, after replacing Charlie Wiess, McDaniels led an offense that set the NFL record for points in a season, which also broke records for passing TDs in a single season (Tom Brady, 50) and receiving TDs in a single season (Randy Moss, 23 [NOTE: The old record was held by Jerry Rice, who recorded 22 TD in 12 games in a strike shortened 1987 season]). In 2008, after Brady went down with a knee injury, he turned Matt Cassel into a household name and then got him paid by the Kansas City Chiefs. Alas, McDaniels wanted to bring Cassel to Denver with him, but the current franchise quarterback in Denver, Jay Cutler, found out about it. Cutler cried cause his feelings were hurt and the Broncos traded Cutler and his warm bottle of milk to Chicago. McDaniels used Kyle Orton to replace him, and it started well with a 6-0 start. After that, the Broncos have lost their last three games including their last game to the woeful Washington Redskins.

Jim Schwartz (Detroit Lions Head Coach; Career Record 1-8)

Well, he ended the Lions losing streak. There's a way to go in Detroit and it'll take a couple years for Detroit to be prominent, but he's bringing a winning culture to Detroit. He changed the locker room and everything else in Ford Field to help the players forget about the 0-16 season the Lions suffered in 2008. Anyways, I wouldn't say that he's in this tree, but he was an assistant with Belicheck before becoming the defensive coordinator with Jeff Fischer in Tennessee/Houston. I would say he's more like Fischer, the longest tenured coach in the NFL, than Belicheck.

Well, why am I talking about this tree? Last night, the Patriots were leading the Indianapolis Colts 34-28. Belicheck had the ball on a 4th and 2 with about 1:30 left. The logical choice is to punt the football so that Peyton Manning doesn't have to only drive 30 yards. Nope, Billy is gonna send a message. They didn't get it. Colts score...Colts win. Another example that the apple simply doesn't fall far from the tree!