Cowher never developed a quarterback until he had the opportunity to get Ben. Gruden has never had the opportunity to get a young stud quarterback like that, so this idea that Gruden has never developed a quarterback in his coaching career should be qualified. If anything, Gruden is proven to be far more quarterback centric in his thoughts than Cowher during his career. The guy got an MVP season out Rich Gannon and won a Superbowl with Brad Johnson.
BUT, once he got that QB....he won the championship. He had a hard nosed, disiplined football team ALWAYS.
True, and Gruden won without a stud QB, which is pretty Damn tough to do in this league. Ultimately, I don't think you can wrong with either guy if Andrew Luck is your QB.
I love this argument about Gruden..."He won with another mans team"...lol. Doesn't that show how good of a coach he is? That he could take a franchise that under achieved every single season and GRUDEN was the difference. Do all yall forget that Dungy was let go because of the fact that he couldnt get that team over the hump. But here comes Gruden in his first season and gets them over them hump. Nahhhhhhhhhhh, but it was Dungys team right? lol
Also...Even though its said constantly, people just brush to the side the fact that he beat the Raiders in the superbowl. You know, the Team Gruden coached for 4 years up to that point. Gruden took over a team that went 7-9 and 4-12 in the 2 seasons prior. Took an absolute nothing QB in Rich Gannon, went 8-8 two straight seasons. Then proceeded to go 12-4. Blast Miami in round 1. Then run into possibly the greatest defense of all time in round 2. Goes 10-6 next season, and would of probably won, if not at least went to the superbowl if not for that stupid tuck rule against the Bradys. Gruden is a damn fine coach. Just dont want him running the franchises personnel decisions
Yup, Gruden did all of that and he is a good offense-minded coach. Plus I think his West-Coast O philosophies would mesh well w/Luck (if we get him). However, Gruden didn't make the personnel decisions in OAK & when his decisions took shape in TB things went downhill for him and that franchise. So remember, we would get the good and the bad.
He never showed that he could develop young QB's. A QB doesn't have to be a stud coming out of college for a good coach to develop him. Just ask Bill Billichick, look what he did with a 5th(Brady) and 7th round pick(Cassel). If we draft Andrew Luck, Gruden would have to do something he never did in his life and that's develop a young QB. Gruden doesn't even like young players, that's one of the reasons why he had more success with veteran QB's.
Two instances of one coach developing two low round picks is not a trend. I think their success has a lot to do with what surrounded them as well.
say what you will, but Gruden got lucky with Gannon ... but won't deny the results. Cowher was steadfast and even got to the SB with O'Donnell ... but ok - say the same for Big Ben ... Still the coaching records speak for themselves: 149-90-1 compared to 95-81; huge disparity ... additionally, Gruden did like to spend on FAs - whereas Cowher did not .... I won't cry if Chucky were to come ... but i don't think it's close to who is 1 and the other a not so close 2 ... to me the ONLY thing that would sway me to Gruden, is IF Ross wanted to see WC on offense. EVERYTHING else, IMO goes to Cowher.
Here's the other thing. The spread offense is very prevalent at the college level. Space players and spread quarterbacks is what the college game is producing for the NFL these days. Jon Gruden has been studying this offense and these concepts. He understands the use of space players. What has Cowher been studying in his off time? Is he going to willingly embrace the spread concepts that are coming from the college game and embrace the utilization of space players such as Darren Sproles? Or is he going to continue focusing developing a power running game with a power running back? If Cowher doesn't show that he knows the game has changed since he last coached, then I don't want him.
I think thats a blanket statement about gruden..''Gruden doesn't like young players''... I think he's dying to groom a young QB, he just needs the patience of a fanbase if he's gonna do it...and he would hopefully have that here.
