AFC South coaching grades

PFW's coaching report card assigns grades to all AFC South head coaches in 2010.

Jim Caldwell
Indianapolis Colts

After the Colts set an NFL record with seven consecutive 12-win seasons, the 10-6 mark they produced in 2010 might lead one to assume that Caldwell's performance was lacking. That couldn't be further from the truth, as the Colts captured another division title despite placing 17 players on injured reserve and losing several other key starters for extended periods. Caldwell has done a masterful job keeping the morale of his locker room high despite facing so much adversity. Furthermore, in plugging in so many young, inexperienced players in place of some of the team's biggest stars without crumbling, Caldwell has been a miracle worker.

Grade: B-plus

Jack Del Rio
Jacksonville Jaguars

Del Rio's inability to close out the season strongly — his teams have a 6-14 record in the final month of the season since 2006 — appeared to place him back on the hot seat at the end of the regular season, but got a reprieve from owner Wayne Weaver and will keep his job another year. The rebuilding Jags, after starting the season 3-4, with the four losses coming by a combined 99 points, rebounded to win five of the next six games. But another December collapse that resulted in the club relinquishing its playoff destiny, with Del Rio's calling cards — the run "D" and ground game — being the main culprits, is a poor reflection on the coach. Del Rio's questionable handling of his young secondary early in the season and bravado on fourth down did him no favors.

Grade: C

Jeff Fisher
Tennessee Titans

The Titans looked like one of the AFC's better teams after a 5-2 start, but they faded badly thereafter. Injuries to QBs Vince Young and Kerry Collins and WR Kenny Britt hampered the offense, which went into a prolonged slump. Fisher banished the injured Young when the quarterback walked out of the locker room after the Washington loss, and the controversy bubbled around the team for much of the rest of the season. Now, the offseason focus turns to whether Fisher will be the Titans' head coach in 2011 — and whether Young will be his quarterback.

Grade: C-minus

Gary Kubiak
Houston Texans

When the Texans upset the Colts in Week One and followed that with a comeback win at Washington in Week Two, Houston appeared poised to be a strong contender in the AFC South. But it never was able to build on that promise. Time and again, opposing offenses riddled the Texans' porous pass defense, with Houston seemingly unable to fix the problems — which just doesn't reflect well on the coaching. Slow starts plagued the team, too, leaving it with too much work to do after halftime all too often. There is no doubt that Kubiak is one of the NFL's more well-regarded offensive minds, but Houston needs defensive help in the worst way after a 2010 season to forget.

Grade: D

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/01/04/afc-south-coaching-grades

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