Coaching changes: what players will be affected most?

[Shark1225]

DEN has John Fox at the helm now isn't he a run first guy so that would seem to help Moreno at the expense of Orton (or Tebow) and some of those WR's.

CAR has a new coach but not much should change as far as style and players. Rookie QB always means lots of INT's so maybe downgrade to Stewart and Williams a little.

Who are the other new coaches and what effect will they have on who to keep?

[Guru13]

Cassel, Charles and Bowe I think. Weis isn't there anymore and whether Haley is an offensive guy or not I think those guys suffer a bit - particularly if Haley gets into the playcalling too much. I feel like when offensive head coaches get too into the playcalling (Mike Martz, Josh McD) the team suffers and subsequently fantasy production suffers.

[dream_017]

Jim Harbaugh in SF - West Coast offense. Problem is they are going to be way behind the learning curve so expect a slow start - not to mention the eventual change in QB from Smith to Kaepernick (at some point)

[m16a]

Jim Harbaugh in SF - West Coast offense. Problem is they are going to be way behind the learning curve so expect a slow start - not to mention the eventual change in QB from Smith to Kaepernick (at some point)

I really doubt that happens this year. I think SF knows they aren't yet really in competitive mode, and they will take some time to develop Kaepernick. No sense rushing him into action if they don't have to.

Cassel, Charles and Bowe I think. Weis isn't there anymore and whether Haley is an offensive guy or not I think those guys suffer a bit - particularly if Haley gets into the playcalling too much. I feel like when offensive head coaches get too into the playcalling (Mike Martz, Josh McD) the team suffers and subsequently fantasy production suffers.

As for the biggest change, I'll echo Guru with Cassel/Charles/Bowe taking a hit. Weis did them a lot of good as we saw. I don't think they will drop off the map, but they probably won't be setting career highs again.

Another interesting one mentioned was Fox in Denver. He has shown he likes to run first as of late (not as much when he had Delhomme and Smith) when he's got a weak QB/WR connection. I'm interested to see if that changes with the upgrade he'll receive in Denver. Of course, this changes a lot if the Orton leaving rumors are true, if the Williams to Denver rumors are true once FA happens.

[dream_017]

Jim Harbaugh in SF - West Coast offense. Problem is they are going to be way behind the learning curve so expect a slow start - not to mention the eventual change in QB from Smith to Kaepernick (at some point)

I really doubt that happens this year. I think SF knows they aren't yet really in competitive mode, and they will take some time to develop Kaepernick. No sense rushing him into action if they don't have to.

Well, Alex did play all 16 games in 2006

[m16a]

Jim Harbaugh in SF - West Coast offense. Problem is they are going to be way behind the learning curve so expect a slow start - not to mention the eventual change in QB from Smith to Kaepernick (at some point)

I really doubt that happens this year. I think SF knows they aren't yet really in competitive mode, and they will take some time to develop Kaepernick. No sense rushing him into action if they don't have to.

Well, Alex did play all 16 games in 2006

Yeah, there's always that...

[LMack]

DEN has John Fox at the helm now isn't he a run first guy so that would seem to help Moreno at the expense of Orton (or Tebow) and some of those WR's.

CAR has a new coach but not much should change as far as style and players. Rookie QB always means lots of INT's so maybe downgrade to Stewart and Williams a little.

Who are the other new coaches and what effect will they have on who to keep?

I wouldn't be too high on Knowshon Moreno. Rumors are circling that once the lockout is ended and free agents can signed, Denver will be pursuing DeAngelo Williams. Coach John Fox coached DWilly in Carolina, and his presence in the Denver offense would relegate Moreno to 3rd down back duties. Moreno is not as complete and developed of a back as Johnathan Stewart, so the carries split is expected to be in Williams' favor should he go to Denver.

Also, an interesting move could be Josh McDaniels, former Patriots coach and Broncos head coach, moving to St. Louis as an offensive coordinator. McDaniels is a better fit as an OC than a head coach, so he will be in his comfortbale role again. Josh McD was a big part of the patriots offensive success in 2007, and also of the Patriots in 2008, who were Brady-less but still managed to go 11-5.

Now, Josh McDaniels doesn't quite have the same talent to work with in St. Louis as he did in New England, but there is a lot of potential. Sam Bradford is a developing quarterback, with solid receivers such as Mark Clayton and Danny Amendola. I would definitely take a flier on some St. Louis wide outs this year. I know there was a sleeper post about Mark Clayton, but Amendola could have a huge year too. If Josh McD turns Amendola into the St. Louis version of Wes Welker, he good be a solid PPR play.

[spodog]

Cassel, Charles and Bowe I think. Weis isn't there anymore and whether Haley is an offensive guy or not I think those guys suffer a bit - particularly if Haley gets into the playcalling too much. I feel like when offensive head coaches get too into the playcalling (Mike Martz, Josh McD) the team suffers and subsequently fantasy production suffers.

As for the biggest change, I'll echo Guru with Cassel/Charles/Bowe taking a hit. Weis did them a lot of good as we saw. I don't think they will drop off the map, but they probably won't be setting career highs again.

I'd go 2 for 3 on this one.

I suspect you're going to see a decrease in numbers for both Cassel and Bowe. Partially because of Weis' departure, but more significantly because KC is facing a 1st place schedule in '11 and doesn't have the patsy NFC West teams on their schedule this year. If you look at the pass DEF's of their opponents this year, I'd guess Bowe is in for a 7 or 8 TD year, not 15+.

I actually think Charles' numbers could improve. His ypc average is likely to fall of somewhat, but he only had 230 carries in '10. He may be up around 300 this year, so this could easily be a 1600 or 1700 yard rushing season for him.