A coordinator in the NFL can make or break a team. The following 10 NFL coordinators were at the top of their games during the 2010 season. After compiling the list, I noticed a trend. All 10 of these coordinators' teams finished with winning records. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (pictured), considered by many to be one of the best coordinators in league history, would be proud of the jobs done by these men. 10. Jerry Rosburg, Baltimore Ravens Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg has put together one of the best special teams units in the league during his short time with Baltimore. In fact, he is such a good coach that the Ravens added the title of Assistant Head Coach to Rosburg after just one year with the team. Rosburg's ST unit put the Ravens offense and defense in good situations all year. 9. twinky LeBeau, Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator The old master continues to coach at a very high level even into his 70's. The only questions the Steelers have for their dominating defense at this point are how much longer LeBeau will coach, and how do they find a replacement for a legend? 8. Marty Mornhinweg, Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Yep, he has a lot of talent to work with. However, Mornhinweg had a tough job this year because he was constantly coaching and gameplanning with different players in his starting lineup almost every week. 7. Keith Armstrong, Atlanta Falcons Special Teams Coordinator Armstrong has been coaching special teams in the NFL for many years, but he may have turned in his finest performance in 2010. They had the most well-rounded unit in the league, being strong in coverage units, kicking/punting and the return game. Their special teams were a big part of their regular season. 6. Mike Mularkey, Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator Mularkey is a master at designing his offense for efficient, ball-control scoring. Mularkey's ball-control offense, along with the best special teams unit in the league, made the Falcons defense look a lot better than they actually were in the regular season. 5. Dom Capers, Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Capers brought his 3-4 defense to Green Bay in 2009 amid much skepticism. In 2009 and during the first part of this season, it only showed glimpses of working. However, over the past couple of months, Capers' 3-4 has been as dominant as any other in the league. He is putting his players in the position to succeed. 4. Charlie Weis, Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Weis inherited one of the worst offenses in the league and was able to get the offensive line to perform at a high level, finally got production out of Dwayne Bowe and made Matt Cassel look like an All-Pro. Yep, the Chiefs are going to miss Weis. 3. Perry Fewell, New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Fewell has been a great coordinator for a long time, but he was hidden in Buffalo so very few knew of him. In one year, he brought the Giants defense back to dominance. Now that he has shown what he can do on the big stage, his name is near the top of almost every team's head coaching lists. 2. Rod Marinelli, Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Rod seems to have shaken off his nightmarish experience in Detroit and is back to doing what he does best: coaching defense. You thought the Bears defense was good before? Marinelli has them playing at a whole new level. 1. Greg Olson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Surprised? Don't be. He inherited a ton of responsibility in Tampa, since Raheem Morris is focused solely on head coaching and defense, and Olson was given mostly raw talent. He is molding these players to become superstars in this league, and already has them performing as one of the most productive offenses in the league. Olson was never given much of chance to run an offense before Morris handed the reigns to him. He has not let his head coach down.
it cant be just the homer in me, but id have to switch dom capers to # 2 and marinelli to # 5. i totally agree with olsen as #1.... Tampa scored, used it weapons and won ten games. heres the deal about dom capers. the packers have lost a couple safties and half the starting line backer core. guys off the street making sacks and plays... ZOMBO????!?!! WALDEN?!!!? he also turned a rookie into a play maker with sam sheilds. got the big man in 95 howard green and has played god knows how many different formations with different players. bears D without brian urlacher making and running the show is wayyyyyyyyy different than last year. marinelli was also able to coach the biggest free agent on the market and let him be a beast. either way, great list and a good read. props
