Every year, the NFL regular season concludes in Week 17 and the day that follows is not pretty. The day is known infamously around the world as Black Monday and this is the day when NFL owners decide the fate of their current head coaches.
This NFL offseason, eight coaches were fired. This means for many up-and-coming head coaches, an opportunity to get one of only 32 NFL coaching jobs was in play. Each new head coach is unique, and devises different philosophies and schemes to set himself apart.
Here are the eight new head coaches and what they will bring to their team in Madden NFL 20.
Arizona Cardinals – Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury may have struggled to produce a winning program in college, but his promise of an Air-Raid offense was enough to sell the Cardinals’ decision makers. Now those same decision makers have to decide on what to do with the first-overall pick. Kyler Murray would be the perfect QB for Kingsbury’s offense, making it one of the early favorites in Madden 20. Murray may be the most explosive Madden player since 2004 Michael Vick. Add his skills to an offense that will utilize lots of spread concepts, and the possibilities are endless.
What we can expect:
- Spread offense
- Lots of shotgun and pistol formations
- Three and four wide receiver sets
- Speed kills
Cincinnati Bengals – Zac Taylor
No one knows how Zac Taylor’s offense will be in Cincinnati, other than of course the Bengals’ themselves. We can, however, assume it will look a lot like Sean McVay’s offense in Los Angeles. And that is, without question, an upgrade over the lethargic Marvin Lewis teams of the past. There’s a new era in Cincinnati and it involves an offensive-minded head coach. Will Andy Dalton be Taylor’s quarterback? Is Joe Mixon capable of carrying a Todd Gurley-like workload? Time will tell if these cats can be contenders.
What we can expect:
- Spread offense
- Run, Mixon, Run
- Three and four wide receiver sets
- A.J. Green
Cleveland Browns – Freddie Kitchens
We saw last season what Freddie Kitchens could do with a quarterback like Baker Mayfield and the talented playmakers that surround him. Truth be told, the Browns were one of the most fun teams to use in Madden 19 and that will likely hold true for the upcoming game. We already know what Kitchens’ offense looks like. The question now, is what will Cleveland do to improve their young roster?
What we can expect:
- More of the same (which is good)
- Read-pass option
- Baker Mayfield cheese
- Jarvis Landry catching footballs with one hand
Denver Broncos – Vic Fangio
Vic Fangio has been waiting for an NFL head coaching opportunity for all his life. So when he finally had the chance to prove he deserved a shot, Fangio was not going to turn it down. For many years, Fangio’s defenses have ranked among the NFL’s best. That should be no different in Denver, where he will inherit several young playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. The Broncos’ young defense, coupled with an offense with several good skill players, makes them one of the more intriguing teams in Madden.
What we can expect:
- Exotic blitzes
- Multiple defensive alignments
- An offense built around Phillip Lindsay
- Ground and pound
Green Bay Packers – Matt LaFleur
Tennessee’s offense wasn’t really a world beater in 2018, so when LaFleur got the Packers’ job it came as a surprise to some. But when you dig deeper under the surface, you see that LaFleur’s concepts and offensive mindset should have success when coupled with one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. It will be interesting to see how much of Mariota’s pistol formation they bring to Lambeau. With an offense already on the brink of greatness, LaFleur should help push the Packers towards the top of the NFC North.
What we can expect:
- Aaron Rodgers to remain good
- Two-headed monster (Jones and Williams)
- Pistol formation
Miami Dolphins – Brian Flores
The Miami Dolphins have been trying to turn their franchise around since Don Shula retired after the 1995 season. In the meantime, Miami has been the epitome of mediocre, as they’ve been overshadowed by the Patriots for the better part of two decades. Well, as the saying goes, “if you can’t beat them, join ’em.” Brian Flores put on a spectacle in this year’s Super Bowl and his style of defense should help showcase the young playmakers in Miami. But like some of the aforementioned teams, the Dolphins still need a quarterback. Nonetheless, defense can still win games — and this past year even a Super Bowl. Simply put, Flores proved to be the NFL’s elite in the postseason, and now he will get a chance to do it again.
What we can expect:
- Attacking-style defense
- Multiple fronts and schemes — 3-4, 4-3, nickel, dime
- New England offense
- Finding a franchise QB (Miami Miracle)
New York Jets – Adam Gase
Adam Gase’s time in Miami came to an abrupt end when the team looked anemic at the end of the 2018 season. He was said to be a “quarterback whisperer” and an “offensive mastermind” but neither of those nicknames held any weight in Miami. But after a missed opportunity, Gase is ready to learn from his mistakes alongside Sam Darnold in New York. Darnold may never be as good as advertised, but with Adam Gase now the man in charge, the Jets appear to be headed in the right direction. Oh, and let’s not forget the blank check owner Woody Johnson is able to spend this offseason. Expect some big names via free agency.
What we can expect:
- Lots of three wide receiver sets
- Sam Darnold in shotgun
- Fast-paced offense
- Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown!?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bruce Arians
Bruce Arians did not stay away from football very long. He will now put on his trademark hat as he tries to turn the Buccaneers’ struggling franchise around. And if Arians is going to have success, it’s going to fall squarely on the shoulders of Jameis Winston. Winston will have weapons on offense, and the coaching staff Arians has assembled is as impressive as it comes. Arians returning to football is very good for football, and even more so, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If anyone can get the most out of this feeble franchise, it’s Bruce Arians.
What we can expect:
- Balanced offense
- Winston to Evans
- Fire the cannons!
