Sad news about Marty Schottenheimer

[Jeremy Crowhurst]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... s-disease/

I know his playoff record will likely keep him out of the Hall, and will certainly keep him out during his lifetime. But when you look at where those teams of his came from before he got there, where he took them, and where he went after they left, his record for turnarounds is without equal. Cleveland and Kansas City were mired in mediocrity, and he got twelve straight winning seasons out of those two teams, ten playoff appearances. Since then, the Browns eventually righted the ship and won a couple of rings after ten years with eight losing seasons. Kansas City had just five winning seasons in the fifteen years before they brought in Andy. Then of course the dumpster fire that was the Ryan Leaf-era Chargers, and the steady decline that team has had since Marty left.

It would be great to see a push to get him in while he's still able to participate meaningfully in the ceremony.

[rhickok1109]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... s-disease/

I know his playoff record will likely keep him out of the Hall, and will certainly keep him out during his lifetime. But when you look at where those teams of his came from before he got there, where he took them, and where he went after they left, his record for turnarounds is without equal. Cleveland and Kansas City were mired in mediocrity, and he got twelve straight winning seasons out of those two teams, ten playoff appearances. Since then, the Browns eventually righted the ship and won a couple of rings after ten years with eight losing seasons. Kansas City had just five winning seasons in the fifteen years before they brought in Andy. Then of course the dumpster fire that was the Ryan Leaf-era Chargers, and the steady decline that team has had since Marty left.

It would be great to see a push to get him in while he's still able to participate meaningfully in the ceremony.

Sad news, but I still don't see him as a Hall of Fame coach.

[BD Sullivan]

Marty is in the same category as Chuck Knox: a quality coach for plenty of years but no title--which usually is a prerequisite for HOF status.

[JohnH19]

Marty would get my vote for HoF induction.

His 200-126 record speaks very loudly to me. He turned around Cleveland, Kansas City and San Diego and made each team a big winner. He probably would have done the same in Washington but he was the victim of one of Dan Snyder's worst decisions...and there are many bad ones to choose from.

As we all know, Marty was the victim of incredible playoff misfortune. Missed field goals, fumbles, and a drive prevented his teams from having opportunities to go to Super Bowls and I can't hold those occurrences against someone who was not on the field of play. I don't know what Lombardi, Halas or Brown could have done to prevent them.

[conace21]

I always think about the missed field goals in the playoffs. It isn't like Marty ignored or disregarded specialists.

Nick Lowery was All Pro in 1990, leading the league in FG percentage. (Granted, he was 0-1 from 50 yards or greater, and it was a 52 yards that fell short against Miami.)

Lin Elliott has made 25 of 30 FG's in 1994 (83.3%- 9th in the league) and 24 of 30 in 1995. Not All Pro material, but solid numbers, and he seemed to have adjusted from his rocky tenure in Dallas. Then he misses three FG's in one game.

Pete Stoyanovich led the league in FG % in 1997, missing only one kick all year. His 44 yard miss (after a holding call wiped out his successful 34 yard attempt) came in the first half of the Denver playoff loss, not the end of the game. However, it still had repercussions in the end, with KC in Denver territory, but needing a touchdown to win.

Nate Kaeding made a respectable 24 of 30 FG's as a rookie in 2004, and then he was a Pro Bowler in 2006, making just under 90%. He had key misses in the playoff losses each year. (Kaeding's playoff demons went on even after Marty was gone.)

[JohnH19]

I always think about the missed field goals in the playoffs. It isn't like Marty ignored or disregarded specialists.

Nick Lowery was All Pro in 1990, leading the league in FG percentage. (Granted, he was 0-1 from 50 yards or greater, and it was a 52 yards that fell short against Miami.)

Lin Elliott has made 25 of 30 FG's in 1994 (83.3%- 9th in the league) and 24 of 30 in 1995. Not All Pro material, but solid numbers, and he seemed to have adjusted from his rocky tenure in Dallas. Then he misses three FG's in one game.

Pete Stoyanovich led the league in FG % in 1997, missing only one kick all year. His 44 yard miss (after a holding call wiped out his successful 34 yard attempt) came in the first half of the Denver playoff loss, not the end of the game. However, it still had repercussions in the end, with KC in Denver territory, but needing a touchdown to win.

Nate Kaeding made a respectable 24 of 30 FG's as a rookie in 2004, and then he was a Pro Bowler in 2006, making just under 90%. He had key misses in the playoff losses each year. (Kaeding's playoff demons went on even after Marty was gone.)

That same Pete Stoyanovich made a 58 yard kick for Miami in the first half of the 1990 playoff game against Marty's Chiefs. Those three points were key to the 17-16 Dolphins victory.

[lastcat3]

I think the big thing about the Marty teams is that they simply weren't good enough to overcome the mistakes they made. Even great teams make mistakes yet they are good enough to overcome them and usually had a big enough lead that when they did make them it didn't really matter.

[JohnH19]

It's difficult to overcome last minute fumbles and missed field goals.