A Look at the NFL Coaching Hot Seat

With 6 weeks of NFL action in the books, several coaches around the league are already finding themselves on the hot seat. Here's a quick run-down of the coaches and what they can do to save their jobs.

Jeff Fisher; Tennessee Titans

Why is he here? After posting an NFL best 13-3 record last season, the Titans are 0-6; including a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots this past weekend. Not helping his cause is the fact he has only won two playoff games since winning the AFC Championship in 1999.

What could save him? Fisher, who has been coaching this franchise since 1994, posted back-to-back losing seasons in 2004 and 2005 and remained employed; showing the franchise has patience with its coach and might be willing to overlook a bad season or two.

Dick Jauron; Buffalo Bills

Why is he here? Jauron was hired by the Bills in 2006 and led the team to three consecutive 7-9 seasons. Even with the addition of Terrell Owens at receiver, this year's team has been outscored by 36 points so far and currently has a 2-4 record.

What could save him? The Bills are unlikely to spend big money to attract a proven head coach to replace him. If the team shows some improvement over the remainder of the year, they might elect to keep him rather than hire an unproven assistant.

Tom Cable; Oakland Raiders

Why is he here? Besides the fact Cable has a 2-4 record and a team that has been outscored 62-139 over those six games, Cable plays for an owner who has a notoriously short leash when it comes to coaches. It also doesn't help that he is under investigation for allegedly assaulting an assistant coach and could face criminal charges and a suspension by the league.

What could save him? Let's face it, the only reason Cable is even the coach of the Raiders in the first place is the fact none of the top named guys would even consider working for an owner who doesn't even allow them to have a say in who their assistant coaches will be. Cable might not be the best option for this team but he could possibly be the only option.

John Fox; Carolina Panthers

Why is he here? Fox has been on the hot seat with this team in the past but has usually responded with a winning season to save his job. This year, he has a quarterback who is showing his age and a team that has only managed wins against the 2-4 Washington Redskins and 0-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What could save him? Much like Fisher, Fox has had losing seasons in Carolina before and has lived to coach another year; usually making the playoffs. If there are a number of teams looking for coaches, the Panthers might choose to stay out of a bidding war and stick with him another year.

Raheem Morris; Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Why is he here? Normally, I don't put first year head coaches on the hot seat list because they are usually inheriting a bad team and are given a year or two (this is why Eric Mangini of the Browns, Todd Haley of the Chiefs and Steve Spagnuolo of the Rams have been left off this list). However, Morris was hired to coach a team that went 9-7 last season and won the NFC South the year before that. They are currently winless in his first 6 games as coach and I don't think the Buccaneers were expecting that much of a drop off.

What could save him? When Morris was promoted to head coach; it was partly because the Buccaneers liked his potential and wanted to make sure they didn't have another team hire him away. It's possible they are chalking this season up to growing pains and will give him at least one more year to prove himself.

Gary Kubiak; Houston Texans

Why is he here? The Texans have not made the playoffs since joining the league as an expansion franchise. Kubiak was hired to change that but has never finished better than 8-8 on the season. The team is currently 3-3 and playing in a division dominated, once again, by the Indianapolis Colts.

What could save him? Even at 3-3, the Texans still are in the playoff hunt. Ten of the 16 AFC teams have a record equal to or worse than Houston's and, even if they go 8-8 again, it's possible they get a wild card spot.

Norv Turner; San Diego Chargers

Why is he here? For quite a few years now, the Chargers have been a team that many believed could win the Super Bowl. The problem is they always seem to find a way not to make it there. Turner inherited a team loaded with talent. That talent is now getting older and banged up and, with the Denver Broncos showing new life, they likely won't win their division.

What could save him? A late season collapse by the Broncos and a surprise division win for the Chargers; similar to last season, when they started out with a 3-5 record but finished 8-8 and won the division.

Jim Zorn; Washington Redskins

Why is he here? Officially, it's because he was supposed to be an offensive genius and his team isn't scoring points. But, I think the Redskins front office is also doing their part to make sure he can't succeed. They already stripped him of his play calling duties and, according to media reports, have already tried to hire an in-season replacement for him; only to be turned down. It's hard for players to have faith in a coach when the people who hired him obviously don't. And, we shouldn't forget, he wasn't even the first choice for the job in the first place.

What could save him? Absolutely nothing. In fact, I think he'll be lucky if he isn't replaced mid-season.