This week’s “Hot Seat” shifts the focus off the playing surface and onto the sidelines.
While the players are the ones who ultimately make the plays, the coaches are responsible for putting them in the best position to make those plays. Of late, that hasn’t been happening to the degree that certain fan bases expect.
Last Saturday saw a meltdown by a head coach, this Sunday a different head coach needs to uphold a certain high standard and on Thursday night a head coach who’s been on a seesaw needs to reestablish his team as a playoff contender.
It’s an all head coaches edition of “Hot Seat” as Mike MacIntyre, Gary Kubiak and Patrick Roy will have the heat turned up on them this week.
No. 3 – Mike MacIntyre
https://twitter.com/cbseric/status/650703528017530880
The Buffs head coach has been contrite after his sideline altercation with safeties coach Joe Tumpkin in the Oregon game, offering an apology and saying he’ll handle future situations differently. Still, the incident showed a general lack of discipline that’s been hallmark of CU over the past decade. It hasn’t always manifested itself in sideline altercations – mix in turnovers, penalties, lack of preparedness, you name it – but the Colorado sideline hasn’t been the most stable of ground in recent years.
On Saturday in Tempe CU faces an Arizona State team that started the year in the top-25, but is now 3-2 and coming off a huge win at then-No. 7 UCLA. Coach Mac needs to have his eyes firmly fixed on the road in this one. Fans might already be worried the wheels are coming off the bus. Another big loss, or worse, another big meltdown, and Mac could be hitching a ride out of town sooner than he’d like.
No. 2 – Gary Kubiak
Gary Kubiak today talking about Peyton in the pistol and the running game. pic.twitter.com/Ix2cIiN2xE
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) September 30, 2015
The video above followed the Detroit victory, in which Denver ran for just 41 yards on the day in a 12-point win. Last week vs. Minnesota, Denver broke out for 144 yards and won by a field goal.
Kubiak has been steadfast in his belief that the running game will open up more for the offense, but the running game has stalled out routinely while the offensive line tries to find cohesion. He’s made some adjustments to play to Peyton Manning’s strengths, but its clear he still intends to get his team out from near the bottom of the league in rushing. (They currently rank 29th.)
In the Manning era, Denver has beat Oakland by an average margin of 22.83 points. Kubiak needs to show that his offense can assert itself when needed and put teams away. His job’s not in jeopardy, but his philosophies will be under intense scrutiny if Denver suffers another nail-biter.
Denver needs to put up some big numbers on the Raiders, even if they’re not as “hapless” as they’ve been of late. This should still be a two-touchdown win for Kubiak.
No. 1 – Patrick Roy
Remember this? @Avalanche opening night 2013. Patrick Roy talks opening night tomorrow on #7SportsXtra @ 10:20. pic.twitter.com/KBXD3DO22E
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) October 8, 2015
Patrick Roy left no doubt that he’s still as fiery as ever when he took over the bench of the Avs in 2013, but last year’s first-to-worst performance has fans questioning if that fire was just a flash in the pan.
Despite the last-place finish (in arguably the best division in hockey, Colorado finished with 90 points and barely missed the playoffs. That’s something for fans to be optimistic about, but it doesn’t take any of the pressure off Roy. Team president Josh Kroenke recently said he wants his team to compete for a playoff spot first and foremost, then set their sights on winning a division.
Roy can accomplish that with an improved defense and better scoring – both issues which he and general manager Joe Sakic believe they addressed with several splashy offseason moves. Another 90-plus point season should be attainable this year. Will it be enough to get them into the playoffs? Roy needs it to.
The Avs need to come out firing this weekend as they face division rivals Minnesota and Dallas to open the season.