Unsung Heroes

Top-notch assistants in line for bigger things

Each week during the NFL season, CNNSI.com’s Pat Kirwan will recognize the players and coaches who don't see much of the spotlight but get the job done. At the end of the season Pat will present his Unsung Coach of the Year award in the memory of former NFL player and coach Chip Myers. In January 1999, after having served as an NFL assistant for 15 years, Myers was named Vikings offensive coordinator. Just a month later Myers suffered a fatal heart attack.

To start off, this week let's note the efforts of a couple of coaches who should be on the short list for head slots in the league. But with high-profile guys like Steve Spurrier available, no one thinks about the men getting the job done week in and week out.

Jim Mora Jr. has been doing an excellent job in San Francisco as the team's defensive coordinator. The once mighty Niners have worked their way back to the postseason, and the defense has had a lot to do with that turnaround.

In the last week of the regular season, Mora's unit shut out the Saints, allowing just 11 first downs, 126 total yards and 2.3 yards per pass. Mora knows firsthand how to reconstruct a franchise from cap jail and that will make him a valuable candidate should anyone take the time to study his past two seasons.

I was at the Packers-Giants game Sunday, and the amount of praise being lavished on defensive coordinator Ed Donatell was impressive. From top to bottom, people in the Packers organization feel Donatell has done a tremendous job with a defensive unit that's been all beat up.

But Donatell never talks about injured players with his group. "We play who we have and we expect them to get the job done," he said.

One player told me he thinks Donatell's impact will be very similar to that of Dick Jauron when he gets his chance. After all, Spurrier can't coach all the teams with an opening at the top.

Three of my favorite players in the trenches are calling it quits after this season. Like all lunch-pail types, their performances are only fully appreciated when you study the videotape.

I have watched Steve Wisniewski, Bruce Matthews and Phil Hansen battle year in and year out. These three tough guys have 40 years playing time between them and you can bet some head coach is going to try and talk one, two or three of them into playing one more season. I know I would if I were running a club.

A couple of virtual unknowns played their hearts out last week and their work did not go unnoticed here:

And finally, Mike Green was the last player selected in the 2000 draft, but that hasn't discouraged the safety from becoming a valuable member of the Bears' defense. In Chicago's 33-13 victory against the Jaguars, Green led the team with seven tackles and a sack.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated. Unsung Heroes appears each week at CNNSI.com.

 

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