Head Coaches Play Key Role in Fantasy Football

The name of the game in the NFL when it comes to playcalling is unpredictability. If a coach leans heavily on the running game and everyone knows it, stopping that offense is usually not that difficult. The same can be done against a high-powered passing attack.

To be successful in the NFL, a coach must mix it up. Pass when they think you will run and run when they think you will pass. But with the exception of a very few head coaches, teams build reputations for the way they play offensive football.

In this piece, we attempt to break down the aggressive from the conservative and that may help the wise fantasy player gain insight when it comes to drafting his team or pickup a free agent.

AFC East

Dick Jauron, Buffalo -- A well-educated man who measures his words carefully, Jauron's offensive philosophy is a reflection of his demeanor. He rarely does anything without study or careful analysis and as a result, Jauron is one of the most predictable coaches in the business. He will use the running game to set up the pass and rarely is able to get his opponents off balance. Even with a big-play weapon like Lee Evans on his side, his gameplanning and play-calling is one of fear. The risk of throwing downfield is overwhelmed by his fear of making a mistake.

Cam Cameron, Miami -- This is his first NFL head coaching job, but Cameron is a know commodity around the league who turned the Chargers into one of the most powerful offensive teams in the league last year. Cynics may argue that any offensive coordinator with LaDainian Tomlinson on his team would be successful, but Cameron was saddled with an ordinary crew of wideouts, a stubborn boss in Marty Schottenheimer and he had nurture a new starting quarterback in Philip Rivers. San Diego was the No. 4 offensive team in the league and ranked fourth in red zone productivity. Cameron's philosophy is to probe for his opponent's weakness and attack it like a shark going after weakened prey.