| | ESPN.com
As NFL teams hit training camp this week, ESPN.com begins its series of burning questions with the experts at Bristol University.
With seven new coaches -- Mike Martz (Rams), Dave Campo (Cowboys), Al Groh (Jets), Dave Wannstedt (Dolphins), Bill Belichick (Patriots), Jim Haslett (Saints) and Mike Sherman (Packers) -- set to begin training camp, we asked the following question:
Which of the seven new coaches is under the most pressure in camp?
Chris Mortensen |
Mike Martz
It's a tough call. But any time you inherit a Super Bowl championship team, expectations are high. Martz was the offensive mastermind behind the Rams, but Dick Vermeil was the clear organizational leader. His leadership was a big reason why the Rams won the Super Bowl. Martz must somehow continue to galvanize the organization the way Vermeil did. When you think about it, the Rams are in the same position the Falcons were in the year before. The Falcons went to the Super Bowl, but look how far they have fallen. Now the schedule will be tougher; teams will be shooting for the Rams. They can't have a key injury. All eyes will be on Martz and St. Louis. Otherwise, people will say the Rams were one-year wonders.
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John Clayton |
Dave Campo
There is pressure to stay up with the Redskins and not fall too far behind them. There are always those unreasonable rumors that if anything happened to Norv Turner in Washington he could come back and work on the Dallas staff. What Campo has to do is make sure everything is comfortable for Troy Aikman offensively, which should happen with Ernie Zampese and Jack Riley on the staff. His biggest task as a defensive coach who is now the head coach is to make sure the cornerback situation can come together without Deion Sanders.
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Mark Malone |
Dave Wannstedt
He will be under pressure because he is getting a second chance in Miami after not faring so well in Chicago. He has the difficult task of replacing Jimmy Johnson. Even though the Dolphins are a good team with a strong defense, they really don't have a quarterback. Wannstedt must continue to change the style of play in Miami. Not only will Wannstedt have to win and overcome the loss of Dan Marino, the Dolphins will be playing more of a grind-it-out style of football instead of the style they have been used to for 15 years in Miami. That will be a hard sell to their fans.
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Andrea Kremer |
Mike Martz
You have to pick Martz because he's coaching the defending Super Bowl champion Rams. But on the other hand, he's gotten a reprieve because they have lost some players, namely two offensive linemen -- Fred Miller and Mike Gruttadauria. He still has the highest expectations coming in.
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Mike Golic |
Mike Martz
The most pressure has to be on the coach leading the defending Super Bowl champions. How many times do you see a defending Super Bowl champion change head coaches? Things won't change a ton because he's been in the Rams' system. It's difficult to win back-to-back titles, and he will have a lot of pressure sustaining what they did last year.
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Merril Hoge |
Al Groh
He is under the shadow of Bill Parcells, he's in New York, and he has players on the back end of their careers. It's the last opportunity for these players to win a championship. Plus, there's no Keyshawn Johnson.
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Sean Salisbury |
Dave Campo
Campo has pressure because he's coaching the Dallas Cowboys. I'm a big Campo fan; he's earned the job. But there's pressure from Jerry Jones. If they don't win, Jones isn't opposed to changing coaches.
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