There are 11 teams with new coaches this year. And out of those 11, only two have had head coaching experience, Eric Mangini and Jim Mora. Let’s go into their situations and what their teams need to do this season, so these coaches can become second-year coaches.

Eric Mangini became the new coach of the Cleveland Browns replacing Romeo Crennel. After being fired from the Jets with a 10-6 record, Mangini had no problem getting another job. Just three days after his release, Browns owner Randy Lerner hired the former Bill Belichick understudy. The biggest question in Cleveland is who will take snaps under center, Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn. Either way, Mangini has a starter at quarterback. What is in question is the health of star wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who is still sitting out of training camp with an undisclosed injury. The Browns need to improve their offense which ranked 30th in the league for total points and 31st in yards per game.

The Denver Broncos ushered in a new era after the firing of Mike Shanahan and welcomed Josh McDaniels, the former offensive coordinator for the high scoring New England Patriots. Unfortunately McDaniels rung in the new era with the loss of Jay Cutler and inherited one of the league’s worst defenses, ranked 29th in yards allowed per game and 30th in total points allowed. Offense won’t be too big a problem in Denver, despite the loss of Cutler, as long as McDaniels keeps Brandon Marshall around.

The bottom of the barrel Detroit Lions have a long road ahead of them. After a record 0-16 season, Jim Schwartz will need to pull a complete 180 to fix a team with a shoddy defense that ranked last in the league in both points and yards allowed, and a worn down offense that ranked 27th in scoring. The former Tennessee Titan defensive coordinator does have a few gems in the Lions. Matthew Stafford will help prepare them for the future and pairing him with Calvin Johnson who, despite the team’s woeful problems, tied for first in touchdowns. Now Schwartz’s decision will boil down to sitting or starting the rookie QB.

The Colts have said their goodbye’s to Tony Dungy and said hello the Jim Caldwell, Dungy’s former assistant. With Tom Moore and Howard Mudd returning, all the Colts need to do is keep Peyton Manning happy. Reggie Wayne should rise up in the Marvin Harrison-less offense.

Todd Haley replaces Herm Edwards in Kansas City. The former Cardinals offensive coordinator has the talent to rebuild the franchise. Let the healing begin with Matt Cassel, the recently signed quarterback who was a former backup for Tom Brady but rose to prominence in the wake of a Week 1 ankle injury. Cassel will have plenty of help with rising star Dwayne Bowe and aging veteran Larry Johnson. Defensively, the Chiefs ranked 31st in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed. Haley will need to whip the Chiefs into a working defense.

New York Jets let Mangini go and brought in Rex Ryan, the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Ryan brings the defensive mindset that is legendary in Baltimore, but it is on offense that the biggest questions lie. Putting the Brett Favre circus behind them, the Jets open camp with another QB battle between rookie draft pick Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens. If the Jets can improve on both sides of the ball, they will be in the hunt in the AFC East.

Tom Cable replaced Lane Kiffin during the 08 season, but had the interim coach title replaced with head coach. Cable will need to develop JaMarcus Russell into a legitimate starter and rookie Darius Heyward-Bey in order to improve an offense that ranked 29th in yards per game and scoring. But with Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the league’s most dominant corners, the defense should be able to build around his success.

The St. Louis Rams hired Steve Spagnuolo, former Giants’ defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo replaces Jim Haslett and faces an uphill battle to improve a team that went 2-14. The Rams should improve with the mind that engineered the dominant defense that brought the Giants to the Super Bowl and spoiled the Patriots’ undefeated party. A defense that ranked near the bottom, coming up 31st in points allowed. With Steven Jackson carrying the ball, Spagnuolo should focus the offense around him.

Former NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary replaced Mike Nolan in the middle of the ‘08 season and looked to improve. With Michael Crabtree, the 49ers still need someone to throw him the ball and Alex Smith will need to lift up his game to the levels that had been expected of him for the last few years. Stand out stars like Frank Gore and Patrick Willis will make Singletary’s job on both sides of the ball easier, but the path to redeem the Niner’s will take time.

Mike Holmgren’s departure from the Seattle Seahawks will give Jim Mora and new opportunity to shine as a head coach. The former Atlanta Falcons coach has T.J. Houshmandzadeh and if Matt Hasselbeck can return to form, the offense should be set. But the defense needs work to improve from 30th in the league in defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let John Gruden go and brought in Raheem Morris, the Bucs’ defensive backs coach. Since winning the Super Bowl in January 2003, the Buccaneers haven’t been able to repeat their postseason success. The drafting of Josh Freeman will give them long term options at quarterback but the biggest issues for the team lie on a defense that ranked 23rd in points allowed and 24th in yards allowed. The Bucs will need a quarterback to emerge from camp and a defense to improve their game.

Team Coach

Cleveland Browns Eric Mangini

Denver Broncos Josh McDaniels

Detroit Lions Jim Schwartz

Indianapolis Colts Jim Caldwell

Kansas City Chiefs Todd Haley

New York Jets Rex Ryan

Oakland Raiders Tom Cable

St. Louis Rams Steve Spagnuolo

San Francisco 49ers Mike Singletary

Seattle Seahawks Jim Mora

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Raheem Morris