Week 11 of the 2009 campaign is finished, and even though we still have six awesome weeks (plus the playoffs) of pro football to watch, I think it’s time to take a look at the coaches that will be watching their backs intently, headed into the off-season.

Every year, several surprise coaches get the axe at the end of the regular season, and while the economy may play a factor in staying the hand of a front office or two, we can certainly expect to see some fireworks out of a few cities this winter. As always, we’ll have it covered, so keep it locked right here as the season progresses.

With that in mind, here are the coaches that will most likely be out hunting for new digs next January… feel free to comment as you like with your thoughts and even your own list of coaches on the hot seat.

1. Eric Mangini – Cleveland Browns

• The Good – He hasn’t killed anyone yet. Okay, I’m being a little facetious with that one, but seriously, there really isn’t a positive moment for the Browns to look back on at this point, unless you’re one of their division rivals that is.

• The Bad – He never really won over the team, and it shows each and every week when the Browns put forward one lackluster performance after another. His gameday coaching decisions have been abysmal, and if they didn’t have Buffalo on their schedule this year, Cleveland would be staring at the possibility of an 0-16 season. Oh and lets not forget his wonderful idea of running post practice drills for rookie players without wearing pads… that gem only ended the season for two prospects.

• The Bottom Line – One season usually doesn’t make or break a coach in the NFL, but with owner Randy Lerner desperate to get his team back to its winning heritage, you can bet he’ll be pulling the plug on this horrific experiment. I’d have my bags packed and travel ticket in hand if I were in Mangini’s shoes right now.

2. Tom Cable – Oakland

• The Good – Unlike Mangini, Cable does seem to have some semblance of control and respect in the Raiders’ locker room, although that may be just the fear of getting sucker punched in the face coming to the surface. In general, he’s done an okay job in motivating his team to play, winning games against solid opponents like Philadelphia and Cincinnati thanks in part to inspired play on the part of his players (sans JaMarcus Russell).

• The Bad – It took him ten games to figure out JaMarcus Russell is worthless as an NFL starter at quarterback, sticking with the real “Balloon Boy” in spite of his horrific play on the field. Cable hasn’t made many friends outside of Oakland either, with women’s rights groups calling for his head, along with a major lawsuit in the works over his jaw breaking incident with a former assistant in the pre-season.

• The Bottom Line – When you work for Al Davis, your job is never secure, and while some might say that Cable’s earned the right to coach another year, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to see him get the boot in favor of another retread next season. I wouldn’t recommend clearing out his office just yet, but keeping an ear to the ground just in case would be wise at this point.

3. Gary Kubiak – Houston Texans

• The Good – Kubiak has been consistent in his style of coaching, earning him the praises of his players and other teams alike. He’s also done a nice job in assembling talent throughout his tenure, picking up key role players off the street when need be.

• The Bad – No playoff trips in four seasons, despite having a tremendous amount of talent across the board will make for a sticky situation come the off-season. His decision to stand by a kicker that’s proven himself to not be up to the challenge when the game is on the line won’t help either.

• The Bottom Line – I seriously doubt that Kubiak will get the axe this year, but you can be damn sure that he’ll be sweating it out, especially if the Texans can’t get over the hump and sneak into the playoffs this year.

4. Raheem Morris – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• The Good - He’s a rookie head coach with a team that’s seriously lacking in talent right now; two things that tend to give coaches in the NFL a pass when it comes to pink slips being handed out. His players love his coaching style and ability to relate to them.

• The Bad – His decision to fire both of his coordinators have put the burden of responsibility squarely on his shoulders, making the Bucs play down the stretch critically important for his job security. He’s also seemed a bit lost at times on the sideline, unsure of what to do during key situations.

• The Bottom Line – His detractors would love nothing more than to see him sent back down to the minor leagues, but given his youth and lack of experience, I think the Bucs will stay the course for at least one more season and do their best to give him more talent to work with next year.

5. Jim Mora – Seattle Seahawks

• The Good – The level of talent present right now isn’t up to snuff when compared to the rest of the league, making Mora’s job that much more difficult. The players seem to like him and his coaching style, and the front office is squarely in Mora’s corner after declaring him as Mike Holmgren’s successor prior to his retirement at the end of last season.

• The Bad – The Seahawks have looked completely lost for most of the season, putting forward one lackluster effort after another on both sides of the ball. That could lead some to believe that he struggles with preparing the team to play each week, which is never a good thing when your a head coach in the NFL.

• The Bottom Line – After getting Holmgren’s blessing before his departure, it’s doubtful that the Seahawks would go so far as to fire him this early into his tenure as head coach, but crazier things have happened so I’m not counting it out just yet. That said, he should get a bit more time to implement his program and if they can draft well again, Seattle will be much improved next year.

What do you think? Will any of these coaches be out of a job by the end of the season? Or will they get a pass for another year? Let us know in the comment section!

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