He’s good, but for a QB-starved team, Jon Gruden is a better fit

The NFL’s head coach in waiting, Leslie Frazier, was due to run a football team.

After interviewing for a number of head coaching positions, and being a finalist for the Denver Broncos’ opening which was eventually awarded to Josh McDaniels, Frazier is a worthy successor to Brad Childress.

Stoic and level-headed, Frazier is beloved by Tony Dungy and is the former Gophers quarterback’s top recommendation for the vacant University of Minnesota head coaching position — a position I hope he gets, leaving the Wilf family the option of cleaning house and using an outside hire to jumpstart the organization.

Through four seasons as defensive coordinator, Frazier has built the Vikings into a top 10 defensive team and one of the best at stopping the run. Though we’re beginning to falter this season defensively, our rush defense remains among the top 10. I’ve questioned Frazier’s choice to rush four lineman on nearly every down, though, instead of mixing in blitz packages.

Still, Frazier impressed me Monday with his commanding presence at his first press conference as a head coach. He’ll be great coaching in gold accents, I just hope the primary color is maroon and not purple.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and current Monday Night Football commentator Jon Gruden is the right man to run the Vikings.

With a young quarterback likely to take over for Brett Favre next season, Gruden is best fit to develop him.

Gruden is a former quarterback, one of the best quarterback coaches on the planet and seems to genuinely enjoy tutoring rookie QBs (i.e. ESPN’s “Jon Gruden’s QB Camp”)

With no teams tanking as much as the Vikings and Cowboys are this season, there shouldn’t be a large amount of vacant coaching positions this offseason.

Gruden could be able to step into a team with a solid defense, talented wide receivers and the NFL’s best running back, while given the opportunity to develop a young, franchise quarterback.