NFC South coaching tiers: Frank Reich leads an unexceptional bunch

While much of the country spent the summer debating whether "Oppenheimer" or "Barbie" was the blockbuster of the year, Yardbarker NFL writers reviewed the work of the league's 32 head coaches and assigned each of these leading men to a tier. 

In sticking with the spirit of cinema, we named the tiers after either a movie title, genre or actor to help rationalize if each coach is producing an Academy Award- or a Razzie-level performance. Here's how the NFC South stacked up:

Tier 4: WESTERNS | A little sizzle but no steak ... yet

FRANK REICH | CAROLINA PANTHERS (Regular season: 40-33-1/Playoffs: 1-2): In hindsight, it's a minor miracle Reich lasted in Indianapolis as long as he did. He started a different QB in each of his five season openers and somehow had the Colts in playoff contention with Carson Wentz as his quarterback in 2021. If his tenure was a dysfunctional film production, it was closer to "Apocalypse Now" when it should have resembled "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

It speaks to how much Reich is respected in the NFL that not even three months after Indianapolis fired him, he landed another gig with the Panthers. In Carolina, he gets a fresh start with quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Reich's already made some wise moves early in Carolina, surrounding himself with a strong coaching staff, including former Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator, former Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to the same role and longtime NFL coaches Jim Caldwell and Dom Capers as senior assistants. 

While he doesn't have stiff competition, Reich is clearly the best coach in the NFC South.

Tier 5: NETFLIX ORIGINALS TIER | Too new for critical review

ARTHUR SMITH | ATLANTA FALCONS (Regular season: 14-20/Playoffs: 0-0): The most successful head coaches have either a strong offensive or defensive identity, which Smith — the former offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans — is certainly developing. In three of his four seasons as either an offensive coordinator or head coach, Smith's teams have finished in the top three in rushing three times.

Not that it has amounted to much in Atlanta. 

The Falcons finished 7-10 in both of Smith's first two seasons, leading to a pivotal 2023. Atlanta's gambling in handing the keys to the offense to quarterback Desmond Ridder, a 2022 third-round pick, but that's just as much a gamble on Smith. The Falcons are betting Smith's burgeoning identity as a run-game guru will pay massive dividends. We'll find out this season if Smith's ushering in the future of football in Atlanta or if this coaching hire should have never received the green light.

Tier 6: 'WATERWORLD' TIER | Sinking into ... oblivion?

DENNIS ALLEN | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (Regular season: 15-38/Playoffs: 0-0): Allen is the "Evan Almighty" of NFL head coaches. He's solid in a supporting role but not someone strong enough to be a leading man. After reviving a moribund Saints defense as its coordinator, his first year as head coach was just as forgettable as his tenure with the Raiders.

He was painfully conservative last season, with Football Outsiders ranking him as the third-least aggressive coach in 2022. He went for it on 4th-and-short only six times in 99 potential opportunities. New Orleans improved at quarterback this offseason, upgrading to Derek Carr from Andy Dalton, which should make Allen more confident in his offense. He needs to be. Allen can't afford another box-office bomb.

TODD BOWLES | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (Regular season: 34-50/Playoffs: 0-1): Bowles, gearing up for his sixth season as a full-time head coach, seeks his first winning record since his debut with the New York Jets in 2015.

Odds aren't in his favor after he couldn't muster a winning season with Tom Brady as his quarterback. Without Brady, he's stuck with Baker Mayfield at QB. (Sheesh, talk about "Second String.") Storm clouds are forming in Tampa Bay. 2023 might go down as well as a sack of bad oysters.