The season has ended, and I believe seven teams are looking for coaches: Broncos, Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, Buccaneers, Browns, and Bengals.
The Packers were another team, but they just filled their spot with Matt LaFleur, the Titans OC. I understand the Buccaneers are set to hire Bruce Arians. The LaFleur hiring has me thinking about the Titans next OC. Two names come to my mind quickly Mike McCarthy and Adam Gase (assuming they don’t become head coaches). I like McCarthy because I think he’ll help Mariota develop good footwork and mechanics. I don’t care for his pass-first approach, but seeing the footwork and throwing of QBs who played with McCarthy, I’d be excited about this hire. (McCarthy going to the Raiders would be cool for the same reason.)
As for Gase, I think his spread/shot-gun offense would be ideal for Mariota. Plus, I think for this type of offense, Gase might be the best out there–or at least one I really like. I really like his play calling. The way he integrates pro style and spread (especially last year) looked really good to me as well. If you’re going to have a predominantly spread offense, I’d choose him (or Belichick).
I don’t think there’s any way McCarthy takes a coordinator position. He’s owed money on his Green Bay deal, and if someone (Jets) doesn’t want him now, he can wait it out until he gets an offer next year or the year after. With so many vacancies, though, it’s hard to imagine he won’t get an offer somewhere, and he has the resume to wait until a good landing spot opens up.
I’ve been hearing Brian Kelly as the Buccaneers’ possible choice. Is that yesterday’s news?
I suspect you’re right. Even if the Packers weren’t paying for him, I feel like he’s been a head coach for so long that he wouldn’t want to be an OC again. Then again, Norv Turner was a head coach for a while and then went back to coordinating.
The last I heard was that Bruce Arians was going to get the job. By the way, the match makes sense to me. The Buccaneers OL seemed good in pass pro, and the offense showed the ability to throw the ball deep, which is a crucial part of Arians’s philosophy. If he gets a good DC (Todd Bowles again?), I could see him molding the team into a strong playoff team.
Is this a good time to bring up teams’ targeting coaches and then still complying with the Rooney Rule, by the letter if not by the spirit?
And I would agree that Arians would be a nice get by Tampa Bay. By anyone, really.
Sure.
I’m a Colonel Klink on this guy–“I know nothing…nothing!”
You should Google him. He’s a very handsome man.
You never heard of him as a player as well? He was sort of a famous college QB.
But his claim to fame is he coached Manziel. He was supposed to be the OC at USC, but he became a NFL coach instead. The next Sean McVay, well that’s what Arizona hopes anyway.
Iowa? In any event, I’m basically saying I have no idea about his coaching. I’ve heard his name mentioned (along with Lincoln Riley–another coach whose coaching I know almost nothing about).
Le Batard has interviewed him several times on his program, mostly to talk about his handsomeness. He’s a good interview. He admitted to turning on the flirtation with some athletes’ moms in order to get a little advantage.
Buccaneers: Todd Bowles joins Arians as his DC. I’d say Bucs are a team to watch in the next two years.
Broncos: Vic Fangio as HC, with Kubiak becoming the OC. (Dang it, Kuiak. If you were going to be an OC, why couldn’t you have gone to Seattle!)
I really like what both teams have done.
Browns: Freddie Kichens, as HC. I hope he does well, but I have doubts. I liked Jim Caldwell for this job.
(On a side note, I feel really bad for Robert Mays of the Ringer, a huge Bears fan. He was worried that Fangio would leave, and I get why he wouldn’t want Fangio to leave. Also, in the podcast after the Bears lost, the heartbreak in his voice was palpable. I really felt for him, and it got hard to listen to. Kevin Clark was kind of an insensitive jerk, too.)
I’m hearing that Kubiak is not Bronco OC. Instead, he’ll be going to the Vikings, although Stefanski will still be the OC. (I think Kubiak’s son will be the QB’s coach.) What I heard was that Fangio wasn’t entirely comfortable with some of the assistants Kubiak was bringing in. I’m not sure that is true, but I think losing Kubiak is a big loss for them. At the same time, I’m not sure the Vikings gain a lot. It almost sounds like Kubiak just wants to be with his son, which isn’t a bad thing.
The Broncos do gain Mike Munchak for their OL coach, though. I wonder who their OC was.
Oh, I’ve heard that Steve Wilks and Todd Monken (from the Buccaneers) will be DC and OC, respectively, with the Browns. Monken is an Air Raid guy I believe. I wonder if they’re really going to play like the Bucs or Steelers.
Nathaniel Hackett, former Jags OC, is going to be OC with the Packers.
Jets: Adam Gase, HC. I think this should be good for Darnold, especially stat wise. I’m interested in who he gets for his DC.
What is the story of Kichens jumping Greg Williams for the HC job? Anybody know? I would have thought the Browns hire someone outside over Greg Williams, but not Kichens?
And what’s the deal with Josh McDaniels? Belichick must be going to leave soon? It’s weird that he said he won’t take any more interviews and basically staying at New England. It’s almost like New England has something over Josh, like he deflated the footballs or something.
Tony Kornheiser asked this question of Mike Freeman. He introduced the question by saying Williams is abrasive as heck but clearly seemed to know what to do with this team.
Freeman said, “I think you just answered your own question, Tony.” Apparently people don’t like working with Williams. 🙂 A good reminder that we should be nice at work.
I don’t know exactly why Kichen’s leap-frogged Williams, but I don’t have a great impression of him. I suspect Kichen’s won the job because the offense seemed to do a lot better. It’s reminiscent of firing Lovie Smith and then promoting Dirk Koetter in Tampa Bay. There’s one possible difference though: Hue Jackson might have been an awful coach. If that’s true, then the team might have improved simply because Williams and Kichens are not awful. What if the FO is mistaking this for Kichens being a really good offensive coach and working well with Mayfield? This is pure speculation on my part, though, and I don’t really strongly about this.
That would be my guess. I can’t think of another reason, although were there a lot of teams interested in McDaniel? After what he did last year, I’d understand if teams were gun shy about hiring him.
The thing with Greg Williams that’s confusing is that Cleveland already knew he was a jerk and still made him interim HC. The most plausible explanation is he became even more of a jerk once he was interim. But what kind of jerk would do that, knowing you only an interim HC? A Greg Williams kind maybe.
We do not know who was interesting in McDaniels (yes he has a weird “s” at the end of his name) because from what I hear, he made the announcement after the Green Bay interview, that he wasn’t interested in any more interviews. I’m sure teams would have at least interviewed him, if they could. Actually because of Indy’s success, teams should bring in McDaniel, let him hire some coaches, and then kick him back to New England. It could be a recipe for success.
Well, they fired their HC, so I can see the FO thinking that this was only a temporary thing, and maybe Williams had the most experience and seemed capable. If he’s competent, but a jerk, you can tolerate this for a partial season.
Also, I wouldn’t discount ineptitude on the part of the organization, more the owner than Dorsey, the GM.
OK, I did not know that. Then I guess Belichick won’t be coaching much longer. One thing I have to wonder: Is New England an attractive place to coach after Belichick? They don’t have an heir apparent for Brady, Gronk is beat up. Their roster and the future of the personnel doesn’t look bright in my view.
Lovely.
I’m not sure if this is accurate.
Bengals: Zac Taylor, who was the QB coach for the Rams. I can’t help but feel this pick is based on the belief that somehow coaching with McVay means the coach will be just as good.
Bears: Chuck Pagano as DC. To me, this seems like a good hire. I’m saying that because I got the sense that Pagano got the defense to play above their talent, at least some of the time.
Falcons: Dirk Koetter is OC. I don’t really have any strong feelings about him.
I’m really curious about the Jaguars OC and what they’re going to do at the QB position.
Lions: Darrell Bevell OC. I don’t think he’s a great coach, but I do think he’s competent. (Schotty may be better at the run game, but I feel like Bevell is a better play caller, which isn’t saying much, I guess.) I’m happy for him, and I’m rooting for him.
Jaguars: John DeFilippo OC. This doesn’t bode well for my hopes that they would go to a run-based offense. I expect them to be a more pass-based team now. I would have preferred Bevell going there.
I guess Don would like this.
On a side note, I haven’t been as negative about Garrett and Linehan as Don, but if there is a change, I think the Cowboys could do a little more running QB plays, similar to what they do in Carolina. On the other hand, as big as Newton is, he’s gotten banged up.