There are nonetheless three video games left within the NFL playoffs, and 4 groups nonetheless alive within the race to be the Super Bowl champion. But for the 28 groups already at residence, it is already the offseason. That means it is time to remake each rosters and training staffs.
Across the league, there are an absolute ton of groups in search of a brand new offensive coordinator. In truth, there are 13 (THIRTEEN!) 12 (TWELVE!) present offensive coordinator vacancies (after the Patriots employed Bill O’Brien). Because there are such a lot of of them, we’re right here to play matchmaker and assign candidates to job openings.
It’s value preserving in thoughts that there are 5 groups that also have head-coach openings, which makes it practically unattainable to decide on an offensive coordinator for them. So, we can’t be making a match for the Broncos, Cardinals, Colts, Panthers, or Texans simply but. That leaves us with eight seven groups for which to search out matches: Buccaneers, Chargers, Commanders, Jets, Rams, Ravens, and Titans.
Before we give it a attempt, let’s do some housekeeping. I’ve compiled as greatest I can an inventory of candidates who’ve both been interviewed for one of many aforementioned openings, been requested for an interview, or are rumored to be a possible candidate. That checklist is in depth. Here it’s, in alphabetical order:
Adrian KlemmOregon AHCBen BloomBrowns run recreation coordinatorBill O’BrienAlabama OCBobby Slowik49ers cross recreation coordinatorBrian AngelichioVikings cross recreation coordinatorBrian JohnsonEagles QB CoachByron LeftwichFormer Buccaneers OCChad O’SheaBrowns cross recreation coordinatorCharles LondonFalcons QB coachChris Foerster49ers OL coachDan PitcherBengals QB coachDarrell BevellDolphins QB CoachDave CanalesSeahawks QB CoachDrew PetzingBrowns QB coachEric BieniemyChiefs OCEric StudesvilleDolphins AHC/RB CoachFrank ReichFormer Colts HCGreg OlsonRams Senior AssistantGreg RomanFormer Ravens OCJerrod JohnsonVikings Asst. QB coachJoe BradyBills QB CoachJustin OuttenBroncos OCKeenan McCardellVikings WR coachKen ZampeseCommanders QB CoachKevin PatulloEagles cross recreation coordinatorKlint KubiakBroncos cross recreation coordinatorLuke SteckelTitans TE CoachMarcus BradyFormer Colts OCMatt NagyChiefs QB CoachMike LaFleurFormer Jets OCNathaniel HackettFormer Broncos HCNick CaleyPatriots TE coachPat ShurmurFormer Giants HCPep HamiltonTexans OCScott TurnerFormer Commanders OCShawn JeffersonFormer Cardinals AHCShea TierneyGiants QB coachStump MitchellBrowns RB coachThomas BrownRams AHCTim KellyTitans cross recreation coordinatorTodd MonkenGeorgia OCTroy WaltersBengals WR coachZac RobinsonRams QB coach
For matchmaking functions, we will attempt to keep inside the realm of realism as a lot as we are able to. For instance, primarily based on his historical past, we all know with close to certainty that Bill Belichick will select for his offensive coordinator somebody to whom he has a previous connection. So, we’re not going to match the Patriots with, say, Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, regardless that Johnson is taken into account probably the greatest candidates of this cycle. They have not even requested him for an interview, and all the coaches they’ve requested up to now do have that prior connection to Belichick. (Update: The Patriots employed Bill O’Brien, as predicted under.)
In truth, we’re not going to match Johnson with any workforce within the house under. That’s for a particular motive: It appears extremely doubtless that if Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen will get a head-coaching job this offseason (he’s within the combine for a number of openings), Nick Sirianni would promote Johnson to offensive coordinator. It’d be a lot better for Johnson’s profession to remain in Philly to teach up probably the greatest offenses within the league than to go away and coach an inferior quarterback and supporting solid. The identical is true of Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher, who looks as if a probable promotion candidate if offensive coordinator Brian Callahan will get a head-coaching place. (It’s additionally true, to a lesser extent, for Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, if offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will get a job.)
Keeping all that in thoughts, let’s get to it…
Buccaneers: Georgia OC Todd Monken
This one includes a projection that Tom Brady returns to Tampa. Otherwise, it would not make a lot sense for Monken to go away a really soft job with the two-time defending nationwide champions to make the leap again to the NFL. If Brady is again, although, then the Bucs may look to Monken, who served as their offensive coordinator underneath Dirk Koetter, earlier than Bruce Arians took over. The offense was explosive down the sphere with Jameis Winston throwing to Mike Evans (amongst others), and after Tampa misplaced that factor of its offense for probably the most half this previous season, Monken may assist rediscover it.
Chargers: Former Colts HC Frank Reich
Reich has confirmed again and again that he can get one of the best out of quarterbacks. He was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia when Carson Wentz was an MVP candidate, and Nick Foles gained the Super Bowl. He bought sturdy play out of Andrew Luck (for one season) and Jacoby Brissett, oversaw across-the-board enchancment from Philip Rivers in his closing NFL season (in contrast together with his closing season with the Chargers), and had Wentz wanting competent-ish once more in Indianapolis (earlier than he fell off the rails once more this yr in Washington). Bringing him in to work with Justin Herbert would enable a budding star to take the following step in his improvement. He’d additionally hopefully enable Herbert to entry extra of the sphere than did earlier offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
Commanders: Rams AHC Thomas Brown
One factor we learn about Commanders coach Ron Rivera is that he values a robust working recreation. That makes Brown, a former working backs coach turned tight ends coach, a great match. The Rams gave all of their assistants permission to hunt jobs elsewhere whereas Sean McVay contemplated his future, however Brown looks as if the more than likely candidate for a step up. He’s lengthy been thought of an up-and-coming coach, and a possible future coordinator or head coach. Here, we give him that shot.
Jets: Bills QB coach Joe Brady
It wasn’t that way back that Brady was a scorching title not only for offensive coordinator positions, however head teaching positions. That was earlier than he bought fired because the Panthers’ offensive coordinator by Matt Rhule, which does not appear to be that a lot of an indictment anymore. He spent this previous season as Josh Allen’s quarterbacks coach, and he was Joe Burrow’s place coach in school. He additionally frolicked with the Saints in 2018 and 2019 (Drew Brees) earlier than his time at LSU. So, he is bought expertise working with a bunch of several types of quarterbacks, and having a hand in explosive, downfield-threatening offenses and people who work nearer to the road of scrimmage. He’s circuitously from the Shanahan/McVay teaching tree like New York’s earlier offensive coordinator, however with Robert Saleh being a defensive coach, he is likely to be open to working a unique model of offense.
Patriots: Alabama OC Bill O’Brien
As beforehand talked about, each candidate the Patriots have talked to for this opening has a previous connection to Bill Belichick. Klemm was the primary draft decide of the Belichick period in New England. McCardell performed for Belichick in Cleveland. Caley is the Patriots’ present proper ends coach. And Jefferson spent the previous few years teaching underneath Kliff Kingsbury, who was a Belichick draft decide in New England. We’re betting the Pats return to O’Brien, although, who was the workforce’s offensive coordinator in 2011 and an offensive assistant, broad receivers coach, and quarterbacks coach previous to that. He additionally spent the previous two seasons working for Nick Saban, and we all know how a lot Saban and Belichick love buying and selling assistant coaches backwards and forwards. It’s uncertain that Belichick is seeking to actually re-invent the wheel offensively this late in his profession, so we’re pondering he goes with a well-known face who has expertise within the position.
Update: O’Brien has been employed by the Patriots.
Rams: Former Jets OC Mike LaFleur
From the seems of issues, it is already trending towards this one truly occurring. It is smart. LaFleur is the brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who was the offensive coordinator with the Rams for one season. Both LaFleur brothers labored with Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta, and Mike got here with him to San Francisco. He spent the previous two seasons with the Jets, heading to New York with former Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, in order that LaFleur may name performs for the primary time. (Shanahan calls performs, clearly.) The Rams may throw a curveball by going with a coach who is just not from the Shanahan/McVay tree in any respect; they did that when bringing in Brandon Staley to run the protection after parting methods with Wade Phillips. But McVay has been far more open to incorporating completely new concepts (moderately than iterating off his scheme in inventive methods) on protection than on offense. It’s more likely that he brings in somebody who is aware of the system nicely and tries to tweak issues to make the offense extra environment friendly and explosive. LaFleur matches the invoice.
Ravens: 49ers cross recreation coordinator Bobby Slowik
Under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Ravens persistently had one of the efficient working video games within the NFL. Being capable of construct a scheme round Lamar Jackson — arguably one of the best dashing menace on the quarterback place within the historical past of the league — will do this for you. Early in Roman’s tenure, the Ravens had been capable of marry that run recreation with a robust, downfield passing assault based round play motion. But the passing ideas grew more and more stale in newer seasons, and Baltimore’s offense took a number of steps backward. Enter Slowik, who has expertise incorporating the cross in run-heavy offenses in San Francisco. He was additionally on the helm of the passing recreation underneath Kyle Shanahan for what was probably the most environment friendly season of Jimmy Garoppolo’s profession till he bought injured, and clearly for these final two months with Brock Purdy underneath middle. That looks as if a great basis for the Ravens to faucet into.
Titans: Falcons QB coach Charles London
London is a really fascinating candidate, and a very good match for Tennessee. First of all, he is conversant in the scheme they have been working lately, having spent the previous two seasons working underneath former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta. Before doing that, although, London was a longtime working backs coach. That’s doubtless a plus for Mike Vrabel, who desires his workforce to be dedicated to working the ball — particularly for so long as they nonetheless have Derrick Henry. But the expertise London bought working with quarterbacks needs to be useful as nicely, because the Titans will doubtless quickly be in search of a alternative for Ryan Tannehill, and can want somebody to teach up the following man.
