Jan. 28, 2005
USC’s Chow a candidate for NFL coordinator jobs
ProFootballWeekly.com asks associate editor Jeff Reynolds for his thoughts on the hottest topics in the NFL.
Several teams like Trojans' offensive coordinator
Don’t be surprised if USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow is attached to every potential opening for an NFL offensive coordinator in the coming weeks. Everyone from Nick Saban in Miami to Jack Del Rio is Jacksonville to Lovie Smith in Chicago are researching Chow before generating a complete list of candidates.
PFW: Where would Chow be the best fit?
Reynolds: Chow separated himself from the college-coaching pack more than two seasons ago. A good friend of Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, a former head coach, Chow has gone out of his way to familiarize himself with the NFL game. He’s coaching under Pete Carroll, another former NFL head coach, and would have little difficulty transitioning to the pro level. Chow compares favorably to former Louisville offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who has had a top-five offense in all three seasons he has served Mike Tice and the Vikings.
He’s a top QB developer, who could work wonders with players like Byron Leftwich or Rex Grossman. Among his pupils have been Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Chow has a reserved personality, and many believe that has hindered him from being a head coach. There are also those who are concerned that Chow doesn’t know the NFL personnel and believe that his system translates better to college talent. But in terms of X’s and O’s, he’s a genuine genius. He can adjust to defenses as well as any coach and finds and exposes weaknesses as well as any college coach.
There is no question Chow would tweak his offense to compensate for NFL cornerbacks, who close more quickly, and the size and speed of the front seven. Cleveland, depending on the coach it settles on, might become the best spot for Chow. He’d have a chance to develop a young quarterback and an offense without any preconceived ideas or identity, perhaps opening the door for a more prompt advancement to a head-coaching position, which is Chow’s desire. He badly wants to run his own program and, in that, may ultimately decide to remain at USC. The program is near an all-time high, and Chow operates under a microscope that could be a trampoline for a top coaching job. If Leinart follows in Palmer’s footsteps and is drafted in the top five in April's draft, Chow would have developed three top-five draft picks at the position in three years (Palmer, Rivers and Leinart).
USC’s Chow a candidate for NFL coordinator jobs
ProFootballWeekly.com asks associate editor Jeff Reynolds for his thoughts on the hottest topics in the NFL.
Several teams like Trojans' offensive coordinator
Don’t be surprised if USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow is attached to every potential opening for an NFL offensive coordinator in the coming weeks. Everyone from Nick Saban in Miami to Jack Del Rio is Jacksonville to Lovie Smith in Chicago are researching Chow before generating a complete list of candidates.
PFW: Where would Chow be the best fit?
Reynolds: Chow separated himself from the college-coaching pack more than two seasons ago. A good friend of Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, a former head coach, Chow has gone out of his way to familiarize himself with the NFL game. He’s coaching under Pete Carroll, another former NFL head coach, and would have little difficulty transitioning to the pro level. Chow compares favorably to former Louisville offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who has had a top-five offense in all three seasons he has served Mike Tice and the Vikings.
He’s a top QB developer, who could work wonders with players like Byron Leftwich or Rex Grossman. Among his pupils have been Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Chow has a reserved personality, and many believe that has hindered him from being a head coach. There are also those who are concerned that Chow doesn’t know the NFL personnel and believe that his system translates better to college talent. But in terms of X’s and O’s, he’s a genuine genius. He can adjust to defenses as well as any coach and finds and exposes weaknesses as well as any college coach.
There is no question Chow would tweak his offense to compensate for NFL cornerbacks, who close more quickly, and the size and speed of the front seven. Cleveland, depending on the coach it settles on, might become the best spot for Chow. He’d have a chance to develop a young quarterback and an offense without any preconceived ideas or identity, perhaps opening the door for a more prompt advancement to a head-coaching position, which is Chow’s desire. He badly wants to run his own program and, in that, may ultimately decide to remain at USC. The program is near an all-time high, and Chow operates under a microscope that could be a trampoline for a top coaching job. If Leinart follows in Palmer’s footsteps and is drafted in the top five in April's draft, Chow would have developed three top-five draft picks at the position in three years (Palmer, Rivers and Leinart).
