Hot Assistant Coaches

[SMAC]

Len Pasquarelli of ESPN outlines the "top" assistant coaches in line for head coaching position. I think Schwartz is the best of the lot. Here is his list:

But here is a look at a few assistant coaches with whom fans might not be too familiar, and who could some day be calling the shots for an NFL franchise:

# Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator, Tennessee: Only four years ago, Schwartz was just a nondescript "defensive assistant," on Jeff Fisher's staff, a quality control aide. But he was elevated to linebackers coach in 2000 and then, when Gregg Williams became head coach in Buffalo in '01, promoted into his spot as coordinator. At age 37, the avid chess player is the youngest coordinator in the league.

# Scott O'Brien, special teams, Carolina: Rare is the circumstance in which a special teams mentor is ever a candidate for a head coach position. Then again, O'Brien is a rare guy, one who studies the intricacies and nuances of special teams play and sweats all of the details of an often overlooked facet of the game. Given the success of the Carolina kicking game in 2003, O'Brien has commanded solid attention.

# Charlie Weis, offensive coordinator, New England: In a few years, mark our words, people will be talking about the "coaching tree" that has sprung from the Bill Belichick staffs of the past and the present. Weis has been key to the development of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and, while skeptics criticize the wide-ranging mix of screen- and hitch-passes with which the New England offense is top-heavy, the scheme is evolving. The Pats are stretching the field more now and Brady is extending his grasp. Another current Belichick assistant, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, deserves mention as well. And two current college head coaches who were once on Belichick's staff with the Cleveland Browns years ago, Nick Saban (LSU) and Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), figure to be candidates for NFL jobs after this season, if they so choose.

# Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator, Cincinnati: Sure, being defensive coordinator for a team where Marvin Lewis is the head coach might be viewed by some as playing second chair in a symphony that includes one of the world's great violinists. But Frazier has lots of input and proved, during free agency, to be an effective recruiter. Frazier's a class act who has been vital in the Cincinnati turnaround.

# Scott Linehan, offensive coordinator, Minnesota: Since he is only in his second season in the league, the inventive Linehan might have to serve an apprenticeship of a few more years before he is considered head coach material. Despite the current slump in which the Vikings are suffering, the offense still leads the league, and Linehan continues to design a high-octane attack that features power running and a vertical passing scheme. Definitely an up-and-comer.

# Maurice Carthon, offensive coordinator, Dallas: Even though the Cowboys have slid from No. 1 in total offense to a perch near the middle of the pack, Carthon has done a nice job of getting production from a unit that doesn't have a lot of playmakers. Having the endorsement of Bill Parcells won't hurt, either, but Carthon is a guy who deserves a shot based on merit as well.

 

[maddogkf]

I think jon_nyaz's wife would make a hot assistant coach.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Originally posted by maddogkf
I think jon_nyaz's wife would make a hot assistant coach.

Actually, she's always wanted to be a football coach. Another thing I love about her.

 

[Russ Smith]

I like Schwartz the more I read about him. He sounds like the kind of guy that would be ridiculed 5 years ago for an unconventional approach, just like Billy Beane was in baseball. Beane was the first baseball GM to really take Bill James statistical approach to baseball and apply it to building a team, look for guys with high OBP, spend your money on pitching, platoon where necessary(Earl Weaver) and the A's keep losing big name players and winning the division with a low payroll.

With a cap it would seem that approach would be even more effective in football because teams can't just outspend you(the Yankees) as easily. Stats are a little less subjective in football it's not like baseball where some still think walks are meaningless, in football everyone knows a guy who scores a td every 7 catches(TO) and catches the ball alot, is better than a guy who scores every 25(Keyshawn) and catches a lot of balls.

Would be interesting, Billick and some others already do a lot of the stat analysis stuff(the 49ers have for years) but it would it would certainly make for some good arguments here when things went right or wrong!

In football the overwhelmingly most important things in my opinion are ability to identify and sign talent, and ability to coach it.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Originally posted by SMAC

# Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator, Tennessee: Only four years ago, Schwartz was just a nondescript "defensive assistant," on Jeff Fisher's staff, a quality control aide. But he was elevated to linebackers coach in 2000 and then, when Gregg Williams became head coach in Buffalo in '01, promoted into his spot as coordinator. At age 37, the avid chess player is the youngest coordinator in the league.

# Charlie Weis, offensive coordinator, New England: In a few years, mark our words, people will be talking about the "coaching tree" that has sprung from the Bill Belichick staffs of the past and the present. Weis has been key to the development of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and, while skeptics criticize the wide-ranging mix of screen- and hitch-passes with which the New England offense is top-heavy, the scheme is evolving. The Pats are stretching the field more now and Brady is extending his grasp. Another current Belichick assistant, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, deserves mention as well. And two current college head coaches who were once on Belichick's staff with the Cleveland Browns years ago, Nick Saban (LSU) and Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), figure to be candidates for NFL jobs after this season, if they so choose.

# Maurice Carthon, offensive coordinator, Dallas: Even though the Cowboys have slid from No. 1 in total offense to a perch near the middle of the pack, Carthon has done a nice job of getting production from a unit that doesn't have a lot of playmakers. Having the endorsement of Bill Parcells won't hurt, either, but Carthon is a guy who deserves a shot based on merit as well.

Those are my 3 picks.

Why? Just look at what they put our on the field.

Titans defense is awesome. Year in and year out not matter how many injuries or changes made.

IMAGINE: NE offense with a good running back? Good lord and butter. He took Brady from rags to riches. He would have Boldin playing like Troy Brown. I think he is the man

Cowboys offense is good but Carthon would institute the coaching method of Parcell's without having to suffer through the Tuna being here.

Cool post

 

[SMAC]

I hope the Cardinals hire someone young and highly-motivated. I would be happy with Schwartz or Frazier.

 

[DeAnna]

Maurice Carthon?? I remember when he was a fullback with the Giants.

C'mon....Parcells has been lobbying for him for years now. If he does get a gig it willl only be because Tuna is pushing for him.

 

[pinnacle]

if for no other reason...watching the patriots play dallas game - that game alone would be enough for me to take Romeo Crennel over Carthon. Dallas could not move the ball at all...and like 1/2 of the starters on the patriots defense are currently injured and alot of the guys playing are backups.