I think Keim wanted to take a chance on a young guy...make a splash sign(if it worked obviously)... much like the Lambs did.... JDF's name was bouncing around a lot,...then suddenly he just dropped off the radar, even though early on their was talk of him being on Wilks' staff as OC before we ever interviewed.
Usually the rumors about a coaches staff precede their hiring because they have already talked with those guys and agreed... but in this case all the rumors were true in regards to Wilks staff except for DeFillipo...... I am thinking maybe SK gave him high hopes and then Mike over ruled him and hired Wilks, thus...pissing JDF off and he refused to come here and be OC...so they hired McCoy.
Purely speculation on my part obviously.
But SK was not happy in the coach introduction presser, that was obvious...
good chance all that is directly why Mike followed up by extending SK's contract... to try and smooth the waters and instill a sense of faith and confidence in Keim
Good read that is feasible, oaken1. But, SK's sour mood goes back to BA's retirement press conference, which was very curious in a few ways---first that BA elected not to take any questions (very unlike him)---yes, of course he was choked up, but he was very chummy with the media for 5 years and it seemed like BA did not want to risk hinting at the real reason why he retired.
if anyone believes it was for family reasons, there is some swamp land in Louisiana for sale at $5 an acre.
My theory is that MB wanted BA to retire last year in light of his health scares and how stressed he was throughout the season. BA did not want to go out on a losing record and thus reached a compromise with MB that MB would allow him to return with the understanding that BA would retire (with a severance package) following the 2017 season.
MB and BA agreed that it was important to make this look like it was BA's decision, and not a forced one. Thus, despite a bit of a leak/rumor in October reported by Channel 5 that this was going to be BA's last year, the speculation went right down to the wire with BA fielding questions about it and then making his tearful announcement to the team right after the last game and then to the media the following day.
In essence BA was betting on himself and that if the team rebounded well from the disappointing 7-8-1 season that MB would reconsider and keep him and his staff on for 2018. When the rebound did not happen this year and players started dropping like flies, BA started accepting that he wasn't going to be able to change MB's mind or the agreement they had. One might imagine that BA tried to reopen the conversation with MB, but to no avail. MB remained too worried about BA's health and wanted to make sure that BA did the right thing.
Meanwhile, Steve Keim found himself in a very precarious position, because of the strong allegiance to both MB and BA. Keim wasn't happy about BA retiring, although he totally understood MB's stance. One might imagine that BA and SK had a few heart to heart conversations about it and that Keim, whom BA called his "little brother" was highly sympathetic toward BA and knew how badly BA wanted to stay on as coach. Keim may have gone a few times to MB to try to persuade him to let BA finish out his contract, but, again, MB wasn't going to budge. Imagine the fear and worry an owner would have of his coach suffering a heart attack in practice or on the sideline during a game. Those fears in MB were profound and impossible to allay or put aside.
If anyone remembers MB and SK's press conference that immediately followed BA's tearful retirement presser---it was very awkward to say the least. MB looked elated and almost giddy with excitement, while Keim looked as somber as if he had just lost his best friend.
Keim was not going to look elated at that press conference or at Wilks' introductory press conference out of allegiance to BA.
if you noticed---at Wilks' press conference---BA was not mentioned, not even once.
It was noteworthy that Wilks talked liked he had been extremely well versed in the exact changes and conditions that Michael Bidwill discussed with and commissioned from Wilks before Wilks accepted the job. Bidwill clearly wants a more diligent day to day approach and preparation, a staff of coaches who will "relate" to the players and not denigrate or belittle them (so as to improve player development), a higher level of player and coach accountability (one can imagine that Wilks has already agreed that if one of his coordinators is failing badly then he will need to be replaced asap---interssting too that they only signed Mike McCoy to a 2 year deal that feels like a "prove it" deal), that the players play with a passion and "physicality" every week, be it at home or on the road.
Bidwill has taken the bull by the horns and everything we are seeing, from BA's retirement to Wilks' hiring to SK's contract extension has been orchestrated by Bidwill as part of a strong, detailed blueprint as to how things are going to go from now on. The fact that Bidwill elected to give Steve Keim a contract extension through 2022, when Keim still had 2 years left on his existing deal basically was a statement that Keim was not to blame for the shortcomings of the past two years. Bidwill recognizes and respects how close Keim was to BA and how difficult it was to see BA go, but Bidwill wanted Keim to know how much he appreciates Keim's professionalism, loyalty and perseverance.
