139th Annual Ass. Coach Mock

I always get a kick out of writing "Assistant" that way and like to do that to my Asst Chief.  We signed up for a conference a few years back and he told me to handle the paperwork.  I asked him if was sure and he insisted, so he went on to wear a name badge the entire week that read, "ASS CHIEF PHILLIPS".

I thought I would take a few minutes and put together a list for Todd Haley to consider when choosing, and yes WE DEMAND YOU CHOOSE, an Offensive Coordinator and a  NEW Defensive Coordinator.  Many assistant coaches who already hold the position of  Coordinator will not or can not make a lateral move so I have concentrated on a list I think that meets the criteria for one of these two coordinator positions we need next year.

I am on the list of those who believe we absolutely settled for a Defensive Coordinator and possibly chose to retain Chan Gailey simply because the right man for the job wasn’t available when it came time to select them. Well now it is time to search for the right guy and lets get the RIGHT person and not look back as we take on the world next year.

Ok, lets get to it.  I may have some names not many have thought of, but should be considered, in my humble opinion. I think Weis and Crennel have been beat to death around here and everyone knows about them. So I am going to try and bring a few names and some background to help you form a better opinion of who would be good candidates.

Offensive Coordinator

Clyde Christensen – Indianapolis Colts – Asst Coach/Wide Receivers Coach

Clyde Christensen enters his first season as assistant head coach/wide receivers coach of the Colts. This marks his eighth season with the club. Christensen joined Indianapolis from Tampa Bay, where he served as offensive coordinator during the 2001 season.

In 2008, Christensen’s receiving corps continued producing outstanding numbers. The receivers helped Manning produce his league-best ninth 4,000+ season. In 2007, with the performances of Manning (4,040), Wayne and RB-Joseph Addai (1,072), Indianapolis earned its NFL-record seventh offense with a 4,000+ passer and 1,000+ rusher and receiver. In the NFL’s 89 seasons, the Colts own seven of the league’s 32 such offenses. In 2004, Christensen’s unit had one of the best seasonal performances in NFL history. Harrison (86-1,113, 15 TDs), Wayne (77-1,210, 12 TDs) and WR-Brandon Stokley (68-1,077, 10 TDs) became the first NFL receiving trio to post 1,000+-yardage and 10+-touchdown seasons. Christensen spent six seasons at Tampa Bay, tutoring tight ends from 1996-98 and quarterbacks from 1999-00 before being promoted to offensive coordinator. In 2001, WR-Keyshawn Johnson (106 receptions) and QB-Brad Johnson (340 completions) posted franchise seasonal marks. Christensen helped the late-season development of rookie QB-Shaun King in 1999. King led Tampa Bay to four wins late wins for the NFC Central title, becoming then the second rookie quarterback since the 1970 Merger to win a playoff game. Before joining Tampa Bay, Christensen was 1994-95 co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Clemson. From 1992-93, he served as quarterbacks coach at Maryland. He was receivers/tight ends coach at Holy Cross in 1989, then was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1990. From 1986-88, Christensen was offensive coordinator, running backs and quarterbacks coach and in charge of recruiting at East Carolina. Christensen oversaw quarterbacks and wide receivers at Temple from 1983-85, after serving as quarterbacks and receivers coach at East Tennessee State from 1980-82. Christensen was an All-America quarterback at Fresno City Junior College in 1975. He continued his collegiate career as a QB at North Carolina, where he lettered from 1977-78, as the school earned Peach and Liberty Bowl bids.

Gary Kubiak – Head Coach (for now) Houston texans

In just three seasons at the helm, Kubiak has become the winningest head coach in Texans history with 22 career victories, including the two best seasons in team history. One of Kubiak’s primary goals upon arriving in Houston was to create a home field advantage at Reliant Stadium, and he has made great strides in that direction. The Texans have posted a 16-8 home record since 2006, including 6-2 marks in both of the last two seasons. Kubiak came to Houston with the reputation of being an offensive mastermind and has lived up to that billing in his first three years with the team. In 48 games under Kubiak, Houston has averaged 331.6 yards per game compared to an average 266.5 yards per game from 2002-05. The scoring average under Kubiak also has risen by nearly five points versus prior to his arrival. The most dramatic improvement has been made by the offensive line. After giving up a league-worst 68 sacks in 2005, the line has allowed an average of 32.3 per season under Kubiak. This has allowed the passing game to flourish, averaging more than 60 yards per game better than in the franchise’s first four years. The line also allowed the Texans' rushing attack to average 106.6 yards per game over the last three years. Kubiak has made a habit of surrounding himself with great coaches throughout his tenure in Houston. One of his first hires in 2006 was former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman, who served as the assistant head coach/offense and then offensive coordinator in Kubiak’s first two seasons. In 2008, Kubiak bolstered his staff with two of the brightest minds in football, hiring venerable offensive line guru Alex Gibbs as the assistant head coach/offense and 1995 NFL Coach of the Year Ray Rhodes as the assistant defensive backs coach. Rhodes now serves as the team's senior defensive assistant. Kubiak spent 20 of the previous 23 years in the Denver area, where he earned a reputation as a brilliant offensive mastermind. He played for the Broncos from 1983-91 as the backup for Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Kubiak played in 119 games during his career and tossed 14 touchdowns in that span. During his time as a player in the Mile High City, he was a part of three teams that reached the Super Bowl.

Kubiak began his coaching career in 1992-93 as the running backs coach at his alma mater Texas A&M. Under Kubiak’s watchful eye, running back Greg Hill was named second team All-America his junior year. Hill was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1994 draft. Kubiak started his NFL coaching career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. As quarterbacks coach, he guided Hall of Famer Steve Young to his best season as a pro. Young was named the NFL MVP for the second time in his career. Under Kubiak’s tutelage, Young had a career high 70.3 completion percentage. He threw 35 touchdowns, passed for 3,969 yards and set an NFL record with a 112.8 passer rating, a mark that would stand for 10 seasons. In the spring of 1995, Kubiak returned to the Broncos as offensive coordinator, where he would steer Denver to the organization’s best numbers in team history and help lead the team to seven postseason trips and two Super Bowl titles in 11 seasons. Kubiak began his tenure in Denver as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to his former teammate, Elway. Kubiak made an immediate impact as Elway threw for 3,970 yards, the second-best mark of his Hall of Fame career. Elway increased his touchdown passes from 16 in 1994 to 26 in 1995. During the final four years of his career (1995-98), Elway tossed 101 touchdown passes, second only to Brett Favre in that span. Kubiak’s offenses always have been based on balance. The Broncos’ running game focused around a strong system instead of an individual. Broncos runners topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark 10 seasons out of 11 during Kubiak's tenure. Denver saw five different runners rush for more than 1,000 yards, more than any team in the NFL over that 11-year period. In the 11 years with Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the Broncos amassed 66,501 total yards and 465 touchdowns, most in the NFL in that span. Kubiak has coached 14 different Broncos that made the Pro Bowl. Denver’s rushing attack has totaled 25,022 yards, most in the NFL over the last 11 seasons.

Defensive Coordinator (I’m only going to name two)

Keith Butler – Pittsburg Steelers LB Coach

Keith Butler enters his seventh year on the Steelers’ coaching staff after joining the staff prior to the 2003 season. Butler and Tomlin previously worked together at Memphis in 1996, where Butler was the linebackers/defensive ends/special teams coach and Tomlin served as the Tigers defensive backs coach.

Butler was named the Steelers’ linebackers coach Jan. 28, 2003, after serving the previous four seasons in a similar capacity with the Cleveland Browns (1999-02).

Butler has been instrumental in the development of the Steelers’ highly regarded linebacking corps.. The linebacker unit as a whole was a key reason behind the Steelers finishing the regular season first overall in total defense and against the pass, and second against the run. Butler was also named NFL Linebacker Coach of the Year by Pro Football Weekly. In 2006, Butler’s linebacking crew helped the Steelers rank second in the AFC and third in the NFL in rushing defense. The unit allowed just 88.3 rushing yards per game and helped the defense to not allow a 100-yard rusher the entire season. In 2005, Butler’s linebackers helped the Steelers lead the AFC and rank fourth in the NFL in total defense. The sack tandem of Joey Porter (10.5) and Clark Haggans (9.0) ranked as the best for a linebacker duo in the entire NFL. Prior to joining the Browns’ staff, Butler spent nine years coaching in the college ranks, beginning his coaching career at his alma mater, Memphis, where he coached linebackers from 1990-97 and also coached defensive ends and special teams (1995-97). He then served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arkansas State in 1998.

Butler, 52, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played linebacker for 10 seasons (1978-87) with Seattle.

Ray Horton - Pittsburg Steelers Secondary Coach

Ray Horton is in his third season as defensive backs coach after serving the previous three seasons as assistant defensive backs coach. He was promoted to his current position after Mike Tomlin was hired in January, 2007. Horton has helped perennial Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu become one of the NFL’s top safeties as Polamalu has been to the past five Pro Bowls. Horton has accumulated 15 years of NFL coaching experience following a solid 10-year NFL playing career. Prior to his Steelers’ appointment on Jan. 24, 2004, Horton spent the previous two seasons at Detroit as the Lions’ secondary coach. Horton, who enters his 16th season coaching in the National Football League, received his first coaching opportunity as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Washington Redskins, where he coached Hall of Famer Darrell Green from 1994-96. He then was hired as defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (1997-01). Horton played cornerback for the Bengals from 1983-88 and played in Super Bowl XXIII. He finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-92 and was a member of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl XXVII Championship squad. Horton played at the University of Washington, where he earned All Pac-10 honors. He was a second-round selection by the Bengals in the 1983 NFL Draft (53rd overall).

Teams love coaches from winning organizations, and Butler and Horton have learned all about the Steelers, and their ways, since 2004.

I don’t think Kubiak makes it past this season unless they have a miracle turn around. Unless Shanny gets a job and recruits him first, we could have a chance at him.

Indianapolis has always been in the top 10 offenses since Peyton arrived and have always had good offensive minds coaching them.

Winning organizations hire winning coaches. These four men know how to win and with the exception of Kubiak’s tenure in Houston, he is a charm all by himself calling plays.