Tag: Brian Schottenheimer

Report: Cowboys to hire Brian Schottenheimer in game-planning role

Schottenheimer, son of legendary head coach Marty, will chart league trends and help Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn implement ideas in Dallas. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys are apparently still adding to their coaching staff.

As per senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, the team is hiring Brian Schottenheimer into a newly-created role where he’ll track league trends. He’ll then help both offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in implementing ideas into their game plans in Dallas.

Schottenheimer served most recently as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Jacksonville last season. Prior to that, he spent three years as Seattle’s offensive coordinator.

The 48-year-old is the son of legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer, who passed away last year. Marty, coincidentally, gave Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy his first NFL job in 1993, hiring the Pitt graduate assistant as offensive quality control coach in Kansas City. It, too, was a job that didn’t exist at the time.

Over his own coaching career dating back to 1997, Brian has also been on staff with the Rams, Chiefs, Commanders (under their old name), Chargers, Jets, and Colts, and spent time in the college ranks at Syracuse, Southern Cal, and Georgia.

Schottenheimer’s game-planning role is said to be a unique one, though it sounds as though it will bear at least some resemblance to the position that Ben McAdoo filled last season on Mike McCarthy’s staff. McAdoo is now the head coach in Carolina after acting as a special assistant who did advance opponent scouting for the Cowboys.

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Greg Olsen clarifies critical comments about Seahawks offense

It’s also tough to blame Wilson for wanting out and getting to work with an offensive-minded head coach for a change. 

The divorce between Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his now-former franchise quarterback Russell Wilson will lead to a lot of juicy details about the fallout behind the scenes in the coming days and weeks. While the tension between Carroll’s desire for a conservative ball-control offense and Wilson’s go-deep instincts was there all along, there had to be key moments that led to this.

Some of the most interesting comments so far have come from former Seattle tight end Greg Olsen, who spent the 2020 NFL season with the Seahawks before retiring. Olsen is now a superb TV analyst for Fox Sports with an ability to explain the game in a relatable way that is only outmatched by CBS’s Tony Romo.

Anyway, Olsen recently clarified some critical remarks he made about the Seahawks offense during his time there.

While we don’t love the details, we understand Carroll deciding to trade Wilson when he did. It’s also tough to blame Wilson for wanting out and getting to work with an offensive-minded head coach for a change.

The offensive coordinator for the Sehawks that year was Brian Schottenheimer, who’s since been replaced by Shane Waldron. Schottenheimer (and Wilson) had issues adjusting to more two-safety looks in the second half of the season, which played a role in the team’s implosion down the stretch.

However, Carroll’s steadfast, stubborn refusal to embrace an aggressive, pass-first kind of offense was a problem throughout Wilson’s tenure with the team and the biggest reason why they have not won another Super Bowl.

Wilson may only have a few good years of football left in him. However, if Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett gets the right receivers around him and builds Wilson a half-decent offensive line he may finally get a few of those MVP votes he wants so badly.

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Darrell Bevell says he will likely hand play-calling duties off to Brian Schottenheimer vs. Jets

With Darrell Bevell moving into an interim head coach role, he says he’s likely to hand over play-calling duties to Brian Schottenheimer.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field Sunday, they will have a new play-caller directing the offense. According to interim head coach Darrell Bevell, who has called the plays all season, those responsibilities will be given to passing-game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as Bevell will have to move into the role of being an overall manager.

Bevell added that he’s confident in Schottenheimer, who isn’t foreign to calling plays and has done so before, like at his last stop with the Seattle Seahawks.

“Yeah, so what I’ve done, I’ve thought about it as I told you guys I would—I thought about it a lot, had some conversations with [Jaguars General Manager] Trent [Baalke] and everybody. I think what I’m going to do is I’m going to turn the play calling over to [Passing Game Coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer to really help on the offensive side of the ball. I think it helps us in a lot of ways. No. 1, it helps me take more on of the head coach role that I’m being asked to do, with that added responsibility.”

But also, we have another really accomplished play caller in our midst. We’ll be able to let Brian take an opportunity at it and put his own personality into the offense as well. We’ll be obviously in constant communication, we game plan together a lot anyways. So, I’m really confident and happy that I’m going to be able to turn that to him.”

With Schottenheimer set to take over calling the plays, he’ll be scheming against a New York Jets team that he once worked for and was the offensive coordinator for six seasons (2006-11). He split that time working under Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan, who brought in mixed results overall.

As an NFL play-caller for over 10 years, many felt it would be difficult for Bevell to relinquish something he’s done for so long, but he said his confidence in Schottenheimer helped, and having one less responsibility would make managing easier.

“I mean we’ll see,” he said when asked how hard it was to give up play-calling. “I know it’s going to be hard but one of the things I think that makes it easier for me is how much confidence I have in Schotty. He’s done a great job, he’s had a great career, so I have 100 percent confidence in him.”

Only time will tell if there is a drastic change in the Jags’ offensive performance as they’ve been anemic for the most part since the bye week. However, they were able to garner 16 points in their last game, which marked progress, and maybe there is something from Week 15’s game against Houston to build on for Schottenheimer.

Jaguars QB coach praises Trevor Lawrence’s ‘autonomy’ within the offense

Trevor Lawrence has been operating the Jags’ offense like a veteran, and passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer believes he’s thrived in the process.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence has made his fair share of jaw-dropping plays this season. But he’s also had his fair share of mistakes and passes that he would like to have back, and that is evidenced by his statline. His completion percentage is just 59.7%, and he has more interceptions (eight) than passing touchdowns (seven).

But one thing that the stats don’t measure is the level of freedom Lawrence has within the offense. While most rookie quarterbacks would be restricted and limited in their ability to call pre-snap audibles and protection checks at the line of scrimmage, that hasn’t been the case for Lawrence.

According to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer, Lawrence has a lot more responsibility at the line of scrimmage than most rookies do. And he has apparently handled that responsibility very well.

“I would say it’s unique for sure,” Schottenheimer said, per WJXT’s Jamal St. Cyr. “A lot of young quarterbacks I’ve been around haven’t had that autonomy, if you will. But he’s earned it. He’s earned the right to do it. When you come in and you look at the game and you see when we put him in those situations, whether it’s an alert from a run to a pass, or vice versa, or solving a protection problem, he’s right 90% of the time.”

Quarterbacks don’t get much credit when those things go right, but it’s easy to place the blame on them when they go wrong. But according to Schottenheimer, the coaching staff has not had to limit Lawrence’s pre-snap autonomy much at all.

“It’s something that if you go the other way and you’re making a bunch of mistakes, it’s easy to pull it back,” he said. “But we haven’t had to do that and will not do that just because he’s shown the ability to handle it.”

That’s certainly an excellent sign when it comes to Lawrence’s development, and it’s not a factor that the stat sheet will make clear. The rookie looks more and more comfortable every single week, and he will likely only see more responsibilities on the field as the season progresses.

Report: Jags expected to sign veteran TE Jacob Hollister

Veteran TE help is on the way for the #Jaguars as they are in the process of getting ready for their regular season opener.

Many fans had been waiting for the Jacksonville Jaguars to add some veteran help at the tight end position, and they plan to do just that shortly. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team is expected to sign veteran tight end Jacob Hollister soon.

Hollister, 27, is a familiar face to Jags passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who was his offensive coordinator for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. As mentioned above, Hollister was a surprise cut by the Buffalo Bills after he signed with them this offseason, and with him becoming available, the Jags jumped on the opportunity to bolster their roster.

Hollister originally went undrafted to the New England Patriots in 2017 out of Wyoming. He spent two seasons with them, then two with the Seahawks. Throughout those two runs, he accumulated 74 catches for 652 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The Jags likely feel his veteran presence will help rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jags’ young offense. He’ll join a tight ends group that has two veterans on it currently between James O’Shaughnessy and Chris Manhertz. The Jags named rookie tight end Luke Farrell to the final roster, too.

The Jags placed receiver Tavon Austin on injured reserve Thursday, which means they don’t have to let a player go to sign Hollister.  The Jags are currently at 22 offensive players and 28 on defense, so Hollister won’t clearly be the team’s lone offensive addition in the coming days.

Brian Schottenheimer tight-lipped on Jags’ starting quarterback situation

Though Trevor Lawrence is expected to win the job, the Jags’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach said no decision has been made.

Ever since Jacksonville secured the first-overall pick back in December, it was assumed that Trevor Lawrence would be the starting quarterback this fall. Though the rookie is well on his way after some impressive moments at minicamp despite recovering from shoulder surgery, it appears he hasn’t done enough to lock up the job, at least at this point.

According to ESPN’s Mike DiRocco, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer wouldn’t give a definitive answer when asked if there’s been a decision made.

“It’s still too early to say how this thing’s going to play out,” Schottenheimer said on Wednesday.

While there’s certainly some smoke and mirrors going on here, it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Lawrence will be ready to start Week 1. It’s not like the Jaguars necessarily need him to be, either.

He’s clearly the future, but the Jags still have a quarterback on the roster who’s thrown for 37 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions in two years in Gardner Minshew II. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Minshew wants to win the starting job in camp this fall. He’s a clear trade option for Jacksonville, but if no deal materializes and Lawrence isn’t ready for the opener against Houston, the cupboard is nowhere near bare.

Still, it would be at least a minor upset if Lawrence doesn’t start Week 1. Though he’s dealing with lingering issues from the surgery, it seems he’s getting closer and closer to 100% each day. He should be fully healthy by the fall, and it would likely take a herculean effort from Minshew to unseat him as the presumed starter, assuming he’s still on the roster at that point.

Trevor Lawrence ends minicamp on an impressive note

Lawrence ended his first NFL minicamp in impressive fashion and showcased his skills in the red zone during the Jags’ Tuesday practice.

After starting his first minicamp session as a limited participant due to a minor hamstring injury on Monday, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemingly used his “frustration” as fuel Tuesday to end the two-day period. In fact, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick appeared to be the star of Tuesday’s practice as the Jags slightly increased his reps, catching the eyes of many in attendance.

Per Mark Long of the Associated Press, Lawrence had his best day in the red-zone (where the offense struggled at times during OTAs). ESPN’s Michael DiRocco added that Lawrence’s ball placement and decision-making was solid on the day as the rookie’s hamstring appears to be getting better.

Jags fans couldn’t ask for a better ending to minicamp as Lawrence’s day is positive news for his stock report. Per Hays Carlyon of 1010XL and Jaguars reporter J.P. Shadrick, the two most notable passes everyone was raving about went to speedster Phillip Dorsett. One was in tight coverage and the other was a back-shoulder throw.

Lawrence’s day is a testament to what the coaches have been saying about his ability to bounce back and not get too high or low. It also speaks volumes about the coaching he’s receiving from coordinator Darrell Bevell and passing game assistant Brian Schottenheimer, both of whom he spoke on Monday.

“[The learning process with them] has been great. Obviously [they’re] two great offensive minds that have been able to work together and come up with a great scheme,” Lawrence said on Monday. “I think the best thing about the offense is it gives the quarterback a lot of answers. So, you have a lot of tools, you just have to know how to use them.

“That’s something for me, now that I pretty much know most of system, it’s figuring out how to put us in the best situation because Coach Bev[ell] and Coach Schotty give us answers. [It’s] just being able to use them, like I said, and that’s something that takes a little bit of practice and reps. It’s something that I’m not really that used to in college, so I think that we’re making great progress there.”

Now, it will be on Lawrence and his coaches to transfer their success to training camp when the pads go on. With that set to take place in late July, the young quarterback should be fully healed and ready to go for the phase of the offseason that will be the most important for him.

Trevor Lawrence ends minicamp on an impressive note

Lawrence ended his first NFL minicamp in impressive fashion and showcased his skills in the red zone during the Jags’ Tuesday practice.

After starting his first minicamp session as a limited participant due to a minor hamstring injury on Monday, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemingly used his “frustration” as fuel Tuesday to end the two-day period. In fact, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick appeared to be the star of Tuesday’s practice as the Jags slightly increased his reps, catching the eyes of many in attendance.

Per Mark Long of the Associated Press, Lawrence had his best day in the red-zone (where the offense struggled at times during OTAs). ESPN’s Michael DiRocco added that Lawrence’s ball placement and decision-making was solid on the day as the rookie’s hamstring appears to be getting better.

Jags fans couldn’t ask for a better ending to minicamp as Lawrence’s day is positive news for his stock report. Per Hays Carlyon of 1010XL and Jaguars reporter J.P. Shadrick, the two most notable passes everyone was raving about went to speedster Phillip Dorsett. One was in tight coverage and the other was a back-shoulder throw.

Lawrence’s day is a testament to what the coaches have been saying about his ability to bounce back and not get too high or low. It also speaks volumes about the coaching he’s receiving from coordinator Darrell Bevell and passing game assistant Brian Schottenheimer, both of whom he spoke on Monday.

“[The learning process with them] has been great. Obviously [they’re] two great offensive minds that have been able to work together and come up with a great scheme,” Lawrence said on Monday. “I think the best thing about the offense is it gives the quarterback a lot of answers. So, you have a lot of tools, you just have to know how to use them.

“That’s something for me, now that I pretty much know most of system, it’s figuring out how to put us in the best situation because Coach Bev[ell] and Coach Schotty give us answers. [It’s] just being able to use them, like I said, and that’s something that takes a little bit of practice and reps. It’s something that I’m not really that used to in college, so I think that we’re making great progress there.”

Now, it will be on Lawrence and his coaches to transfer their success to training camp when the pads go on. With that set to take place in late July, the young quarterback should be fully healed and ready to go for the phase of the offseason that will be the most important for him.

Jags’ Charlie Strong all but confirms Trevor Lawrence selection, talks about getting a QB

While he didn’t completely confirm what the team plans to do with the first pick, Strong offered some candor about the quarterback position.

Whenever a franchise selects first overall and don’t have a proven quarterback, it almost always chooses to address that position with the pick. This is the exact situation Jacksonville finds itself in, and it’s an open secret that the team plans to address the position with its first pick.

In an interview with reporter Anthony Amey, Jaguars assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach Charlie Strong said that the current coaching staff knows what it’s doing when it comes to developing a quarterback. Before working for the Lions, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell held the same position in Seattle where he helped develop Russell Wilson and led the unit to two Super Bowl appearances (including a win in Super Bowl XLVIII).

Meanwhile, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer succeeded Bevell in Seattle, where he worked for the last three years. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and the New York Jets as well as a stint at the college level with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Strong said the duo, with the leadership of head coach Urban Meyer, whose track record as an offensive coach at Ohio State, Florida, and prior jobs speaks for itself, knows what it’s doing when it comes to developing a quarterback.

“With Bevell being the offensive coordinator and then (coach Schottenheimer) being the quarterback coach, they have a track record of getting the quarterback ready,” he said. “And Urban’s an offensive guy, he’s driven, that’s his deal is offensive. So I think when they make that selection, which it’s been a lot poured into it so the groundwork has already been laid, so when they make that selection, everyone will be prepared to go.”

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In addition to basically stating that the team will take a quarterback with the first overall pick, Strong seemed to heavily imply who that quarterback will be. Though no one affiliated with the Jaguars has officially come out and said it, the predominant belief has been that they will take Clemson passer, Trevor Lawrence.

While Strong didn’t confirm this, he also seemed to concede that the team’s decision is already widely known.

“When you talk about the quarterback, whomever it may be — and everybody knows who it’s going to be, it’s no secret…”

The NFL draft is less than a week away, and soon the coaches won’t have to speak about Lawrence in such coded language. But for the time being, it seems Strong, who is very familiar with Meyer as the two worked together at Florida from 2005 until 2009, is confident in this coaching staff’s ability to prepare a quarterback.

Return to Jags feels like a homecoming for Carlos Hyde

The former Seattle running back had relationships with a number of people on staff, and he called signing with the Jags a “no-brainer.”

Running back Carlos Hyde, one of several free-agent additions for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, played one season of his career with the team in 2018. But with the new regime, Jacksonville now feels more like home than ever.

Hyde has a prior relationship with several people within the Jags staff, but the most obvious connection is the head coach. Urban Meyer was Hyde’s college coach at Ohio State, where he guided him to a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2013.

Hyde said that when his contract with Seattle expired, the move he needed to make was obvious.

“It was a no-brainer for me once I saw Coach [Urban] Meyer become the head coach here,” he said. “I had good years with Coach Meyer at Ohio State and honestly, I’ve been waiting for Coach Meyer to become a head coach in the NFL… I feel like eventually, he would have made his way to the NFL. I’m happy he decided to do that now, while I’m still playing. I’m excited that he’s here now.”

Meyer has no NFL coaching experience, even as an assistant coach. But Hyde said he’s not worried about Meyer’s ability to make the transition.

“Because one thing about Coach Meyer, it’s all about winning,” Hyde said. “So, he’s just going to figure it out, how to get the wins, how to consistently get wins, how to get a lot of wins, to build a winning program here, build the right culture, get the right guys in here… When he’s not around, you know you’ve got guys here in there that he can count on that are keeping the culture alive, keeping guys bought in into the program.”

Not only is Hyde extremely familiar with Meyer and his coaching style, but with the Jaguars in 2021, he will be able to maintain some systematic continuity. His offensive coordinator from last season with the Seahawks, Brian Schottenheimer, was hired to be the Jags’ passing game coordinator.

“…it’s a good thing for me, you know a familiar face,” Hyde said. “I’m sure the offense will be familiar, I’m sure [coach Schottenheimer will] [be] adding something familiar, what we did in Seattle. But you know, it’s good to see familiar faces. Schotty has been great, he’s definitely going to help me continue to be the player I am, come in and just handle my business.”

If that weren’t enough to convince Hyde to sign with the Jags, their new general manager, Trent Baalke, held the same role with the San Francisco 49ers for Hyde’s first three years with the team from 2014-16. He’s now back with the GM that drafted him in the second round back in 2014.

“Trent [and I] had a good relationship,” he said. “I haven’t seen him in a while. We always kept in contact through somebody, there was always a middleman telling me, ‘Trent said hello,’ and I’d tell the person back, ‘Well, you tell him—.’ It’s finally good to see him though, in-person and be back around him. I had a good time with Trent also when I was in San Fran.”

When asked which of those three connections was the main catalyst behind his decision to come to Jacksonville, Hyde didn’t hesitate to answer.

“It was Coach Meyer. Coach Meyer made it all happen,” he said. “Once I saw Coach Meyer become the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, I already knew where I was going.”

The 30-year-old will hope familiarity leads to success as he joins last year’s starter James Robinson in a backfield that should be one of the league’s better units in 2021.