The Jags want to speak with the man behind the No. 1 ranked offense in football (at least for now) as they begin their search for a new coach.
Thanks to a new league rule passed recently the Jacksonville Jaguars can start their process of interviewing head coaching candidates today even though two games remain. They reportedly had interest in many candidates who are currently in the league, which makes sense after they fired Urban Meyer this month, whose lack of NFL experience showed.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, one of the coaches the Jags have reached out to is Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is regarded as one of the brightest young offensive minds in football. He’s held his title with the team since 2019 and was their quarterbacks coach prior in 2018, which was his rookie season as a coach.
Jaguars have requested permission to interview both Cowboys coordinators, DC Dan Quinn and OC Kellen Moore for their HC job, per league sources.
Moore, 33, is one of the key reasons the Cowboys have a 11-4 record and were able to claim the NFC East title this Sunday. Currently, his offense is ranked first overall in the NFL with a 409.5 yard average per game and are ranked third in passing (293.4 yard average per game) and sixth in terms of their rushing average (126.9 yard per game average). That could be music to the ears of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is expected to be a focal point of the coaching search and has struggled during his rookie campaign.
Moore could also be a good fit for Lawrence due to having experience as a player in the NFL as it wasn’t that long ago that he was in the NFL after tenures with both the Detroit Lions (2012-14) and Dallas Cowboys (2015-17). Under those two teams, he was coached by head coaches Jim Schwartz, Jim Caldwell (another candidate of interest for the Jags) and Jason Garrett, respectively.
Per a report from John Hoover of All Sooners on SI, the Oklahoma Sooners are planning an introductory press conference for their next Head Coach.
Though it’s just been six days since the shot heard ’round the college football world, it feels like forever since Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for the USC Trojans.
However, the future is just around the corner. It appears the Sooners are closing in on the next head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team.
Multiple sources close to the situation have confirmed to SI Sooners that plans are being made for OU athletic director Joe Castiglione to stage an introductory press conference on Sunday or possibly early Monday. – Hoover, All Sooners on SI
While Brent Venables has been a hot name connected to the Oklahoma Sooners job, Joe Castiglione indicated earlier this week that the Sooners may want to talk to head coaches involved in conference title games this weekend. That could include Baylor’s Dave Aranda, Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell or Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning.
Though the search for Oklahoma’s next head coach isn’t over, according to this report, it looks like it’s drawing to a close. Despite the coaching change, the Sooners have retained much of their 2022 recruiting class. Finding the next leader of the program will help the Sooners get back on their feet for 2023.
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There seems to be a trend with hiring coaches for top 15 programs, but we know that Scott Woodward likes to flip the script.
To hire a Power Five head coach or not to hire a Power five head coach, that is the question. I am pretty sure that is what William Shakespeare said so many years ago.
Shea Dixon of Geaux247 writes that for the current top 15 programs, hiring a head coach from a Power Five school is not the normal way to go. We have all figured that with Scott Woodward’s history that the next head coach would be coaching somewhere else this season.
Names of Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M), Mel Tucker (Michigan State), James Franklin (Penn State), Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma), and Dave Aranda (Baylor) have all been linked at one point or another since September. It was kicked into hyperdrive when the announcement came down of the separation agreement between LSU and current head coach Ed Orgeron.
Promoted from current staff to head coach: 4/15 … Cristobal, Day, Gundy, Riley
Coordinator at another school: 4/15 … Kirby, Fickell, Aranda, Sitake
Head coach at Power 5 program: 2/15 … Tucker, Chryst
Head coach at Group of 5 program: 3/15 … Kelly, Clawson, Kiffin
Two of 15 were Power Five head coaches. Mel Tucker, who we have discussed at great lengths, and Paul Chryst of Wisconsin. Chryst was the head coach of Pittsburgh before returning to Madison where he was on the staff as the offensive coordinator in 2005-11. In 2005, Chryst was the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach before moving to quarterbacks and the primary play-caller in 2006.
We have seen more coaches from the Group of Five than the Power Five. Lane Kiffin, Brian Kelly, and Dave Clawson. Interestingly enough, Clawson had just one year of experience at the P5 level. Kelly had absolutely no experience at the P5 level and we know all about the history of Kiffin.
Coordinators from other schools and from within have been a common move but looking at the LSU staff there is no clearcut answer. Much the reason Woodward asked Orgeron to finish out the 2021 season as the head coach. Hiring a coordinator has only happened under Woodward once when he went with a hotshot offensive mind in Steve Sarkisian.
Would Dave Aranda take LSU over USC if offered? Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire weighs in.
The hot names at the moment when it comes to the LSU Tigers and USC Trojans head coach search seem to be Dave Aranda and Lincoln Riley. Riley more so for the Bayou Bengals, and even that feels like a smokescreen. However, we will focus on the former defensive coordinator that helped this defense win a national championship in 2019.
With Aranda’s name popping up recently for both the Trojans and Tigers vacancies, the question is who would he likely go with? Matt Zemek, the Trojans Wire editor weighed in on the subject.
“USC fans that worried about James Franklin going to an SEC school were always mindful of the reality that if USC and LSU (hypothetically) got into a bidding war for Franklin, LSU would be able to offer more money. Though Franklin is not believed to be a serious candidate at LSU right now, the same dynamics apply to a Dave Aranda fight between the Trojans and Tigers. If USC and LSU both want Dave Aranda, LSU is more likely to get him. That statement isn’t meant to diminish USC or deliver a backhanded criticism at the Trojans. It’s simply a reality that SEC schools have more leverage and money and are better positioned to offer a king’s ransom to the coaches they want. I don’t know if Dave Aranda is LSU’s No. 1 target, but I do know that if LSU wants him, LSU has a really good chance of landing him at this point.” – Zemek, Trojans Wire
It’s no secret that Aranda’s family enjoyed their time in Baton Rouge. What is that old saying, “if momma isn’t happy nobody is happy?” We know it is more than just the family dynamic but LSU can offer more money than both USC and Baylor.
Aranda has two games left with Baylor with a Big 12 title game appearance up for grabs. If he can turn around that program, there is no question he can make LSU a consistent contender once again.
Despite the fact that there is a game on Saturday against ULM, the only hot topic surrounds the head coaching search. While no one really has a gauge on what will transpire, we continue the conversation on potential candidates.
Depending on which outlet you read, you could get a completely different list of guys so we will go through the most likely. Many believe that the hire will be flashy or a big fish. But what if it isn’t one of the two most talked-about guys?
What if LSU strikes out on top candidates?
(Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP)
This is the first major hire as the LSU athletic director for Scott Woodward. That isn’t to downplay bringing in multi-national champion-winning coach Kim Mulkey to run the women’s basketball program. No one is saying that Jay Johnson wasn’t a big hire for the baseball program, especially after he signed the No. 1 rated recruiting class.
When it comes to football it is a completely different animal, especially in the SEC. The LSU football program is one of the top 10 most valuable in the country, so nailing this hire is key. Especially after the Les Miles debacle and what they went through with Ed Orgeron. Sure they won national championships but they have left negative impacts on the culture of the Tigers. Based on the number of dollars it is costing LSU to get rid of Orgeron, they can’t miss. But what if they don’t get the “big fish.”
CBS Sports previously reported Michigan State coach Mel Tucker would be interested in LSU. Athletic director Scott Woodward continues to search for a monster hire. His presumed No. 1 target, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, reiterated his intention to stay with the Aggies on Monday.
Reports have surfaced that Tucker has a long-term deal in hand to stay with Michigan State. Fisher continues to state that he isn’t going anywhere.
[lawrence-related id=30090]
Just spit ballin’ here, but let’s go through some of those other names.
Mel Tucker? Matt Campbell? Lincoln Riley? Dave Aranda? Billy Napier? A lot of names to sort through.
Everyone on the Bayou has one question on their mind. Who will be the next head coach of the LSU Tigers, and that is a loaded question.
You know the big names being tied to the job. Is it really coming down to Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher or Michigan State’s Mel Tucker? Are there more names involved?
Fisher denied any speculation about the LSU job in his press conference in which he said “I’m not going anywhere.” Tucker is perceived to have an offer in his hands to stay in East Lansing for the foreseeable future. Is it true that neither is looking at LSU or are we getting some misdirection?
We look at what industry experts and insiders are talking about.
With any high-profile head coaching job being open there will be plenty of names associated with it. From James Franklin to Mel Tucker to Lane Kiffin, it seems every major head coach in the Power Five is going mentioned. A couple of Group of Five coaches as well with Luke Fickell of Cincinnati and Billy Napier in nearby Lafayette with the Ragin Cajuns.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic mentioned the names of Tucker and more recently Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. On Tuesday when he met with the media Swinney was asked about the job in Death Valley. According to Zach Lentz of All Clemson (Sports Illustrated), the two-time national championship-winning coach played it off.
Dabo on the LSU job: What? I made a big-time list? I'm big time?…this is the only Death Valley I'm worried about.
It appears that just about every coach is being asked about the job in their weekly press conferences, and every single one of them is playing it off. Not surprising at all, it would be in poor taste for a coach to admit that he is interested in the open job. That is a job for representation and agents to do the talking behind the scenes.
Most of the coaches mentioned are in contention for conference championships or chasing a College Football Playoff berth. We have also recently heard from Jimbo Fisher, who has been associated with the job in the last two head coaching searches.
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We likely won’t know who a front-runner candidate is for some time. The early favorites right now are in the Big Ten with Franklin and Tucker.
Jags owner Shad Khan has officially relieved Doug Marrone of his duties and discussed his commitment to getting things right afterward.
The Jacksonville Jaguars can now be added to the list of teams who have a head coaching vacancy to fill this offseason. As expected, the team relieved Doug Marrone of his duties today, marking the first firing of Black Monday.
Not too soon after, owner Shad Khan released the following statement:
I am committed and determined to deliver winning football to the City of Jacksonville,” Khan said the statement. “Realizing that goal requires a fresh start throughout our football operations, and with that in mind, I spoke this morning with Doug Marrone to express my gratitude for his hard work over the past four seasons as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. I’ll always appreciate Doug’s passion, grit and class, and I’m confident he will enjoy success in the next chapter of his career.
As the search for our new general manager continues, now the quest begins to find a head coach who shares my ambition for the Jacksonville Jaguars and our fans, whose loyalty and faith are overdue to be rewarded.
Marrone, 56, joined the Jags as an assistant coach in 2016 when former coach Gus Bradley hired him on to the staff. He eventually climbed the pecking order and was named the Jags’ coach in 2017 after Bradley was fired. He was able to get immediate results by going to the AFC Championship during his first year, but it all fell apart afterward.
Marrone will finish his career with the Jags with a 23-43 record and a 2-1 postseason record. Overall, that puts him at a 38-60 figure when considering his time as the Buffalo Bills’ coach.
Now, it’s on Khan to find someone who can turn things around for the Jags who have the most attractive general manager and head coach openings in the NFL. With a boatload of cap space, patient ownership, 11 draft picks, and a clear path to Trevor Lawrence if he declares, the phones will be ringing off their bases for interest in the job.
What’s the hold up? Here’s a theory as to why Jason Garrett is still technically the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
Everyone on the outside expected Jason Garrett to be gone by now.
Heck, the Cowboys organization has more leaks than a dude in a fishnet stocking mask live-streaming himself robbing a swiss-cheese bakery… almost everyone inside the organization expected Garrett to be gone by now, too. One local TV anchor went so far as to tweet the entire staff was fired on Monday, but here the Dallas Cowboys are on Thursday afternoon and not a single move has been announced.
Owner Jerry Jones, 77, and his son Stephen cancelled their Tuesday afternoon radio spots on New Year’s Eve. No move was made on New Year’s Day and now Day 2 of the 2020 calendar and there’s been less movement than my Golden-Globe-worthy tree stump performance in the third-grade play. I was rivetingly grounded, but this is ridiculous, right?
Just one coaching staff member, who like Garrett and at least 15 others in the Cowboys employ have expiring/expired contracts, has been identified as interviewing elsewhere. That would be passing game coordinator and defensive play caller Kris Richard who is being screened by the New York Giants as this is being typed. Other than that, though, there’s a bunch of limbo and countless articles and social media discussions being had.
Everyone has a theory, and though I purposely avoided the topic for so long, something has to be written. I have no concrete evidence about what is transpiring, but neither do a lot of the insiders who have now written seven or eight articles by now, but I do want to gather my thoughts, just for posterity. Here are two thoughts I have about why Garrett is still employed. They are intertwined, but focus on two separate incidents that lead me to one quicksand-based stance.
The Tony Romo Factor
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Remember back in 2016, when Tony Romo broke his back for the 17th time (exaggeration) and Dak Prescott took over as the No. 1 QB? That was the summertime, and through the amazing start Prescott had, week after week Cowboys Nation was ready, willing and anticipating the return of Romo.
Even Jones himself spoke glowingly about Romo returning to lead the playoff run almost up until the exact moment Romo took to the podium and relinquished his claim to the throne so Prescott could reign unimpeded.
Why bring this all up?
The following offseason, a still-under-contract Romo was the talk of the football universe as free agency approached. Were the Cowboys going to hold him to his contract and absorb the huge cap hit for a backup? Could they afford to? Which team was he going to be traded to? There were rumors everywhere as people tried to find the right fit. Finally, after 27 days of free agency, Romo retired on April 4 once he secured a gig as the next broadcast analyst superstar for CBS.
Almost a month went by, with Jerry Jones and the organization allowing themselves to be chastised by their fans, national media and any and everybody with a pulse about how they were doing Romo wrong by not trading or releasing him.
In reality, the Joneses were providing Romo cover; paying homage to someone who literally traded his future quality of life in the joint effort to win a Super Bowl. Romo was allowed to sift through employment choices, see what kind of interest there was for him in several different fields, while the Cowboys organization took shots to the chin as their loyalty and compassion was spoken of as incompetency.
Sound familiar?
My working theory, which I have no idea whether or not it’s wholly or partially true, is that the Cowboys are giving Garrett a chance to find out whether or not he is desired by one of the three other NFL clubs who currently have a head coach opening.
The Joneses are perfectly fine with being painted as incompetent here to allow Garrett a few days to test the waters and see what there is of interest on the coaching circuit.
And if he doesn’t find any of the current openings interested in him?
Well, he’s able to return to the organization in some capacity.
The Draft Commandment Invoked Early
Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports
Remember a few weeks ago, Jerry Jones went on the radio and talked about how difficult it would be for him to hire a collegiate coach. The reason why? Because the college coaches were busy on Sundays when the NFL was having their games. College coaches were reviewing their team’s Saturday game film and Jones thought it was going to take a long learning curve for them to acclimate themselves with the personnel at the professional level.
Earlier in the decade, I began chronicling a tell-tale accurate accounting of things relative to identifying the Cowboys’ plans during draft season. Often imitated, and sometimes outright plagiarized by some of the same folks milking the Garrett decision for every click possible, here was the 2019 version. The key commandment being invoked here? Listen to Jerry’s words, because he normally is telling the truth about his intentions.
We know of course that Jones’ only success as an NFL owner/GM has been with inexperienced former college head coaches. Both Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer were hired directly out of college jobs and they are the only hires who have brought Jones championships.
So what if Jones is hedging his bets?
What if Jones has a college head coach in mind, whether it be Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, Baylor’s Matt Rhule, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh or (gasp) Alabama’s Nick Saban, and if Garrett doesn’t have a head coaching gig lined up, Jones wants him to serve as a senior advisor?
Not a GM, the Cowboys’ owner sees himself as the GM, the team has been steadily handing over more of these responsibilities to Stephen over the years and Will McClay is likely untouchable as the director of player personnel with a stellar track record since taking that role over in 2014. But as a senior advisor? The guy there to be a guiding hand to a college head coach and a new staff?
Jones is crazy enough to think such a hierarchy will succeed.
Jones would have the best of both worlds in that scenario. Garrett would be able to dish out all the dirt his brilliant and well-prepared (though slow to adjust in-game) Princeton mind on the Cowboys’ opponents. The owner would be able to keep Garrett employed in some fashion if the rest of the NFL world wasn’t interested in hiring him for 2020, and also allow Jones to dip into the pool of collegiate coaching talent.
Is this what’s happening?
Maybe.
Probably not.
But if you’ve been spending the last four days waiting on the shoe to drop, this might be the most entertaining theory you come across while we all wait on things to play out.
Fast-forward 17 days and we have found claims that Florida State is indeed interested in Notre Dame’s Kelly as their next head coach.
When Florida State fired head coach Willie Taggart back on November 3 we were quick to tell you to be on the lookout for rumors about whoever your favorite head coach is to be taking the job in Tallahassee, Brian Kelly included.
Fast-forward 17 days and we have found claims that Florida State is indeed interested in Notre Dame’s Kelly as their next head coach.
“Two people have told us FSU has interest in Brian Kelly”
“There’s a little bit of question about the fit, but the proven track record of hiring assistant coaches and having them get promoted to other jobs and hiring new ones who are as good or better is really impressive.”
“He’s a really good recruiter with his staff. I think he knows what goes on in the south east, because we know he’s recruited some of these guys, and not always gotten them, but we know that’s due to some of the academic stuff”
-NoleCast Podcast on November 19, 2019
Elliott and Smith also discuss how Notre Dame’s academic standards and the difficulty winning big with them creates would make the Florida State job appealing to Kelly.
I get where they’re coming from and if you’re Florida State you should be looking anywhere and everywhere for a proven coach who is going to turn their recent sorry state of affairs around. As much as I’m not a Florida State fan, they’re a team that the game of college football, or at least the ACC, is just better when they’re good.
My only question though: Why would Kelly have any interest in going to a Florida State program where a massive rebuild is needed just to get in the same ballpark as Clemson, let alone pass them?
How likely is it to happen?
On a scale of “Beating Bowling Green to Lennay Kekua” I’d be somewhere near George O’Leary but short of Kekua.
