Tag: joe bleymaier

5 offensive coordinator candidates still coaching the Browns could be waiting on

Could the Browns be waiting to hire an OC until they can interview someone who is still currently coaching?

The Cleveland Browns have yet to hire an offensive coordinator. Could they be waiting on the likes of Klint Kubiak or Joe Bleymaier to end their season first?

The Browns cannot currently interview any coaches of teams still playing football. This means if there is a candidate they like to fill their vacancy at offensive coordinator on the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, or Kansas City Chiefs, they will need to wait for their season to end first.

Two of those teams will be freed up by the end of today.

This could explain why they have yet to hire a new offensive coordinator despite interviewing five different candidates, including Kellen Moore and Jerrod Johnson. However, are they done interviewing candidates as the search enters its third week?

Here are five candidates the Browns could be waiting to interview instead of jumping the gun and hiring someone without doing their complete due diligence.

Joe Bleymaier says there is ‘no limit’ for Kadarius Toney in Chiefs’ offense

#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier is very optimistic about what the future holds for Kadarius Toney in Kansas City.

The future is bright for Kansas City Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney.

The second-year wideout had to get acclimated on the fly in Kansas City after his trade for the New York Giants in October, but it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. His natural athletic ability was something that flashed right away that the Chiefs were able to capitalize on to the tune of over 200 total yards and three touchdowns in 7 regular season games.

“With the athletic ability that is obvious to everybody, the sky’s the limit for him as a receiver,” Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier told a friend of the site, Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna, during Super Bowl media week. “When you get him [in a trade] in-season, our main focus was just getting him comfortable and getting him to be able to operate. He’s so smart and has such a good memory that he was able to pick everything up quick. So he got comfortable with the offense very quickly. And then it was just about managing the load and where he fit in with all the other pieces midseason.”

Getting Toney up to speed wasn’t the easiest process as he battled a hamstring injury that plagued him even in New York. He was on the field for more than 44% of the offensive snaps in a single game this season. That said, Kansas City’s wide receiver coach still has plenty of optimism for the future.

“It’ll be all about how can we take what we built off this year and just expand his role however it goes — whether it’s downfield stuff, whether it’s more in the backfield,” Bleymaier said. “And with his intelligence, he can do it all. It’s just now building off what we did and then kind of fitting in complementary parts with every other part of the offense. But it’s definitely exciting. And there is no limit with the glimpse that we’ve had from midseason till now.”

Continuing to build on 2022 with a no-ceilings approach regarding his talent should allow the Chiefs to unlock a Kadarius Toney that we’ve yet to see at the NFL level.

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Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier discusses Skyy Moore’s growth

#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier shared his thoughts on rookie WR Skyy Moore’s growth over the course of the season. | from @EdEastonJr

The rookie season for Kansas City Chiefs receiver Skyy Moore has had its share of highs and lows. The low points were mainly focused on his troubles as a punt returner while showing optimistic potential as a receiver in the offense.

Moore has leaned on the various veteran receivers on the roster for guidance and position coach Joe Bleymaier has taken notice. The latter shared his thoughts on Moore’s growth over the season with reporters ahead of Thursday’s practice.

“Yeah, I think that’s accurate,” said Bleymaier. “He has adopted that approach where he’s just got to learn everything just like the veteran guys. They’ve (the veterans) showed him a great model of behavior in the classroom and then on the practice field, and then he’s gone out and made plays when he’s been given the opportunity. The best thing he does is he comes in each week, and whether we run the play one time or a hundred on the practice field, he treats it as that most important rep. (He) goes through the mental different variations of the coverages and comes over and asks questions which is a veteran move because on Sunday you could see any look.”

Bleymaier has coached different roles for the Chiefs since 2016 and is in his second season as the wide receivers coach. He was teammates in college at the University of Delaware with general manager Brett Veach and current quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy. This has been his first opportunity to develop a receiver fresh out of college and we’re now seeing that in full effect as Moore continues to show promise in the offense.

Moore has fumbled three punt returns and was replaced by Justin Watson as the primary returner this past game with injuries to Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney. Despite the struggles on special teams, he has taken advantage of the extra opportunities at receiver, recording ten receptions over the last two games.

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Joe Bleymaier explains Chiefs WR Skyy Moore’s early success in training camp

#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier isn’t surprised by Skyy Moore’s early success at training camp: “Skyy has come in and he wants to be perfect.”

Skyy Moore has been one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie standouts through a dozen full training camp practices.

Not only is the rookie making highlight-reel plays on offense, but he’s also earning the trust of his quarterbacks. After winning so many repetitions in practice as a receiver, the coaching staff has been exploring the different things that he can do. They’re getting him involved as a punt and kick returner. They’re even lining him up in the backfield at running back.

Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier isn’t surprised by the success the second-round draft pick has seen so far. He says that the rookie has come into the NFL with the right mentality.

“Skyy (Moore) has come in and he wants to be perfect,” Bleymaier told reporters on Tuesday. “He wants to take every rep, learn from it, see the whole picture. That’s been really great. There is so much on his plate that he could start swimming in it with all the different things that are going on. He’s staying right on top of it and he’s the first one to come over and ask and give hypotheticals about different situations. He’s just seeing the big picture, not just the specific route or the rep that he took, which has been good to see.” 

Andy Reid’s system has a reputation of being quite difficult for receivers to pick up in their first year. One thing that has made Moore so successful in picking up the system is that he’s had other new players in the room learning that system at the same time. Bleymaier says that Moore hasn’t made any excuses and has attacked learning the offense as if he were a veteran. 

“I think it’s helped having some other new faces in our room whereas some rookies might use it as an excuse, ‘It’s my first year in the NFL; This is a lot of stuff to learn’ and they crutch on that,” Bleymaier said. “He’s seen all the other guys come in, they’re learning the offense for the first time and there’s no excuses for them. We expect the veteran guys we brought in to know everything and they’re learning it as well, so Skyy has taken that approach, ‘Hey if they’re knowing everything and it’s their first time they’re hearing it then I should too.’ So just being in that environment, taking that approach, taking that professional approach, here’s what’s expected and it’s not too much to handle has served him well so far.”

It remains to be seen just how well this training camp’s success will translate to the regular season for the rookie. Fans will get their first taste of what Moore has to offer when the team faces the Chicago Bears in preseason Week 1.

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Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier has lofty expectations for Josh Gordon

Joe Bleymaier thinks #Chiefs WR Josh Gordon is more comfortable with himself in Year 2 and has big expectations for him.

Having been reinstated last September from his sixth league-issued suspension, wide receiver Josh Gordon joined the Kansas City Chiefs’ 53-man roster in early October. He appeared in 12 games with seven starts but he didn’t muster much production, with just five catches on 14 targets for 32 yards and one touchdown. After he spent two games as a healthy scratch, the team waived Gordon during the playoffs.

After that type of end to the year, it feels like it would be tough to have any big expectations for Gordon. That’s not the case for Chiefs wide receivers coach Joe Bleymaier, though. He has a great deal of confidence that this offseason has allowed Gordon to turn the corner.

“I have big expectations for Josh,” Bleymaier said. “Like you said, the offseason here, when he got here it was just (doing) as much as we could do to get him on the field and having him knowing his assignments. He is extremely smart and intelligent and he knew he tackled all of those challenges and he did what we needed last year. Now he can kind of understand (the) why, get on the same page with Pat (Mahomes), understand the timing and how he fits in with everybody else. Not only the reps, but the depth and the feel and him getting his stride back, realizing where he was when he was at the top of his game — how he was doing that. That’s really where I’ve seen him come this spring.”

One of the many concerns stemming from the 2021 season was Gordon’s ability to pick up the playbook. Andy Reid’s scheme has the reputation of being notoriously tough for receivers to learn — and learning it on the fly, during the season, seemed exceptionally difficult.

Bleymaier, however, refuted any notion that Gordon struggled with the playbook. Instead, he felt that it was just a matter of Gordon getting comfortable within the offense.

“Yeah, he’s always been comfortable with the playbook,” Bleymaier explained. “I would say he’s more comfortable with himself in the role, in the offense, in what we’re asking him to do and then how he can do it. Last year, he was just so focused on what we were asking him to do. He was just, not neglecting what got him to this point, but now he’s just kind of bringing it all full picture.”

Bleymaier seems quite confident that this fuller view will allow Gordon to have much better success this offseason. Even with the receiver group as competitive as ever, it isn’t outside of the realm of possibility for Gordon to push for a roster spot.

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Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier impressed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling

#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier has come away impressed w/ Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the field & in the classroom.

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Marquez Valdes-Scantling seems to be catching some attention during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Organized Team Activities.

Not only has the former Green Bay Packers wideout caught the attention of media members on the field at two separate practice sessions, but his performance in the classroom has caught the attention of his position coach. Joe Bleymaier spoke to media members on Thursday and was asked about what he’d seen from Valdes-Scantling so far.

“He’s been great. He is the epitome of a professional. He comes to work. He’s all business. He wants to know what he’s doing, why, the whole picture, the whole story. Detailed,” Bleymaier said. “The athletic ability, I think, speaks for itself. When he gets into the classroom, you kind of see how he has gotten to where he’s gotten. He is on his P’s and Q’s. Wants to know and wants to learn. Not only what he’s doing but the whole offense, and I think part of that is he’s had success individually and he’s been part of a successful team. And that’s what he did in his past, so that’s carried over. Initial reaction, that’s what it’s been and that’s been awesome.”

Asked whether there is more to Valdes-Scantling’s game to unlock compared to what he showed in Green Bay, Bleymaier was insistent that they’re not going to put him into a box.

“We’re not going to put him into a box here,” Bleymaier said. “They had reasons for how they used him in Green Bay and we’ll see what he can do and how he writes his plays here with us. Without putting him into a box and saying, ‘This is what you did in the past.’ They had specific reasons — we may or may not have those same specific reasons. But there are obviously things that he does great and you want to emphasize those strengths and then just kind of let him flourish and grow into the offense.”

Really, the Chiefs are still working through what every member of their new receiving corps is capable of. That includes Valdes-Scantling, who seems sure to have a more diverse role than the one he had just a season ago. For now, they’ll take their time figuring out what he does best and how that can best help fuel Kansas City’s success.

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Chiefs TEs coach Tom Melvin, WRs coach Joe Bleymaier ran drills at combine

Two members of the #Chiefs coaching staff got a close look at prospects at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.

The Kansas City Chiefs had two members of the coaching staff getting a close look at two different position groups during the on-field workouts at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.

First up, Chiefs TE coach Tom Melvin was one of several NFL staff members down on the field helping run the various drills that tight ends went through. He was spotted on the field for various route-running and receiving drills, but had a key role in running the “gauntlet” drill.

The “gauntlet” is a catching drill that requires players to catch seven passes, each coming from different points of the field. It takes a combination of focus and athleticism to go through the drill successfully, but it’s also one of the more enjoyable drills to watch at the combine too.

You can see Melvin helping the players get set before the drill begins above.

It’s not uncommon that the Chiefs and other NFL teams have coaches on the field to help with these drills. It doesn’t always happen every year, though. In the past, we’ve seen coaches like former WRs coach Greg Lewis and OL coach Andy Heck on the field for drills.

Later, Chiefs WRs coach Joe Bleymaier was spotted on the field coaching up the multiple groups of receivers before they ran routes vs. air. It appeared that he was coaching them up specifically on in-breaking routes.

It’s notable that Melvin was getting a closer look at the tight ends in this class because many consider the position to be one of the deeper groups in the 2022 class. It’s also notable that Bleymaier was out there getting a close look at receivers, specifically coaching guys up on those in-breaking routes. Perhaps the team is looking for a receiver in the draft who specializes in the intermediate, middle-of-the-field stuff. It’s certainly food for thought.

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Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier settling in new role ahead of regular season

#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier’s comments last week provided valuable insight into player development and the team’s innovative playcalling | from @TheJohnDillon

After four years spent as an offensive quality control assistant, pass game analyst, and assistant quarterbacks coach, first-year wide receivers coach Joe Bleymaier is still learning the ropes in his new role.

The Kansas City Chiefs shuffled some staff positions in the offseason after the Super Bowl, moving 2020 receivers coach Greg Lewis to work with the running backs, and promoting Bleymaier to fill his absence. The veteran assistant coach has a big chance to make a name for himself on Kansas City’s talented offensive coaching staff.

After a roller-coaster preseason game for the Chiefs’ pass-catchers against the Cardinals, it seemed fitting to reflect on comments Bleymaier made to the media last week ahead of the matchup in Arizona. He emphasized the importance of having the aforementioned Lewis around for input and said he was settling into his new job well.

“It’s a little unique with Greg (Lewis) still being here,” Bleymaier said of his counterpart. “I go to him daily for questions, advice, our guys go to him. I’m the new receiver coach, but we kind of just gained an extra receiver coach because Greg is still there, and the guys feel free to go talk to him as well. So it’s been seamless at least for me.”

That relationship and sort of mentorship from the newly-minted running backs coach could be a difference-maker for Kansas City, as the team’s receivers flourished under his leadership since 2017. Both coaches are former receivers themselves, and their experience in uniform has paid dividends for the Chiefs in crucial situations in the past.

Bleymaier has become known for what Andy Reid calls the “Joe Files.” A collection of plays from all over the world of football that help the Chiefs adapt and innovate on offense. Bleymaier deflected praise about his creativity to the press but told the media that he and the other coaches are always looking for an extra edge.

“We try to find plays from anywhere in the country,” Bleymaier told reporters. “And when we find something that has been successful, if it’s not something we currently have in, then either we try to copy it straight up and put it in or we see how it can fit. If something is working, we’re all about putting guys in the best position to succeed. If there’s a concept or a way to do that that we don’t currently have in, Coach is not afraid to add it. So that’s the great thing about him, our offensive staff, our offense and the guys we have. They’re eager to get more and more and more and have more on their plate in order to showcase their abilities.”

That commitment to fresh ideas was on full display against the Cardinals on Friday, though the offense struggled through miscommunication issues early. Receivers were getting open, gaining separation on various routes routinely.

Bleymaier is sure to be coming up with solutions ahead of the season to aid in correcting the miscommunications. He told the media last week that the short shelf life of successful schemes and concepts keeps him on his toes, and forces him to keep pushing the envelope.

“With the defenses in this league, anything that’s on film for two, three weeks that’s successful, they’ll have an answer for,” Bleymaier said. “So, we’re looking out constantly, weekly for what just got ran yesterday, what just got ran in college the week before, what’s something maybe the defense hasn’t seen yet or maybe the defense we’re facing that week hasn’t seen yet because part of it is also the element of surprise. I would say it’s a weekly type situation where it’s like we don’t have this, we saw it, let’s get it going before the league has an answer for it.”

Life on the cutting edge of offensive genius is second nature for assistants under Andy Reid, so it is no surprise Bleymaier is settling in and getting comfortable. If he can coax even a little more production out of Chiefs’ receivers than was achieved last season, this offense could be nearly unstoppable through the regular season.

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5 Chiefs assistants who could be promoted to offensive coordinator if Eric Bieniemy leaves

If Eric Bieniemy leaves to become a head coach, who will Andy Reid promote to replace him?

During each of the past two occasions that the Kansas City Chiefs had a vacancy at the offensive coordinator position, they’ve promoted internally.

When Doug Pederson left to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2015 season, the Chiefs promoted then-QB coach Matt Nagy and then-spread game analyst Brad Childress to cooperatively fill the role in 2016. Matt Nagy was promoted to a full-time offensive coordinator role in 2017. When Nagy left to become the Chicago Bears head coach following the 2017 season, then-RB coach Eric Bieniemy was promoted to offensive coordinator.

Now with Bieniemy taking a number of interviews for head-coaching vacancies, it’d only make sense that Andy Reid follows this same path and continues to promote from within his own coaching staff. So who could be the next assistant coach to rise through the ranks and become the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator? Here are the five most-likely internal candidates: