Tag: Klayton Adams

New Cowboys’ OL coach among best in CFB, making way to pros

Bringing aboard one of the better OL coaches in CFB may go a long way to correcting the Cowboys’ issues up front. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Dallas Cowboys have completed the majority of their coaching hires, but the vacant offensive line coach position has remained a mystery. That is until now as a leading candidate has now been hired.

Conor Riley has been the offensive line coach at Kansas State University for the past six seasons and is regarded as one of the best assets in the country. ESPN’s Bruce Feldman was first to identify Riley is who Brian Schottenheimer identified to be in charge of the big uglies, and now the deal has been made.

The Cowboys have made it a point to improve their running game and Riley, along with new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, certainly fit the criteria.

Under Riley, the Wildcats recorded three consecutive seasons in which they averaged 200 rushing yards per game.

Before his time in Manhattan, Riley coached for six seasons at North Dakota State, where he helped the Bison to five straight National Championships. The team averaged an astounding 235 rush yards per game during his tenure including the 2018 season where the team averaged 286.2 yards a contest.

Riley will get to coach his former K-State pupil Cooper Beebe, who the Cowboys drafted last season in the third round. He also gets to reunite with running back Deuce Vaughn, who played three seasons with the Wildcats, all under Riley leading the big boys up front.

This will be a big jump for the 22-year college veteran as Riley has never coached in the NFL before. Those concerns may be put to rest as Riley has spent the majority of his coaching career leading the offensive line which began as a graduate assistant in 2003.

He also played on the offensive line for Omaha from 1999 through the 2002 season.

Dallas still has a few open positions to round out their staff, including receivers coach, but the expected arrival of Riley will go a long way to curing what ailed Dallas in 2024.

Departed OL coach will face Cardinals in 2025

After two seasons as the Cardinals’ offensive line coach, new Cowboys OC Klayton Adams will face his former team in 2025.

The Arizona Cardinals said goodbye to offensive line coach Klayton Adams last week as he was hired by the Dallas Cowboys to be their new offensive coordinator for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

The Cardinals will get to test Adams in 2025. They will play the Cowboys in 2025 as one of their nine road games.

Adams will not be the offensive playcaller. That job will belong to Schottenheimer, so Adams as an offensive coordinator will be more like Harold Goodwin was for the Cardinals when he was their OC under head coach Bruce Arians, who called plays.

But Adams is expected to help build a powerful run game for Dallas.

The Cardinals ranked 20th against the run in 2024, allowing 126.4 yards per game.

So it will be a reunion game in Dallas for Adams sometime next season and we will see which team comes out victorious.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cowboys hired a coach Kellen Moore may have been eyeing for Saints

The Dallas Cowboys hired a coach that, ESPN reports, Kellen Moore was potentially hoping to bring with him to the New Orleans Saints:

The New Orleans Saints seem to be nearing a decision on their next head coach with Kellen Moore being the heavy favorite, but now that opens them up to even more competition to fill out a staff. And with Moore unable to sign a contract or communicate with the Saints until after Super Bowl LIX, other teams are jostling for potential assistants on his staff.

Just over a week ago, the Dallas Cowboys decided to promote Brian Schottenheimer from their offensive coordinator position to their head coach spot. Schottenheimer then hired Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams to be his OC. Per a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Adams could have also been an eventual hire by Moore to join his staff with the Saints.

Adams and Moore did not really cross paths there (they missed each other by a year), but they did both play college football with the Boise State Broncos. It makes sense as a fit and could actually still point to what Moore wants to do with the New Orleans offense.

While Adams held some control with the offensive line for the Cardinals, his best work was transforming Arizona into one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. They averaged 144.2 yards per game, which ranked seventh in the league, with a second-best 5.3 yards per carry. During his first season, their rushing attack was the fourth-best. The year prior to him becoming the coach, it was all the way down at the 11th worst.

It is safe to assume that the run game will be the heavy focus of the start of Moore’s tenure, as the Saints figure out what to do about their quarterback situation.

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Free Agency: Targets Cowboys could reunite with their new OC to strengthen offense

Free agency follows the hiring of coaches and Dallas’ newest assistant could bring any number of offensive linemen with him.

One of the oldest tenets of the NFL, at least since the early 1990s, is that new coaches like to steal from their old teams when they relocate. One needs to look no further than Dan Quinn pilfering Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Noah Igbinoghene from the Dallas Cowboys once he became Washington’s head coach.

With Brian Schottenheimer moving up from offensive coordinator to head coach from within the organization, there isn’t any opportunity there, but his new offensive coordinator could assist in that regard. Klayton Adams has been named the Cowboys’ newest assistant, and he spent the last two seasons as the Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach under Jonathan Gannon.

With that, the gaze immediately turns to the Cardinals list of 2025 free agents, and it just so happens that several of their offensive linemen are free agents. Three of those are of particular interest to Dallas.

First and foremost is Kelvin Beachum. The 13-year veteran is still going strong at 36-years old, grading at a 75.4 (out of 100) in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. In fact, Beachum has graded out green or better (green and blue are the positive ranges) every season since his rookie campaign in 2012.

With Dallas having to give serious consideration to replacing Terence Steele this offseason, Beachum may be the perfect bridge player. In fact, two of his three highest-graded games were as the starter at left tackle. At minimum, Beachum should be an immediate addition as the club’s swing tackle, and then Dallas can consider things from there.

Also to be considered is Evan Brown. The 29-year old was the Cardinals starter at left guard, playing over 97% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2024.

Brown graded out as a 73.5 in pass protection, allowing two sacks on the year. Brown is a journeyman, former UDFA who began seeing consistent starter minutes in 2021 with Detroit, while also playing in Seattle before joining Arizona in 2023. This was his first full season playing left guard, lining up at center in 2021 and 2023, and right guard in 2022.

That brings up Will Hernandez. Hernandez was always associated with Dallas during the 2018 draft, as a UTEP product who was caught working out with several of the team’s linemen throughout the process.

Hernandez played in just five games this season before suffering a severe knee injury. The team never detailed what kind, but it’s believed to have been an MCL, not an ACL. If so, his recovery for 2025 could be to the point he could pass a physical in March.

Henderson was a second-round pick of the New York Giants, No. 34 overall, who has had an up-and-down career. 2024 was the best ball of his career prior to the injury, and he has spent the last four seasons at right guard after his first three at left guard.

The Cowboys could be in the market for a right guard with Zack Martin headed to free agency and also contemplating retirement.

The Cardinals options don’t end with Hernandez, as the player who replaced him in the starting lineup — Trystan Colon —is also set to hit free agency.

With four options, all with starting history, it would probably be more of a shock if one or more didn’t end up in Dallas to join Adams.

Cowboys hire offensive coordinator whose strength is OL, run-game philosophies

The Cowboys have hired Klayton Adams as their newest offensive coordinator, here’s what he brings from Arizona. | From @ArmyChiefW3

It may have been touch and go for a bit, but Dallas officially hired the last of the big three coordinators for new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimers’ staff. On Friday, a week after Schotty’s hire was announced, the team agreed to terms with Klayton Adams as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Adams had been the offensive line coach in Arizona for the past two seasons under head coach Jonathan Gannon.

This will be the first time Adams will hold the offensive coordinator position in the NFL which began in 2019 as an assistant offensive line coach under then-Colts head coach Frank Reich.

The Cowboys new OC spent time with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, working together for three seasons before both moved on from the Colts after 2021.

Adams is renowned for his run-play designs, which helped Arizona go from a middling rushing team to a top-ten unit. The Cardinals ranked seventh in rushing yards per game this season and eighth in rushing touchdowns. Arizona averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a team which ranked second in the NFL just behind Baltimore who averaged 5.8 yards an attempt.

Dallas has publicly stated that they want someone who is outstanding in the running game and Adams’ credentials certainly qualify him for the position. While Adams will carry the title of OC, it is widely expected that Schottenheimer will call plays on offense, much like the hierarchy when Mike McCarthy was the head coach for the Cowboys.

The spotlight in Dallas has been known to be more exaggerated than most other NFL cities but Adams may have a leg up on other first-time Cowboys coaches. He graduated from Boise State in 2005 with a degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism.

Adams began his coaching career as a student assistant in 2005 with Boise State. He went on to coach at West Washington University in 2007 as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.

He spent two seasons as an offensive assistant at Sacramento State and another two seasons with San Jose State before heading to Colorado in 2013 to coach the running backs and tight ends.

He became the Buffaloe’s offensive line coach in 2016 and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2018 before joining the Colts for the 2019 season.

2nd interview scheduled for Cowboys OC frontrunner as new candidate emerges

From @ToddBrock24f7: Scottie Montgomery has led Detroit’s RBs to excellent numbers. He’ll interview for the OC job, but Klayton Adams is on his follow-up chat.

The Cowboys appear to be closing in on their next offensive coordinator, but names of candidates are still being added to the mix.

Reports indicate that Arizona offensive line coach Klayton Adams is interviewing in-person at The Star on Friday. It’s the second interview for the 41-year-old, following a previous virtual conversation with the front office.

Though he has not yet been in an OC role, Adams is considered an up-and-comer within coaching circles and is thought by many to be the strong frontrunner for the job in Dallas, where newly-named head coach Brian Schottenheimer will call his own plays during games.

But a member of Dan Campbell’s staff in Detroit is also getting a look from the Cowboys, per reports. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the team also interviewed Lions running backs coach and assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery for the position.

Montgomery, 46, worked as the Colts’ running backs coach in 2021 and 2022 after a long stint in the college ranks in various roles, including OC duties at both Maryland and Duke and three years as head coach at East Carolina.

While his name may not be one that most Cowboys fans are immediately familiar with, his former coordinator in Detroit has no doubt he’s ready for the next step in his NFL coaching journey.

“He’s got a unique perspective because he’s been in that head chair at the college level, and you feel that when you’re in the meeting room,” Ben Johnson said just last month of Montgomery, per The Detroit News. “He understands how lonely it can be at the top at times.”

Johnson now finds himself at the top in Chicago, and he believes Montgomery is on the same track.

“He’s certainly ready to call plays,” Johnson added. “He’s done that in the past. Whenever he gets that opportunity, he’ll do that. And I think he’s going to be a heck of a great head coach one day when he gets that chance.”

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Under Montgomery’s tutelage, the Lions finished the 2024 season ranked sixth in the league in rushing yards and yards per carry and were tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns. The previous year, Detroit ranked fifth in the same yardage categories and were tied for league lead in ground scores.

Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger has also sat down with the Cowboys about their offensive coordinator vacancy. Additionally, former Browns and Bills OC Ken Dorsey was supposedly drawing interest from the Dallas front office, but no interview with him has been made public.

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Cardinals OL coach Klayton Adams ‘a name to watch’ for Cowboys OC job

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports that Klayton Adams could be a candidate to be the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator.

It appeared that the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff would remain intact this offseason. However, that might not be the case. We have heard that the Chicago Bears want to interview quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Another on the offensive staff is a candidate to be an offensive coordinator, too.

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Cardinals offensive line coach Klayton Adams “is a name to watch” for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys recently named Brian Schottenheimer their new head coach.

Adams has been the Cardinals’ offensive line coach for the last two seasons. Prior to that, from 2019-2022, he was an assistant offensive line coach an then a tight ends coach for the Indianapolis Colts. From 2006-2018, he coached collegiately.

Schottenheimer also spent time with the Colts as their quarterbacks coach in 2016-2017, but he and Adams did not cross paths.

We will see how things go with this situation as we get more news.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Ex-Colts TEs coach Klayton Adams hired by Cardinals

Former Colts TEs coach Klayton Adams is joining the Cardinals staff.

Former Indianapolis Colts tight ends coach Klayton Adams is being hired by the Arizona Cardinals to be their new offensive line coach, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Adams spent two seasons with the Colts as the tight ends coach but left during the middle of the 2022 season to join the staff at Stanford as its run-game coordinator and offensive line coach.

In total, Adams spent four seasons with the Colts. He was the assistant offensive line coach for two seasons (2019-2020) before getting the role of tight ends coach (2021-2022).

While the Colts are still filling out the staff under new head coach Shane Steichen, former Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon is doing the same as the new head coach of the Cardinals.

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Cardinals hiring Klayton Adams as OL coach

Jonathan Gannon knows Adams from when they were both on the Indianapolis Colts.

The Arizona Cardinals are continuing to build their new coaching staff under new head coach Jonathan Gannon. Their three main coordinators are set and now position coaches are getting signed.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, they are making Klayton Adams their new offensive line coach.

Adams was the tight ends coach for the Indianapolis Colts the last two seasons and was the Colts’ assistant offensive line coach in 2019-2020. Gannon was on the Colts’ staff in 2019.

Adams recently took a job at Stanford as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

Before 2019, he coached in college since 2005, coaching running backs, tight ends and offensive linemen at different points.

Gannon promised “major, major experience” with guys on his coaching staff. While Adams has only coached in the NFL since 2019, his years of coaching certainly qualify him as an experienced coach.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Klayton Adams might be an under-the-radar candidate for Colorado

This former CU assistant might be worth considering

One name we haven’t seen much in the early days of Colorado football’s head coach search is Klayton Adams.

Adams was an assistant on Mike MacIntyre’s CU staff from 2013-18, where he coached running backs, tight ends and the O-line at different points throughout his time in Boulder. He was also the Buffs’ co-offensive coordinator in 2018.

The Indianapolis Colts then hired Adams as an assistant O-line coach, a position he held from 2019-20. Prior to the 2021 season, he was moved to his current role of leading the Colts’ tight ends.

Pac-12 insider Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News believes Adams might be worth considering for Colorado’s open head job, thanks to his knowledge of the program and his NFL resume.

Don’t let the title fool you: Adams is a lineman by trade, having played center at Boise State and coached the position at Colorado when the Buffaloes won the 2016 division title. He knows what works in Boulder, and the NFL experience would play well with recruits aiming to play on Sundays.

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