Tag: Mike Solari

Cowboys need to make this change to the coaching staff for 2024

The Cowboys struggled adapting to their new blocking scheme, so it’s time for them to make a change at offensive line coach. | From @ReidDHanson

Mike McCarthy is coming back for 2024. Fan outcry went unanswered, and the Cowboys have opted to stick with the same coaching leadership and hope it produces better results next winter. But like every offseason, successful or otherwise, changes are still expected across the roster and on the coaching staff.

Offensively, things went well for McCarthy during his first year as a Cowboys play caller. Dallas finished the season first in points, second in EPA/play, and third in success rate. They picked up where Kellen Moore left off and made a superstar out of WR CeeDee Lamb in the process.

But for as successful as the passing game was in 2023, the offense was alarmingly one-dimensional.

Gone was the heavy use of outside zone rushing that made Tony Pollard so successful a season before. The Cowboys would now use more inside zone rushing schemes.

Under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and new offensive line coach Mike Solari, the Cowboys altered their identity as a rushing team. They bounced between various blocking philosophies and demanded a lot from their offensive line in the process.

The transition became too much for the Cowboys offensive line to handle. Despite boasting three Pro Bowl-level talents on their line, Dallas struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground. They posted -0.061 in EPA/play, 41.3% in success rate and they finished 15th in total rushing yards.

The running game routinely disappeared in 2023, and a postseason gameplan that unsuccessfully called for a truckload of early-down runs ultimately proved be the offense’s undoing.

Coaching on the last year of his own deal, no one expects McCarthy to start over at offensive coordinator in 2024. But the same can’t be said for position coaches like the one leading the offensive line. A team with Zack Martin, Tyler Smith and Tyron Smith should not be struggling to run the ball. Most teams would kill for that trio, yet under Solari, the Cowboys essentially wasted them.

Instead of leaning into his team’s strengths, Solari seemingly kept everyone off balance. The running game was a massive disappointment for the Cowboys in 2023 and while some of that is because Pollard began the season less than 100 percent, the bulk of the blame falls on the blocking scheme.

If the Cowboys make one change to their offensive coaching staff in 2024, let it be for the offensive line. Regardless of who lines up at RB1 next season, it’s important the offensive line leans into their own strengths and gets the most out of their star players up front. The offense is built on their offensive line and it’s time to embrace it.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Is the Cowboys one-dimensional offense fixable, fine, or a fatal flaw?

The Cowboys offense is getting carried by the passing game, so here’s what’s wrong with the running game and how can it be fixed… | From @ReidDHanson

With just one game remaining in the regular season, it’s become pretty clear what the Cowboys offense is and what it isn’t. They are a one-dimensional attack, relying heavily on the arm of Dak Prescott and the legs of CeeDee Lamb. They aren’t a viable running team, capable of shouldering a load or even keeping defenses honest.

The delta between the air and ground game in Dallas is significant. The ground attack is producing an EPA/rush of -0.67 with a success rate of just 40.9%, while the ballistics department is posting +0.21 EPA/attempt through the air with a success rate of 47.1%. The fact the Cowboys offense is somehow ranked No. 2 in the NFL without any credible form of a ground game to be seen, is a testament to the proficiency of the passing game.

Stop me if you heard this one: the Dallas Cowboys are entering the postseason as a one-dimensional offense.

The Cowboys now find themselves heading into the playoffs with the full weight of the offense on Prescott’s shoulders. It’s similar to how they entered the postseason last year when the running game cratered following Terence Steele’s season-ending knee injury. It also threatens to be their undoing if they can’t fix it and the passing game trips up at some point.

Ex-Giants assistant Mike Solari joins Cowboys’ coaching staff

Former New York Giants offensive line coach Mike Solari will join the Dallas Cowboys in the same role.

Former New York Giants offensive line coach, Mike Solari, will join the Dallas Cowboys and assume the same role for Big Blue’s NFC East rival.

The 68-year-old Solari has a long history with current Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, dating back to their time in both Kansas City and Green Bay. It will also be Solari’s second stint with Dallas — the first coming under the late Tom Landry.

Solari’s coaching career began back in 1976 when he served as offensive line coach at Mission Bay High School. He made the jump to the NFL in 1987 and his resume is quite long. It includes a brief stop with the Giants from 2016-2017.

In addition to the Giants, Cowboys and Chiefs, Solari has held roles for the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

From 2006-2007, Solari also served as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[lawrence-related id=705894,705905,705903]

[listicle id=705892]

Seahawks fire offensive line coach, promoting from within for replacement

According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, Seattle has fired offensive line coach Mike Solari.

The dam has finally burst and the coaching news is now streaming in fast for the Seattle Seahawks.

According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, Seattle has fired offensive line coach Mike Solari.

Solari came in as the replacement for much-maligned former OL coach Tom Cable, but some of the same issues persisted during Solari’s four-year tenure, especially poor pass blocking. Seattle ranked near the bottom in most pass protection metrics during the 2021 campaign and were ranked No. 31 in the NFL around the middle of the season.

As for his replacement, the team is expected to promote from within. According to Michael Silver, run-game coordinator Andy Dickerson will take Solari’s place.

The long-standing imbalance between the emphasis on run blocking and pass protection may be endemic at this point – or perhaps it’s Pete Carroll we should be blaming rather than the offensive line coaches.

In any case, Dickerson has been with Seattle one year after spening nine seasons with the Rams.

The Seahawks are also reported to be hiring Sean Desai as associate head coach and Karl Scott as their defensive pass game coordinator.

[lawrence-related id=84163]

[listicle id=84117]

Offensive line will be area of focus and concern for Seahawks

Pete Carroll acknowledged the offensive line could be an area of concern, because they have less chances to work together before the season.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has long preached the importance of continuity and communication up front on the offensive line.

However, after another subpar year in the trenches, the Seahawks set out to make massive changes to the line this offseason. Center Justin Britt and right guard D.J. Fluker were both cut to save cap space, while reserve tackle George Fant and right tackle Germain Ifedi signed with the Jets and Bears, respectively, during free agency.

They will be replaced by a handful of free agent additions, including B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell, Chance Warmack and Cedric Ogbuehi, as well as third rounder Damien Lewis, all who will compete with returners Jamarco Jones, Jordan Simmons, Phil Haynes, Mike Iupati, Ethan Pocic and Joey Hunt.

A combination of mostly inexperienced returners fighting for playing time against five newcomers will be difficult to turn into a cohesive unit, even with left tackle Duane Brown still on hand as a vocal leader.

Making it even more difficult is the lack of preparation time together on the field. No minicamp and the possibility of a shortened training camp, and two less preseason games, will make it all the more difficult to get this unit all ready to go at the same time when the season kicks off in early September.

“I think that may be the area that takes the biggest hit because of the intricacies and continuity of it,” Carroll said of the offensive line. “I have learned that that will be an area of great focus and concern when we come back, just recognizing and respecting that that may be the last group to really get tied together. So we’re really going to have to do a great job in that area.”

Carroll referenced the 2011 lockout, which also had a work stoppage up until training camp, recalling how the offensive line was the biggest area of concern leading into the season.

Now, with at least three new starters up front – and possibly a fourth, if Haynes beats out Iupati at left guard – this team will have a lot of work to do to ensure continuity in front of Russell Wilson, and not nearly as much time as usual to get it done.

For this unit to be effective, coach Mike Solari is going to have to work overtime from now until September.

[lawrence-related id=64178]

Seahawks may need Chad Wheeler to step up on Sunday against Packers

The Seattle Seahawks listed Duane Brown and George Fant as questionable for Sunday. If both are out, Chad Wheeler may make his season debut.

The Seattle Seahawks listed starting left tackle Duane Brown (knee) and backup left tackle George Fant (groin) as questionable for Sunday’s divisional round matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Additionally, left guard Mike Iupati (neck) is doubtful, which means Jamarco Jones will likely start in his place once again.

If all three players are unable to go, Seattle will have no choice but to turn to Chad Wheeler to start at left tackle. Wheeler spent the majority of the regular season on Seattle’s practice squad, getting recalled earlier this week, and he has not played in an NFL game this season.

However, Wheeler has made 19 NFL starts in his career, and spent two years in offensive line coach Mike Solari’s system while with the Giants, so he’s familiar with the protection schemes.

“He’s played for Mike [Solari] and Mike knows him real well,” coach Pete Carroll said on Friday. “He’s real confident if we need him he’ll be able to jump up. He’s worked on the left side for us, almost the whole time.”

There’s no doubt Wheeler having to play on Sunday would be bad news for the Seahawks, who have already dealt with so many injuries up front, but Wheeler is far more experienced than most practice squad promotions, and while most of his NFL experience has come at right tackle, Carroll doesn’t seem worried about having him step up on the left side.

It’s never easy to make your season debut in such a crucial environment, especially on a new team, but Carroll’s messaging to Wheeler is to just do what he is capable of doing, and not to try to overdo it.

“We don’t want to overtry, try to do stuff that’s not within his wheelhouse,” Carroll continued. “He’s a good smart football player. He’s been in the system and he knows what we’re asking of him. He’s been really solid throughout, the main thing is do just do what he’s capable of doing and not overreach.”

The Seahawks will certainly hope that at least one of Brown, Fant or Iupati can suit up on Sunday, pushing Wheeler into a reserve role, but if worst comes to worst his familiarity with the system and prior NFL experience at least makes him an acceptable option on Seattle’s starting line.

[lawrence-related id=54603]