NFL teaching carousel: SI’s Albert Breer on Sean Payton’s choices, subsequent Patriots OC

We’re onto the NFL playoffs with six wild-card video games on faucet for this weekend and Monday. Let’s get to your mailbag questions like traditional, some associated to teaching hires and the draft, some concerning different subjects …

From Matt Ramas (@matt_ramas): For groups making an attempt to rent Sean Payton, is it Chargers 1A and Cardinals 1B?

Matt, I might be fallacious, however I believe the Chargers in all probability follow Brandon Staley, with the progress the group confirmed—although I can perceive why pairing Justin Herbert with Payton can be attractive. Additionally, would the group pay what it might take ($20 million-plus per) to get him? Or possibly he’d like the thought of getting to remain in Los Angeles (he’s lived within the South Bay this season) and coach Herbert a lot that he’d take much less?

I suppose there’s an opportunity, however much less of 1 with the Chargers.

Payton may take one other yr off from teaching whereas ready for the appropriate job to open.

Chuck Cook dinner/USA TODAY Sports activities

As for the Cardinals, I’m simply undecided he’d hitch himself to Kyler Murray. And, with the best way Michael Bidwill spoke at his press convention the opposite day, it sounded just like the Cardinals are a bit extra married to their construction (hiring the GM first, then the coach) than, say, Denver, which might, at the least on the floor, make a run at Payton much less seemingly. And I say that remembering in 2013 when the Chiefs blew up their best-laid plans to go get Andy Reid, so nothing’s unimaginable.

For those who add all this collectively, I’d say there’s a greater likelihood than individuals understand that Payton takes one other yr away from teaching. I do know he 100% needs to teach once more. However I additionally suppose he’s earned the appropriate to be choosy, and I don’t know that the appropriate job is there for him on this explicit cycle.

From MattyD (@MattDeJesus20): If the Patriots are to rent an official offensive coordinator, who’re your prime three candidates? Individuals who Invoice may really rent, one thing practical?

Matty, so let’s begin right here—Patriots coaches haven’t been knowledgeable of any adjustments. That doesn’t imply adjustments aren’t not coming, but it surely does imply they may make issues tougher on themselves—if a few of their most popular candidates come off the board. That stated, you requested for a prime three …

Alabama OC Invoice O’Brien: My sense is O’Brien would like to return to his house state to teach. He has 5 years of expertise with the Patriots, three years having run their offense. He is aware of Mac Jones, with Jones having helped to show O’Brien the Crimson Tide offense when he obtained there in early 2021. The whole lot about this is smart. Does Invoice Belichick do it? Or will it’s an issue, because it was final yr for Belichick, that O’Brien may parlay an awesome yr into one other alternative and be a flight danger? What I do know is the Krafts love O’Brien, and I believe he’s ok to be a possible successor to the throne. Which is one other aspect to concentrate to right here. Keep tuned.
Former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury: I can say Belichick’s at the least turned over rocks on this one. Kingsbury performed for Belichick in 2003, and, when the group put the then rookie QB on injured reserve that yr, he really turned Kingsbury right into a de facto high quality management coach (so he thought, all the best way again then, that Kingsbury had teaching potential). Additionally, Kingsbury’s offense has been one of many hardest to arrange for within the NFL over the previous 4 years, and one of many extra studied ones by offensive coaches, which implies he’d deliver a whole lot of new concepts. However on the finish of all this, I’m undecided Kingsbury would leap again in. I’ve been instructed he may take this opportunity to catch his breath for a yr. He additionally has 4 full years and $30 million left on his Cardinals contract, and loads of cash within the financial institution.
Patriots TE coach Nick Caley: Caley, to me, was the man many internally thought was the inheritor to Josh McDaniels’s coordinator spot, and particularly so after Belichick blocked Caley from interviewing for a spot on McDaniels’s employees in Vegas. And, then, issues didn’t work out that approach. However Caley’s nonetheless a very good younger coach with a shiny future. His contract is up. Might fences be mended right here, and Belichick give him the promotion so many thought he was getting final yr? It’d take some pride-swallowing from Belichick … so we’ll see.

And one bonus title—Browns pass-game coordinator Chad O’Shea. The 50-year-old spent a decade within the Patriots’ system, referred to as Miami’s offense for a yr, and now has spent three years within the form of Mike Shanahan–type system that Belichick has so lengthy revered and tried to take from. His return after ready for, and never getting, a promotion in New England, and leaving due to that, wouldn’t be in contrast to Brian Daboll’s return to the Patriots in 2014.

Once more, as of now, it looks as if the Patriots are going by way of their exit conferences, and coaches might be off for every week and a half or so. So we’ll see whether or not Belichick will get aggressive within the interim.

From BryceSZN (@TexansUK99): What are you listening to concerning the consensus order of quarterbacks for the 2023 NFL draft thus far?

Bryce, if I needed to spitball, I’d go …

Bryce Younger, Alabama
C.J. Stroud, Ohio Stat
Will Levis, Kentucky
Anthony Richardson, Florida

However all have flaws.

On Younger, it’s dimension (6’1”, 194 kilos). And whereas he checks nearly each different field, his measurables aren’t an afterthought for NFL groups. The truth is, in the event you actually drill down and examine it, it’s laborious to discover a quarterback at Younger’s peak or underneath who turned a star with out working 4.5 seconds or quicker within the 40 (the sensation is Younger will run round 4.7), with Drew Brees being the one outlier. In order that’s one thing GMs have to think about.

On Stroud, there are lingering questions on how he performs when he has to play out of construction—loads of scouts felt just like the Ohio State star struggled when he had to purchase time and create, and there was proof of that. Stroud, to his credit score, emphatically answered a few of these considerations within the Peach Bowl, turning into extra of a playmaker. Will that progress proceed?

On Levis, the make-up, the construct, the arm and the athleticism intrigue everybody, and that’s the place some have conjured a Josh Allen comp, in that the items are there, and simply have to be developed. The difficulty is that the flashes Levis confirmed got here in a single yr, with Liam Coen as his coordinator, and weren’t sustained after Coen left Kentucky for the Rams, which justifiably has groups asking … why?

After which on Richardson, there are parallels to Levis, in that there’s a lot to love bodily, with Richardson in all probability having higher lengthy velocity than Levis. And he was requested to do some NFL issues in his yr enjoying for brand spanking new Florida coach Billy Napier. However for all the great issues, there are moments when he reveals how uncooked he’s, too.

The wonderful thing about the group, as I see it, is that this might be an actual race between the 4 for positioning over the following three and a half months, with guys having a shot to rise or fall based mostly on how they do in all-star video games, mix and professional days.

From Max (@MaxxPrescott): What do the Jets do with the offensive teaching employees this offseason to enhance?

Max, I believe it’s actually laborious to evaluate the Jets’ offensive employees, given the quarterback scenario—and naturally they’re not innocent in the case of Zach Wilson’s struggles. However the reality stays that Wilson’s points mirror those he had in school. He doesn’t take what the protection offers him, is just too usually looking for off-schedule pictures down the sector and his management qualities are questionable.

So let’s take a look at how that employees has developed different guys. Breece Corridor and Ali Vera-Tucker appeared like they had been going to be stars earlier than they obtained harm this yr. Garrett Wilson went for 1,000 yards and is a legit Rookie of the 12 months candidate. The tight ends performed properly, as did the backup quarterbacks. On the flip facet, Mekhi Becton’s points have endured at left sort out, and Elijah Moore had fairly the tumultuous second yr within the NFL.

I don’t know what Robert Saleh’s going to do. However I believe, if it’s 50-50, he sticks with Mike LaFleur and people coaches, and provides them a shot to maintain constructing with a scheme I do know Saleh believes deeply in. And for what it’s price, I believe these guys deserve a 3rd yr.

Burrow is making an attempt to guide the Bengals to their second consecutive Tremendous Bowl.

Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK

From snitgoat (@AkivaSnitow): Who’s going to win the Tremendous Bowl this yr?

I’m choosing the Bengals as a result of I can’t ignore what I noticed initially of the Monday-night sport towards the Payments—they appeared dynamite. And so they got here out like a home on hearth towards the Ravens, too. All of which satisfied me that no group proper now has the ceiling the Bengals do. Add to that the motivation of their feeling that the league handled them like second-class residents, and I believe Joe Burrow lifts the Lombardi in February in Glendale, with quarterback being the distinction in a rematch of Tremendous Bowls XVI and XXIII.

From Carry Harbaugh Residence (@StP_Colts): The Colts’ subsequent HC is …?

What we’re seeing with the Colts’ requests is that that is going to be a wide-ranging search. Indianapolis has requested interviews for second-chance coaches (Rams DC Raheem Morris), younger offensive names (Lions OC Ben Johnson, Eagles OC Shane Steichen) and younger defensive names (Lions DC Aaron Glenn). There’s additionally the thought, and I do see your deal with; Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh might be in play, given his relationship with not simply proprietor Jim Irsay, but in addition assistant GM Ed Dodds, who seemingly would’ve been his GM if he landed the Raiders job final yr.

With a lot give attention to fixing the quarterback scenario, my guess can be Irsay would lean offense. And what Harbaugh did in San Francisco—taking a group that was a quarterback away, getting Alex Smith proper, drafting Colin Kaepernick, and going to 3 consecutive NFC title video games—you may see the place he’d be an attractive possibility, even when Harbaugh isn’t probably the most technical offensive coach.

After which, there’s Johnson. Irsay, together with his previous two hires, Chuck Pagano and Frank Reich, went after guys who had been a bit off the radar in an effort to search out his personal man, fairly than making an attempt to win over a scorching title. For those who take a look at that pattern, and the quarterback dynamic that’ll be in play with that rent, Johnson really strains up properly.

From Zach Fogelman (@FogelmanZach): Is Sean McVay staying with the Rams?

From 𝚂𝚕𝚢 ™️ (@ThinkBlue47): Greatest (exterior) HC Candidate for the #RamsHouse if Sean McVay leaves #AskBreer

Zach and Sly, no matter I provide you with right here is 51–49, however yeah, I believe he stays—largely I believe out of loyalty to the individuals round him, from the Rams’ core 4 (Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey) to all of the coaches he’s introduced aboard. I believe, for McVay, that is about believing he could be in the appropriate place to go after it as laborious as he ever has in 2023. Perhaps he will get himself there. Perhaps he doesn’t. We’ll see.

I do know he went by way of lots on the sector and off it in 2022, and I don’t suppose it is a easy choice for him. My sense earlier than the season was that McVay had one to 5 seasons left, and his future would seemingly be tied to these 4 gamers and I’ll stand by that. It additionally illustrates how he wouldn’t be round for a rebuild.

If McVay’s out, Morris would be the favourite to exchange him. The Rams needed to put together for this final yr, too, with McVay, and I do know the plan at that time was to raise Morris if McVay left, even earlier than they misplaced Kevin O’Connell to the Vikings. I’ve no motive to suppose that’s modified.

From Tyler Johnson (@T_johnson_TJ): Who do you consider the #Browns will rent as defensive coordinator?

Tyler, I actually like their candidates, and I do suppose it’s indicative, to a point, of former Lions GM Bob Quinn’s rising affect within the group—three of the 4 guys interviewing had been raised within the enterprise by Invoice Belichick, similar to Quinn. The one who doesn’t have such ties is Seattle assistant Sean Desai, who’s pleasant with Kevin Stefanski, a favourite of the Browns’ analytics group, and competed towards the Browns coach for years within the NFC North.

If I needed to peg a favourite proper now, I’d in all probability go along with a Pittsburgh senior defensive assistant, linebackers coach Brian Flores, and I’ve heard proprietor Jimmy Haslam is a fan of his. Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has advantage, too, in that there have been a whole lot of coordinator-type capabilities to his job with the Patriots—he runs conferences and helps design the protection and sport plans—and he might be a culture-changer for a unit that, in an sincere second, Browns individuals would let you know they want on protection.

Conversely, going with Jim Schwartz (whose connection to Belichick is definitely from Cleveland) would signify two various things. The primary can be scheme familiarity—what he would presumably deliver is lots nearer to the Pete Carroll type of protection that Joe Woods ran the previous three years in Cleveland. The second is a connection to GM Andrew Berry, from the time the 2 had been collectively in Philadelphia.

So, once more, I’d say Flores might be the one, with the additional advantage of such a rent kicking the legs out from beneath a division rival. We’ll see what occurs.

McCarthy led the Cowboys to a 12-5 file with Rush beginning 5 video games and a number of other accidents to starters.

Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports activities

From TJ (@ChrisTJ31): Is Mike McCarthy gone if the Cowboys go one-and-done within the playoffs once more? Jerry was actually mad final yr.

TJ, this one has appeared to persist in NFL circles, as one the place a nasty displaying within the wild-card spherical may immediate adjustments. However I’m inclined to take Jerry Jones at his phrase when he says he’s not contemplating blowing Mike McCarthy and his employees out.

I’ve two causes for saying that.

First, I don’t suppose McCarthy deserves it. Dallas completed with 12 wins. The Cowboys did it with Cooper Rush beginning 5 video games. They did it with left sort out Tyron Smith taking place proper earlier than the season, and in having rookie Tyler Smith, who spent the spring and summer time at guard, being able to take his place. They did it with Quinn, a rent McCarthy made after his first yr in Dallas, once more commandeering a top-shelf protection. There actually isn’t a circumstance after this yr I see the place you’d say, Yeah, McCarthy actually must go.

Second, Jones isn’t knee-jerk like everybody thinks—a repute that actually goes again to when he and Jimmy Johnson cut up within the mid-Nineties. He gave Dave Campo three years. He gave Wade Phillips 4, and he gave Jason Garrett 9. There actually isn’t something in Jones’s historical past that claims he’ll rapidly pull the plug on McCarthy. Perhaps that adjustments now that he’s in his 80s. However the proof that he’s going to do one thing rash simply isn’t there.

So, yeah, I believe McCarthy would be the Dallas coach in 2023 no matter what occurs Monday towards Tampa Bay, which is simply taking Jones at his phrase.

From Greg (@panther1gb89): Intestine feeling immediately … who does Tepper rent in Carolina?

Greg, I believe it’ll both be defensive coordinator Steve Wilks or a younger offensive coach (which is the place proprietor David Tepper was focusing his analysis after firing Matt Rhule in October). And which approach this goes rides on how the method goes.

My perception is that Tepper is aware of the sentiment within the constructing and can take it into consideration, with the locker room solidly behind Wilks, and Wilks being as revered as could be within the group as an entire and with the fan base. He’s from the realm, went 6–6 with a group that appeared hopeless at 1–4, and constructed an identification on the fly, reemphasizing fundamentals in-season and placing collectively an overwhelming run sport. All that occurred, by the best way, with the group having dealt away its greatest participant [Christian McCaffrey].

So I believe that is Tepper combating his best-laid plans towards a sense that Wilks might be the appropriate man to rent. And so it’d appear that Wilks’s plan to construct on what he achieved over the previous three months, and particularly what he’ll do on offense (I’ve talked about Philly’s Brian Johnson as a possible coordinator candidate) might be key, if Wilks goes to persuade Tepper to not go along with Johnson, Dorsey or Steichen.

From Codey Dauch (@codeydraws): Who’re the Buckeyes going to go along with at QB? Is McCord the reply?

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