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Per Adam Schefter, the Seattle Seahawks are hiring Brian Schottenheimer to be their next offensive coordinator. Schottenheimer, son of former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, has spent the last two years as the quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He had previously been an OC for the New York Jets (2006-2011) and the St. Louis Rams (2012-2014).
Seahawks now expected to hire former Colts' QB coach Brian Schottenheimer as their offensive coordinator, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2018
It appears that the Seahawks wanted to go with experience over a radical offensive gameplan overhaul or hot, young upstart name. They were also linked to Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFillipo.
As noted by Schefter, Seattle GM John Schneider previously worked with Marty, though I’m not sure how much relevance that carries years later with a different person.
Seahawks’ GM John Schneider worked in Washington’s front office while its HC was Marty Schottenheimer. Now Schneider will be working with Schottenheimer’s son as his OC in Seattle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2018
As an OC, Schottenheimer’s best season came in 2010 with the Jets, when New York finished 11th in yards and 13th in scoring. They ranked first in rushing yards in 2009 and fourth in 2010; in both seasons, they reached the AFC Championship game despite having Mark Sanchez at quarterback. It appears then that the Seahawks want to find a way to get back to being a top-ranked rushing unit without emphasizing so much pressure on high-volume passing numbers.
Though we know that Russell Wilson can perform much more efficiently than Sanchez, and in a quality run-often offense could put up league-leading rate stats like Y/A and passer rating. That is, if they can do those things — Schottenheimer certainly doesn’t carry a more enticing resume than the guy he’s replacing, Darrell Bevell.
They Jets failed to win those AFC title games in large part because of their offense. They finished 21st or worse in scoring in all three of his seasons with the Rams, and the last time he orchestrated an offense that finished better than 21st in net yards/pass attempt was 2006, his first season as an OC.
And that team only ranked 16th in NY/A.
Schottenheimer will not be a more exciting or flashy name than DeFilippo or someone else who has yet to be given a chance at being an offensive coordinator for the first time. Maybe that is a mistake, but we also could not really expect the Seahawks to change their philosophy much or to try and re-invent a quarterback who is often in the talk for league MVP.
They clearly just want to get back to running the ball well.