Cornering Coaches: Brian Schottenheimer
Brian Schottenheimer
Jets Offensive Coordinator
Interview: Spoke with Mike Tannenbaum first week of search, Woody the second.
Expertise: Out-thinking himself. West Coast Offense.
Resume Bullet Points: Tutored by Steve Spurrier and Cam Cameron, Schott comes from a well-respected coaching and family tree. Helped the Jets get to a 10-6 season in his first year with the team.
Positives: Look at the first drives of this year’s Jets offense. With most of the toys that he wanted, Schottenheimer was able to orchestrate some good starts to the games. Schottenheimer is of the “play to the team’s weakness” school and has done some creative things for the Jets at times. Schott is a screamer, so look for more fire from him as a head coach, though I imagine he would play it close to the vest like Mangini in press conferences.
Negatives: Once off script, Schottenheimer seems to be grasping. Was Mangini meddling in his playcalls? Even so, for the amount of times I saw a solid running offense throw on 3rd and 2 or 4th and 1s, it blew my mind. Is Schottenheimer as good as the organization is trying to tell us he is, or is he just riding daddy’s long reputation coat tails?
What it Could Mean: Now that Mangini is gone, Schottenheimer is the high-profile poster boy for the “what are they thinking?” set within this fan base. For all the The worst part about Schott becoming the Head Coach is that there’s no clear line of what it means for the defense. Bob Sutton has proven incompetent and it’s hard to say what Schottenheimers connections around the league could net him defensively. My thought is that Jets LB Coach Jim Hermann could succeed Sutton.
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Guy’s Brian Shott needs to be keep here as OC and Callahan as Offensive Line coach.
With the young QB’s the Jets have on the roster…. Continuity is Very Important for these QB’s.
The only way to pick a Starting QB from this group is to let them battle it out on pure skill.
NOT having to learn a new system lets these 4 QB’s battle it out on pure skill. If you want to win games in 2009 this is the ONLY way to go! The 2008 offensive faliure was all on Favre… This 2008 offenece was completely changed to accomodate Favre. For Brian’s real offense go back and take a look at the 2006 Jet offense.
I think Ratliff will win this battle and be the Next Tom Brady! You can draft a new QB… but he will not start this season anyway!
Spags will FAIL as a HC!!!!!
Spags is a MEDIA CREATION a NY MEDIA CREATION and is NOT Ready to be a HC!!!!!!!!!
I also don’t want a Giant Coach as a new HC of the Jets!
HIRE Rex Ryan as the NEW HC of the NY Jets TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make him an OFFER he CAN’T REFUSE!!!! Get a YES from him TODAY!!!!!!!!
Give him 4 Years $14 Million!!!!!!!! Give him the OK to hire his brother at $1.2 Million per!!!!!
Plus it’s OK in my book to pay the Ryan Family indirectly NOW for getting the Jets it’s 1st Super Bowl win in 1968 with that Shut Down Defense!
The Jets New Idenity… A SHUT DOWN NASTY DEFENSE!
JET FANS read this story:
Ryan is finishing his fourth season as defensive coordinator for the Ravens and 10th year with Baltimore.
Ryan’s defense has already grabbed a great deal of attention after forcing five turnovers in a wild-card victory over the Miami Dolphins, who had NFL record-low 13 turnovers during the regular season. Chad Pennington, who had thrown only seven interceptions in 16 games, was picked off four times.
Aggressive, innovative thinker
“You can look at any game that my guys are out there on the field, and I think they represent me — who I am, what I stand for,” Ryan said.
This is who Ryan is: a highly aggressive and innovative thinker who always believes in turning up the heat on the opposing quarterback in every way imaginable. This is what he stands for: whatever it takes to win.
A classic example of his creativity came during the wild-card game at Miami, when 6-foot-4, 345-pound Haloti Ngata suddenly vacated his usual spot at nose tackle and wound up at middle linebacker.
“What happens when you do that is you’re putting pressure on the opposition,” Ryan said. “Because now, if they are just looking at that front as a 3-4 front, then he might be identified as a linebacker. And when that happens, now we can get Haloti on a running back, so if we blitz a 350-pound linebacker, a running back has to try to block him.
“We do that stuff all over the place. We can take corners and have them rush. We can drop out on the nose tackle and blitz a corner (through the middle). And we’re not scared to overload a whole side (to rush the passer). We always say, ‘Don’t let the only limitations your players have be you as a coach.’”
Ryan has long preached the “KILL” philosophy of teaching: Keep it likeable and learnable. He makes certain that every member of the defense knows everyone else’s responsibilities. That way, players become interchangeable and opponents have a harder time figuring out who and what is coming their way from one game, or snap, to the next.
This applies to backups as well as superstars such as linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed.
“If you dress, you’re going to have some role for us, in some capacity,” Ryan said. “The players really buy into it, they take ownership in it. It’s great when you can say to a Ray Lewis, ‘Ray, you’re going to have to eat up these two (blockers) so (outside linebacker) Jarret Johnson has a chance to be free or be one-on-one.’ Ray Lewis, a first-ballot Hall of Fame guy, is willing to sacrifice for a lesser-known player, although Jarret’s an excellent player in his own right. But it could be any player, and those guys will make that sacrifice on anything that we call.”
The rap on Ryan is that he doesn’t come off as being particularly polished in interviews. He has the bold and brash personality of his father, former NFL coach Buddy Ryan. The same goes for his twin brother, Rob, who has also been the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders and is in line to fill the same job with the Cleveland Browns.
But Rex Ryan makes it clear that his style of coaching is going to be as subtle as a punch in the mouth.
“I’m not blessed with a silver tongue,” said Ryan, who has coached in the NFL for 12 years. “I don’t think I’m going to wow anybody in an interview. I’m just going to be myself and hopefully that’s good enough to get a job. I understand a great responsibility that a head coach has to (represent) an organization, and to be considered in that light is really special to me.
“But I want to become a head coach because I think I can do a great job.”
WOW…. Jets HIRE this MAN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story?id=09000d5d80dfe53c&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
And what exactly qualifies this guy to be a HC? Oh another puppet for Tanny and Woody.
dude u have written tht post about rex like 5 times, its enough already, it just takes up space
hiring Brian Schottenheimer for HC is going from the smoke into the fire!!!
Rex Ryan is no puppet. You want to talk about puppets, Schott is the puppet and Mike T is the puppet master. He doesn’t want an experienced coach messing up what he’s fooled Woody into believing. Read Cimini in Daily News, it’s like he’s already softening the blow for the B. Schott hire.
Joe S. – Who do u think should be the next coach of the Jets?
I understand the fan base would not be happy with B Schott as HC….the only argument I have for him being our next coach is that Mangini and other offensive staff members do not have the same philosophies as B Schott. I would say he was restricted by Mangini and Favre in his play calling abilities. If he is running the show, u might see something like what the Jets are seeing in his interviews. Also, Baltimore and Miami were looking to hire him when they decided on Harbaugh and Sparano. He is highly regarded in the coaching circle of the NFL…..u can’t call a guy a bust until u give him his shot at running the operation of the team.
Brian, you nailed it on Schott’s scripting thing, and outsmarting himself.
It’s driven me crazy for years… once he’s off script, he has no sense of what to do. Plays never set up subsequent plays… just picks plays out of the air. And how often would he kill a drive, with one of his *trick plays.*
Then, of course, he’s never learned how to use: Leon, Brad Smith, Keller, Stuckey, etc… yup, a rising star.
Schott made me miss Hackett – - at least Hackett had a plan, albeit conservative.
Just the fact that he’s even being considered, to return as OC, let alone our HC… ummm, this is the *new direction* Woody spoke of??
And I’m a continuity guy… I’d have preferred Mangini, with Rob Ryan, & Callahan as OC… that would’ve been a new direction, compared to anything Schott.
Schott – - it just reinforces that Woody has no clue, and Tanny should stick to the business aspect of management.
The Woody motto: * I Schott an arrow in the air, and where it lands, I know not where * ;)
DO NOT HIRE A SCHOTTENHEIMER! young or old!
I’m with SWIZZLE and KEN, Schott has done nothing to qualify for this job,… however, I find Herrmann at DC interesting…. REX is the man…unfortunately he is the only man…Does Quinn going to Seattle mean a promotion to Brian Cox ???
It’s interesting how teams don’t make internal hires for head coaches anymore. It’s probably the PR of it…it reaks of “cheap” or “puppet.” Rex Ryan would have been named Baltimore’s coach had he been on some other team. If B-Schott is the most qualified and interviews the best…hire him. Funny how in today’s age, Jeff Fisher and Bill Parcells probably would never have been hired. They were both internal staff promotions.
Crystal,
I was referring to Schotty as being the puppet. I am just a bit confused by the media’s reporting on this HC search. If Woody is desperate to sell his PSL’s how is hiring Schotty going to help sell PSL’s, its certainly not going to improve the team either. I guess there was a reason why the Johnson family threw Woody out of the picture and gave him billions to play with, unfortunately for us Jet fans, he considers the Jets his toy and one toy he doesnt know how to use.
enough BS from this front office! interview’s after interview’s and Schottenheimer is still in the running? give me a break! he stinks! there is no way he is Qualified! just hire Ryan at least with him you can see production! i have not heard of any Team wanting to interview Schotty or Sutton the other idiot ,doesn’t that alone tells us something?!
Kind of think that this guy good be an up and coming star that just needs his chance. It will be important to find a D coordinator with the skill and expertise to “coach up” this 3-4 defense. I hope he gets the job over Spags because I just don’t want to see a Giant guy in here. Reminds me too much of Randolph from the Yankees.
Swizz, I apologize thought you were talikg about Schott obviously. I agree, if he doensn’t know how to use the toy at least give it to someone who’s read the manuel. I guess I just don’t have any confidence in these guys. We’ve interviewed 8 guys now soon to be 10 and I don’t feel we have a good idea about which direction we’re going. The fact that Mangini got a job in 9 days hurts, the big names we need aren’t coming back till 2010( Holmgren/Cowher) this thing is in chaos. Am I overblowing this or are we friggin cursed? Wait…dumb question.
tutored by SPURRIER and CAMERON….two AWFUL n.f.l head coaches!
If we hire Schott it is because we are hiring him for 1 year until Cowher or Shanahan comes back. I know he won’t sign a 1 year deal, but that is what it would be. If we lose out on Spags and Rex than I actually wouldn’t mind this solution to wait a year for the real big names.
Rex Ryan…. HC
Rob Ryan … DC (will go with his brother if he gets a job or Browns if not)
Brian Shott… OC
Brian Callahan… OL
Mike Westhoff… ST
Plug in other quality coaches for other positions.
This is THE SUPER BOWL WINNING STAFF!!!!!
Any other combination and we break the Rangers record between championships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{Frank, on January 11th, 2009 at 10:49 am Said:
Joe S. – Who do u think should be the next coach of the Jets?}
REX RYAN and nobody else…. PERIOD!!!!!!!!
I’d rather have Bill Callahan as OC than Schott.
What about the likes of Tom Moore or Mike Martz for OC great offensive minds with proven track record….Martz sucked as a head coach recently but he did create the greatest show on turf….Not sold on Schotty’s play calling in clutch situations or even on 3rd or 4th down…With Martz, Leon would go to featured back and he would bring in some big fast receivers that could attack defenses instead of the dink and dunk of the past…Could be interesting but not sure if either is availible next season….
@Joe S – - Why would you want Schott to return as OC??
He had the 25th & 26th rated offenses, in his first two years.
Needs a week to script two drives, then has no clue what to call after.
I can go on, but you get my drift…
Other info on Rex Ryan:
“It will be interesting,” a smiling Ryan said in the Ravens’ locker room. “A lot of guys don’t get this opportunity. I have a chance to interview with two good organizations.”
Asked what kind of head coach Ryan would make, Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle broke into a wide smile.
“The same as he is as a defensive coordinator — good,” Rolle said. “What people don’t realize is that Rex is a better guy than he is a coach. And he’s one of the best. He makes you want to come to work and makes you want to work hard.”
Rex Ryan, the Ravens’ assistant head coach-defensive coordinator, is the mastermind of one of the most unpredictable defenses in the NFL, moving around Pro Bowl talent like chess pieces.
When Reed is running back an interception, it’s Ryan who put him in position to do so. When Lewis is stuffing the run, it comes by Ryan’s design.
So, if Lewis is recognized as the heart of the Ravens’ defense, Ryan is the brain.
“He’s a genius,” defensive tackle Justin Bannan said. “When you have a brain like his, you believe in a guy like that. He has the belief of all of his players.”
Ryan’s success – his defenses are statistically better than those of his predecessors who became head coaches, Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan – has made him a candidate for the head coaching jobs with the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.
Some NFL insiders contend that Ryan has been passed over the past two seasons because he doesn’t fit the CEO-type mold some owners are seeking.
Ryan, 46, is comfortable coaching in a sweat shirt. He doesn’t make apologies for his pot belly and days-old stubble. He speaks off the cuff, not worrying about the politically correct approach.
He is just a football coach – and a shrewd one.
Last weekend, his attacking scheme got Chad Pennington to throw four interceptions after the Miami Dolphins quarterback had been picked off only seven times in 16 regular-season games.
Ryan will try to do the same today against Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, who also threw seven interceptions in the regular season.
“Schematically, they’re unique,” Collins said of the Ravens. “Obviously, in third-down situations, they bring blitzes from a lot of different places. I’m not sure we see any more exotic blitzes.”
Since Ryan took over as coordinator in 2005, the Ravens have finished in the top six in total defense every year.
This season, the Ravens finished second in total defense and first in turnovers.
“It’s organized chaos,” Ryan said of his defensive style. “But there is a method to the madness.”
Ask the players about what sets Ryan apart as a coordinator and they generally give three reasons:
•Creativity: Ryan isn’t afraid to try something new. Remember this is the same coach who dived off a 35-foot cliff in Jamaica.
A few seasons ago, injuries hit the Ravens’ defense so hard that Ryan moved six-time All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders to free safety and 280-pound linebacker Adalius Thomas to strong safety. This season, there were times when he used two down linemen and five linebackers.
“This is my fourth year with him as my defensive coordinator, so you would think you would have seen it all by now,” outside linebacker Jarret Johnson said. “But”
Relationships with players: Ryan doesn’t just use players as chess pieces. He makes them feel as if they are pieces of the defense.
He’ll routinely talk to Lewis, Reed and other players to get input on the game plan. If there were any doubt about his popularity, Ryan was endorsed last year by most of the players to become the Ravens’ new head coach.
“Coaching-wise, Rex is one thing, but as a man when you try to talk to him, he’s just like a father,” Lewis said. “Just being around Rex, being around his knowledge, being around his passion for the game, is kind of special to have him as a ‘D’ coordinator.”
Humor: Last week, Ryan put on some film. The players thought they would see the Dolphins. Instead, it was Ryan trying to pass rush against defensive end Marques Douglas.
With two rotund guys smacking bellies, some players described it as like watching sumo wrestling.
“That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said.
Ngata then added: “The reason why we play loose is it starts with Rex. If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to be able to play on this defense. We’re loose, fun, crazy guys.”
While Ryan’s defensive approach has been aggressive, he has had to be patient in his career.
It took five seasons before he got promoted from Ravens defensive line coach to coordinator. This will be his third season of interviewing for head coaching jobs (missing out on positions with the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Dolphins and Ravens).
As long as the Ravens continue winning in the playoffs, it could reduce his chances of becoming a head coach next season. Teams might be more inclined to hire a coach now rather than wait for Ryan, who said he doesn’t mind his predicament.
Ryan is scheduled to meet with the Rams tomorrow. Last season, St. Louis general manager Billy Devaney was a part of the Falcons’ coaching search, and the organization had Ryan high on its list before hiring Mike Smith.
The next team on Ryan’s interview list is the Jets, who will talk to Ryan as soon as tomorrow. One of Ryan’s biggest supporters is Dolphins executive Bill Parcells, who still has influence in New York.
“If he left,” cornerback Samari Rolle said of Ryan, “it would be hurtful in this building.”
As assistant head coach to John Harbaugh, Ryan has received expanded duties this season. He has been included in the team’s decision-making process, whether it’s a discipline issue or the practice regimen.
“I think I’m twice as prepared this year for the opportunity to become a head coach than I was last year,” Ryan said.
Nevertheless, he has spent this past week dissecting the AFC’s top seed instead of working on his head coaching sales pitch.
“My future is right now, and that’s to get this team ready to play the Titans and do all we can to beat the Titans,” Ryan said. “I’ve worked all my life to get ready for an opportunity to be a head coach. I’m not going to be a phony. I’m going to be myself, and hopefully it’s good enough for somebody. If not, then I’ll stay here and coach this defense like I’ve been doing.”
The rex effect
Rex Ryan has put up better statistics during his four-year tenure as Ravens defensive coordinators than his predecessors:
Coordinator (years) Gms. PPG YPG
Rex Ryan (’05-pres) 64 17.6 277.8
Mike Nolan (’02-’04) 48 18.8 302.0
Marvin Lewis (’96-’01) 96 19.0 304.0
Anybody who wants any coach from this pile of junk other than westhoff is nuts. I hear Callahan-Why? I don’t think the pass protection was anything to write home about.
We need a clean slate. Shotty for ANYTHING is silly. He has shown nothing.
Continuity?-You know the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
Joe S. thanks again for more imput of REX’s coaching,personality,and demeanor..GOOD info and once agian if the front office is stupid enough to let RYAN get away well i quess they’ll get what they deserve…REX needs to be the JETS HC he has all the intangibles and the creative mindset to be successful in whatever he does….WOODY and MIKE T please dont F this up like ya have in the past…
Oh Boy… Did the Giants SUCK TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to hear all those upset Giants fans tomorrow on talk radio.
This will be Great!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spags will Fail as a HC!!!!!
HIRE Rex Ryan TODAY!!!!!!!!
Even if Ryan is there choice they cant make an offer to hire him till his season is over…..spags season is over….if they dont offer him the job this week then i believe they will wait for ryan……and if he declines the job then they will go with schotty…..another sign will be if rob ryan takes the job with mangini or if he holds off….I dont think ryan will take a job with a very unpromising rams defense….If they rex had a bad interview i expect them to name schotty this week……maybe teusday or wednesday.
If schotty is named coach….i wonder if he’ll steal the DC from san diego Ron Riveira and promote him to defensive coordinator/assistant head coach…Callahan would probably be out….callahan and dabol were both forced into the offense and they would both be gone….maybe everyone being on the same page and from the same background would bring some consistancy to the offense…..If its not Rex Ryan then i’m gonna have to say schotty for HC…….hope i dont regret saying that!!! go jets!!!!
I would really like to see Brian Billick as HC, and get a defensive assistant from Pittsburgh or Philly as DC.
Billick is a proven commodity, he’s won a SB, and had a winnign program in Baltimore. He coaches with a lot of emotion and has the right personality for a HC.
Enough with these no name, done nothing coordinators.
Indeed. After all, the coaches of all four teams playing next week weren’t no name, done nothing coordinators…wait a minute…they were ALL no name, done nothing coordinators.
Go figure.
Being a jets fan for as long as i can remember, i have gone through some head coach hires that were a tough pill to swallow. Saying that, I belive that B- Shott is not the worst thing for this team. Now, I belive that Ryan is the man for us, but Schottenheimer has had some good moments with us. I will admit, his play calling is abysmal. but nowhere does it say he must call the plays. He is a creative thinker, and he has plenty of toys to work with in our offense. If one of the young quarterbacks (Klemens, Ratliff) can step up and take this job Shott has a solid team. He would have to hire a good staff, and maybe even his dad will come help out his boy (ie. Monte Kiffen). I guess I have some what of a wait and see attitude toward him, but dont panic just yet.
The problem with naming Schotty HC is that no elite DC is going to leave a sure thing to take a job with a guy who may be a short-timer. Hire Ryan. If he won’t come, get Billick. He’d be able to recruit a quality DC.
Say NO to Schott! I still don’t know why the front office is apprently so enamored with Schotty. It’s kinda like when Leon Hess fell in love with Rich Kotite.
If we somehow choose Schotty over Rex Ryan, we will have the same results as the Dolphins. In 2007! Brian Schottenheimer = Cam Cameron. He also studied with Steve Spurrier, another energetic, offensive-minded coach who couldn’t cut it in the NFL. If you want the same kind of results as Spurrier and Cameron, then hire Schotty. If not, hire Rexy.
You know where Schotty would actually be great? As a college coach. I think he would be very successful in the NCAA as a head coach, (like Spurrier,) but not in the NFL.
I sincerely hope that the article proclaiming Ryan as the new front-runner is correct, and not the one proclaiming Schotty as the front-runner.
Hoping for a Ryan hiring, with Callahan as offensive coordinator. (And Schotty coaching a college team.) Go Jets!
How many of you just don’t want to hear Schotty’s name anymore? I ‘m down as one. NOT as a HC, NOT as a OC .he just needs to go!!!!!
oops make sure he takes Sutton with him.
Shotty couldn’t win in Div 3 college. He needs to start at a HS so we can if that works out better than the 3 horrible years here.
I am so tired of this. We hired Mangini-(nicely put NOT READY) and he wants Shotty and Sutton. We get 3, yes kids 3 full years of no improvement and truly mediocre, second tier football and now we are going to hire Shotty as HC.
They can’t be this stupid.
Or could they?
Schotty you suck! if you do care about te Jets than just leave……………take the other S**T Head with you Sutton.
Joe S
Did you really just say you think Ratliff is the next Tom Brady? C’mon if you really think that yo should be banned from having an opinion on any other topic
Tom,
No… I did not say that.
What I said was… How do you know what you have unless you let these guy’s battle it out trainng camp and let the winner play!
Did New England know that had a “Tom Brady” on their bench?
NO THEY DIDN”T! They had a 6th round pick mamed Tom Brady.
Bledsoe got hurt (by Lewis) and they had to throw this inexperienced 6th round pick into the game. Then they found out what they had on the bench.
Same thing happened this season with Matt Cassel! An undrafted free agent who didn’t start one game in his entire College career.
New England pulls a rabit out of hat twice! Luck??? I don’t think so.
Some unknown QB’s can be developed with the right coaching and in the right situations. Good offensive line, good running game and smart tough sure handed receivers.
Sound familiar?
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