Where the heck are they now update: Greg Olson

When Scott Linehan took over as Rams head coach in 2006, Greg Olson was the offensive coordinator, but effectively in name only. Linehan was the offensive genius, so he did all the play-calling. That lasted until week 10, a particularly-poorly-called game, even for Linehan, which saw the Rams get shut out in Carolina to lose their fourth straight game and fall to 4-6. It was decided that Linehan's genius was being taxed too much and play-calling went to Olson.

And Olson did a heck of a job. The Rams went 4-2 with him calling plays, won their last three and averaged 27 points a game. He closed with a flourish with a 37-31 win over Washington and a 41-21 win at Minnesota.

So, you let Olson have the reins for the 2007 season, right? Not exactly; per beat reporter Jim Thomas, Linehan became much more involved again in the offensive game plan and play-calling, even with Olson remaining the titular offensive coordinator. A lot of people would call what Linehan did "meddling". And so Linehan meddled the Rams' way to an 0-4 start that season, with the Rams scoring just 36 points in those four games. Linehan took over play-calling for the rest of the season, managing to pull the Rams' points per game up to a big 16.25. The Rams ended 2007 a THEN-franchise worst 3-13.

While Linehan and Jim Haslett sunk the Rams to even deeper depths in 2008, Olson jumped the rapidly-sinking ship (got pushed, actually) at the end of 2007 and landed on his feet in Tampa Bay, where he seems to be doing a heck of a job as the quarterbacks coach. The Bucs are coming off one of the best passing offense seasons in their history:

* 3,788 yards: 2nd in team history.
* 63.2% completion percentage: 3rd in team history.
* 83.8 team passer rating: 4th in team history.

The Bucs offense set a team record for total yards last year (5,456), which was the second-highest scoring season in team history, with 362 points. These numbers aren't headline-worthy as the rest of the league goes, but they're unheard-of for the long-offensively-starved Buccaneers.

Good thing Linehan got rid of Olson, huh. Olson was the coach of the two the Rams should have kept!

We'll see for sure as this year's rookie QB class develops. Olson's working with Josh Freeman, and thinks he could be the opening week starter, in Tampa. Linehan and former Ram offensive assistant Jeff Horton will be in charge of bringing Matthew Stafford along in Detroit.

I know who I'd put my money on, and against.

Photo from the St.Petersburg Times "Bucs Beat" blog at blogs.tampabay.com