OC update, 1/25

* Any job-hunters out there? Have you considered a career as an NFL offensive coordinator? Recent moves at the positions around the league have established a seller's market, and a pretty soft one, at that:

Proving the good ol' boys network is still in full effect all these years, we had Marc Trestman get re-cycled from Chicago (HC) to Baltimore (OC); Gary Kubiak re-cycled from Baltimore (OC) to Denver (HC); John Fox re-cycled from Denver (HC) to Chicago (HC), and Adam Gase also re-cycled from Denver (OC) to Chicago (OC). The Rams apparently would have interviewed Gase if he had not signed with Chicago.

Other new OCs turning up around the league like bad pennies: Greg Olson in Jacksonville; Chan F. Gailey with the Jets; Bill Musgrave in Oakland. INNOVATIVE HIRINGS! Not that RamView was against re-cycling, since I was looking to get Dirk Koetter, who's on I believe his third team now in Tampa.

Jeff Fisher also is not against re-cycling. The Rams were interested in Greg Roman, but he went from San Francisco to Buffalo. They were also interested in Kyle Shanahan, but he is expected to take the OC job in Atlanta, who are expected to hire Seattle DC Dan Quinn as their HC after the Super Bowl (distracted coordinator - another reason to pick the Patriots?).

That's a LOT of people failing, most in multiple places, at an elite job and STILL finding new positions at that same level. Cleveland at least broke the mold when they signed Oakland QB coach John DeFilippo to call their plays. He's 36, and the first play he calls in the NFL will be his first one anywhere, besides possibly Madden Football. And Oakland had the worst passing offense in the league last year. Well, at least it's a creative hire.

Rams fans have also been spared a couple of potential horror-show hirings, with Tony Soprano joining the 49ers to coach tight ends, former Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg joining Baltimore to coach QBs and Bill Callahan joining the Redskins to coach o-line. Again, though, repeated failures maintaining elite-level positions. Still in the recycle bin: Al Saunders and Jim Fassel, who's reportedly interested in coaching for UNLV.

St. Louis Rams

And with all this dancing going on, Fisher is still pretty much leaning on the wall and staring at his shoetips. The only Rams OC interview that's been reported was with former Buffalo OC Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday. Hackett checks off a lot of boxes for Fisher. Son of a former NFL coach? Check (Paul Hackett). Fans of his last team disliked his playcalling and thought he ran an uncreative offense? Check. Running game and offensive game plans that don't play to the players' strengths? Check. OC who will stifle all creativity in favor of whatever boring power offense his control-freak head coach tells him to run? Check, check, check. Hackett will be perfect for Fisher, and it'll be like Schotty never left. Might as well hire him right now.

The Rams had a couple of other candidates, but the Packers refused their request to interview QBs coach Alex Van Pelt, and even though he was only under contract for another week at the time, the Colts refused a request to interview Rod Chudzinski. So, A) the Colts are assholes, and B) Fisher may yet interview Chudzinski, but is expected to have competition from the 49ers.

Rams TEs coach Rob Boras and I assume Cignetti may yet be candidates for in-house promotion. Ray Sherman is apparently a candidate only in my own imagination, though he has NFL OC experience.

Beyond that, Fisher is either going to have to really scrape the barrel or get really, really creative. I mean, he can't even get fired Jagwires OC Jedd Fisch (QBs coach, Michigan) or Bears failure Aaron Kromer (Buffalo, o-line) at this point. Or his former Tennessee QBs coach Dowell Loggains (QBs, Chicago).

It looks like it's Hackett, Chudzinski or bust. Or maybe let fans call the plays from the stands? I might renew my season tickets to see that. Or Mike Martz.

-$-