2023-08-16 11:42:35
In the NFL, the focus is always on the quarterback and the head coach, but the coordinators can also have a big impact on the performance and success of the respective teams. SPOX shows you today the coordinators who will have the greatest influence on their teams in the 2023 season – positively and negatively.
Coordinators are naturally overshadowed by the head coaches, but quite a few of them have a major influence on play calling, play design or the entire scheme.
But who are the coordinators whose work will have the most impact on their respective teams this upcoming season?
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10. Nathaniel Hackett – Offensive Coordinator, New York Jets
“It may have been one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history,” current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said of his predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett, in an interview with USA Today. Even if Payton crossed a line here and broke the applicable “code” among head coaches: I don’t want to contradict him.
Hackett’s Broncos were a disaster. So it’s good that he’s now returning to his core competency, the offense. Or? Not necessarily! Because even if his players, especially quarterback Aaron Rodgers, praise Hackett about the green clover and repeatedly emphasize how much fun working under him is, one should not forget that Hackett was not involved in an important thing at the Packers: Play calling. That was up to head coach Matt LaFleur.
If you now look at how the teams under Fangio performed as a play caller, it becomes clear that this is not really his expertise. His best season as a play caller came in 2017 with the Jaguars, the year Jacksonville seemed to have it all. But even then, his offense was just -0.01 EPA/Play, which meant 12th place in the league. In fact, an offense whose plays Hackett was calling never had a positive EPA/Play for an entire season. If this trend continues, the season for the Jets may not be as great as everyone there thinks.
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9. Brian Schottenheimer – Offensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys
Head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to call the Cowboys himself. Just like in the best days of the Packers, when Rodgers never missed an opportunity to ignore his announcements.
And McCarthy has already announced that he will bet more on the run game, after all that’s how you win the games – in the 80s and 90s. And you keep your own defense off the field and let it breathe. Believes McCarthy.
But we’re finally talking about Schottenheimer, whose CV states that he already vigorously held back the Seahawks’ offense noticeably and then actively helped to drive top pick Trevor Lawrence’s rookie year against the wall in Jacksonville. Naturally, he can now stand in the way of Dak Prescott and Co.
The Cowboys see themselves as a big contender in the NFC (East) and continue to have an extremely dangerous defense led by Micah Parsons. But with these decision-makers on offense, as in the previous year, that could almost become superfluous. And last year, play calling was still designed for efficiency, something that may well be a thing of the past this year.
Schottenheim will have a big impact on the course of this season, but probably not a particularly positive one.
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8. Jim Schwartz – Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns had the seventh-worst defense in the NFL by PFF grade in 2022. And that despite the fact that they had some well-known players like Myles Garrett in their ranks. In order not to repeat that, the pitch was not upgraded. A different wind is now blowing on the sidelines.
Jim Schwartz has taken over as defensive coordinator after spending two years as a defensive assistant at Tennessee. However, he celebrated his greatest success as DC for the Eagles, who won the Super Bowl in 2017.
Schwartz brings his usual wide-9 scheme, which should offer edge rushers Garrett and newcomer Za’Darius Smith more freedom in the pass rush. They may now be posted outside of the tackles with more running.
Overall, Schwartz is expected to see a clear improvement in defense performance. This is the only way a jump to the top of the AFC North should be possible.
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7. Matt Canada – Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
Everything should actually get better for the Steelers offense in 2022, after all Ben Roethlisberger, who did little more than throw quick, short passes, was gone. And both placeholder Mitch Trubisky and first-round pick Kenny Pickett needed more mobility above all to let Canada’s scheme come into its own.
The result, however, was sobering. They were average at best when it came to offensive production. And so the stakes are already high for Canada in its third season in Pittsburgh.
He himself assumes a jump from last year’s rookies Pickett and wide receiver George Pickens. But what if he doesn’t? So far, what Canada’s offenses have shown has been manageable. He in particular now needs a clear increase in performance. Otherwise, his chair should quickly wobble.
However, if the offense can be taken a few steps forward, the Steelers could attack again, after all the defense has been on a good level recently when edge rusher TJ Watt was fit.
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6. Eric Bieniemy – Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
The metaphorical sun in DC has risen again after the sale of the Commanders to Josh Harris, and there is a spirit of optimism in the capital.
And that is certainly also due to the arrival of Eric Bieniemy, who has now been passed over as head coach several times, although the offense of the Chiefs was also his work in recent years.
Bieniemy’s job with the Commanders is both a challenge and a pressure at the same time, because he now has the chance to show that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes aren’t the only reason the Chiefs put up such an impressive offense . If he manages to set up a coherent offense with Sam Howell – doubtful – that should increase his shares for his personal career noticeably.
And for the Commanders, this commitment means a breath of fresh air, because despite good skill positions led by wide receiver Terry McLaurin, the result was mostly manageable. If Bieniemy can instill more structure, more efficiency and a simpler scheme for his QB, the Commanders, who are on the rise off the field, could feel it on the field as well.
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5. Vic Fangio – Defensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins
Defensive guru Vic Fangio takes over as defensive coordinator and should bring a breath of fresh air and, above all, his extremely successful scheme to this team.
Fangio’s defenses are characterized by a lot of zone that can crush the opposing pass game. With rivals like the Jets and Bills in their own division, this could become a deciding factor.
Above all, he should make the existing staff better. An increase in performance can be expected from Safety Jevon Holland, who has already shown his special skills, but has not yet shown them consistently.
Edge rusher Bradley Chubb, whom Fangio knows from their days together in Denver, is also expected to be in better form.
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4. Brian Flores – Defensive Coordinator Minnesota Vikings
Opinions are divided on the Minnesota Vikings defense. While they have PFF fourth in defense grades, if you look at Football Outsiders they rank 27th in defense with 6.7 percent DVOA. Means something like: The individual ideas looked pretty good, but the countable remained largely absent.
Also means: The Vikings didn’t let themselves be dazzled by their 13-4 record, which was a big anomaly anyway. Accordingly, they separated from Ed Donatell, whose defenses have always been a difficult case, especially in terms of secondary.
This is where Brian Flores comes into play. He most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Steelers. He previously famously served as the Dolphins’ head coach (2019-2021) and previously served in multiple roles on the Patriots’ coaching staff.
He understands defense and stands for man coverage and aggressive blitzing. The Vikings roster could do well with him at the defensive helm. Top edge rusher Danielle Hunter was saved, with the Saints bringing in Marcus Davenport. In addition, the secondary definitely has potential.
Of course, for Flores it’s not just about bringing the defense closer to the good offense, but also about self-promotion, after all he will certainly want to have a head coach again in the future. A DC job is a very good showcase.
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3. Todd Monken – Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Monken, who recently overlooked the Georgia Bulldogs’ potent offense, actually has only one task with the Ravens: to open up the passing game and make it usable. It was the big weakness in Greg Roman’s offense – it was much too stubborn about the running game, which made the team too predictable, especially in tight games.
The Ravens upgraded to wide receivers for the first time since Lamar Jackson’s arrival (OBJ, Flowers), but the most notable addition is likely to be Monken, who is expected to bring structure to the offense. If he succeeds, the Ravens will be a very unpleasant opponent, especially since the defense continues to look like one of the better in the NFL.
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2. Bill O’Brien – Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
Anyone currently looking at the forecasts for the coming season will find the New England Patriots in last place in the AFC East almost everywhere. The offensive declaration of bankruptcy in the previous season was too serious, and the additions afterwards were not impressive enough. And yet the Patriots have the chance to make a clear step forward offensively and, in particular, to get quarterback Mac Jones back on track in his third year.
The reason for the optimism has a name: Bill O’Brien, the team’s new offensive coordinator. He already held this job in 2011, having previously worked as a play caller for two years. In 2011, the team reached the Super Bowl mainly through its strong offense.
They don’t have to dream of the Super Bowl in Foxborough for the time being, but a significant improvement is possible now that the miscasts of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been corrected and an OC with expertise is being brought in again. It is doubtful whether that will be enough for the playoffs, but this commitment should at least give the team a real chance, especially since the defense is already operating at a high level.
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1. Kellen Moore – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have had the luxury of having one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL with one of the best arms for a couple of years. However, Justin Herbert’s use in recent years has been more akin to a Ferrari with training wheels. Under Joe Lombardi, short passes, dump-offs, screens and the like were used. Herbert can fire the ball from all positions over the entire field – even precisely.
Kellen Moore, whom the Cowboys no longer wanted because he placed too much value on the pass – see above – could now be the solution to this problem. His play calling has been one of the most progressive and efficient in the NFL for years. And with Herbert under center, it’s to be expected that he’ll use his arm accordingly.
Already in the camp you could see early on where the journey is going – namely through the air and deep! Rookie Quentin Johnston and Mike Williams are two formidable deep threats that will appear on some of the highlight reels following shots by Herbert this year. So we could see the best Herbert yet after his lavish contract extension as Moore will take the training wheels off him.
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