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The battle between offensive and defensive
coordinators is ongoing. Both must be
smart, creative and adjust an entire week’s
worth of preparation on the fly as game
conditions dictate. As more defenses use
shifting 3-4 alignments, offensive coordinators
must adjust game plans accordingly.
RealScouts, SN Today’s team of former
NFL scouts, rank their top 20 offensive
coordinators:
1. Cam Cameron, Ravens. Being
innovative is only part of the
job. Putting your best players in a
position to be successful is another.
Cameron, despite his reputation
taking a beating in his one year in
Miami, is a great coach who took a
Division I-AA quarterback and
turned him into a productive NFL
starter as a rookie.
2. Chan Gailey, Chiefs. Gailey’s
shotgun-heavy attack is a
perfect philosophical fit with new
coach Todd Haley. It also will limit
the learning curve of QB Matt Cassel,
who played in a similar system
last season in New England. The
Chiefs will attack through the air
and could have the NFL’s most
improved offense in ’09.
3. Dan Henning, Dolphins. His
system has stood the test of
time, beginning with the Houston
Oilers in 1972. Most recently, it has
worked with Jake Delhomme in
Carolina and Chad Pennington in
Miami. Henning is an unsung hero
of the Dolphins’ turnaround. His
scheme calls for a lot of runs and
high-percentage passes.
4. Kevin Gilbride, Giants. He
couples power runs with
downfield passes, using big, athletic
run blockers to wear down
defenses and set up play-action
passes. The Giants control the clock
with a basic and conservative
offense that capitalizes on defensive
mistakes.
5. Mike Heimerdinger, Titans. He
runs one of the NFL’s most
conservative offenses, but look for
more balance this year. He will use
RB Chris Johnson more as pass
catcher and will take advantage of
upgrades at wide receiver. Heimerdinger
is a master at creating
mismatches with formation
changes.
6. Scott Linehan, Lions. He likes
the downfield passing game
and is more likely to call passes in
the red zone. He was the man
behind the scenes in Minnesota
when QB Daunte Culpepper was
playing his best. The Lions’ problem
is a poor offensive line and lack
of depth at receiver.
7. Jason Garrett, Cowboys. With
Terrell Owens gone, look for
more balance—a greater reliance on
the run and passes spread around.
Garrett, T.O.’s whipping boy last
year, is one of the brighter young
minds in the league. Garrett is great
at combining elements of different
schemes.
8. Bob Bratkowski, Bengals.
Bratkowski’s strength is in
the details of the passing game.
When all his players were healthy
and happy, he had a juggernaut in
Cincinnati. He now is using the run
more often. With an improved line
and a healthy Carson Palmer, the
Bengals could surprise in ’09.
9. Dirk Koetter, Jaguars. He
would prefer a more wideopen
offense that incorporates
downfield passes but plays to his
team’s strength—a power run game.
QB David Garrard must play
smarter, though.
10. Mike Mularkey, Falcons. He
is an old-school, smashmouth
guy who loves two-tight end
sets with fullbacks leading power
runs. He uses the run to set up playaction
passes downfield. Mularkey
has ideal tools in Atlanta: A great
back, a smart young QB and some
versatile playmakers.
11. Bruce Arians, Steelers. He
likes to pass more than
any coordinator in Steelers history
but hasn’t abandoned the run. If
RBs Willie Parker and Rashard
Mendenhall remain healthy, Arians
could use them together at
times in ’09. Arians combines run
sets with empty backfields and
spread formations.
12. Russ Grimm, Cardinals.
With Grimm replacing
Todd Haley, the Cardinals will get a
heavier dose of the running game—
a goal of coach Ken Whisenhunt
since he first arrived two years ago.
Still, the team’s high-powered passing
attack will remain the dominant
feature. Expect to see more
no-huddle attacks and shotgun formations,
too.
13. Brian Schottenheimer, Jets.
He rose through the
ranks because of innovative ideas,
but at the heart of his philosophy
is a strong running game. That
will be more evident if rookie
Mark Sanchez wins the QB battle.
Schottenheimer will be conservative
but always looking for
matchup advantages—through the
use of motion, no huddle or gimmick
plays.
14. Greg Knapp, Seahawks. He
will implement a one-cut,
zone-running scheme in Seattle,
setting up a conservative passing
attack. Knapp has a proven system
but has to overcome Seattle’s lack of
elite weapons.
15. Marty Mornhinweg, Eagles.
He runs a system with
West Coast principles and plays.
Traditionally, it’s a 65/35 pass/run
ratio, but the short passing game
uses the backs, tight ends and
receivers as a run substitute. The
Eagles have upgraded the line and
receiving corps, so look for them to
rely a little less on RB Brian
Westbrook.
16. Joe Philbin, Packers.
Philbin uses a lot of multiple
formations and has been fighting
for more balance in the offense.
Though conservative in QB Aaron
Rodgers’ first season as a starter,
Philbin will open up things in ’09.
As Rodgers matures, Philbin’s
name will become more
recognizable.
17. Jeff Jagodzinski, Bucs. He
had a nice NFL career
developing when he left to be the
Boston College head coach. He did
develop Matt Ryan in college.
Another believer in the zone-blocking
scheme, Jagodzinski also wants
to open up the passing game and
get away from ex-coach Jon
Gruden’s ball-control attack.
18. Ron Turner, Bears. An oldschool,
run-first guy,
Turner will look to get more balance
into the offense with the
arrival of QB Jay Cutler. Turner
will be more aggressive in the passing
game, using Cutler’s skills and
mobility to go downfield off playaction
fakes.
19. Ted Tollner, Raiders. A long
time NFL and college
coach, Tollner has been brought
into the fold to improve the Raiders’
running game and make sure the
team maximizes Darren McFadden.
Tollner also is a former QB
coach who could be instrumental in
the development of JaMarcus
Russell.
20. Kyle Shanahan, Texans.
Shanahan, 29, has done a
good job of getting the talent to
work together. He is the son of former
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
and has been around the game for a
long time, but line coach Alex Gibbs
gets the credit for the improved
running game and head coach Gary
Kubiak still insists on calling most
of the plays.
— RealScouts analyzes NFL and college players,
coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News Today.
coordinators is ongoing. Both must be
smart, creative and adjust an entire week’s
worth of preparation on the fly as game
conditions dictate. As more defenses use
shifting 3-4 alignments, offensive coordinators
must adjust game plans accordingly.
RealScouts, SN Today’s team of former
NFL scouts, rank their top 20 offensive
coordinators:
1. Cam Cameron, Ravens. Being
innovative is only part of the
job. Putting your best players in a
position to be successful is another.
Cameron, despite his reputation
taking a beating in his one year in
Miami, is a great coach who took a
Division I-AA quarterback and
turned him into a productive NFL
starter as a rookie.
2. Chan Gailey, Chiefs. Gailey’s
shotgun-heavy attack is a
perfect philosophical fit with new
coach Todd Haley. It also will limit
the learning curve of QB Matt Cassel,
who played in a similar system
last season in New England. The
Chiefs will attack through the air
and could have the NFL’s most
improved offense in ’09.
3. Dan Henning, Dolphins. His
system has stood the test of
time, beginning with the Houston
Oilers in 1972. Most recently, it has
worked with Jake Delhomme in
Carolina and Chad Pennington in
Miami. Henning is an unsung hero
of the Dolphins’ turnaround. His
scheme calls for a lot of runs and
high-percentage passes.
4. Kevin Gilbride, Giants. He
couples power runs with
downfield passes, using big, athletic
run blockers to wear down
defenses and set up play-action
passes. The Giants control the clock
with a basic and conservative
offense that capitalizes on defensive
mistakes.
5. Mike Heimerdinger, Titans. He
runs one of the NFL’s most
conservative offenses, but look for
more balance this year. He will use
RB Chris Johnson more as pass
catcher and will take advantage of
upgrades at wide receiver. Heimerdinger
is a master at creating
mismatches with formation
changes.
6. Scott Linehan, Lions. He likes
the downfield passing game
and is more likely to call passes in
the red zone. He was the man
behind the scenes in Minnesota
when QB Daunte Culpepper was
playing his best. The Lions’ problem
is a poor offensive line and lack
of depth at receiver.
7. Jason Garrett, Cowboys. With
Terrell Owens gone, look for
more balance—a greater reliance on
the run and passes spread around.
Garrett, T.O.’s whipping boy last
year, is one of the brighter young
minds in the league. Garrett is great
at combining elements of different
schemes.
8. Bob Bratkowski, Bengals.
Bratkowski’s strength is in
the details of the passing game.
When all his players were healthy
and happy, he had a juggernaut in
Cincinnati. He now is using the run
more often. With an improved line
and a healthy Carson Palmer, the
Bengals could surprise in ’09.
9. Dirk Koetter, Jaguars. He
would prefer a more wideopen
offense that incorporates
downfield passes but plays to his
team’s strength—a power run game.
QB David Garrard must play
smarter, though.
10. Mike Mularkey, Falcons. He
is an old-school, smashmouth
guy who loves two-tight end
sets with fullbacks leading power
runs. He uses the run to set up playaction
passes downfield. Mularkey
has ideal tools in Atlanta: A great
back, a smart young QB and some
versatile playmakers.
11. Bruce Arians, Steelers. He
likes to pass more than
any coordinator in Steelers history
but hasn’t abandoned the run. If
RBs Willie Parker and Rashard
Mendenhall remain healthy, Arians
could use them together at
times in ’09. Arians combines run
sets with empty backfields and
spread formations.
12. Russ Grimm, Cardinals.
With Grimm replacing
Todd Haley, the Cardinals will get a
heavier dose of the running game—
a goal of coach Ken Whisenhunt
since he first arrived two years ago.
Still, the team’s high-powered passing
attack will remain the dominant
feature. Expect to see more
no-huddle attacks and shotgun formations,
too.
13. Brian Schottenheimer, Jets.
He rose through the
ranks because of innovative ideas,
but at the heart of his philosophy
is a strong running game. That
will be more evident if rookie
Mark Sanchez wins the QB battle.
Schottenheimer will be conservative
but always looking for
matchup advantages—through the
use of motion, no huddle or gimmick
plays.
14. Greg Knapp, Seahawks. He
will implement a one-cut,
zone-running scheme in Seattle,
setting up a conservative passing
attack. Knapp has a proven system
but has to overcome Seattle’s lack of
elite weapons.
15. Marty Mornhinweg, Eagles.
He runs a system with
West Coast principles and plays.
Traditionally, it’s a 65/35 pass/run
ratio, but the short passing game
uses the backs, tight ends and
receivers as a run substitute. The
Eagles have upgraded the line and
receiving corps, so look for them to
rely a little less on RB Brian
Westbrook.
16. Joe Philbin, Packers.
Philbin uses a lot of multiple
formations and has been fighting
for more balance in the offense.
Though conservative in QB Aaron
Rodgers’ first season as a starter,
Philbin will open up things in ’09.
As Rodgers matures, Philbin’s
name will become more
recognizable.
17. Jeff Jagodzinski, Bucs. He
had a nice NFL career
developing when he left to be the
Boston College head coach. He did
develop Matt Ryan in college.
Another believer in the zone-blocking
scheme, Jagodzinski also wants
to open up the passing game and
get away from ex-coach Jon
Gruden’s ball-control attack.
18. Ron Turner, Bears. An oldschool,
run-first guy,
Turner will look to get more balance
into the offense with the
arrival of QB Jay Cutler. Turner
will be more aggressive in the passing
game, using Cutler’s skills and
mobility to go downfield off playaction
fakes.
19. Ted Tollner, Raiders. A long
time NFL and college
coach, Tollner has been brought
into the fold to improve the Raiders’
running game and make sure the
team maximizes Darren McFadden.
Tollner also is a former QB
coach who could be instrumental in
the development of JaMarcus
Russell.
20. Kyle Shanahan, Texans.
Shanahan, 29, has done a
good job of getting the talent to
work together. He is the son of former
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
and has been around the game for a
long time, but line coach Alex Gibbs
gets the credit for the improved
running game and head coach Gary
Kubiak still insists on calling most
of the plays.
— RealScouts analyzes NFL and college players,
coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News Today.
:P 
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