Bear Hands

Mike Kafka Vid below (somewhat dry alert) but I wouldn't discount this dude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsRoc8GPySs&ab_channel=NewYorkGiants Something I'm trying to place is how these different personalities will work with our interview room. Hurney & Tepper sounded like they went with the feel with Rhule. I just see Hurney as such a sucker type. WIth Fitt it's different. They may need to step back and ask themselves who really laid out the best vision and not just who had the best interview from a personable standpoint. Will have their BS detectors on, and Scott seems much more in tune with the vision and philosophy chatter. Looking at Ben Johnson, think he will absolutely crush first impressions, he's easily got the most charisma, but that doesn't mean he's the best. If they take some time to deliberate and see who's best, Steichen or even Kafka could come out looking really impressive. All depends I suppose! My instinct has those 3 as our frontrunners. Steichen, Johnson, Kafka

I gotta say, this just feels SOOOOOO much more damn promising than the 2019 batch of Mike McCarthy, Matt Rhule, Josh McDaniels, & Rob Ryan

Posted elsewhere but worth a repost: Kendall Roy, I mean, Jonathan Gannon speaks a different language haha

Ooh that's nice. I'd like to think whoever we select identifies that we have a top-tier OL Coach with some really nice pieces in place. Hoping we re-sign Bozeman and keep Campen. Would keep things really consistent in the trenches for a new staff. Just hope the desired scheme aligns with the personnel for our new coach.

Awesome.

From the AFS: Fun thing that Steichen does in Philly that would definitely fold into his next squad--They do self-scouts of the opposing-side come offseason. So at season's end, the offensive staff scouts their defense (& vice versa) and identifies how they'd attack them and their weaknesses heading into the offseason. Helps identify what they need to fix as much as the defensive staff's preferred wants. They learn how their own offense would attack them and try to respond. Steichen is apparently also still pretty tight with Rivers and has some strong staffing connections that he could take with him. He comes from multiple schematic backgrounds so no set philosophy. Sirianni may have to really figure out how to repatch a huge chunk of his staff. Also sounds like he has a really method-based approach with modifying his playbook as needed to the players he has. More symbiotic than simply playbook, insert players or players, insert playbook.

Some Notes: Surprised that Kellen Moore is the youngest of the bunch. Didn't realize that until I pulled it all together. Ben Johnson has more experience than may be perceived and under staffs that had a lot of legends and future HCs on them. I had mentioned elsewhere but Ben Johnson has connections with a few staffs stemming from his Miami days, part of a Holmgren off-shoot coaching tree. Is likely tight with a lot of Zac Taylor's staff. And fun fact--didn't realize Mike Sherman is Zac Taylor's father-in-law.

Thx, figured to aggregate everything with fun photos and all. Didn't have time for extensive blurbs but I figure that type of info could be broken out separately.

Notable similarity is sans Caldwell, the entire candidate list was a college QB

Official (Interviewed or Requested): *Steve Wilks Current Interim HC. His name and season speak for themselves. Solid option. Ken Dorsey https://www.buffalobills.com/team/coaches-roster/ken-dorsey 41 years old Current Gig: Bills OC We know him well. College QB, Panthers QB Coach for Cam, has worked his way up in Buffalo. Experience: College QB, 7 years pro-player (QB) 9 Years pro-coach (1 year OC) Ben Johnson https://www.detroitlions.com/team/coaches-roster/ben-johnson 36 years old Current Gig: Lions OC Experience: College QB, 2 Years College-Coach, 11 years Pro-Coach (1 year OC) One of the hot names. Seems to be one of the fan front-runners along with Steichen. Biography linked. Mike Kafka https://www.giants.com/team/coaches-roster/mike-kafka 35 years old Current Gig: Giants OC Experience: College QB, 5 years Pro-player (QB), 1 year College-Coach, 6 years Pro-Coach (1 year OC) Shane Steichen https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches-roster/shane-steichen 37 years old Current Gig: Eagles OC College QB, 1 year college-coach, 11 years pro-coach (2 years OC) Kellen Moore https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/coaches-roster/kellen-moore 34 years old Current Gig: Cowboys OC Boise State Wonder Boy QB, 5 years pro-player (QB), 5 years pro-coaching (4 years OC) Has been a hot name at times, but the hype has definitely gone down a tad. Frank Reich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Reich 61 years old Current Gig: Chilling Experience: College QB, 13 years pro player (QB), 15 years pro-coach (4 OC, 4 HC) Record: 40-33-1, Won a SB as an OC Notable: Panther's 1st Starting QB, Also referenced in the classic, best diss track ever "Hit Em' Up", by 2Pac circa 1996 Jim Caldwell 67 years old Current Gig: Enjoying Life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Caldwell_(American_football) Experience: 45+ years (Has coached since my parents were married in 1977) 2X Super Bowl Champion, 62-50 HC record Demeco Ryans Age: 38 Current Gig: 49ers DC College LB, Pro LB (9 years), Pro-Coach 6 years (2 years DC) https://www.49ers.com/team/coaches-roster/demeco-ryans I have heard on a few outlets that teams love Demeco and he's received very high praise around multiple circles. He may be one of the types that is an even better HC than simply a defense or offense guy. Key with him is who his offensive minds would be. Jerod Mayo https://www.patriots.com/team/coaches-roster/jerod-mayo Age: 36 Current Gig: Patriots LB Coach College LB, Career Captain, Pro LB (7 years), LB Coach (4 years) https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/jerod-mayo-one-of-flms-5-under-the-radar-hc-candidates -- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: The Athletic Football Show Coaching Feature https://theathletic.com/podcast/211-the-athletic-football-show/?episode=604 SI Coaching Spread: https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/12/26/nfl-head-coach-candidates-2023

After listening to the Athletic's pod on this year's coaching crop, I'm re-convinced Steichen is legit along with Ben. Both sound just about as ideal of candidates as you want. Would highly recommend people check that out. Easy to listen to in the background while working haha

Naturally, an ice cream fork eater (B Johnson) will gravitate to the mayonnaise in coffee drinker (Levis) Should we be nervous?? lol

I like Drew Sanders & Trenton Simpson Daiyan Henley interests me but he may need a year to get seasoned.

Totally. Meant to say this with my last line:

Trading up has to be for a specific guy, not to just pick leftovers. So moving up would be day-of, scenario dependent. I personally wouldn't trade up for Levis or AR but can see otherwise if our new HC and Scott are enamored. Buuut I also think Levis is only gaining traction from here on out. And he's still perceived as this high pick after his meh season, he's going to rise to QB1 or 2 (not that I'm a huge fan or anything). If Stroud is QB1 or 2, I'd like to think we'd be ALL OVER a call to AZ.

A scenario I keep thinking of is Fitt dealing with his old office. Swap w/Seattle to get ahead of ATL, Vegas, & DET...assure ourselves Stroud. That may not even cost a future 1st. That could be SF's 2nd, our 2024 2nd, and some extras. The two seconds would easily be ahead of the ~350 pt trade value from 9 to 5 at ~550 total. HOU or IND have the path for the Pick 1 trade so could see 1-4 as Young, Carter, Levis, & Anderson in no particular order. Stroud is there at #5. SEA may eye one of the DEs and could still land Wilson or Murphy at pick 9.

Just a few haha. I can't imagine we add any more right?

Overall, it definitely seems like a big enough field this time to better gauge who may not be ready/out of their depth. Last time, we were basically comparing McDaniels, McCarthy & Rhule. This time, it's a much wider field and imagine they have a Rhule-filter to avoid getting sucked in that type of direction again.

Recap of candidates, seems like it's a field of 9..am I missing anyone? O Ken Dorsey Ben Johnson Mike Kafka Frank Reich Shane Steichen Jim Caldwell Kellen Moore D Steve Wilks Demeco Ryans

Luke Schoonmaker is a midround TE to follow. He's one I'm excited to see in the Shrine Bowl. Remember hearing from Dan Brugler or someone that he's a guy teams have had their eyes on. Could go higher than expected. Overall, a pretty nice TE class.

Absolutely love Kincaid.

Fun little flashback to the Senior Bowl:

It wouldn't be out of pity, I'm saying if a guy is hired who has a background with him, I can realistically see a convo with an older coworker coming in with the desire to work with him again. Not pity, just acknowledging he's a good coach and you want to keep him around. Ron had him in that AHC/Secondary role for a reason. He basically ran our practices from 2014-2017. I'll admit it's a reach, probably not happening anyways & get what you're saying.

I see what you're saying but that type of scenario wouldn't come about in a way like that. And it's pretty clear Wilks isn't getting hired anywhere else, not hearing much interest so I imagine if a new hire asks him to consider staying with his guys, he could consider it.

Yep, I'm speaking to a Dorsey HC, Wilks AHC/DC duo