Study Hall: Brian Callahan

[TheCasillas]

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Offensive Philosophy: 

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Learning to evolve is the key to longevity and success. Coaches like Bill Belichick, Sean Payton, and Andy Reid have been around for a long time, but have learned what parts of their schemes they need to change and which parts stay the same.

“I think just the idea of putting people in space and isolation and getting as many matchups as you can get one on one or your better athletes against their worst athletes in space,” Callahan said. “I think that’s what you see in college a bunch. I do think that the precision of the passing game in the NFL has only gotten better and better as the years have gone on, both because the players have gotten better and also because people are doing a lot more of it all throughout the game.

“Passing almost used to be situational, drop back passing. And now you look at the analytics of throwing on the first down and doing all those things, the numbers support why it’s effective.”

With the explosion of passing in the NFL over the last few years (which has never been more evident than this year), ground-and-pound offenses are practically extinct. Very few teams, if any, are run-first anymore.

Even though Callahan will have a lot of input into the playbook, Taylor will be the one calling plays on Sundays. The relationship will be reminiscent of Sam Wyche and Bruce Coslett, back when Paul Brown was still the owner of the Bengals.

Coaching History:

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In 2022, Callahan oversaw a dynamic offense that helped lead the team to its second consecutive division title and second straight AFC Championship Game appearance. The offense ranked seventh in the NFL in points per game (26.1), eighth in total yards (360.5 per game), and fifth in passing yards (265.0). He helped guide QB Joe Burrow to his first career Pro Bowl selection, as the third-year signal caller set single-season team records for completions (414) and TD passes (35), while also ranking fifth in the NFL in passing yards (4475). Callahan worked with a pair of 1000-yard WRs in Ja'Marr Chase (1046) and Tee Higgins (1029), who each reached the milestone despite missing time due to injuries. Up front, the Bengals featured a new-look line that continually improved in Callahan's system and allowed no more than two sacks in each of the final eight regular-season games.

In 2021, Callahan helped a talented young Bengals offense rank in the top 10 leaguewide in scoring (eighth, 27.1) and passing (seventh, 259.0) en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI. Burrow, returning from a knee injury suffered the previous season, led the NFL in completion percentage (70.4), while setting single-season team records for passing yards (4611) and passer rating (108.3). Chase was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year after posting a team-record 1455 receiving yards, while HB Joe Mixon was third in the NFL in rushing yards (1205) and fourth in rushing TDs (13) to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.

In 2020, Callahan helped transition Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, to the pro level despite the absence of an in-person offseason program due to COVID-19. Before a knee injury ended his season in Week 11, Burrow's 264 completions were the most ever by an NFL QB through their first 10 career games, while his 2688 passing yards were fifth.

In 2019, his first Bengals season, Callahan helped Cincinnati's rushing average rise 70.6 yards in the first eight games (59.5) to the last eight (130.1). Leading the effort was Mixon, who totaled 1168 rushing yards and five TDs.

Prior to his arrival in Cincinnati, Callahan was quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2018. He helped QB Derek Carr to a then-career-high 4049 passing yards and an AFC-best 68.9 completion percentage.

Callahan served as QBs coach with the Detroit Lions from 2016-17. In 2017, he helped QB Matthew Stafford rank third in the NFL in passing yards (4446) and fourth in passing TDs (29). In 2016, Stafford had eight game-winning drives in fourth quarters (most by a QB in a season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger).

Callahan began his NFL coaching career with the Denver Broncos, spending six years with the club in several offensive roles. He entered in 2010 as a coaching assistant, then moved to offensive quality control from '11-12, offensive assistant from '13-14, and offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach in '15. During his time with the Broncos, Callahan helped mold one of the NFL's most potent offenses, which led the Broncos to five consecutive AFC West titles from 2011-15, and a Super Bowl 50 victory.

Examples of play design:

 

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[jb2288]

I can’t watch the videos for some reason, but my question is. How does his philosophy rank against Franks? It seems very different just hearing about motion, iso, getting your guys in space vs just sitting in shotgun and being stationary pre snap 

[TheCasillas]

7 minutes ago, jb2288 said:

I can’t watch the videos for some reason, but my question is. How does his philosophy rank against Franks? It seems very different just hearing about motion, iso, getting your guys in space vs just sitting in shotgun and being stationary pre snap 

I think these videos will answer your questions for you.

 

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[jayboogieman]

Welcome back, thanks, and stay a while

[jb2288]

12 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

I think these videos will answer your questions for you.

 

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The bar is so low after Frank that I’m sold 

[BIGH2001]

Does he do ok with QBs who are 5’8”, 165?