So why not Jim Skipper?

[Nicbsbll2]

Stephan Davis was a major veteran before he arrived nothing left to be developed there.

Foster fumbled his entire career, less as he got older but it was always an issue, its a football not a loaf of bread.

Hoover had also been around from before, Hoov was a decent fullback, but he isn't the HOF'er this place makes him out to be.

Nick Goings ? ....

Williams and Stew fumbled more as they have been here. Both are exceptional talents in their own right. Williams was WAY too happy feet at the start of his career. He excelled when the line was paving the way. As it should be.

Fiametta was taught by hoov as much as anyone.

Goodson is a 2 year player and he could stop Fiz in blitz pick up.

I'm sure he is a great guy and cool the players think he is great.

He was also Fox's yes man (If he wasn't why was Williams on the bench so long?) and part of a dead establishment.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Foster's fumbling problem got consistently worse as his career progressed, not the other way around.

Hoover was decent before Skipper, but he became great once Skipper arrived.

Nick Goings.. 2004... 217 carries, 821 yards, 6 touchdowns... almost all of which came during the last 8 weeks of the season. That's pretty damn good for a 5th string running back.

Oh yeah, you're right about DeAngelo. That man is a fumbling machine!! I mean, he has 6 fumbles over his 5 year career. Just completely unacceptable. That Stewart fella can't hold on to the ball either. I mean damn man, he set a career high in fumbles this season with 4!!

So why does Hoov get credit for teaching Fiammetia the position when Skipper was the one that made Hoover the player that he was?

Goodson might not be able to pass block worth a damn, but he made a hell of a lot of progress as a player from year 1 to year 2.

Not going to deny that Skipper was tight to Fox, but there is no way you can blame Skipper for keeping DeAngelo on the bench so much as a rookie. That blame falls on Fox and Fox alone.

[Mr. Scot]

I would wager it was a courtesy "yes we will consider you". Not because they actually would, but to send a message to other teams that they were not completely incompetent.

Back in my corporate days when I fired people, I would mark them as eligible for rehire. Not because they would ever be rehired, they wouldn't. They were marked that way as a courtesy for when order companies called wanting to know.

It's a possibility. Funny thing is that they never reached out to any of the others on offense - Davidson, Scherer, Chryst - or Milus on the defensive side. And it wasn't until late in the game that they reached out to Skipper.

(can't really say I blame them for the most part, except maybe on Chryst)

I'd have to look back to see whether those gestures came before or after Fox got the Broncs job. My sense is before, but i could be wrong about that.

[rmoneyg35]

I don't understand why Rivera wouldn't want to get this guy but who ever he plans on getting better be worth it. I don't care if your an old school or new school coach, no matter what this guy can coach running backs and his system has proven to work in today's NFL.

[Mr. Scot]

I don't understand why Rivera wouldn't want to get this guy but who ever he plans on getting better be worth it. I don't care if your an old school or new school coach, no matter what this guy can coach running backs and his system has proven to work in today's NFL.

Kinda references the other thread. It's not necessarily as simple as we'd like to think.

For all we know, he and Rivera may not have hit it off at all (and yeah, that matters).

[Seamonk]

Well.. we've got..

door #1: Jim Skipper

door #2: Mystery

door #3: Mystery

Which do you choose? With door #1, you've got something you've known for quite some time. but with the other two doors you could either get something way better.. or way worse.

Jim Skipper is the safe option.. but I'm pretty sure our running game won't be affected as much.. we might even call less running plays from now on. Who knows if Jim Skipper had a hand on 3rd and Long draws.. He WAS the Asst. Head Coach.. AND the RB coach.

[Mr. Scot]

Well.. we've got..

door #1: Jim Skipper

door #2: Mystery

door #3: Mystery

Which do you choose? With door #1, you've got something you've known for quite some time. but with the other two doors you could either get something way better.. or way worse.

Jim Skipper is the safe option.. but I'm pretty sure our running game won't be affected as much.. we might even call less running plays from now on. Who knows if Jim Skipper had a hand on 3rd and Long draws.. He WAS the Asst. Head Coach.. AND the RB coach.

From the Assistant Coach Options thread (link)

- Edgar Bennett (RB Coach, Packers)

- Tim Spencer (RB Coach, Bears)

- Anthony Lynn (RB Coach, Jets)

- Gene Huey (former RB Coach, Colts)

- Kelly Skipper (RB Coach, Raiders)

- Jimmy Raye (former OC, 49ers)

Bennett and Spencer both have prior history with Ron Rivera (from his Bear days). Lynn worked with Rob Chudzinski in Cleveland.

[Cavscout]

From the Assistant Coach Options thread (link)

- Edgar Bennett (RB Coach, Packers)

- Tim Spencer (RB Coach, Bears)

- Anthony Lynn (RB Coach, Jets)

- Gene Huey (former RB Coach, Colts)

- Kelly Skipper (RB Coach, Raiders)

- Jimmy Raye (former OC, 49ers)

Bennett and Spencer both have prior history with Ron Rivera (from his Bear days). Lynn worked with Rob Chudzinski in Cleveland.

For this reason, I would want Lynn as RB coach...he would already be familiar with the system that Chudzinski would like to run...that is if they got along in Cleveland

[Kevin Greene]

Foster never stopped fumbling.

Our backs had more fumbles recently (haven't looked this up).

He is part of the Fox family and such needs to be purged.

Even worse, we have a history of our backs being unable to recognize and pick up a blitz in order to save the QBs arse.

[OneBadassCat]

The good:

Stephen Davis

early DeShaun Foster

Brad Hoover

Nick Goings

DeAngelo Williams

Jonathon Stewart

Tony Fiammetta

The bad:

late Deshaun Foster

Davis came here as one of the better RB's in the leauge. Deangelo and Johnathan Stewart are top five talents. Goings was decent not because of his talent but because he was just a smart all purpose player. Foster had his issues but Fox and company had just as much part in ruining him.

I'm not saying Skipper is bad but when you've had the talented runners that we have had it will make a lot of coaches look good.

[MadHatter]

Davis came here as one of the better RB's in the leauge. Deangelo and Johnathan Stewart are top five talents. Goings was decent not because of his talent but because he was just a smart all purpose player. Foster had his issues but Fox and company had just as much part in ruining him.

I'm not saying Skipper is bad but when you've had the talented runners that we have had it will make a lot of coaches look good.

VERY valid points you made there.

It is much easier for a RB coach to look good when you have two #1 picks as your two RB's.

Not making any assessment on whether Skipper is damn good or not....just that having that kind of talent sure makes it a hell of a lot easier.

[Stumpy]

I'm not saying Skipper is bad but when you've had the talented runners that we have had it will make a lot of coaches look good.

Seems like one of those "chicken vs egg" situations. Bottom line is we have either been VERY good at scouting RB talent or VERY good at developing it. And since it appears that Skipper will not be returning, hopefully it is the former.

Although one aspect that seems to have been overlooked, on this board at least, is the impact that Magazu has had on our running game. With the success that all of our backs have had recently, even Sutton and Vaughn have looked good in limited action, you argue that the blocking has made more impact than the RBs or Skipper.

[rayzor]

He is part of the Fox family and such needs to be purged.

this is a big thing. they are wanting to make a significant break from the fox era and skipper has been with fox longer than anyone. he's too close of a tie to the old and (overall) ineffective ways of doing things.

...and sometimes a fresh perspective from a new coach is exactly what guys need.

this is a huge thing as well. a teacher may be great, but if you limit your whole learning to that one teacher, you will be limiting your education. you need fresh perspectives and angles to become a more complete player or whatever. they've been with skipper a few years now. while they may have gleaned a lot form him over that time frame, could it be that they've tapped out that resource? sometimes you need a new voice.

Even worse, we have a history of our backs being unable to recognize and pick up a blitz in order to save the QBs arse.

this is something that really needs to be addressed by the new staff coming in, esp. if we are going to be passing as much as they have said they are going to.

I'm not saying Skipper is bad but when you've had the talented runners that we have had it will make a lot of coaches look good.

one thing to consider, with all the talented backs we have had here, we didn't have a 1000 yard rusher until williams a couple years ago. how long did it take for skipper to get a 1000 yard rusher? it very well could have been more to do with the talent itself than the coaches. the reason the RBs like skipper so much may have more to do with him being a father figure or just a really likeable guy than his ability to coach. he could just be a "players coach" rather than an actual good coach.

[HSCBandit07]

Kelly Skipper? Jim's wife is a coach too?

[HSCBandit07]

Gosh their kids must be really ugly