The case for Brian Schottenheimer

keasley45

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There's no indication as of yet that the OC will be changed for 2025 but i thought it worthwhile to take a look at the reasons why our former OC might be a candidate for the position if John and Mike decide to go in a different direction. In my opinion, Schottenheimer and Peets are both representative of the type of OC J&M would like to see here.

1.Accountability to your boss.

In the case of Schneider, i dont think his seat is hot, but i do think he was entrusted to take the team beyond the mediocre mark Pete captained them to. In his first year, i think he managed to show that we are building to something better, but overall the season has to be one viewed as one where the team underachieved.
On defense, we gave games away early in the season due to personnel erros that were made and the process of team maturation but managed to show immense progress as the season progressed.
On offense, despite flashes of brilliance, the season was characterized too often by fundamental errors that were a result of having to rely on a coordinator with little experience. As the season went on, the offense regressed, despite the line blocking better. That makes 3 years now where the potential of the offense has been squandered by a coach who was incapable of scheming success from a side with ample talent.
John isnt going to have the patience to tolerate another year of giving away victories because the OC is learning the job.

Schottenheimer had a solid record here as coordinator and i'm pretty sure, from John's perspective, should have been given more credit for getting the most from a qb in Russ who he considered to have worn out his welcome by virtue of how challenged he was at executing a traditional offense.
Schotty knows the NFL and has shown to be a good compliment to a defensive minded HC.

2. Experience, Compatibility, style, versatility.

Mike has made it clear the type of team identity he wants forged on bith sides of the ball. Hard-nosed, aggressive, intimidating. During Schoty's tenure here, he proved capable of scheming ground games that consistently finished in the top 10. He could also put together a more than adequate passing attack as was witnessed during the LRC year and prior, even if the fruit of his plans werent always realized.

He is strict, has spent a career coaching, and since leaving here has no doubt only grown his understanding of the offensive game having now studied under Mcarthy for a few years.

I'd wager Mac would welcome with open arms an OC who knows defense as well as his own side of the ball, knows how to control the clock and pound the rock, but can implement a sophisticated passing attack when the need arises. Schotty has that experience in spades having spent a good but if his career working across from a defensive minded coach.

The fact that Schotty would likely be granted a good bit of autonomy would also probably appeal to Schotty. He has earned his stripes, has the know-how, and had more history with the organization than Mac - All things that would seem to make him a solid fit.

Experience is also key here. Mac cant afford to have to divert attention from his duties to help a young or inexperienced coordinator become a leader.


3. Continuity / not starting from scratch.

Although not retaining Grubb would to a degree represent a reset, given hiw different his system is from the traditional NFL offense, moving to Schotty woukd allow Geno, Tyler, and DK to settle back into a system they largely already have experience in. The terminology and teaching of whateber new wrinkles Schotty has incorporated would be much easier and faster given the familiarity between him and some of the team's key personnel. I dont think the familiarity piece can be overstated as i cant see John or Mike being OK with another year of collective 'on the job learning' they had to tolerate with Grubb. The 2025 team needs to hit the ground running.

Jake Peets is another guy who could tick the familiarity box and is someone Mac seems fond of. The challenge with Peetz is that he's never done the job. Hiring from the MCvay tree sounds great, but we already gave his predcessor there a go and he failed miserably. Maybe Jake has shown something in his time here to instill faith in Mac and John that he wont be Waldron 2.0. My reservation is that, like Waldron and Grubb, he is a passing game specialist. That in and of itself doesnt mean he cant handle the run or that Mac wouldn't entertain bringing in someone more experienced to handle the coordination of that aspect of the offense. My personal bias is just against going down the 'pass first' route again.

4. Likelyhood the next OC sticks around if he is successful.

I'd also wager that John and Mac would value the fact that Schotty doesnt seem to have that HC itch. It may just be that he's necer achieved enough success to garner attention, but the fact that he seems to be content towing the line under Mcarthy and the lack of any word from him ever that he was ever not content coordinating should score high marks. The best of the winning frnachises are abke to maintain coaching continuity for stretches. KC is a great example. A defensive minded coach like Mac isnt going to want to have to reinvent the wheel every few years. It distracts his attention from his duties on defense.

Just my .02$, but i think Schotty would be a great fit here.

We shall see very soon.

Thoughts?
 

JayhawkMike

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“That makes 3 years now where the potential of the offense has been squandered by a coach who was incapable of scheming success from a side with ample talent.”

Never Geno’s fault? I respect a lot of your football knowledge but your blind spot of “everyone but Geno” is huge.
 

James in PA

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This is not the first time I've heard the suggestion of a Schotty return to Seattle. IIRC, he had the offense really humming at one point, but when opposing DC's started figuring out what he was doing, he wasn't able to counter adjust. That would be my only concern. I'm sure Mr. I'm limited had something to do with it as well.
 

James in PA

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“That makes 3 years now where the potential of the offense has been squandered by a coach who was incapable of scheming success from a side with ample talent.”

Never Geno’s fault? I respect a lot of your football knowledge but your blind spot of “everyone but Geno” is huge.
I personally blame John more than anyone else for us missing the playoffs again. But Geno or Grubb still seem to get most of the blame. Just remember who is responsible for BOTH of them being here and our annual joke of an o line.
 

12AngryHawks

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This is not the first time I've heard the suggestion of a Schotty return to Seattle. IIRC, he had the offense really humming at one point, but when opposing DC's started figuring out what he was doing, he wasn't able to counter adjust. That would be my only concern. I'm sure Mr. I'm limited had something to do with it as well.
I've heard that Wilson's struggles with the middle of the field hampered Schottenheimer's game plan a bit, and that he had more plays in the playbook when he was with the Jets & Mark Sanchez was his QB.
 

KinesProf

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There is definitely some blame for Geno to shoulder, for sure. Especially the untimely redzone turnovers.

That said, I think I would really like to see what he can do with at least a league average/mediocre OC and Oline. With Waldron/Grubb/the Oline that Geno has had as as starting QB the level of difficulty he has had to play through has been extremely high; and I think he's pulled close to as much as possible as he could out of the situation he has been in. Short of Mahomes, Jackson, Allen and Burrow I'm not sure there are many others who would have played to his level in the circumstances of the past three years.

In retrospect, it does make me appreciate the plum average NFL-level coaching of guys like Bevell, Schotty, Solari in comparison to guys like Waldron, Grubb and Huff.
 
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keasley45

keasley45

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“That makes 3 years now where the potential of the offense has been squandered by a coach who was incapable of scheming success from a side with ample talent.”

Never Geno’s fault? I respect a lot of your football knowledge but your blind spot of “everyone but Geno” is huge.

The problem starts somewhere. Generals lose wars more than soldiers do. And Waldron was beyond a doubt incompetent. Show me an NFL OC that isnt worthy of being in the NFL who has a high performing offsnse, let alone, qb.

I didnt say Geno shoulders no blame. Just that the issue starts with the coordinator. If the plan is bad, bad things follow.
 
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keasley45

keasley45

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There is definitely some blame for Geno to shoulder, for sure. Especially the untimely redzone turnovers.

That said, I think I would really like to see what he can do with at least a league average/mediocre OC and Oline. With Waldron/Grubb/the Oline that Geno has had as as starting QB the level of difficulty he has had to play through has been extremely high; and I think he's pulled close to as much as possible as he could out of the situation he has been in. Short of Mahomes, Jackson, Allen and Burrow I'm not sure there are many others who would have played to his level in the circumstances of the past three years.

In retrospect, it does make me appreciate the plum average NFL-level coaching of guys like Bevell, Schotty, Solari in comparison to guys like Waldron, Grubb and Huff.
Ditto
 
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keasley45

keasley45

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I've heard that Wilson's struggles with the middle of the field hampered Schottenheimer's game plan a bit, and that he had more plays in the playbook when he was with the Jets & Mark Sanchez was his QB.
Yup. Was plainly evident on film.
 

toffee

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Geno has two years under Schotty, oooops, sorry, I forgot GeNO is a goner. But DK and Lockett also has two years under Schotty. Umm but some on dot net want to trade away DK
 

Chukarhawk

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So now were going to jettison yet another offensive coordinator, a thing we have done so many times that the best option is to now start recycling them? That sounds like were not fixing the same underlying issue that has been here through all those coordinators and that is the worst O line in football. You keep looking under all the seat cushions for solutions but refuse to see the giant turd moldering in the living room. Fix the o line. It will even help mask Geno's inability to read defenses.
 

Shane Falco

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No matter how much blame anyone puts on Geno, I don't see how you could be fine with the job Grubb did this season. There was absolutely no consistent progression. How can anyone say he will be fine with any confidence. I'd like to see them bring in a guy with experience but not sure about Schotty.
 

Chukarhawk

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No matter how much blame anyone puts on Geno, I don't see how you could be fine with the job Grubb did this season. There was absolutely no consistent progression. How can anyone say he will be fine with any confidence. I'd like to see them bring in a guy with experience but not sure about Schotty.
the offense was ranked 14th and we'll end up at 10 wins with a whole new coach and new staff. some pretty crazy high bar you got there.
 
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