Desired Characteristics in the Next Head Coach

[Rain Man]

It appears that our consensus coach is the following:

an X's and O's guy as opposed to a player's coach
a guy who doesn't want GM duties
a guy who was a fringe player himself in the NFL
a guy who is not from one of the major coaching dynasties
a guy with coordinator experience, but not a former NFL head coach
a guy with an offensive background
a guy who drafts best player available instead of building around a system
a guy who is cool, sophisticated, and cerebral
a guy who leans more toward too bold as opposed to too conservative.

Okay, so who's out there that fits these criteria?

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It appears that our consensus coach is the following:

an X's and O's guy as opposed to a player's coach
a guy who doesn't want GM duties
a guy who was a fringe player himself in the NFL
a guy who is not from one of the major coaching dynasties
a guy with coordinator experience, but not a former NFL head coach
a guy with an offensive background
a guy who drafts best player available instead of building around a system
a guy who is cool, sophisticated, and cerebral
a guy who leans more toward too bold as opposed to too conservative.

Okay, so who's out there that fits these criteria?

COACHING
Rob Chudzinski followed head coach Ron Rivera from the San Diego Chargers to Carolina to be the Panthers' offensive coordinator. In 17 previous seasons as an NFL and college assistant, he has had success leading offenses and earned a reputation for developing tight ends.

As the Chargers' tight ends and assistant head coach in 2010, Chudzinski helped San Diego rank first in the NFL in total offense with an average of 395.6 yards per game and second in scoring with an average of 27.6 points per game.

Tight end Antonio Gates excelled during both of Chudzinski's two-year stints on the Chargers coaching staff from 2005-06 and 2009-10. Gates made his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl last season, one year after producing a career-high 1,157 yards. In 2005, Chudzinski's first season as San Diego's tight ends coach, Gates registered the only other 1,000-yard receiving season of his career with 1,101 yards on a career-high 89 receptions.

In between Chudzinski's stints with the Chargers, he served as the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator for two seasons. In 2007, the Browns won 10 games - their most wins since 1994 - and Chudzinski's offense played a key role in the team's success. Cleveland ranked eighth in the league in total offense and scoring, accumulating 5,621 net yards and 402 points.

Four players went to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Derek Anderson, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, tackle Joe Thomas and tight end Kellen Winslow II. Anderson threw 29 touchdowns, while Edwards and Winslow combined with running back Jamal Lewis to give the Browns two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher.

Chudzinski began his pro coaching career as Cleveland's tight ends coach in 2004 and worked with Winslow, the team's top draft choice. He was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games of the season under interim head coach Terry Robiskie after the resignation of head coach Butch Davis.

From 1994-2003, Chudzinski spent 10 years as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Miami (Fla.): three seasons as offensive coordinator, five as tight ends coach and two as a graduate assistant.

During his three years as offensive coordinator, he guided a unit that went 12-0 and won the national championship in 2001 and set school records for points, total yards and rushing touchdowns the next season. In addition, Chudzinski worked with numerous future NFL players, including them wide receiver Andre Johnson, running backs Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis, tackle Bryant McKinnie and quarterback Ken Dorsey.

Promoted from graduate assistant to tight ends coach in 1996, Miami's tight ends flourished under Chudzinski's tutelage. He mentored Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Winslow, all of whom were All-Americans and became first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl players in the NFL.

PLAYING AND PERSONAL
A three-year starter at tight end for Miami (Fla.) from 1986-90, Chudzinski played on national championship teams in 1987 and 1989. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1990 and added a master's degree in business administration in 1996. Chudzinski and his wife, Sheila, have two sons, Kaelan and Rian, and a daughter, Margaret.

HISTORY
Tight end Miami (Fla.) 1986-90. College coach: Miami (Fla.) 1994-2003. Pro coach: Cleveland Browns 2004, 2007-08, San Diego Chargers 2005-06, 2009-10, joined Panthers in 2011.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

COACHING
Rob Chudzinski ...

Chudzinski, eh? Let's see


an X's and O's guy as opposed to a player's coach - Check
a guy who doesn't want GM duties - Probably check
a guy who was a fringe player himself in the NFL - No, but was on a national champion college team
a guy who is not from one of the major coaching dynasties - Check
a guy with coordinator experience, but not a former NFL head coach - Check
a guy with an offensive background - Check
a guy who drafts best player available instead of building around a system - Not sure yet
a guy who is cool, sophisticated, and cerebral - Don't know
a guy who leans more toward too bold as opposed to too conservative - Don't know


Seems promising.