HEADLINES

Jim Bob Cooter

NFC Notes: 49ers, JPP, Lions, Bears

October 31st, 2015 at 5:58pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A quick look around the NFC…

  • If the 49ers – losers of five of their first seven games – continue their downward spiral through the rest of the season, first-year head coach Jim Tomsula and his staff (notably offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and defensive coordinator Eric Mangini) could end up as the fall guys, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. While general manager Trent Baalke and quarterback Colin Kaepernick may also be under fire, Maiocco believes both have built up credit within the organization via past accomplishments. Thus, they have better odds than the coaches of remaining with the Niners in 2016.
  • Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, finally back with the team after a July 4 fireworks accident that cost him his right index finger, is confident his injury won’t affect his on-field performance. “There’s not going to be a major adjustment. As far as my hand goes, I’ll get used to it. I’m just fortunate to play football again,” Pierre-Paul said, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “The day I walked in here I already won. People said I was going to be out for the whole season,” the 26-year-old added. Pierre-Paul won’t play in the Giants-Saints game Sunday and it’s unclear at the moment when he’ll make his season debut.
  • New Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter had past run-ins with the law in Knoxville – a DUI in 2006 and an aggravated burglary charge in 2009 – but the records of his arrests mysteriously vanished, according to Robert Allen of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s no record. There’s nothing,” said Knoxville police spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
  • The Bears worked out free agent punter Zoltan Mesko on Friday, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Chicago brought in the left-footed Mesko in an effort to prepare for Vikings lefty Jeff Locke – whom the Bears will face Sunday.

Lions Fire OC Joe Lombardi

October 26th, 2015 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Just hours after head coach Jim Caldwell told reporters that there wouldn’t be any coaching changes made this week, the Lions have made a major change to their offensive staff. According to Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News (via Twitter), the team is firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, along with offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan.

Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com has confirmed the changes to the Lions’ coaching staff, tweeting that quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter is taking over for Lombardi as the club’s offensive coordinator. Per Twentyman, tight ends coach Ron Prince will assume the role of offensive line coach, while Devin Fitzsimmons takes over as tight ends coach.

The Lions are off to a disappointing 1-6 start this season, and the underwhelming play of the offense has been a main reason for the team’s struggles. Matthew Stafford has been up and down throughout the season, throwing nine interceptions through seven games, well on his way to surpassing the 12 he threw in 16 games last year.

Detroit’s running game has been worse than its aerial attack, with leading rusher Ameer Abdullah having compiled just 222 yards on 3.6 yards per attempt — no other back has more than 60 yards, and Joique Bell is averaging less than two yards per carry. Overall, the Lions are averaging less than 20 points per game, ranking 26th in offensive DVOA through six weeks, per Football Outsiders.

While the Lions will hope that the changes to the offensive coaching staff will jump-start the team, it’s possible these won’t be the last moves made by the team this season. Albert Breer of the NFL Network notes (via Twitter) that there have been “rumblings around the league about larger-scale changes in Detroit,” since Martha Ford is now in charge of the ownership group, and observers aren’t sure what to expect from her.

As for the team’s new offensive coordinator, Cooter drew some interest around the league this past offseason. The Bears were interested in Cooter for their offensive coordinator opening, but the Lions denied Chicago permission to interview the ex-Broncos assistant, showing how much they valued him.

Coach Notes: Weis, Gase, Bears, Mornhinweg

January 20th, 2015 at 10:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears are considering a handful of offensive coordinator candidates, including Charlie Weis, Geep Chryst (49ers), Jim Bob Cooter (Lions), and Adam Gase (Broncos), according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Weis, the former head coach of Notre Dame and Kansas, has been linked to the Browns’ offensive coordinator vacancy in the past. More coaching news..

  • Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie will be back with Atlanta after getting strong overtures from multiple teams in recent weeks, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Cardinals are looking to finalize a deal that would make former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau the team’s new linebackers coach, a source tells Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
  • The Browns interviewed Rams quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti for their offensive coordinator vacancy, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • Gase is flying to Chicago to meet with the Bears about their offensive coordinator opening, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and things could move very quickly.
  • The 49ers are considering Eric Mangini for their defensive coordinator opening, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. Mangini served as the team’s tight ends coach last season and was an offensive consultant with the 49ers the year before that.
  • The Browns are expected to interview former Jets and Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg this week at the Senior Bowl, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • A source tells Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that the Bengals will not allow defensive backs coach Vance Joseph to leave his contract. Joseph was previously linked to the Broncos’ defensive coordinator vacancy.
  • Washington was interested in Vic Fangio, who ultimately landed in Chicago as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, but never made a formal offer to him. As head coach Jay Gruden explained today, that was because the club felt like Fangio’s mind was already made up on choosing the Bears (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post).
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter) speculated earlier today that – if Chan Gailey‘s deal fell through – former Packers coach Mike Sherman would have been interested in the Jets‘ offensive coordinator job, though the interest might not have been mutual. Sherman has a relationship with GM Mike Maccagnan dating back to his time in Houston. Hours later, the Jets finalized their deal with Gailey.

OC Notes: Rams, Ravens, Gase, Bears

January 19th, 2015 at 10:32am CST by Rob DiRe

Many teams still have openings for their offensive coordinator position, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). With seven openings still needed to be filled, he notes that there will be a lot of competition for the top candidates.

Of the seven jobs Zrebiec believes still need to be filled, he has not counted the Falcons, who filled their position last night despite not having a head coach, and the Jets, who have been strongly linked to Chan Gailey (via Twitter).

For a full list of all coordinator hirings and firings check out our Offensive/Devensive Coordinator Tracker.

Here are some notes about potential offensive coordinator hires:

  • The Rams have requested permission to speak with Colts assistant coach Rob Chudzinski regarding their offensive coordinator opening, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
  • The Rams have also sought permission to interview Packers quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt for the OC opening, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
  • The Ravens are currently interested in a number of candidates, and a list of possibilities has been compiled by Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. The guy he puts as the front runner right now is former Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who has led record breaking offenses in Denver with Peyton Manning.
  • Gase is expected to eventually land with either the Ravens or Jaguars, reports Rapoport (via Twitter). He will interview with the Ravens soon.
  • The Bears have asked for permission to interview Lions quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter for their open offensive coordinator position, reports Rapoport (via Twitter). Unfortunately for them, the Lions have denied permission.

AFC West Notes: Raiders, English, Chiefs

February 9th, 2014 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have an impending salary cap quandary on their hands, according to Christopher Hansen of Bleacher Report. Due to language in the new collective bargaining agreement, teams must spend at least 89% of the salary cap for the 2013-2016 seasons. While the idea that the Raiders have over $60MM in cap space looks good on paper, this hides the fact that team must make up $16.4MM in spending over the next three seasons, while simultaneously meeting the 89% threshold. Compounding the problem is that the Raiders simply lack the type of quality players that the team could look to extend. This dilemma might force general manager Reggie McKenzie to eschew his policy, honed during his time with the Packers, of shunning big-name free agents.

Some other news from the AFC West:

  • Contrary to reports, Chargers linebacker Larry English will not become a free agent, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Team sources indicate English did not attain playing-time incentives required to allow him to void the final year of his contract. Instead, he will be paid $1.54MM. Of course, the Chargers could still release him, as he graded out poorly in Pro Football Focus’ rankings (subscription required).
  • The Chiefs could target receiver Jeremy Maclin, but can’t afford to get into a bidding war for him, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. Maclin played under Chiefs coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
  • Teicher also thinks the Chiefs will allow offensive tackle Branden Albert to leave via free agency, due to the presence of 2013 first-round pick Eric Fisher.
  • Former Broncos offensive assistant Jim Bob Cooter, hired as the Lions’ quarterbacks coach, will be difficult to replace, writes Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.

Lions Notes: Raiola, Cornerbacks, Cooter

February 7th, 2014 at 5:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Lions re-signed center Dominic Raiola to a one-year contract. While the financial terms of the deal aren’t known, the 35-year-old is said to have gotten a “nice raise” out of the deal. Raiola has been a fixture on the Lions’ O-Line and has started every game in the last 12 seasons for the franchise with the exception of a handful of contests in 2008. More out of Detroit..

  • The Lions were smart to re-sign Raiola to a new deal, opines ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. The Lions still need to fill holes at wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, and safety, so getting the center position out of the way gives them one less thing to worry about. The veteran is one of the few Detroit players left from the 0-16 season in 2008 and has been completely focused on trying to return to the playoffs. As an added bonus, if the Lions draft a center this year, the Lions can bring him along slowly and Raiola can help groom him for the future.
  • Detroit will continue to pursue larger cornerbacks, new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin tells Justin Rogers of MLive.com. “As the league has changed, I think you have to try to get, if you can, a bigger cornerback,” Austin said, “a guy that can match up with the bigger receivers, a guy that has some physical toughness to him who’s not afraid to tackle, and a guy that has great ball skills.” However, Austin isn’t ruling out smaller corners with playmaking skills.
  • The Lions will hire former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback and Broncos assistant Jim Bob Cooter to be their next QB coach, according to Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports (via Twitter).