49ers bring in Scott Linehan for second interview

by Fooch on Jan 15, 2009 1:52 PM PST in News Comment 8 comments

Scott Linehan came back for a second interview. If they're moving into second interviews, I'd imagine that means we have our final list of candidates, agreed? Right now that would include (with last job):

Scott Linehan, St. Louis Rams head coach
Clyde Christensen, Indianapolis Colts receivers coach
Rob Chudzinski, Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator
Rick Dennison, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator

Maiocco threw out an interesting question:

Does this mean he will be allowed to leave the Bay Area without a signed contract? Linehan has not been linked to any other jobs this offseason.

I guess that is possible but I'd think if you had some interest in one of the other candidates, it's a better idea to consider the other options in second interviews first. Although, based on Singletary's actions thus far, it wouldn't surprise me if as soon as he knows who he wants he locks them down (as opposed to playing out some interview charade for the other folks).

The coaching staff is heading to the Senior Bowl early next week so it would make sense to get an OC sooner rather than later. I'd think that would mean they'll have an OC by Monday.

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I think that we are down to our final four like fooch said, although i don’t think that Singletary will lock down the first guy he likes. I think that 3 out of the 4 candidates will get a 2nd interview. I also agree that the niners will have their new OC before the Senior Bowl. I think that it will come down to Linehan or Dennison, Although Linehan wouldnt be a bad choice I would prefer Dennison.

by sundaysfinest on Jan 15, 2009 2:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I thought

we weren’t coaching the senior bowl. did you mean heading to the senior bowl to watch?

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on Jan 15, 2009 3:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Senior Bowl

The coaching staff goes down for scouting purposes, not actual coaching purposes. The week of the game is a big scouting bonanza. That clarify it?

by Fooch on Jan 15, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

just curious...

…how can anyone compare dennison’s qualifications with linehan’s (see below)???

performance of dennison-led units:

DEN special teams coach (1997-2000) — 9th, 9th, 22nd, 24th in special teams DVOA
DEN OL coach (2001-2005, 2007-2008) — 11th, 1st, 9th, 7th 2nd, 14th, 1st in ALY; 23rd, 26th, 11th, 3rd, 4th, 14th, 4th in ASR
DEN OC (2007-2008) — doesn’t count because mike shanahan is the de facto OC

looks to me like he’d be a better OL coach hire than OC…analogous to how chudzinski would make a better TE coach hire than OC.

performance of linehan-led offensive units:

MIN OC (2002-2004) — 7th, 3rd, 3rd in total offense DVOA after team was 16th in 2001; 5th, 4th, and 7th in rush offense DVOA
MIA OC (2005) — 21st in total offense DVOA after team was 31st in 2004; 14th in rush DVOA after team was 30th in 2004. in comparison, martz only improved the niners from 32nd to 27th in total offense DVOA, and the rush DVOA actually got worse (25th to 27th).

IMO, linehan is the perfect fit…easily the most qualified offensive coordinator candidate that’s been interviewed. also, i agree with fooch. singletary doesn’t play charades. he’s quick to decide, and quick to move on from one solved problem to the next. there won’t be any parading of candidates in and out of santa clara just for the sake of being politically correct.

by Florida Danny on Jan 15, 2009 5:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

edit

*favorably compare

obviously, anyone can compare them. i just did. :-)

by Florida Danny on Jan 15, 2009 5:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Danny

this has just confirmed my opinion that Linehan should be the OC. HIre him now, Sing.

by Ninerfromacrossthepond on Jan 15, 2009 5:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

When you discount all of Dennison’s OC experience its not hard to make a case for Linehan.

With that said I think Linehan is probably the best selection, I’m not sure what Singletary thinks about the zone blocking scheme as it’s not exactly “power” running.

by methodrampage on Jan 16, 2009 7:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

two words...

dean pees…

dennison being OC under shanahan is like pees being DC under belichick. you’ve never heard of either because the coordinator aspect of their jobs are more title than description. everyone knows shanahan runs that O, and everyone knows belichick runs that D.

from lynch’s blog:

Where Dennison shines is in his ability to call pass protections and devise the run game. In fact, the passing game was left almost entirely to quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. He called the plays, with heavy input on the running game from Dennison. Bates and Dennison collaborated on the first scripted 18 plays Denver starts their offensive game plan with.

a guy who calls pass protectios and devises the running game, but doesn’t call plays, should get credit for what those responsibilities describe, which is an OL coach, not an OC. i gave credit to linehan for his OC jobs because he was the play-caller, not some running-game collaborator.

with that said, i agree with you about singletary’s likely skepticism about the zone blocking scheme.

by Florida Danny on Jan 16, 2009 7:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs