Bill Callahan Turned Down Contract Extension

Gruden got to Oakland in 1998-same year as Callahan. Gruden was considered an offensive savant (after successful stints with the Niners and Packers and [not so much] Eagles). The lore is that one reason the defensive-minded Bucs killed the offensively proficient Raiders in the 2002 Superbowl was because Callahan kept in the identical playbook and even signal calls that were in place under Gruden. It is true that Gannon blossomed under both, but other QBs associated with Callahan not so much. By 2003 his team hated him so much he had to be axed.

I think Callahan seems to have done a good job with the O-line, even though we have been not so great this year. When I look at someone like Clements I really like what I see more. Not just being involved with the elite Rodgers (who swears by him) but also the amazing work he did in Buffalo in 2004 (one of the strongest teams never to make the playoffs by advanced metrics-and a pretty good offense with limited talent). On the other hand I doubt Clements would come, and Callahan knows the team already. Hard to say…

I personally would give Jim Fassel a shot and get him out of that other league and back into the NFL, he has done a good job with NFL QB’s in the past, would not get him as a head coach

First, I think you’re being too hard on Callahan. He’s had to deal with having Wayne Hunter as a starter. Second, remember that Mangold was out for a few games at the beginning of the year, and that Moore was also injured to begin the year though he played through it. He probably hasn’t even really recovered from that. Also I really think that Brick has been playing hurt for a while too.

I really think he’s been doing a good job, his blocking schemes are always awesome. When we aren’t starting an undrafted rookie at center, we’ve been able to run the ball quite effectively when Schotty actually decides to use the running game. Pass protection issues basically stem from just missed assignments and Hunter being Hunter, really, plus Sanchez’s inability to get the ball out before which makes things seem even worse than they really are. Especially in a short passing game scheme, Sanchez not getting the ball out in less than 3 seconds is inexcusable.

I actually think that the Schottenheimer caters to Sanchez too much and doesn’t challenge him and as a result, he hasn’t improved. The focus of this offense is to not turn the ball over. Not to move the ball. Not to score. But to just not throw interceptions. To me it’s clear that they call plays scared and that Sanchez executes those plays scared. Collinsworth said it best in that Baltimore game at the beginning of the season, "the Jets have shrunk their offense." When I see this I think back to hard knocks when Schottenheimer asked Sanchez to rank plays according to whether he likes it, loves it or hates it. If Sanchez has spent his entire career under a defensive head coach who wants nothing more from the offense than to not screw things up, of course he is going to want to do nothing except avoid interceptions and that is how we have gotten to the place that we are. He is going label plays that have least possibility of leading to interceptions as those that he likes or loves. The results of this are plays where everything goes to the sideline and where the Jets never challenge the middle of the field. By going to the sideline Sanchez limits the number of defenders that he has to account for in zone coverages and thus he feel less susceptible to being picked off. Sanchez needs someone to bring him along and develop him but also to challenge him. He doesn’t need someone that is going to allow him to dictate the playbook to these limited route combinations because that’s how he feels comfortable. For these reasons, I think the last thing that this team needs is Sanchez having any input into who replaces Schottenheimer.

Which is why he wants to keep his options open.

-the immortal Bum Phillips.