3 offensive coordinators new Seahawks HC should target to replace Shane Waldron
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks officially lost another coach on Monday as the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Shane Waldron will be joining the Chicago Bears as that team's new offensive coordinator. Waldron was free to go elsewhere after the Seahawks let Pete Carroll go as head coach this offseason. Waldron was unlikely to be retained by whoever the new head coach in Seattle is.
Waldron was an at-times creative offensive coordinator with the Seahawks, but he also often seemed to get pass-happy - Seattle threw the ball the fifth-most in the league this season. This was especially true on early drives of the second halves of games when Seattle needed points. Many times, Shane Waldron seemed to forget it was OK to run the ball which is a shame when a team has running backs such as Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Waldron leaving might be addition by subtraction. He did seem to do a good job with quarterback Geno Smith. OCs, however, need to be a lot better well-rounded than just getting the quarterback playing decently.
The new Seahawks head coach should chase Antwaan Randle El for new OC
I do not have any current offensive coordinators on this list for two reasons. One is that the potential OC is already employed with another team and that makes him moving to a different team for the same position is extremely unlikely. The other is that many top OCs are likely being interviewed for head coaching positions and not looking to remain in the same position.
The three coaches I have on this list are worthy of being promoted from whatever they currently coach. This begins with Detroit Lions wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El who has been a coach in Detroit for three years and would have learned even better how to scheme offensively under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Of course, there is a decent chance that the Seahawks hire Johnson to be their next head coach and Johnson simply brings Randle El with him. That would make for a near seamless transition for Randle El as he would already have a great understanding of what his head coach is needing on the offensive side of the ball.