Jags hire Carl Smith as OC

[texan279]

ESPN is reporting that the Jags have hired Carl Smith as their new offensive coordinator.

[OzzO]

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) - Carl Smith will go from coaching Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart to working with Byron Leftwich.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Smith, who was the quarterbacks coach at Southern California, as their offensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Smith replaces Bill Musgrave, who was fired by the Jaguars on January 4.

New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy also interviewed for the Jaguars' job.

Smith, 56, served as the offensive coordinator for the Saints under coach Jim Mora from 1986-96. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio starred at linebacker at USC and started his NFL career with the Saints in 1985 and 1986.

Smith also worked as quarterbacks and tight ends coach with the New England Patriots from 1997-99 under Pete Carroll and as quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns from 2001-03.

Last season, he reunited with Carroll at USC and helped Leinart win the Heisman Trophy as quarterbacks coach.

The Jaguars finished last in the AFC and 29th overall in the NFL in scoring with 261 points last season.

Jacksonville finished 9-7 under Del Rio but was officially eliminated from the postseason race when Denver beat Indianapolis on the final Sunday of the regular season, 33-14.

But the Jaguars' playoff hopes were effectively ended by the Houston Texans, who defeated Jacksonville twice by scores of 20-6 and 21-0.

kffl

college QB coach to NFL OC? That's a heck of a jump.

[texasguy346]

As stated in the article he's been an OC before, and it's not unusual for a coach to go back and forth from college to pros. However, it looks as if they happened accross him in their quest for Norm Chow. Guess the Jags fans who wanted Chow will have to settle for Smith.

[ledzeppelin229]

That last part of the quote is priceless.

[texasguy346]

Ouch! That hurts. The Jags fans could have had their dream OC, but their headcoach somehow forgot to offer him the job. Perhaps his helmet wasn't padded right when he was a player.