O'Connell has turned out my favorite by far............previous connections with the Patriots and Caserio............exposure to many teams..............and yet successfully runs a balanced WCO. Competition for his hand in marriage will be fierce.
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Get to know Texans HC Candidate: Rams OC Kevin O'Connell
January 20, 2022|Texans
By: Andrew Bohovich
The Houston Texans are set to Interview Los Angeles Rams Offensive coordinator Kevin O’ Connell. Many people's may think that it's the Sean McVay show, and that KOC doesn't deserve any looks. However, Texans GM Nick Caserio has prior connections to O’Connell that could be key down the road.
O’ Connell, while only 36, has a wide range of experience and comes from a system and coaching tree that is very desirable throughout the NFL. KOC first started his NFL career when he was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2008 - a time when Texans GM Nick Caserio was entering his first year as the Patriots Director of Player Personnel, which later became the role of the “De facto'' GM of the Patriots behind the legendary Bill Belichick. Caserio has a deep background with O’ Connell as you must know them as a player and as a person when considering drafting them. Nick knows what he can get in KOC. He knows what kind of person and leader he can be. At that time, the Patriots QB coach was Josh McDaniels, known to be one of Nick Caserio's closest friends. O’ Connell was only on the Patriots for one year, but he attributes his success to his former QB Coach McDaniels. Later on, while McDaniels was involved in a HC search for the Colts and Browns, it was said that O'Connell would be brought in as the OC with McDaniels. Yet those opportunities never came into fruition.
After his short-lived Patriots career, O’Connell went on to the Lions, Jets, Dolphins and Chargers as a player. O’Connell's background as a player gives a clue that Texans GM Nick Caserio may have a type he's keen on in this vital HC search. He's already interviewed a former NFL legend in Hines Ward and “a players coach” in Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon.
O'Connell started his coaching career with the Browns in 2015, then the Niners in 2016, and became the Redskins QB coach in 2017. In 2019, the Redskins made O’Connell the offensive coordinator, so that he would not leave for another job. That season the Redskins ranked 21st in total offense, quite impressive considering that the quarterbacks were Dwayne Haskins and Case Keenum. After that season, Washington’s head coach Jay Gruden was fired, leading O’Connell to find a new home in LA as the OC of the Rams. The past two seasons, the Rams have been ranked 17th (2020) and 8th (2021) in total offense. The Rams stellar offensive ranks in 2021 could be attributed to an increase in O’Connell's input for the offense, the explosion of WR Cooper Kupp, and better QB play from Goff to Stafford. It's said to be the Sean McVay show, but the better production with KOC’s arrival cannot be ignored. Rams HC Sean McVay has implemented a deadly west coast scheme based off of motion, free releases, and a ton of wide zone in the running game and has already helped get former staff members HC jobs in Chargers HC Brandon Staley, Bengals HC Zac Taylor, and Packers HC Matt LeFleur.
If O'Connell could bring over at least half of McVay's scheme, the Texans would be in great shape. Texans QB Davis Mills would highly benefit from that of a west coast scheme, and WR Brandin Cooks does excellent with free releases and lots of space. O’ Connell is a fantastic candidate and a quick riser with interviews also from the Vikings and Broncos for their HC position. He is a legitimate candidate for the Texans and should not be an afterthought.
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