2 Realistic O.C.s to Take the Jags Head Coaching Job

The Jags are now in search of their 3rd head coach in 18 years. We've had the old-timey, hard-nosed college coach in Tom Coughlin, who ran a tight ship and who's main downfall was the fact that his scouting / recruitment skills from college didn't translate into an NFL with daily transactions, limited draft choices and, most importantly, a salary cap requirement.

Following Coughlin, the Jags went in another direction, hiring an ex-player turned LB coach. Del Rio's style, you could say, was in direct contrast to Coughlin's by-the-minute, detail totalitarianism. Unfortunately, his easy going ways and player first mentality didn't translate into wins. The tide really turned against Jack in the past few seasons after letting his team fall apart down the stretch of the season with the playoffs in grasp.

Now, as we head into a new era, it's time for the team without a real identity to find one - under a new owner, but with pieces that have been culled together by the scout turned GM, Gene Smith who has 3 more years to make it work. Gene Smith has seemingly done a good job filling our roster, but in his 3rd year it's maybe to soon to really tell what impact he's had. His last draft, moving up a few spots to select a young QB from Missouri with the 10th overall pick, will quite possibly be the most important draft of his career; as his future will most certainly be tied to the quality of play from his franchise quarterback, Blaine Gabbert.

Lets take a look at two coaches that I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to lead this team to a Super Bowl.

Brian Schottenheimer. A University of Florida grad who has been tied to the NFL since birth, being the son of former coach Marty Schottenheimer. He started his coaching career under his dad's wing in KC, made a break for the college game and then returned to the NFL for quite a few seasons before making his mark as the signal caller for the NY Jets. He's had the recent opportunity to coach a young rookie QB by the name of Mark Sanchez. With his pedigree as an offensive coordinator and QB coach, I believe he would be a good fit with the Jags knowing what it takes to develop a QB on a team with an already strong running game.

Joe Philbin. A lifelong Packer in his NFL career, he has been with the team since '03. He's worked under a probable HOF coach in Mike McCarthy and has learned to adapt around swirling controversy and national scrutiny as the Packers parted ways with Favre. The talent in Aaron Rodgers has been undeniable in these past few years and one would hope that a good bit of the mental game was learned from his QB coach while holding a clipboard. One can only hope that Joe's skills with the Packers could translate to wins here in Jacksonville.