Darrell Bevell Hired As Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator, According to Reports

Darrell Bevell has been hired as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, according to a report by ESPN’s John Clayton. Bevell and head coach Pete Carroll met yesterday and he was reportedly offered the job shortly thereafter. All that was left was finalizing the contract agreement and work out the details of the arrangement.

Clayton had the details of the agreement, including a note about Bevell’s contract length.

Bevell was offered the job Wednesday and was able to work out a two-year deal with an additional option year, the source said. Bevell had been the Vikings offensive coordinator for the past five seasons.

Carroll wanted a more balanced offense and was philosophically at odds with former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. From the beginning of the search for his replacement, it was clear the Seahawks were targeting Bevell, who ran the Minnesota Vikings offense over the past five seasons.

Carroll has also filled two other coaching vacancies, adding Tom Cable as the offensive line coach and Todd Wash as the defensive line coach this week.

We’ll have more on Bevell’s hiring as it’s made available, including any official word from the Seahawks.

Darrell Bevell And What He Would Bring To The Seattle Seahawks

From all indications, Darrell Bevell was the top-target in Pete Carroll’s search for a new offensive coordinator. Citing philosophical differences, Carroll fired Jeremy Bates on Tuesday and immediately got to work searching for a new offensive coordinator. A day later, Darrell Bevell was brought in for an interview and was reportedly offered the job.

What does Bevell bring to the table, though? How does his philosophy mesh with Carroll’s goals for the Seahawks offense? We dug into his past to try and figure out what Bevell is all about.

Playing career: Bevell attended the University of Wisconsin, where he was a four-year starter at quarterback. In his second year in Madison, Bevell led the Badgers to a 10-1-1 record and a Rose Bowl win. Along the way, he rewrote the record books at Wisconsin, racking up impressive passing statistics during his four years at the helm. Despite his prolific career, he wasn’t drafted, and immediately moved into the coaching ranks.

Coaching career: Bevell started from the bottom and worked his way up as a coach. His career began at Westmar College, a small school in Iowa. After one year running the passing game at Westmar, he became a graduate assistant at Iowa State before moving on to coach the receivers at Connecticut. Again he rose fast, moving up to the NFL in 2000 and spending six years as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach in Green Bay. In 2006, he got his big break with the Minnesota Vikings when he was hired as the offensive coordinator.

Philosophy: When Pete Carroll said he was looking for balance, Bevell’s name should’ve immediately shot to mind. We do know Bevell wants to pound the ball, which falls in line with what Carroll strives for. Thumbing through quotes from Bevell’s tenure with the Vikings reveals a philosophy predicated on a power rushing attack: hit the opponent in the mouth, let it open the passing game, then take shots.

The only problem with the early part of his career in Minnesota was the lack of a quarterback that could open the offense up. Brad Johnson, a young Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte weren’t exactly world beaters for the Vikings.

It’s worth noting that Bevell was also coaching under Brad Childress, who had partial control, at the very least, of the Vikings offense.

Results: From 2006-2009, the Minnesota offense steadily improved each year, growing more efficient and successful along the way. See the Vikings’ handy offensive statistics chart documenting the improvement of the offense from 2006-2009 under Bevell. For another look at the offense, here is the statistics from 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 (via Pro Football Reference).

It’s not as simple as pointing to the stats and calling Bevell a solid coordinator, though. There is, of course, the matter of personnel involved. From Adrian Peterson to Brett Favre, the Minnesota offense saw a talent infusion during Bevell’s time with the Vikings, and the offense benefited because of it.

It’s easy to run the ball when you’ve got Adrian Peterson manning the backfield. In 2007, the Vikings drafted Peterson and watched him make an immediate impact in Bevell’s run-happy offense. In 2009, the Minnesota offense took another big step forward, coinciding with the addition of Brett Favre under center. In that regard, it’s hard to judge how much of the success was from Bevell’s scheme and how much was due to the personnel involved, though the two go hand-in-hand as the offensive coordinator must tailor his scheme to the talent involved.

Overall: The Seahawks are in the midst of a transition as they work to find and develop another quarterback while preparing for Matt Hasselbeck’s inevitable departure in the somewhat near-future. Bevell not only comes as an offensive coordinator, but also has experience working with quarterbacks at the NFL-level.

The goal here is clear: boost the run game, develop a quarterback and at least provide some semblance of balance in an offense that’s relied far too heavily on Hasselbeck’s arm. Bevell’s philosophy fits that, but now we have to wait and see if he can get it done with the personnel available.

Darrell Bevell Reportedly Offered Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Job

If nothing else, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll works fast. Just one day after firing offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, Carroll was hard at work searching for his replacement. On Wednesday morning, during his season wrap-up conference call, Carroll floated a name, saying the Seahawks would be interviewing Darrell Bevell later in the day. Now, it appears Bevell has been offered the job.

According to ESPN’s John Clayton, Bevell flew to Seattle on Wednesday, was offered the job and is currently negotiating a contract.

Bevell flew to Seattle on Tuesday for a two-day interview with head coach Pete Carroll. After the interview, he was offered the job and contract talks have started. The source said the negotiations should be concluded within the next day.

It’s looking more and more like this will be a quick transition, with the details finalized sooner rather than later. If Carroll continues to move at the speed he has been, expect Bates’ replacement to be announced by the end of the day on Thursday.

We’ll be back with more on Bevell and what he may bring to the Seahawks tomorrow. For the latest on the Seahawks coaching changes, stay tuned to this StoryStream.

Pete Carroll Explains Jeremy Bates Firing, Will Interview Darrell Bevell

Pete Carroll held a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, delving into the reasons why he made the decision to fire Jeremy Bates on Tuesday. From the call, it was clear the two never meshed, with Carroll pointing out a difference of opinion about what the offense should look like. Carroll noted the two had “philosophical issues” and “saw things differently” when explaining his reasoning to reporters.

What’s it mean? Simply put, Pete Carroll wants a balanced offense that can run the ball. With a rush offense that ranked near-dead-last, Bates wasn’t getting it done. Even given Marshawn Lynch, thought to be an immediate upgrade at the running back spot, Bates never “utilized the Beast” as Ben Hamilton said on Twitter.

Hamilton’s Twitter account was a treasure-trove of insight this morning. He added Bates offense is predicated on short throws, but that it helps when Brandon Marshall is catching them. It lends credence to the theory that the offense didn’t match the personnel. After Sunday’s loss to the Bears, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck noted the loss of tight ends John Carlson and Cameron Morrah limited the Seahawks playcalling options.

“We’ve got a big, giant (play) call sheet. Losing John Carlson took it down to a corner of that.” – Hasselbeck, on the impact of losing his starting tight end on the Seahawks’ fourth play of the game

Carroll now moves on, looking to find a philosophical match. First up, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. In his press conference, Carroll said the Seahawks would interview Bevell today, not just for the vacant quarterbacks coach position but also the offensive coordinator position. Bevell is the first candidate Carroll has acknowledged thus far.

For more on the Seahawks, check out our StoryStream on Bates’ firing and the search for a new offensive coordinator.

Jedd Fisch Staying At Miami As Seattle Seahawks Search For Offensive Coordinator

The list of candidates for the Seahawks vacant offensive coordinator position is growing smaller by the minute. Josh McDaniels is out as a candidate for the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator position after taking the same position with the St. Louis Rams. Jedd Fisch, former Seahawks quarterback coach, will also reportedly not be returning just a week after taking the offensive coordinator job at the University of Miami. Earlier on Tuesday, Adam Schefter reporter the Seahawks were making a run at Fisch, trying to lure him back as they searched for a replacement for Jeremy Bates.

ESPN's Bruce Feldman reported Fisch is "100% committed to Miami," however.

As we said earlier, Carroll is moving fast, already hiring Tom Cable as his offensive line coach and Tom Wash as his defensive line coach on Tuesday.

Of the names thrown around as candidates for the vacant offensive coordinator position, former Seahawks quarterback coach Jim Zorn still looks the most attractive. Even with the roster turnover, many players still know Zorn well and would, reportedly, be thrilled if he returned to Seattle.

For the latest on the Seahawks coaching moves, check out our StoryStream. For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

Tom Cable Hired As Seattle Seahawks Offensive Line Coach; Todd Wash As DL Coach

Al Davis' loss is the Seattle Seahawks game. After Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable was fired, the Seahawks swooped in on Tuesday, hiring him as the offensive line coach. Head coach Pete Carroll has been busy on Tuesday, firing offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and quickly making two hires, Cable and defensive line coach Todd Wash.

The Seahawks official Twitter account confirmed the move moments ago.

As head coach of the Raiders, Cable survived rocky times before leading the team to an 8-8 record. Surprisingly, Davis chose not to retain him as head coach, instead promoting Hue Jackson to the position, also on Tuesday. In Cable, Carroll gets an experienced assistant that will, apparently, be the second in command.

Carroll is moving fast, so stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest coaching moves as the shakeup in Seattle continues.

Josh McDaniels Hired As St. Louis Rams Offensive Coordinator

Scratch former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels off the list of candidates to replace Jeremy Bates as offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. After negotiations with the St. Louis Rams reportedly broke down on Tuesday morning, the deal is back on and McDaniels will become the Rams offensive coordinator. The announcement ends a few hours of whirlwind speculation surrounding McDaniels that included a link to Carroll and the Seahawks.

Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported the news on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

We can likely deduce that McDaniels got more money in the contract negotiations after dangling his services in front of the Seahawks. The Rams wanted McDaniels from the start, and it seems likely they paid a premium to get him. With Sam Bradford running the offense, McDaniels has an excellent chance to strengthen his resume in St. Louis while developing a talented young quarterback.

With McDaniels out, the attention now turns to Jim Zorn, Jedd Fisch and others as Carroll searches to replace Bates. For the latest news, stay tuned to our Seahawks coaching search StoryStream.

Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Candidates Include Familiar Faces

Josh McDaniels was the first name to emerge as the Seattle Seahawks search for a new offensive coordinator following the announcement that Jeremy Bates had been fired on Tuesday. McDaniels name isn't the last in what seems to be a growing list of candidates to replace Bates and lead the Seahawks offense. Two former coaches, one just days removed from leaving head coach Pete Carroll's staff, along with two former head coaches terminated during the 2010 season are all in the mix, according to reports on Tuesday.

Here's a few names that have been tossed around on Tuesday.

Brad Childress: The Minnesota Vikings dropped Childress on Nov. 22 after a disappointing 2010 campaign. Childress has been looking for an offensive coordinator job and was reportedly interviewing with the Miami Dolphins this week. After having so much control over the Vikings, right down to have ultimate power over roster decisions, can Childress handle working under Pete Carroll?

Josh McDaniels: The first name thrown into the ring on Tuesday, it was reported that McDaniels and the Seahawks were in contact on Monday, just one day before Bates was fired. McDaniels was close to signing with the St. Louis Rams, but the deal fell through at the last minute. 

Jim Zorn: Another familiar name for the Seahawks. Zorn was the quarterbacks coach in Seattle from 2001-2007 before heading to Washington to coach the Redskins. Adam Schefter reported Zorn may be a candidate for the vacant offensive coordinator spot. Schefter added Zorn would be popular in the Seahawks locker room, as well.

Jedd Fisch: This is one comes as a bit of surprise and is odd considering the circumstances. Fisch just left his quarterback coach position in Seattle to take the offensive coordinator spot at the University Miami. By just left, I mean last week, during the middle of the playoff run, though he stayed on until after the Seahawks season had finished. Now, Adam Schefter is reporting the Seahawks are making a run at Fisch as an offensive cooridinator.

Four candidates, all with plenty of star power and intrigue. With the NFL assistant coaching carousel spinning wildly right now, Carroll has plenty of options to work with as he tries to replace Bates and reinvent the Seattle offense ahead of the 2011 season.

Stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest on the coaching changes in Seattle as more news becomes available.

Josh McDaniels, Seattle Seahawks Have Reportedly Been Talking Since Monday

One day before offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was fired, the Seattle Seahawks reportedly reached out to former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels to gauge his interest in joining Pete Carroll's staff. The news, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, gives us a clearer picture about what may have been going on ahead of Tuesday's report that Bates would not return to Seattle, while also explaining why McDaniels didn't pull the trigger and join the Rams' staff.

Schefter tweeted the news Tuesday and Mike Sando added a quick quip about the NFC West.

And all of a sudden, it all adds up. Bates' firing came as a bit of a shock, despite the shortcomings of the Seattle offense. Could Tuesday's move be a result of a behind-the-scenes agreement between the Seahawks and McDaniels? If it was, odds are we'll find out soon as Carroll works to replace Bates and finalize any agreements.

McDaniels was reportedly close to signing a contract with the Rams before talks broke down between Monday and Tuesday. According to Sando, McDaniels was looking for more money after shopping his services around the NFL. The Seahawks have money to spend on coaches, and McDaniels could be just the guy Carroll needs as he tries to revamp the offense after a disappointing 2010 season.

Stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest Seahawks coaching changes and more on McDaniels as news becomes available.

Josh McDaniels A Candidate For Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Position?

Former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is on the hunt, looking for a landing spot after being ousted in Denver. According to ESPN’s Mike Sando on Tuesday morning, McDaniels was nearly hired as the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, but the deal reportedly fell through at the last minute. Now, Sando is floating McDaniels name as a possible replacement for fired offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates in Seattle.

Josh McDaniels’ name comes to mind immediately. Talks between McDaniels and the St. Louis Rams hit a snag this week, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported. McDaniels also interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings.

As a former head coach, McDaniels is looking for top-dollar for his services as an offensive coordinator. The Seahawks have money to spend on coaching salaries, and pay well if Pete Carroll’s salary is any indication. While Bates’ firing left many scratching their head, it also leads to the belief that Carroll has a plan, and may be targeting another assistant already.

Could it be McDaniels? If so, the Seahawks staff would immediately receive a boost as Carroll tries to revive a struggling offense in 2011. For more on the Seahawks coaching changes, check out our StoryStream on Bates’ firing and more.

Jeremy Bates Latest In Seattle Seahawks Coaching Staff Changes

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll already has a large task at hand just two days into the offseason. After Jeremy Bates was fired on Tuesday, Carroll will be replacing four assistant coaches, three of which left for other jobs during the Seahawks playoff run. In addition to Bates, defensive line coach Dan Quinn went to Florida, quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch went to Miami and Jerry Gray returned to the university of Texas. For Carroll, it will be a busy offseason as he looks to replace a large chunk of his staff.

The Seahawks became a revolving door team shortly after Carroll was hired, with a record number of roster moves taking place ahead of the 2010 season. Now, with three coordinators leaving for college jobs, and Bates’ firing, Carroll is, essentially, starting from scratch again, replacing two assistants on each side of the ball.

One thing is clear about Pete Carroll: if he doesn’t think the job is being done right, whether on the field or within his staff, he’ll find someone to do it his way. As the players have said all year, it’s “buy in or get out,” with a my-way-or-the-highway attitude from Carroll. As we saw this year, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, and the team benefited from it right out of the gate.

Stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest on the Seahawks staff changes and offseason moves.

Jeremy Bates Fired As Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator, Accoring To Report

The offeseason is here for the Seattle Seahawks and Pete Carroll is already making some staff changes. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was fired on Tuesday, just two days after the Seahawks season ended in Chicago. Bates came to Seattle with Pete Carroll after coaching the quarterbacks at USC in 2009.

The news was reported by NFL Network's Michael Lombardi on Twitter.

The move comes as a surprise, though the Seattle offense was statistically among the worst in the NFL. Averaging just 89 yards per game on the ground, the rushing offense ranked 31st in the league. The passing game wasn't much better, ranked 19th in the league, averaging just 208.8 yards per game.

Bates appears to be the fall guy as Carroll will again look to reform his staff after the Seahawks playoff run this season. Stay tuned to our StoryStream for the latest offseason moves and more on Bates' firing