WOULD DARRELL BEVELL BE A SMART HIRE FOR THE JAGUARS?

Joshua Weisberg/Icon Sportswire

The Jags are set to interview Darrell Bevell. Would he be a good hire in Jacksonville?

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According to Jason La Canfora, the Jaguars, along with the Falcons, are set to interview former Seahawks and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for the same position. 

Bevell was unemployed during the 2018 season, but prior to that had been an offensive coordinator in the NFL for twelve consecutive seasons. He was first hired to be OC for the Vikings in 2006, where he spent five seasons. Brad Childress, who hired Bevell in Minnesota was fired half way through the 2010 season and ultimately replaced by Leslie Frazier, who opted not to bring Bevell back for the 2011 campaign. Bevell then moved on to Seattle, where he spent the next seven seasons. He was fired after the Seahawks failed to make the playoffs in 2017. 

Now, with the Jaguars in desperate need of a new offensive direction, both from a coaching and talent perspective, the Jaguars are set to interview the 48 year old Bevell. 

Bevell has had a fair amount of success in the NFL as an offensive coordinator. His teams have finished with an average end of season ranking of 15 in terms of total offense, which is about as average as it gets. But a deeper look at his coaching resume shows why he is such an attractive candidate. 

Two of Bevell's worst seasons as an OC, 2006 and 2011, both came in his first year with a new team. His other poor performance came in 2010, his last year with the Vikings. That team was a complete mess and saw their head coach fired midway through the season. His first season in Minnesota, 2006, he was working with an aging Brad Johnson and little else on the offensive side of the ball. And his final poor season as an OC, 2011, was his first year with Seattle. The Seahawks weren't working with much that year on offense with Travaris Jackson as their starting QB.

Outside of those three years though, when he was given little to work with, Bevell's resume as an offensive coordinator isn't too shabby. His worst finish in terms of total offense was 17 and his offenses finished in the top ten in scoring five different times. 

Bevell was fired by the Seahawks following the 2017 season in which they struggled to run the ball effectively. Still his offense finished 15th in total yards and 11th in scoring that year. 

His best seasons, unsurprisingly, came with Brett Favre and Russel Wilson under center. 

This all begs the question. Is Bevell a fit for the Jaguars? 

I believe the answer is a resounding yes. 

Bevell checks off a lot of boxes. With 12 seasons as an offensive coordinator in this league Bevell has no lack of experience. He's had a lot of success and when given adequate talent has almost always produced positive results. He believes in balance on the offensive side of the ball, which is obviously something the Jaguars current football triumvirate is also searching for.

The Jaguars front office and coaching staff aren't looking to become an air raid type of team. They want to continue to play solid defense and control the clock on offense. That formula blew up in their face this year with the Jaguars offense suffering a ton of injuries and poor QB play. In Seattle Bevell designed an offense that limited risks, but also called for explosive plays. That's exactly what Tom Coughlin wants. 

The most important question with Darrell Bevell is will he be able to groom whichever young QB the Jaguars draft in 2019? If history tells us anything the answer is, most likely, yes.

Under Darrell Bevell's tutelage Brett Favre had his best season as a pro, and came heartbreakingly close to a second Super Bowl in 2009. 

And as for Russell Wilson? Wilson was someone Bevell desperately wanted the Seahawks to draft entering 2012. He worked closely with Wilson and helped him to develop into the elite QB that he is today. 

If the Jaguars are able to land Bevell it could be a match made in heaven. He's proven that he can get the best out of his QBs and has a similar offensive philosophy to Doug Marrone and Tom Coughlin. 

Of course, If I was Bevell, I would much rather coach for Atlanta. The offensive talent there is leaps and bounds ahead of what the Jaguars have to offer. But perahps the chance to start with fresh with a young QB would be enticing for Bevell.