Heimerdinger Granted Permission for Titans Interview
Assistant head coach/quarterbacks Mike Heimerdinger has been granted permission to interview with the Titans.
According to reports, the Titans requested permission Tuesday to interview Heimerdinger about their offensive coordinator position, a vacancy created when they dismissed Norm Chow, who guided Tennessee’s offense the past two seasons.
Heimerdinger guided the Tennessee offense from 2000-04 as offensive coordinator before leaving for a one-year stint with the New York Jets. He previously served as receivers coach for the Broncos from 1995-99 and returned as assistant head coach in February 2006 following the departure of Gary Kubiak for the head-coaching position with the Houston Texans.
“The Tennessee Titans have requested consent to talk to Mike Heimerdinger about their offensive coordinator position, and we have granted them permission,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement.
“The opportunity in Tennessee would give Mike the chance to go back to an organization and work with a head coach with whom he is very familiar, handling the entire offense and having full control over game-planning and play-calling responsibilities.”
If Heimerdinger does leave, the Broncos’ staff would have lost both of its assistant head coaches from 2007, with assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates having departed last week after declining the chance to stay on as linebackers coach with Bob Slowik assuming defensive playcalling and supervisory responsibilities.
Denver’s offense finished the 2007 season 11th in total yardage, a 10-spot improvement from its No. 21 ranking in 2006. Denver gained 36.9 more yards per game in ‘07 than in ‘06. The passing offense improved from 25th to 13th, averaging 49.1 more yards per game, while the rushing offense dropped from eighth to ninth in the league.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I would like Dinger to stay. He has been good with Cutler!
January 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
LPP - you out there - Read the last paragraph in the article twice would you?
I’d hate to see “dinger” go too; but after last season a little change is in order!
January 16th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
i dont think that “dinger” leaving would affect the team that much. shanny still runs the offense and knows how to develop a young qb. im sure they could find an adequate replacement
January 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The offensive coordinator is Dennison and he does a good job, maybe Rod Smith can jump in as an offensive assistant…
January 16th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Maybe we can find some one with some creativity and improve our red-zone production.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
If you need someone to sell you home Mr. Heimerdinger, then I am your man. On a more serious note, it could be a good move for the team if he went back to TN. We need a younger, more fresh approach on O especially in the Red Zone. The run right, run left, run middle or FB draws all season long were beyond predicatble.
While the last paragraph and its highlights are great the bottom line in this league is points scored that lead to W’s. This team has too much talent to have scored as LITTLE as we did.
It seems to me we can find a young Jason Garrett/Sean Peyton type talent somewhere. Houston has their’s a guy named Kyle Shanahan.
Have fun in TN.
Joe
January 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I am glad to see him go. Our problem in the red zone this year was that we were too predictable. When we were inside the 10, it was mostly running plays. Check out what Brady and the Patriots do inside the 20. They were aggressive, and look at the results. Granted, Brady is a lot more experienced than Cultler, but that is just why we need an offensive coordinator who is not going to do what is obvious with a young quaterback and call the safe plays. They defenses are expecting what we are running. You score TD’s in the red zone when the D can’t predict what you are going to do. We can do better. I tinBring on the new Offensive Coordinator!!!
January 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
It’s probably good for him to go, but it’s probably not due to the playcalling. Everyone and their mom knows shanahan has the final say and calls the plays. Think about this though. We give TN Mike Heighmerdinger(sp?), and we pick up…..
January 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
NORM CHOW!!!
January 16th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I don’t mind if he leaves as long as the Titans compensate us, a late round draft pick seems in order.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Where’s that [blank] face, LetPlummerPlay so he can comment on this:
“Denver’s offense finished the 2007 season 11th in total yardage, a 10-spot improvement from its No. 21 ranking in 2006. Denver gained 36.9 more yards per game in ‘07 than in ‘06. The passing offense improved from 25th to 13th, averaging 49.1 more yards per game, while the rushing offense dropped from eighth to ninth in the league.”
Anyway, best of luck to “Dinger.” Whether he goes or stays he’ll be successful.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Mason, any feed back from the team on their thoughs about Dingger?
January 16th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I guess I dont know that much about him, I just remeber how sad I was when Kubiak left… I hope we can find someone with his type of talent. Any word on people we are interviewing to replace Bates?
January 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Bob Slowik is going to be replacing Bates.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Not quite yardo……Slowik replaced Bates after the first five games. Let the sucking on ‘D’ continue….
January 16th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
This will be the best move for the Broncos offense. I have been saying it since the third game this year! If you look at the offensive numbers for the NY Jets and for the Titans when “Dinger” was with both teams, they mirror the problems that Denver has had this year. The numbers support the argument. When Dinger was with the Jets they could not score, their running game went from one of the best in the league to one of the worst and it wasn’t because of personnel. Curtis Martin had won the rushing title the year preceding Dingers arrival. Once Dinger arrived the running game went in the tank, the use of TE’s in the Jets offense became non-existent, and while the Jets could move the ball fairly well between the ’20s they could not get into the end zone. Sound familiar? If you look at the Titans offense the year before that, you will see the exact same thing. I believe that Dinger’s ability as a position coach (mainly wide receivers) is great but his offensive philosophy’s are too one dimensional.
Another problem that his offensive schematics suffer from is not being reactive. If you look at the Broncos games this year one of the glaring weaknesses was our inability to react to situations during games. I can remember when Denver was one of the best adjustment teams in the league. Even two years ago Denver was still a team that could give you one type of look in the first half of a game and come out with an entirely different look after half time.
Ultimately I think that the influences that Dinger had on Shanahans offensive philosophy were problematic at best. This move didn’t surprise me. Shanahan has stated that he believes one of the teams greatest needs is a return to a particular football philosophy and I agree. Even when the Broncos were loosing they were dynamic which at least put the team in a “anything can happen” bracket. This year the were stuck in a bracket that left little doubt as to the eventual outcome. I think this also solves the “Too many chiefs and not enough indians” problem that the Broncos have suffered through all year. This team has looked like they are trying to carry out a million different orders from a million different generals resulting in a confused, harassed, and segregated team whose divisions started with the coaching staff.
We need one voice that will point this team in one direction this year and that voice needs to come from Coach Shanahan. If Shanahan does not put it together this year I do not believe he will return for another. If that happens watch Pat Bowlen persuade Bill Cower to come out of retirement.
Mike in San Diego
January 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
whoa
January 16th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
They were still running Bates non aggressive system though, we rarely blitzed and the D line needed help up the middle. I liked the screens we ran last year, I hope Shanny remembers to pull that out because we sure didn’t see much of it before Dinger. Everyone is screaming for a safety in the first round, folks, there just isn’t one out there worthy of a top 12 selection. Phillips isn’t the next coming of Reed, he’s a coverage safety and really doesn’t have that POP factor. I gon’t care what ANYONE says, there just aren’t a whole hell of a lot of 6’5 330lbs. DT’s out there. I found 5 or 6 worthy of 1st day selections which means when they start leaving the board they’ll be gone quickly. GET A NOSE TACKLE!
January 16th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Sorry, this is very pathetic…Heimerdinger was paramount in Cutler’s development, he is one of the best coaches in the league at developing offensive talent, Cutler’s numbers may not be enough…go ask Rod Smith who helped him develop he will tell you it was Heimerdinger back during the late 90’s! — Shanahan calls the plays, not Heimerdinger anyone blaming him instead of Shanahan is off their rockers in more then one way, I will bet anyone that Tennessee goes to the playoffs next year with him at the helm of the offense and we will still be trying to get somewhere! I would maybe think it wise if we were maybe bringing in Fassel or another good offensive playcaller who Shanahan was smart enough to let them actually run the unit…but he will not!
Again this is Shanahan’s god complex as always, he does it and fans are blind enough to believe it…blame someone else, that should be our motto from this day forth. Seriously I am sick of how this organization which was one of the most dominant since the 80’s is now taking huge strides in the wrong direction. Sorry to vent but I would prefer we brought back Dan Reeves right now, he may have done some bad things…but he knew how to build a team and get them places, Shanahan and Sundquist are just ruining us.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Get a grip man, I mean what are you smoking? Shanahan is a fine play caller, the offense was just young and injured. Cutler made huge strides and if you think it’s just Diner and Cutler locked in a room for hours your crazy. The free agent department needs a make over, no denying that, but the play calling wasn’t the worst thing about the team. However, I do agree that whatever the hell they decided to call in the redzone this season should be evaluated. Run, run, shotgun was a little to close to the Dan Reeves era.
January 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I didn’t like the hire of Heimerdinger in the first place.Remember he came from the Jets???? I am not a big fan of hiring coaches from a team that does not produce. I’m also not a fan of promoting an assistant from within, in an area of a team that struggles. Defense,special teams???This team has many needs. I took off my orange colored glasses around mid season.Defense was not good although there are some young players on the D-line. Linebackers??? Safety……..Look at what happened when John Lynch was out of the game!@#$%^. He might be back for 1 more yr. (Kenny Phillips???) We didn’t have the players to run Bates’ sceme in the first place. O-line???? Maybe a 5′10″ 215lb running back??? This team is young and I think that they would do well bringing in an OC that runs and knows Shanahans (old)??? style of offense. But the Texans have him….Dennison….He does know Mike offense very well??? Also a young DC that has some fresh ideas???
Anyone catch the replay of the Broncs. and Pack SB. I’m not living in the past but even if you take #7 out of the argument in watching that game again. That was a great all around team.What happend??
January 16th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Could be worse. We could have Carl Peterson syndrome…..
January 16th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
The Kansas City Chiefs hired former Dallas Cowboys head coach Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator on Wednesday, handing him one of the NFL’s weakest attacks. Just to dispell a rumor that Denver may look at Gailey
January 16th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
How many Super Bowl wins does Cowher and Reeves have compared to Shanahan as a head coach. Shanahan 2, Cowher 1-1, and Reeves 0-4. Shanahan in Conference Championship games is 2-1, Reeves is 4-1, and Cowher is 1-4. Bottom line is Shanahan won 2 Super Bowls and 2 years ago we were 1 game from another one.
I find it absurd that Lancane states the Broncos were dominant before Shanahan. Yes, we did go to the Super Bowl 3 of 4 years under Dan Reeves in a weak Conference. I guess if that’s all we seek is to “make” it to the Super Bowl then Shanahan is bum. However, I don’t really care about making it to the Super Bowl, I want to win them. I wonder how many guys who call for Shanahan’s job were around before he was our coach? I think if they were, their views and tone would be different. This is the NFL you can’t win every year unless you have a QB like Brady or Manning.
January 16th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Isn’t it Shanahans stated goal every year to win a championship?That’s the bar he sets and rightly so. I don’t disagree that Shanahan is and will continue to be one of the alltime great head football coach’s.But the personnel decisions over the last few years have hurt this team. Sometime if you have an employee at work that has been there for many years, sometimes they become too comfortable and need a kick in the pants to re-focus them. This year might just be a kick for Mike…………..Did you see his end of year press conference??
January 16th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
MASON: I was hoping you could answer or reply to this post.
It seems like bringing Karl Dorell back would be a good fit. He is a younger offensive mind, has experience with the younger athletes having been HC at UCLA, was WR coach here and knows the system and play calling (especially Kubiak’s best years), WHY WOULD THEY NOT BRING HIM IN at least for a look?
Thanks Mason!
January 16th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I would love to see Norm Chow, if for nothing else, it will be nice to have a fellow Mormon coaching our hosses on offense in Broncos country. Casting that aside, Chow is a brilliant offensive mind and he can take good care of the weapons we already have in our arsenal. I’m also partial to Karl Dorrell returning to the fold. In any case, there are plenty of brilliant offensive minds out there, but Chow and Dorrell would both be excellent.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:35 am
In my opinion, the jury is still out on Heimerdinger, he had to cut the playbook way down for Cutler, plus, our o-line was getting beaten. Not sure how much he worked with Plummer, but Plummer was productive.
My choice to bring in would be Bill Musgrave, he knows what Shanny likes and dislikes and will probably be out of a job when the Falcons hire a coach. Very bright guy.
I prefer that Rod Smith is on the sidelines, to give the players encouragement and to relay information upstairs when he see’s a mismatch or a play that will work.
Dennison is a figurehead at Offensive co-ordinator, we had to promote him or risk losing him to the Texans. Wise move, he did a helluva job this year with what he had to work with, I was amazed that our o-line did as well as it did, but, he really is our o-line coach.
Rod Smith+ Bill Musgrave= Success
January 17th, 2008 at 9:59 am
rev79, I’m always here! So what, that means nothing. Didn’t you’re little hero Cutler play in 2006? YES HE DID, 5 games, all he had to do was win 3 of those games and Denver would have gone to the playoffs.
You guys are sooooo quick to say numbers don’t count, it’s all about winning.. So don’t dare tell me the 2007 Broncos were better than the 2006, or 2005, or 2004, it’s just not true. Last year they were an OT win away from the playoffs….This year they didn’t come close.
I still love the Broncos, everyone thinks I don’t and they also think I’m gay. Well, neither are true, but I see the big picture. This team will not WIN AGAIN with Mike Shanahan at the helm, they just wont.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Loyalty you may find whatever you wish absurd, fact is Shanahan built a team which went to the Super Bowl on a foundation which was brought together before he came, under both Reeves and Phillips, that is a fact. Yes, he brought in the last of the pieces! You stated a title game overall picture, when we have are 0-0 since the 90’s which was that very team built mainly by two other coaches. And look at Reeves’ overall playoff record, the only wins Shanahan has in the postseason other then our two Championship years was two years past and other then that we have not even came close! We have one playoff win in what is getting close to near a decade. Reeves took us to more AFC Championships then Shanahan, he has gotten us in the playoffs and won more overall then Shanahan and their records are near neck in neck, oh and by the way…under Reeves we won the AFC West more often then we have under Shanahan!
Heimerdinger infact was part of our Super Bowl years and made Rod Smith the receiver he was, look at Cutler’s stats…he is working with Cutler, he is not running the playbook - Shanahan already said so to the Post, I guess Shanahan is lying now? Fact is that Shanahan has lost his grip on this team, the way we add talent under him and Sundquist has hurt us in a very bad way, now we keep promoting coaches here or there, or bringing them in and always seems too many of them take the blame for his short comings - not the best way to keep friends in the NFL which could be important one day.
If Shanahan wants to fix the team, he needs to hire a good offensive tandem which will improve us, and he needs to let them coach the offense and run it! I would be all for Smith, Fassel and Dorrell together and could be real good to bring in, but with Dennison as an offensive coordinator and Jeremy Bates still coaching receivers and no true offensive coach that it is nothing but drones who are just in the end just heads under Shanahan…and part of that same rotation, till it is time they take the blame and are gone as well!
January 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Seriously, all of you stating so and so made so and so who he is need to be beaten. A man makes himself, plain and simple. No one made me but me, no one made Rod but Rod, and Shanny took HIS TEAM to the Super Bowl. Shanny brought in Zimmerman, Stinky, Rod, Eddie and started utlizing Sharpe as a pass catcher. You can kiss my ass with these lame statements. A man makes himself in this world.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Brian Billick
January 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I think if Dinger leaves Brian Billick might be a good replacement. He has been an offensive coordinator for most of his career. Just look what he did with the viking when he was there.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
[…] Broncos quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger and requested permission to inverview him for their vacant offensive coordinator position, reports the Denver Broncos Blogger Andrew Mason. The Washington Redskins interviewed Jim Mora, […]
January 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I think Dinger leaving would be a blessing. I would love to see Steve Mariucci as our QB coach and OC. He was a big part of Bretts growth as a qb.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I cant say that I know who exactly does the gameplan, designs the plays, or calls them. It seems that Shannahan has the final say on play selection during the game. From what I gather, it seems that OC’s in Denver are muses for Shannahan. No big name successful OC wants to be a muse and therefore I would suggest you not get your hopes up for one because Shanahan won’t give those reins up anytime soon. Whoever is making the plays, gameplan, and calling the plays, all we can do is hope it’s less predictable than last year AND the year before. Also, let’s hope whoever it is doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I was never a fan of Dinger, but I wish him the best, and I hope for the best for the Broncos in the offseason. Bates to Slowik-Heimendinger to Dennison, seems logical, then again Denver picked up Sam Adams and Simeon Rice….in th same season!
January 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I see he is gone to the Titans. Dorrell would be ok. I would love to get some talent in the draft and then make a run at Bill Cowers next year. I hear he will be available. We could move Shanny upstairs with Ted and get a new direction. We have to get bigger to compete with the chargers. The offence will be fine and with his defence we would be ready for a serious run. The chargers are not going to change much as most of there starting line-up is under contract till 09. Shanny needs to get back to drafting lots of talent and then keeping it hear. Living in So. Cal. please fix this team….I can’t stand it out here when we get hammered by the Dolts twice a year. Broncs4ever
January 18th, 2008 at 2:30 am
why dont we hire the newly departed out of work cam cameron for oc maybe that would help us or give us an edge over division bully chargers
January 18th, 2008 at 2:42 am
im sure cam knows how to score against charger defense im sick of losing to the chargers! we want cam!!!! please
January 18th, 2008 at 3:02 am
oh yeah ,and if javon doesnt want to be here we should trade him to tennesee for hayward he would majorly upgrade our d line and maybe he could help our young d lineman
January 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I doubt anyone is still reading this thread, but I have to point something out to hrdnokd…I agree with a lot of what you have to say, but you are wrong about Rod. Shanahan did not bring him to the Broncos, Wade Phillips did.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
imean javon walker for albert haynesworth
January 18th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
jake plummer sucks!!! damn somebody give that that guy a plummer blow up doll so he will stop leaving his plummer messeges…that guy all he could do was not mess up and we won..and he couldnt even do that vs PITT….we should have won that game…that was all plumers fault
January 20th, 2008 at 2:21 am
[…] Andrew wrote a fantastic post today on “Heimerdinger Granted Permission for Titans Interview”Here’s ONLY a quick extract“The Tennessee Titans have requested consent to talk to Mike Heimerdinger about their offensive coordinator position, and we have granted them permission,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement. (more…) […]