An Overview of 4 Internal Candidates to Potentially Replace Slowik as OC

I was bored this past week and put together a list of 4 guys currently on the offensive staff that could replace Bobby if he leaves for a head coaching position. This isn't super in-depth or anything, but it'll give you an idea of what our options are.

Shane Day

Current role: Senior Offensive Assistant

Age: 49

Coaching Experience: 23 years

Relevant Experience:

2010-2011: Quarterbacks coach, Chicago Bears

2012-2013: Quarterbacks coach, Connecticut

2014-2015: Assistant offensive line coach, Washington Commanders

2016-2018: Tight ends coach, Miami Dolphins

2019-2020: Quarterbacks coach, San Francisco 49ers

2021-2022: Passing game coordinator and Quarterbacks coach, LA Chargers

Profile:

In 2019, as the 49ers’ QB coach, Day oversaw one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s best statistical seasons. Garoppolo played all 16 games, with a 69.1% completion percentage, 3,978 passing yards, 8.4 yards/att, 27 TDs to 13 INTs, and a 102.0 passer rating en route to a Super Bowl loss. In 2020, Garoppolo played just 6 games due to injury, and the wheels fell off, as the 49ers finished with a 6-10 record.

In 2021, Day was hired as both the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. In Justin Herbert’s sophomore campaign, he had a 65.9% completion percentage, 5,014 passing yards, 7.5 yards/att, 38 TDs to 15 INTs, and a 97.7 passer rating. The Chargers sported the #2 passing offense, and ranked #4 in terms of total yardage and #5 in terms of points scored. Despite their offensive success, the Chargers’ bottom 10 defense helped keep them out of the playoffs.

In 2022, the Chargers’ passing game remained highly ranked, as it finished at #3; however, the overall offense regressed, finishing #9 in terms of yardage and #13 in terms of points. While Herbert’s passing yardage remained similar to the previous year (4,739), his TDs dropped significantly (23), and he achieved career-lows in yards/att (6.8) and passer rating (93.2). Though the Chargers made it to the playoffs this time, they infamously blew a 27-point lead as part of an embarrassing 1st-round exit. As a result, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired, and Shane Day was shown the door along with him.

Personal opinion:

To be honest, Shane Day is a bit of an awkward candidate. He’s not a young up-and-comer like Slowik, because he’s almost 50 and has bounced around the NFL. But he’s also not a “safe” option, because he’s never had play calling duties above the high school level. I think a couple of things that work in his favor are that he now has 3 years of experience with the Shanahan WCO (thanks to his time in San Fran), and he helped develop a young QB (Herbert in LA), even if the situation went sour in the end. I’d say Day is a viable choice that has gone majorly under the radar amongst Texans fans, but he probably still won’t be a favorite for the job.

Shane Day mic'd up at Chargers training camp

Jerrod Johnson

Current Role: QB Coach

Age: 35

Coaching Experience: 6 years

Relevant Experience:

2011-2016: NFL QB for multiple teams

2017: Diversity Coaching Fellowship, San Francisco 49ers

2019: Diversity Coaching Fellowship, Indianapolis Colts

2020-2021: Offensive quality control coach, Indianapolis Colts

2022: Assistant quarterbacks coach, Minnesota Vikings

Profile:

After spending his collegiate career at Texas A&M, Jerrod Johnson went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and spent the next 6 years bouncing between the NFL and lower leagues like the UFL and IFL, ultimately never seeing any game action in the NFL.

In 2017, Johnson was brought onto the San Francisco 49ers as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, which allows minority former players or collegiate/high school level coaches a chance to gain experience on an NFL coaching staff during offseason workouts. However, Johnson’s fellowship only lasted two weeks, so Johnson focused on being a private quarterback coach in Houston, and was eventually scooped up by the Elite 11 program to train some of the best high school quarterbacks in the country.

In 2019, Johnson was offered to complete another Diversity Coaching Fellowship, this time with the Colts. Johnson accepted, and the Colts rewarded him by keeping him on staff for the entire season. In 2020, the Colts promoted him to an Offensive Quality Control position. Then, in 2022, Johnson was hired by the Vikings to be the Assistant QB coach under head coach Kevin O’Connell. With the help of Johnson’s tutelage, Kirk Cousins threw for the 2nd most passing yards of his career (4,547) en route to a 13-4 record.

Personal Opinion:

Jerrod Johnson has been a popular pick in Texans fan circles as Bobby’s heir apparent, but I think it’s probably a year or two too early for him. He has less experience coaching than even Slowik had when he was hired, so tabbing him to be the new OC would be a big risk (yes, he has experience as a fringe NFL QB, but still). Then again, he already seems to be garnering interest from other teams, so perhaps he is more ready than I thought. He’s definitely an intriguing guy, it just comes down to whether the Texans think he’s ready for the spotlight.

Video from the Texans on Johnson

Article about Johnson's career journey

Ben McDaniels

Current Role: Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach

Age: 43

Coaching Experience: 20 years

Relevant Experience:

2009: Offensive assistant, Denver Broncos

2010: Quarterbacks coach, Denver Broncos

2012: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Columbia

2012-2013: Offensive assistant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2014: Wide receivers Coach, Rutgers

2015: Offensive coordinator and QB Coach, Rutgers

2016-2017: Offensive assistant, Chicago Bears

2018: Offensive analyst, Michigan

2019-2020: Quarterbacks coach, Michigan

2021: Assistant wide receivers Coach, Houston Texans

2022-Present: Passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, Houston Texans

Profile:

In 2015, Ben McDaniels, younger brother of long-time Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, got his shot as an offensive coordinator at an FBS program when he was promoted up from WR coach at Rutgers under 4th-year head coach Kyle Flood. However, the talent-deficient Rutgers offense only managed to finish the year 82nd in yardage and 78th in points en route to a 4-8 record. Flood was fired, and McDaniels was shown the door along with him. McDaniels then spent a couple of years as an offensive assistant with the Bears before going back to the college game as an offensive analyst at Michigan.

In 2019, McDaniels was promoted to QB coach and oversaw Shea Patterson’s respectable passing campaign (56.2% completion, 3,061 yards, 23 TDs to 8 INTs). In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Wolverines’ passing attack struggled, with Joe Milton III throwing as many TDs as INTs (4). In 2021, McDaniels was brought onto David Culley’s staff as an assistant wide receivers coach. McDaniels was then able to survive two more head coaching changes in the next two years, even receiving a promotion to passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2022, the role he still holds today.

Personal opinion:

McDaniels doesn’t inspire a ton of excitement as a candidate, and seems to have a fairly low-key personality (check the interview below). However, there is something to be said for the fact that he is one of only two offensive coaches remaining from 2021 (and the only to receive a promotion). It’s a good sign for McDaniels’ future with the Texans, though I do question whether he can run the Shanahan WCO, or if he would even stay with that offensive style. Overall, I’d say he’s earned the right to be in the mix, at the very least.

2022 Interview with McDaniels

Bill Lazor

Current Role: Senior Offensive Assistant

Age: 51

Coaching Experience: 29 years

Relevant Experience:

2001-2002: Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Buffalo (CFB)

2003: Offensive quality control coach, Atlanta Falcons

2004-2005, Offensive assistant, Washington Commanders

2006-2007, Quarterbacks coach, Washington Commanders

2008-2009, Quarterbacks coach, Seattle Seahawks

2010-2012, Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Virginia

2013: Quarterbacks coach, Philadelphia Eagles

2014-2015: Offensive coordinator, Miami Dolphins

2016: Quarterbacks coach, Cincinnati Bengals

2017-2018: Offensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals

2019: Analyst, Penn State

2020-2021: Offensive coordinator, Chicago Bears

Profile:

Bill Lazor has a long and storied coaching career, highlighted by 2 stints in college and three in the NFL as an offensive coordinator. Lazor’s best two-year stretch of his career began in 2013 when he was the QB coach for Nick Foles’ legendary 27 TD to 2 INT season. Lazor was then hired as the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator in 2014, and oversaw a Ryan Tannehill-led offense that finished 11th in points and 14th in yards.

However, in 2015, the Dolphins saw offensive regression, finishing 27th in points and 26th in yards. Despite Tannehill crossing 4,000 passing yards for the 2nd straight year, he suffered the most sack yardage of his career (420), and the team had the fewest rushing attempts in the NFL despite a 4.3 yards per attempt average. Lazor was fired before the end of the 2015 season.

After latching on as the Quarterbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, Lazor was abruptly named the interim offensive coordinator in 2017 when previous OC Ken Zampese was fired two weeks into the season. The Bengals’ offense was completely miserable, finishing 26th in points and dead last in yards, as well as 31st in rush yards. Andy Dalton had the fewest passing yards in a full 16 game season of his career (3,320), and had a sub-60 completion percentage (59.9%) for the first time since his rookie year. Despite their offensive struggles, Lazor was retained for another year, and the team saw small improvements in 2018 (17th in points and 26th in yards), but Lazor was still let go along with head coach Marvin Lewis.

In 2020, Lazor was given a rare third chance as an NFL offensive coordinator, but was forced to endure head coach Matt Nagy’s game of playcalling musical chairs. Lazor was given playcalling duties part way through the 2020 season, and performed better than Nagy (27 ppg vs 19 ppg for Nagy). However, Nagy took back his role as playcaller for 2021, and the Bears continued to struggle, ultimately leading to both Nagy and Lazor being fired.

Personal opinion:

I’m glad that Bill Lazor is on the staff, as his extensive experience has surely been valuable for our young coaches, Slowik included. With that being said, I don’t particularly want Lazor anywhere near the OC position. He’s had plenty of chances as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, but hasn’t been able to consistently succeed. It would be rare for someone to get a fourth chance to be an OC, and for good reason. An advisory role is his best fit with this team, so hopefully he stays in that position with us.

Video with Lazor on the Eagles

Do y’all think any of these internal candidates are the right man for the job?