The coaching carousel may be finally slowing to a halt with Bill Musgrave installed as offensive coordinator, Fred Pagac promoted to defensive coordinator, Mike Singletary hired as linebackers coach, Karl Dunbar and George Stewart remaining in their current roles, Mike Priefer hired to run special teams, and now, perhaps, Gene Huey coming on as the running backs coach and maybe Craig Johnson as quarterbacks coach.
BILL MUSGRAVE
Bill Musgrave was a star quarterback in college for the Oregon Ducks [WATCH Bill Musgrave’s College Highlights] and went on to play as a backup to Joe Montana and Steve Young in San Francisco and to John Elway in Denver.
The experience of having a front row seat to the play of three Hall of Fame quarterbacks no doubt gave him the insight into the game, especially quarterback play, that would serve him well in tutoring young quarterback such as Matt Ryan.
Given that history, Musgrave would seem like an ideal candidate to head up the Vikings offense considering it will in all likelihood be lead by a young quarterback next season.
Musgrave will call the plays, the Pioneer Press‘ Jeremy Fowler reports.
GENE HUEY
Gene Huey has been offered the position of running backs coach, Jeremy Fowler reports. Huey was released by the Colts after nineteen years of coaching, with a resume that boasts such successful running backs as Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai.
Not bad.
CRAIG JOHNSON
The Star Tribune‘s Judd Zulgad reports that the Vikings have spoken to Tennessee Titans’ running backs coach Craig Johnson for an unspecified position with the team, likely quarterbacks coach.
Before coaching the running backs last year, Johnson was the quarterbacks coach for nine years. That fact is creating speculation that his relationship with Titans quarterback Vince Young could result in Young ending up as the Vikings starter in 2011. Vince Young will likely be cut by the Titans, making him an unrestricted free agent.
If the Vikes do hire Johnson, I would expect one of the questions he would be posed is who he considers the best running back in the league, Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson?