Potential Replacements for Mike McCoy as Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has been in the news this past week as the top candidate for the Miami Dolphins' head coach opening.

McCoy has gone through the second round of interviews and he remains someone the Dolphins front office and team owner Stephen Ross is very interested in.

So let the speculation begin—who will be the next offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and their polarizing quarterback, Tim Tebow?

1. Adam Gase, Quarterbacks Coach (Denver Broncos)

Adam Gase is a likely candidate because of his familiarity with the offense, Tim Tebow and John Fox’s style of play.

Gase was Tebow’s quarterback coach this past season, and he was a guy brought in by Fox. He formerly was the Broncos wide receivers coach of two years under Josh McDaniels. Tebow’s work throughout the season was obviously a work in progress, however, he did show some maturation on the field as the season went on, despite his three-game slump and then the playoff game with the New England Patriots, which was a debacle.

Before becoming the wide receivers coach for the Broncos, Gase spent a season as an offensive assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the Niners, Gase was the quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions for three seasons.

Gase has been a valuable asset for Fox, as Tebow has been learning the quarterback position in the NFL, and Gase deserves a shot to interview for a potential offensive coordinator position.

2. Rip Scherer, Quarterbacks Coach (University of Colorado)

Mile High Sports' Brandon Spano has reported that Rip Scherer, the quarterbacks coach at the University of Colorado, is a lock to join the Denver Broncos if Mike McCoy becomes the head coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Scherer and John Fox have a history working together in Carolina. Scherer was a key factor in the development of Matt Moore, who led the Carolina Panthers to a 4-1 record in 2009 after Jake Delhomme suffered an injury.

Scherer also worked with Derek Anderson in Cleveland in 2007, when he earned a Pro Bowl selection throwing for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns.

He has a good track record working with quarterbacks, getting the most out of guys, when others cannot. If Scherer is hired by Fox, he is not a lock for the offensive coordinator spot. He could become the quarterbacks coach, while Gase is promoted to offensive coordinator.

3. Tom Clements, Quarterbacks Coach (Green Bay Packers)

In a perfect world, without all of the controversy surrounding Tim Tebow and the doubts of whether he will every develop into the Broncos' franchise quarterback, Tom Clements would be the perfect candidate to tutor and grow Tebow and the Broncos offense.

Clements has been a perennial quarterbacks coach for a host of teams. Most recently, he has been credited with the work he has done with the marvelous Aaron Rodgers, who enjoyed the season of his career in 2011. He also has worked with Matt Flynn, who in only one start in 2011 flashed greatness for his future under Clements’ tutelage.

Clements has also worked with the Buffalo Bills under Marv Levy as the offensive coordinator in 2004-2005, where the Bills were only 5-11 with J.P. Losman at quarterback in 2004, but 9-7 in 2005 with Drew Bledsoe leading the Bills.

Others that Clements has coached include the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Tommy Maddox (in 2002), Kordell Stewart (in 2001) and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Elvis Grbac (in 2000), helping each reached the Pro Bowl those seasons.

Clements has a great record with quarterbacks but not as great of a record leading an offense. But, the Broncos could give him a shot.

4. Hue Jackson, Head Coach (Oakland Raiders)

As far as the Oakland Raiders are concerned, I hate them about as much as any other team in the NFL (maybe except the Chiefs), but Hue Jackson has a proven track record of offensive success.

He has done it all. In Washington in 2001, Jackson was a running backs coach the season Stephen Davis rushed for 1,432 yards. In Cincinnati from 2004-2006, he was a wide receivers coach where Chad Ochocinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh became a dynamic duo, each having over 1,000 yards receiving in 2006.

In 2008-2009, Jackson was the quarterbacks coach for Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens. That season, as a rookie, Flacco won two playoff games, helping the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship game.

Last season (2010), Jackson was the Raiders offensive coordinator and the offense finished sixth in the NFL in scoring (25.6 points per game), second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (155.9) and 10th in total yards in the NFL (354.6).