Would Brian Schottenheimer Be a Good Fit as Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach?

Could Brian Schottenheimer's fate in New York be decided without team general manger Mike Tannenbaum having to make a decision?

According to a report in the Florida Times-Union, Schottenheimer, the Jets' much maligned offensive coordinator is one of six candidates the Jacksonville Jaguars organization is planning on interviewing for its vacant head coaching position.

A report on ESPN.com earlier today stated that Schottenheimer's position as offensive coordinator with the Jets "will not be fired, although he is scheduled to interview for the Jacksonville head coaching job. Then Tannenbaum ceded the microphone to head coach Rex Ryan, who gave a sales pitch for his coordinator that made him seem like a deal too good to pass up."

Could this mean the Jets are hoping to solve part of their offensive issues by allowing Schottenheimer leave the team, should he be offered the top post with the 5-11 Jaguars?

Schottenheimer is one of five offensive coordinators the Jaguars have asked fro and received permission to talk with about the vacant head coaching spot that has been kept warm by the team's defensive coordinator Mel Tucker following the firing of Jack Del Rio.

In addition to Schottenheimer being interviewed, it is reported that Mike Mularkey, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, Carolina’s Rob Chudzinski, Denver’s Mike McCoy and New England’s Bill O’Brien will also receive interviews, this according to ESPN.com

Whether Tucker, who helped the Jaguars defense to a Top-6 ranking this season, is the only defensive coach to be offered an interview is not known yet. It seems Mularkey is the current front runner for the position, as he had interviewed for the same job when the team hired Del Rio, who replaced Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars first coach in franchise history.

Mularkey has had head coaching experience in Buffalo and was the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator as well. Mularkey's son, Patrick is a member of the Jaguars' scouting department. While Schottenheimer did not have the best season in New York with the Jets and quarterback Mark Sanchez, he did help guide the team to the AFC Championship games the past two seasons and has ties to Florida as the former backup quarterback in Gainesville.

Schottenheimer served as backup to starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel and was a member of the Gators' 1996 National Title.He is also the son of former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said he thought the odds of Schottenheimer coming back were "50/50" but also said if Schottenheimer did not come back to the Jets next season, it would be because he took a head coaching position.

During the last offseason, Ryan and Tannenbaum extended Schottenheimer's contract through 2013 at $3.2 million. It is reported that the Jaguars, who will officially become Shahid Khan's team on January 4, 2012, could begin interviewing coaches as early as this week.

If the 38-year-old Schottenheimer does get an offer from the Jaguars and he accepts the position, he will bring a style of run-first offense to the team, much like Jack Del Rio's offensive plan when he started as head coach of the Jaguars. The Jets finished the 2011 season as the 25th ranked team in overall offense while the Jaguars finished last in the NFL.