Jets Coaching Profile: Brian Schottenheimer

Jets Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, “Schotty” as he is known by Jets players and fans,  has been in the league since 1997 when he joined the St. Louis Rams as an offensive assistant.

He has been with a number of teams since then, but most notably served under his father, legendary Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, as the chargers QB coach from 2002-2005. The 35-year-old former college QB backup was able to find great success and was instrumental in the development of both Drew Brees and Philip Rivers.

In 2006, the Jets brought the “Marty Ball” successor on board to help improve and and excite an offense that underperformed during the "play it safe" regime of former Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger.  

When the team fired Head Coach Eric Mangini after last season’s collapse, Schottenheimer failed to convince team ownership that he deserved a shot as head coach and, in turn, is back again as the team's offensive coordinator.

Many critics would have liked him to receive a pink slip like Devensive Coordinator Bob Sutton. But, given his track record, he might be one of the top choices to help develop a pair of talented young QBs in Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens. 

Brian has had mixed reviews since joining the team three year ago. He had a successful year in 2006, leading the team to the playoffs and helping earn Jets' Quarterback Chad Pennington his first "Comeback Player of the Year" award.  The team surprisingly finished  25^th in overall offense, but was able to score a whopping 50 offensive TDs.  

2006 definitely gets chalked up as a victory for the then first year coach.

His second year was quite the opposite. The Jets once again finished in the bottom of the league in total offense, but managed to only score 21 offensive TDs. A team that started the season with playoff aspirations fell to 4-12. 

2007 can best be described as a blowout loss.

In his third year as coach the Jets started off hot, going 8-3, but sputtered to a 10-6 finish and failed to make the playoffs. The team’s offense finished in the middle of the league at 16th. Gang Green managed to score 42 offensive TDs last season but only managed to score eight in the team’s final four games, three of which were losses.

2008 can be chalked up as a wash for coordinator and that is being generous; leaving him with a tidy record of 1-1-1.

This year can be seen as somewhat of a make or break year for Schotty. He has already made comments that Head Coach Rex Ryan is allowing him to be more free in his play calling and schemes and to a fan that simply reads step up or step out. 

There are no longer excuses that former head coach Eric Mangini was scripting some of your plays or holdign you back from running the offense the way you wanted.

Yes, Schotty's expectations for overall offensive production will be lowered with a roster that features holes in the receiving game and an inexperienced QB. However, the Jets still expect to win this year and his success will most likely be gauged by how well he brings the young and inexperienced guys along. 

Best of luck Schotty, Jets Nation is counting on ya.