Jeremy Bates Fired: 15 Candidates to Replace Him in Seattle

Jeremy Bates is out after one year as the Seattle Seahawks' Offensive Coordinator. Bates followed Carroll to Seattle from USC and it was Bates second year as Pete Carroll's Offensive Coordinator.

Despite making it to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, the Seahawks struggled on offense all year. Seattle finished 28th in total yards and 22nd in points scored. More importantly, Jeremy Bates offense may not have fit Quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.

It appears that Seattle will attempt bring back Hasselbeck, who is not currently under contract, for at least another season. Enough about that, however. I am not here as to speculate why Bates is gone.

I am here to speculate about who may replace him.

No. 15: Brad Childress

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MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 21, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Childress has a long history of offensive success. He would bring experience and the short passing game the Seahawks are probably looking for.

As long as the Seahawks are not trying to secretly court Brett Favre, Childress could be a candidate.

No. 14: Clarence Shelmon

Shelmon is currently the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. There are no rumors of him leaving, but he is working under a play-calling head coach.

Shelmon may jump at the chance to put his own offensive system in place and Pete Carroll likes something about the Chargers offense as he traded for their third-string, Charlie Whitehurst, QB this past offseason.

No. 13: Steve Sarkisian

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EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 6: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Washington Huskies works the sidelines in the second quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

To say this move has a one in a million chance of happening may be stretching it. Seattle fans would be upset that the Seahawks raided the college from the same town and Sarkisian is well paid and seemingly happy at the University of Washington.

Still, he and Carroll have a strong relationship and it is a name worth mentioning as it would provide a great platform for Sarkisian to showcase he can make it in the NFL.

No. 12: Tom Clements

Clements is currently serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers and in case you didn't notice, the Packers are getting some fairly decent QB play.

Clements was an offensive coordinator for the Bills in 2004 and 2005. With the spotlight on the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, Clements is going to be in-line for a raise and a promotion.

No. 11: Jim Fassel

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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 19: Commentator Jim Fassel during warmups as the Seattle Seahawks play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Fassel is currently roaming the UFL sidelines. He has as much offensive coaching experience as anyone you will find.

There is no connection with he and Carroll or the Seahawks, but a list of possible OC candidates would not be complete without him.

No. 10: Brian Billick

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 23: Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens calls the play during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 23, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Billick has a pretty good gig going on the NFL Network, but he has expressed a desire to get back into coaching.

In Seattle, he would have a chance to run his offense and use it as a springboard to a head coaching position.

No. 9: Marty Mornhinweg

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PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 26: Marty Mornhinweg offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles talks with Kevin Kolb #4 during a preseason game at Heinz Field August 26, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Mornhinweg is coming off of a successful season as the Eagles offensive coordinator. There are no indications that he is leaving, but he is working under an offensive minded coach and does have to work in the parameters of Andy Reid's scheme.

He would not have to worry about that in Seattle and the Seahawks have a deep-pockets owner who is not afraid to up the salary ante.

No. 8: Terry Robiskie

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 30: Wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie of the Atlanta Falcons works on the sideline in the game with the San Diego Chargers on November 30, 2008 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Falcons won 22-16. (Photo by Stephen

Robiskie is the Falcons wide receivers coach. He has experience as an offensive coordinator and he was an interim head coach with the Redskins.

He has had success as an offensive coordinator, but clouded by the Daniel Snyder stain, he has not had a chance to replicate it.

No. 7: Lane Kiffin

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Head Coach Lane Kiffin of the USC Trojans during warm up against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

It is pretty obvious Kiffin isn't afraid to jump ship. While he has a very high profile coaching job, USC is in the midst of recovering from scholarship limitations and Kiffin is working under an athletic director who didn't hire him.

In short, Kiffin may not have long to go at USC and he probably knows this. He and Carrol have succeeded together in the past and Kiffin may use that as an opportunity to get back in the NFL.

No. 6: Dan Henning

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 19: Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 19, 2006 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 17 -

Henning has been a head coach or offensive coordinator for six NFL teams. He was just let go as the offensive coordinator in Miami and until he gets a job, his name will pop up on every offensive coordinator search list.

No. 5: Al Saunders

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EARTH CITY, MO - MAY 9: Offensive coordinator Al Saunders of the St. Louis Rams looks on during a mini camp on May 9, 2008 at Russell Athletic Training Facility in Earth City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Saunders has an extensive history of shaping NFL offenses. He is currently an offensive consultant with the Ravens, but he apparently wants to get back into play calling.

He has been linked to the open coordinator position in Oakland, but he probably would not be calling the plays there. He would have that opportunity in Seattle.

No. 4: Norm Chow

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TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 26: Offensive coordinator Norm Chow of the UCLA Bruins watches warm ups before the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/

Chow's status, like all of UCLA's coaches, is a bit tenuous. He and Carroll had amazing success together at USC.

While there were reports the two had a falling out, there were also reports that Carroll was close to bringing Chow on last year instead of bringing Bates with him. 

No. 3: Jim Zorn

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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 10: Quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn of the Baltimore Ravens coaches against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Players wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Raven

Mike Holmgren was always quick to give Jim Zorn a lot of credit for helping shape Matt Hasselbeck. It was that success that led to him being named the head coach of the Redskins.

Zorn spent the last year working with the Ravens QBs and I am sure he is anxious to work his way back up the coaching ladder. He obviously knows Hasselbeck's strengths and weaknesses and the two can work together.

No. 2: Darrell Bevell

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talks with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the bench in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Lou

Bevell is already on his way to Seattle to interview for the position of quaterback coach. It is not a stretch to think he could turn that interview into the offensive coordinator's position.

Bevell spent the last four years as the coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

No. 1: Josh McDaniels

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Bron

The word on the street is McDaniels is already being considered for the offensive coordinator positions in Seattle and St. Louis.

There are reports that the Seahawks have been in contact with him since Monday. The Rams have youth on their side, but the Seahawks have cash.

The smart money is on McDaniels becoming the next offensive coordinator in Seattle.

*Update: Do not listen to me. Josh McDaniels has been named the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.