01-01-2018, 05:02 PM
Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur an intriguing candidate for Bears
During the early days of training camp in 2016, Pat Shurmur was merely the Vikings tight ends coach, a longtime teacher in a new role with a new team.But here’s what left an early and lasting impression on tight end Kyle Rudolph during that grind: Starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater frequently made his way to Shurmur just to talk shop, exchange ideas, run through offensive concepts and philosophies.
“Teddy just gravitated toward him,” Rudolph recalled Sunday afternoon. “And he really appreciated the way Pat coaches offense. Not tight ends. Not quarterbacks. He coaches offense. And he’s really good at it. … Quarterbacks appreciate the way he lays things out for them.”
After the NFC North champion Vikings completed a 13-3 season with Sunday’s 23-10 defeat of the Bears, Shurmur has grand aspirations ahead, hoping to help the Vikings return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 41 years.
But as the coordinator of a well-rounded offense that finished the regular season in the top 10 in yards per game (356.9), Shurmur also finds himself as a hot head-coaching candidate, expected to join the game of musical chairs that will escalate around the league this week.
A vacancy at Halas Hall will open Monday when the Bears officially fire John Fox. From there general manager Ryan Pace will begin his search for a successor with a strong priority on catalyzing the development of quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Shurmur figures to be in the mix, and with the Vikings earning a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, he would be available to be interviewed this week. Don’t be surprised if the Bears reach out.
Shurmur’s flexibility and constant willingness to adapt has been touted as one of his greatest strengths. It was first seen when then-coordinator Norv Turner abruptly left the Vikings in the middle of the 2016 season and Shurmur was elevated, making it known he would adjust his system to the players.
The Vikings offense barely skipped a beat this fall after they lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford and top running back Dalvin Cook to knee injuries in the first month.
The Vikings again adjusted, utilized their balance and ran away with the NFC North.
Quarterback Case Keenum, signed to a one-year, $2 million deal in the second wave of free agency in March, launched himself into the MVP conversation and finished the regular season with a .676 completion percentage and a sparkling 98.3 rating. In his 14 starts, he averaged 243 passing yards and threw 20 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.
After Sunday’s win, Keenum expressed his appreciation for Shurmur’s ability to call a game.
“He does a great job of keeping the quarterback out of bad situations,” Keenum said. “As a quarterback that’s comforting, when every play call you hear coming in, it’s one where you’re like, ‘All right. Let’s go.’ … I have complete trust in him.”
Added running back Latavius Murray, who rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns Sunday: “He wants to bring the best out of every player. And he’s a very smart and educated guy. … When they first brought me in for a visit, Pat was there. He knew my running style and knew what I was capable of. And when Dalvin went down, he knew what I was good at and what situations he wanted to put me in.”
Rudolph has loved the way the Vikings have established an offensive identity under Shurmur, in big part because it has been so natural.
“It seems so easy to say, ‘We find what we do well and we want to do it more often,’ ” he said. “But that truly is the case.”
The Vikings’ continued success should open doors for Shurmur in the weeks ahead. His first gig as an NFL head coach — 9-23 with the Browns in 2011-12 — fizzled. And some suitors might see his subdued personality as a negative. But a second opportunity could be waiting.
[email protected]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/foo...story.html
During the early days of training camp in 2016, Pat Shurmur was merely the Vikings tight ends coach, a longtime teacher in a new role with a new team.But here’s what left an early and lasting impression on tight end Kyle Rudolph during that grind: Starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater frequently made his way to Shurmur just to talk shop, exchange ideas, run through offensive concepts and philosophies.
“Teddy just gravitated toward him,” Rudolph recalled Sunday afternoon. “And he really appreciated the way Pat coaches offense. Not tight ends. Not quarterbacks. He coaches offense. And he’s really good at it. … Quarterbacks appreciate the way he lays things out for them.”
After the NFC North champion Vikings completed a 13-3 season with Sunday’s 23-10 defeat of the Bears, Shurmur has grand aspirations ahead, hoping to help the Vikings return to the Super Bowl for the first time in 41 years.
But as the coordinator of a well-rounded offense that finished the regular season in the top 10 in yards per game (356.9), Shurmur also finds himself as a hot head-coaching candidate, expected to join the game of musical chairs that will escalate around the league this week.
A vacancy at Halas Hall will open Monday when the Bears officially fire John Fox. From there general manager Ryan Pace will begin his search for a successor with a strong priority on catalyzing the development of quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Shurmur figures to be in the mix, and with the Vikings earning a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, he would be available to be interviewed this week. Don’t be surprised if the Bears reach out.
Shurmur’s flexibility and constant willingness to adapt has been touted as one of his greatest strengths. It was first seen when then-coordinator Norv Turner abruptly left the Vikings in the middle of the 2016 season and Shurmur was elevated, making it known he would adjust his system to the players.
The Vikings offense barely skipped a beat this fall after they lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford and top running back Dalvin Cook to knee injuries in the first month.
The Vikings again adjusted, utilized their balance and ran away with the NFC North.
Quarterback Case Keenum, signed to a one-year, $2 million deal in the second wave of free agency in March, launched himself into the MVP conversation and finished the regular season with a .676 completion percentage and a sparkling 98.3 rating. In his 14 starts, he averaged 243 passing yards and threw 20 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.
After Sunday’s win, Keenum expressed his appreciation for Shurmur’s ability to call a game.
“He does a great job of keeping the quarterback out of bad situations,” Keenum said. “As a quarterback that’s comforting, when every play call you hear coming in, it’s one where you’re like, ‘All right. Let’s go.’ … I have complete trust in him.”
Added running back Latavius Murray, who rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns Sunday: “He wants to bring the best out of every player. And he’s a very smart and educated guy. … When they first brought me in for a visit, Pat was there. He knew my running style and knew what I was capable of. And when Dalvin went down, he knew what I was good at and what situations he wanted to put me in.”
Rudolph has loved the way the Vikings have established an offensive identity under Shurmur, in big part because it has been so natural.
“It seems so easy to say, ‘We find what we do well and we want to do it more often,’ ” he said. “But that truly is the case.”
The Vikings’ continued success should open doors for Shurmur in the weeks ahead. His first gig as an NFL head coach — 9-23 with the Browns in 2011-12 — fizzled. And some suitors might see his subdued personality as a negative. But a second opportunity could be waiting.
[email protected]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/foo...story.html
