Keenan McCardell
To some, Keenan McCardell becoming an OC candidate may be the least conventional and, overall, the most unrealistic of the bunch. However, the former Pro Bowl WR does have the acumen to develop young talent and coach at the NFL level.
McCardell got his first coaching stint in the NFL thirteen years ago. He coached the Wide Receivers in Washington from 2010 to 2012. In 2010, his receivers set a then-franchise record for receptions in a season (349). The WRs led the NFL with nine catches of 50+ yards. In 2011, the receivers gained over 4,000 yards collectively.
After Washington, McCardell took a 1yr detour to the collegiate ranks. He landed in Maryland, where he would coach Stefon Diggs in his final year as a Terrapin.
In 2017, the man they called "Thunder" returned to where he spent the most time in his professional career. Keenan McCarell was welcomed back in Jacksonville as the WR Coach of the Jaguars. He had spent six of his sixteen years in Duval County and made his name known as a big-time player.
While serving as the WR Coach, McCardell helped develop some of the Jaguars' most essential pieces, which helped lead to a Conference Championship game in 2017. He's continued his knack for molding productive WRs for the last five years. His last two years have been with the Vikings, the home of two of the League's most prolific passing attacks over that time.
So, why should the Buccaneers have an interest? Why is he being considered with no NFL play-calling experience??
First, consider the experience factor as a player. Having a history of being on the field, facing live action, and producing at a high level should earn a lot of credit with players. Players love relatability when it comes to coaches. The best coaches and teachers preach and practice being able to always relate to players.
Secondly, his not having a track record of tendencies or bad habits is probably just as good as having a history of good play-calling. Since opponents can't dial in on any pattern or routine, McCardell or any other fresh(-er) face that emerges as the OC holds an advantage over some experienced, old-school, antiquated play-caller that has left breadcrumbs of his offensive strategies all over the NFL.
With so many OCs sticking around the NFL for so long and/or moving back and forth from the pros to the collegiate level and then back to the League, there's so much similarity between playing styles and coaching styles. The play callers that can adapt and innovate new ideas on offense have been the most successful over the last decade or so.
Obviously, talent takes a major role in what an Offensive Coordinator can do. But the idea of a "modern NFL offense" comes with the welcoming of new approaches and different hires. McCardell would come with a specialty in dealing with WRs. That doesn't mean he wouldn't qualify as a potential good OC. Eric Bienemy, OC of the Kansas City Chiefs, specialized in working with RBs. He's been behind one of the scariest offenses in the NFL for the last four seasons. McCardell may not be the next Bienemy. But he may be the first McCardell.
NOTABLE WRs
Keelan Cole(2017-2020)
Dede Westbrook(2017-2020)
DJ Chark(2018-2020)
Chris Conley (2019-2020)
Lavishka Shenault(2020)
Adam Thielen(2021-2022
Justin Jefferson(2021-2022)
