Five more assistants to watch
Jags D coordinator Smith riding wave
Five assistants besides Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith who haven't been an NFL head coach but who could be in the mix in a year or two:
Rob Chudzinski, Cleveland offensive coordinator: What he's doing with the Browns offense is amazing. They are third in the league in scoring with Derek Anderson playing quarterback. That's impressive. In his first year after coming over from San Diego, he has done a really nice job.
Leslie Frazier, Minnesota defensive coordinator: I've always liked the way his teams play defense. He's a disciple of Buddy Ryan, which means an aggressive style. He got a raw deal getting fired by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis -- how has their defense been since? -- and after a year in Indy as an assistant, he's back as a coordinator. The Vikings players have raved about him, which is high praise considering he replaced Mike Tomlin.
Josh McDaniels, New England offensive coordinator: He's the man behind the curtain, the wizard behind the Patriots' high-scoring offense. Too bad nobody knows anything about him since he works for Bill Belichick. Is it easy calling plays with Tom Brady? Yes. But McDaniels also plays an up-tempo style that is always dictating to the other team.
Jim Schwartz, Tennessee defensive coordinator: He's had a head coaching interview, and almost landed the 49ers job a few years ago. But this year he has been doing a heck of a job. His Titans defensive front is playing great football, and he hascovered up for the loss of Pacman Jones at corner. I like the way he schemes a game. His defense leads the NFL in rushing yards allowed, giving up 63.8 per game.
Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis assistant head coach: He doesn't run the Colts offense, but everything you hear about Caldwell is that he's perfect for a head-coaching job. He has the right temperament for the job and many think he has a chance to succeed Tony Dungy when he retires. That is if somebody doesn't pick him up.
