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The NFL playcaller park will detail unused faces and a few usual ones in brandnew environment, with Eric Bieniemy and Kellen Moore converting groups.
And later there’s Mike McCarthy.
The Cowboys mentor would be the number one playcaller for the primary date since Dallas leased him in 2020. McCarthy was once an established, a hit playcaller for the Green Bay Packers, however he didn’t wish to disillusioned the perpetuity of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, so he let Moore proceed to name performs.
However with Prescott suffering as latter season improved, and nearest an underwhelming 19-12 divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys parted tactics with Moore, who’s now calling performs for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers.
“It’s really cool to see Mike in that role,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn mentioned. “It looks, from my opinion, that he’s having a blast. Sometimes as a head coach, when you’re not the playcaller, you’re yearning for it, so I’ve seen that with him, the energy he has for it. I’ve felt some happiness and joy for him going out there, and you can see his competitive juices going.”
In the meantime, Bieniemy left the Kansas City Chiefs nearest spending the day 5 seasons as their offensive coordinator, however with Andy Reid as head mentor, Bieniemy was once by no means the principle playcaller. He’ll think that responsibility with the Washington Commanders.
Here’s who can be calling performs for all 32 groups, together with the enjoy they carry and the storyline circumstance them coming into this season. ESPN Stats & Knowledge additionally supplies a key stat on every playcaller.
Leap to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Playcaller: Ken Dorsey, offensive coordinator
Revel in: Dorsey known as performs latter season for the primary date in his occupation. He in the past was once the Expenses quarterbacks mentor from 2019 to 2021 and the passing recreation coordinator in 2021, moment additionally having enjoy because the Panthers quarterbacks mentor (2013 to 2017). He was once a quarterback in school, going 38-2 as a starter at Miami, and within the NFL.
What to grasp: Dorsey had some up-and-down moments latter moment, particularly in the second one part of the season. The Expenses’ offense was once a hit general, completing within the lead 5 within the league in plenty of sections, together with moment in issues in line with recreation (28.4). The group needs to position much less on quarterback Josh Allen‘s shoulders this moment, which must heartless extra alternatives for operating again James Cook, moment first-round pick out tight finish Dalton Kincaid will upload to what the group can do, particularly in the course of the ground. — Alaina Getzenberg
Key stat: In Dorsey’s first season as offensive coordinator, the Expenses dropped again to go on 59% of first-down performs, the easiest charge within the NFL.
Playcaller: Mike McDaniel, head mentor
Revel in: Ultimate season, which was once McDaniel’s first as a head mentor and primary in Miami, was once additionally his first as a number one playcaller, however he has plethora of enjoy designing performs, which he did in San Francisco beneath mentor Kyle Shanahan from 2017 to 2022.
What to grasp: McDaniel was once extensively discoverable as an offensive guru when the Dolphins leased him in 2022. With the backup of a few key offensive acquisitions, corresponding to WR Tyreek Hill and OT Terron Armstead, McDaniel made a right away affect at the Dolphins’ offense, which completed 6th in yards in line with recreation latter season at 364.5. Hour his date with the 49ers noticed him orchestrate one of the vital league’s premier dashing assaults, the Dolphins ran the ball at one of the vital lowest charges within the NFL in 2022 — one thing McDaniel vowed to modify this season. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Key stat: The Dolphins impaired movement on the snap on 45% of performs and any pre-snap movement on 77% of performs latter season, each the easiest charges in a season since ESPN Stats & Knowledge started movement monitoring in 2017.
Playcaller: Invoice O’Brien, offensive coordinator
Revel in: O’Brien first known as performs from 2009 to 2011 with the Patriots prior to retirement to transform Penn Condition head mentor (2012-13), Texans head mentor (2014 to 2020) and Alabama offensive coordinator (2021-22).
What to grasp: Offensive take on Trent Brown mentioned of O’Brien: “I love his attitude. I think he speaks a language that will get everyone fired up and ready to play ball. He brings excitement and energy to the whole building.” From a playcalling point of view, O’Brien has lengthy been an recommend of blank formations and giving the QB pre-snap duties to learn the protection. Already in coaching camp, there was a impressive build up in pre-snap movement from 2022, which is every other staple of O’Brien’s offense. — Mike Reiss
Key stat: All through O’Brien’s two complete seasons with quarterback Deshaun Watson (2018-19), the Texans covered up in shotgun on the sixth-highest charge (74%). Ultimate moment’s Patriots covered up in shotgun 66% of the date (sixteenth).
Playcaller: Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator
Revel in: Hackett has six seasons of playcalling enjoy — Expenses OC (2013-14), Jaguars OC (2016 to 2018) and Broncos head mentor (2022). Handiest a type of groups made the playoffs (2017 Jaguars). In two cases (Jaguars and Broncos), he was once fired prior to the tip of the season.
What to grasp: In spite of having the Thirty second-ranked scoring offense in Denver, Hackett landed the Jets’ task, in immense section, on account of his day affiliation with mentor Robert Saleh. It additionally helped that he’s akin pals with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who wound up following Hackett to Brandnew York. He constructed a rapport with Rodgers throughout his 3 seasons because the Packers OC (2019-21). Hackett didn’t have playcalling duties at the back of Packers head mentor Matt LaFleur, however he was once closely keen on recreation making plans. He has liberty in Brandnew York, however will incline closely on Rodgers. The Jets haven’t been higher than twenty third in scoring since 2015. There’s deny playground to advance however up. — Lavish Cimini
Key stat: All through Hackett’s 3 seasons as Packers OC with Rodgers (2019 to 2021), Inexperienced Bay threw a league-high 29% of its passes at or at the back of the order of scrimmage.
AFC NORTH
Playcaller: Todd Monken, offensive coordinator
Revel in: Monken, 57, is in his first season with the Ravens nearest serving to information Georgia to back-to-back nationwide championships. His offense averaged 501.1 yards and 40.7 issues in line with recreation latter season. Monken was once in the past an NFL offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers (2016 to 2018) and Browns (2019).
What to grasp: The expectancy is Monken will modernize the offense for quarterback Lamar Jackson. In 4 seasons with Greg Roman as their playcaller, the Ravens impaired their dimension and gear to push round groups between the numbers. Now, Baltimore will unfold out defenses, throw the ball extra and kill at a sooner week. He’s going to additionally give Jackson extra liberty to modify performs on the order of scrimmage. “He’s a very good teacher. He does it in a very energetic kind of way,” mentor John Harbaugh mentioned. “He’s a very detailed coach — especially in the passing game — but not just that: the protection, the run game, the quarterback reads, everything. He’s very involved, very hands on.” — Jamison Hensley
Key stat: All through Monken’s two seasons as Georgia’s OC, the Bulldogs ranked 0.33 within the FBS in 12 body of workers (one RB, two TEs, 2 WRs) utilization (59%). In 5 seasons with Jackson, the Ravens rank moment in yards in line with play games out of 12 body of workers (6.2) however twenty second in utilization (16%).
Playcaller: Zac Taylor, head mentor
Revel in: Taylor has been the group’s playcaller since he was once leased as head mentor in 2019.
What to grasp: Taylor’s playcalling has come beneath hearth from time to time in his first 4 years with the Bengals. However criticisms have been nonexistent by way of the tip of 2022. Cincinnati completed 5th in issues in line with pressure and received its ultimate 8 video games of the ordinary season. Taylor additionally navigated accidents to quarterback Joe Burrow, operating again Joe Mixon and huge receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Taylor’s offense additionally shined when seen via complicated analytics. Ultimate moment, the Bengals ranked 6th in overall offensive anticipated issues added, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Knowledge. In his 0.33 season, Taylor guided the Bengals to Tremendous Bowl LVI, the place they misplaced to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20. –– Ben Child
Key stat: In 3 seasons since Taylor and Burrow have been paired in combination, the Bengals have impaired blank formations on the second-highest charge (14%), at the back of most effective the Rams, with whom Taylor was once an worker prior to being leased by way of the Bengals.
Playcaller: Kevin Stefanski, head mentor
Revel in: Stefanski took over because the period in-between offensive coordinator with the Vikings in 2018. Refer to moment, he were given the everlasting task prior to being named the pinnacle mentor in Cleveland, the place he continues to name the offensive performs.
What to grasp: In his first season with the Browns, Stefanski was once named NFL Trainer of the Moment, as Cleveland complicated to the postseason for the primary date since 2002 and received a playoff recreation for the primary date in 26 years. Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed lead 10 in QBR, as neatly. However the day two years, Stefanski’s offenses have struggled from time to time in the course of the turmoil at QB, from Mayfield to Jacoby Brissett to Deshaun Watson. This can be a pivotal moment for Stefanski, who is predicted to have Watson for a complete season. Watson was once suspended for 11 video games for violating the league’s private behavior coverage nearest being accused by way of greater than two bundle ladies of sexual attack and sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods. The rest scale down of a playoff bid can be regarded as a sadness and would possibly put Stefanski’s task in jeopardy. — Jake Trotter
Key stat: In 3 seasons since Stefanski become their head mentor, the Browns have covered up beneath heart on the third-highest charge (49.5%) and run by way of design on the third-highest charge (44%).
Playcaller: Matt Canada, offensive coordinator
Revel in: Canada joined the Steelers within the 2020 season because the quarterbacks mentor nearest 3 a long time within the collegiate ranks. Nearest Randy Fichtner’s leaving, Canada was once increased to the Steelers offensive coordinator task in 2021. He’s coming into his 0.33 season in that position.
What to grasp: Canada has been harshly criticized out of doors the construction for a predictable offense that lacks explosive performs. No longer most effective did the Steelers rank latter within the league with 12 passing touchdowns in 2022, however in addition they generated explosive passing performs — passes that won no less than 20 yards — on 7.7% in their passing performs, Tenth-lowest within the NFL. However Canada enters the 2023 season with extra perpetuity in his offense as quarterback Kenny Pickett starts his moment season as starter. That, coupled with the remade offensive order and extra skilled offensive guns, units Canada up for a make-or-break season within the ultimate moment of his word of honour. — Brooke Pryor
Key stat: The Steelers have impaired play-action on the third-lowest charge (18%) in Canada’s two seasons as OC, together with the fourth-lowest charge (18%) latter season with Pickett taking up for Ben Roethlisberger.
AFC SOUTH
Playcaller: Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator
Revel in: This season can be Slowik’s first date calling performs. He was once the 49ers’ go recreation coordinator in 2022 nearest serving as an offensive passing recreation specialist in 2021.
What to grasp: Texans head mentor DeMeco Ryans leased Slowik to run Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Be expecting Slowik to depend at the run recreation because the Texans have operating again Dameon Pierce, who i’m in a hurry for 939 yards in 13 video games. Be expecting a ton of pre-snap movement. The 49ers, Jets and Dolphins ranked within the lead 8 in pre-snap movement in go and dashing makes an attempt, as all 3 run the similar Shanahan device. –– DJ Bien-Aime
Key stat: With Slowik serving as passing recreation coordinator for the 49ers latter season, San Francisco impaired movement on 73% of its passing performs, the second-highest charge within the NFL at the back of the Dolphins (76%).
Playcaller: Shane Steichen, head mentor
Revel in: Steichen is in his first season as Colts head mentor nearest spending the day two years operating the Eagles offense. Prior to that, Steichen ran the Chargers offense for 2 seasons — first as an period in-between and nearest because the full-time coordinator.
What to grasp: Steichen appears like a just right have compatibility given his good fortune serving to circumstance the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts right into a pressure. Like Hurts, Colts first-round pick out Anthony Richardson is a dual-threat quarterback round whom the Colts plan to develop their offense. Steichen is conserving the details of his Indianapolis offense akin to the vest. However his Philly scheme was once fertile, with the Eagles completing lead 10 in yards (389.1), issues (28.1) and passing yards in line with recreation (241.5) latter season. Steichen’s Eagles have been one in all simply two groups to have a couple of one,000-yard receivers (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith), most likely elevating expectancies for what the Colts’ younger wideouts may create. –– Stephen Holder
Key stat: With Steichen serving as his OC in Philadelphia, Hurts led all QBs with 99 designed rushes latter season, 21 greater than the later closest QB (Justin Fields).
Playcaller: Doug Pederson, head mentor
Revel in: Pederson was once Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator in Kansas Town from 2013 to 2015, however Reid known as the performs till he had Pederson do it following a 1-5 get started in 2015. In 2016, Pederson left for Philadelphia and was once the playcaller throughout his 5 seasons as head mentor of the Eagles (2016 to 2020). He endured calling performs latter moment in his first season with the Jaguars.
What to grasp: Pederson needs the Jaguars to moderate seven extra issues in line with recreation in 2023 than latter season, and the prospective is there with the addition of receiver Calvin Ridley to 3 gamers who poised occupation highs in catches and yards latter season — huge receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and tight finish Evan Engram. Pederson believes the ones gamers being comfy within the offense is a key a part of getting extra manufacturing — particularly from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was once the league’s second-highest rated passer from Life 9 on in 2022. Take note, Pederson became Carson Wentz into an MVP candidate of their moment season in combination (2017) in Philadelphia prior to Wentz suffered a season-ending knee shock that December. — Michael DiRocco
Key stat: Twenty-nine % of Jacksonville’s rushes have been out of doors the tackles latter season, third-highest charge within the NFL. Travis Etienne Jr. led all gamers in yards in line with speed (8.3) out of doors the tackles.
Playcaller: Tim Kelly, offensive coordinator
Revel in: Kelly spent 3 years as offensive property regulate mentor for Texans mentor Invoice O’Brien prior to overseeing the tight leads to 2017 and 2018. He was once Houston’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021.
What to grasp: Kelly and Titans mentor Mike Vrabel have been in combination in Houston from 2014 to 2017. Vrabel asked to interview Kelly for the offensive coordinator task in 2021 however it was once forbidden by way of the Texans. O’Brien known as the performs in Kelly’s first moment as offensive coordinator. However Kelly were given complete regulate of playcalling when O’Brien was once fired in 2020. Quarterback Deshaun Watson poised occupation highs with 4,823 passing yards and 33 landing passes beneath Kelly. In 2022, Kelly joined the Titans’ group of workers as a senior offensive worker/passing recreation coordinator. As coordinator, Kelly vowed to extend the velocity and pace Tennessee’s offense performs with this season. — Turron Davenport
Key stat: 40-four % of Tennessee’s passing yards latter season got here off play-action, the second-most within the NFL. Alternatively, the Titans impaired play-action on 27% in their dropbacks, which ranked sixteenth within the NFL.
AFC WEST
Playcaller: Sean Payton, head mentor
Revel in: Payton has known as performs within the NFL for greater than twenty years. In his date because the Giants’ offensive coordinator, they going to the playoffs thrice, and in his 3 seasons as Cowboys worker head mentor and quarterbacks mentor, Dallas going to the postseason as soon as. All through his 15-season run as Saints head mentor, quarterback Drew Brees had a document 5 5,000-yard passing seasons. Brandnew Orleans completed within the league’s lead 5 in scoring 9 instances and the Saints received Tremendous Bowl XLIV.
What to grasp: He has a moderately immense to-do listing to get the Broncos offense, which latter averaged 21 issues a recreation in 2015, again in tools. The Broncos can backup quarterback Russell Wilson rebound from his worst season as a professional (16 touchdowns, league-high 55 sacks) by way of enjoying higher protection and having a “more productive run game — that will be in our DNA,” Payton has said. He will push Wilson to get the ball out more quickly. The Broncos figure to be in plenty of two-tight end, two-back looks, even when they’re throwing the ball because Payton wants the Broncos to handle the line of scrimmage better. He also wants more tempo and more personnel groupings to stress defenses down to down. –– Jeff Legwold
Key stat: Over Payton’s final five seasons with the Saints (2017 to 2021), New Orleans had the league’s fourth-highest designed rush percentage (43%), including the fifth-highest rate on first down (51%).
Playcaller: Andy Reid, head coach
Experience: Reid has been calling plays in most of his 24 seasons as a head coach, 14 with the Eagles and 10 with the Chiefs.
What to know: The Chiefs made a change at offensive coordinator for the fourth time in Reid’s 10 seasons. Matt Nagy will have his second stint in the position after Eric Bieniemy left for the Commanders. The impact of the change, however, will be minimal because of Reid’s presence. “There are a couple of [new] issues, however in truth that’s each moment irrespective of who the coordinator is,” Nagy said. “His thoughts each season is at all times getting to unused issues.” Reid and Nagy have a lot to work with in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who won his second MVP award last season, and an offense that led the NFL in scoring. — Adam Teicher
Key stat: Kansas City led the NFL with 12 TDs on passes at or behind the line of scrimmage; no other team had more than five. The Chiefs also led the NFL with 562 pass yards off screen passes.
Playcaller: Josh McDaniels, head coach
Experience: McDaniels, in his second year as Raiders head coach, has been an offensive coordinator or head coach since 2006, mostly with the Patriots (offensive coordinator 2006 to 2008 and 2012 to 2021). He was also the Broncos head coach in 2009 and 2010 and the St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator in 2011.
What to know: The Raiders will have a new look at quarterback as McDaniels moved on from nine-year starter Derek Carr and signed a familiar face — to McDaniels, anyway — in Jimmy Garoppolo, who started his career in New England with McDaniels. And with Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller traded to the Giants, second-round pick out Michael Mayer could have a prospect to start out as a result of as McDaniels mentioned, “We have now a fat plethora bucket of items we will be able to do, it’s all depending on our body of workers and what they do neatly.” — Paul Gutierrez
Key stat: The Raiders had QBs under center on 48% of offensive plays last season, the third-highest mark in the NFL. In Garoppolo’s career, 30% of his offensive snaps have come under center.
Playcaller: Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator
Experience: A former standout quarterback at Boise State who spent five seasons in the NFL as a backup, Moore moved into coaching following his playing career. He called plays in Dallas for four seasons, helping the Cowboys to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022, before Moore and the team made a “mutual resolution to section tactics” last January. The Chargers hired Moore to succeed the fired Joe Lombardi less than 24 hours after Moore exited Dallas.
What to know: Moore, 34, gets a fresh start in L.A. with a group that includes quarterback Justin Herbert, receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and operating again Austin Ekeler. He is expected to install an explosive offense that is quickly able to score points, something he’s proven after producing a unit in Dallas that ranked in the top four in points (27.7), yards (391)and third-down conversion percentage (44%) per game over his four-year tenure. — Lindsey Thiry
Key stat: In four seasons as Cowboys OC, Moore used 11 personnel [1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs] on 78% of offensive plays, the sixth-highest mark in the NFL. The Cowboys averaged 6.8 yards per play out of 11 personnel, the second-best in the NFL since 2019, behind only the Chiefs (7.2)
NFC EAST
Playcaller: Mike McCarthy, head coach
Experience: He made his bones as a playcaller with the Saints and 49ers before taking over as head coach of the Packers from 2006 to 2018. He covered the end of Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre’s career and the bulk of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career, making it to four NFC championships and winning a Super Bowl. Through his tenure, the Packers averaged 26 points and 364.4 yards per game.
What to know: It was a surprise McCarthy didn’t take over playcalling when he became Cowboys coach in 2020. After a spell in 2015 with the Packers of not calling the plays, he vowed he would never relinquish the role again. But he believed Moore and the offense in place was best for Dak Prescott’s development. After three seasons, he opted to take the job over and has added some tweaks to the offense centered around his West Coast philosophies while maintaining what has worked well for Prescott. The front office, players and coaches say he is energized. He is the first Cowboys head coach to call plays since Jason Garrett in 2012, but he inherits an offense that averaged 27.7 points per game under Moore. If he does not maintain or improve the efficiency in 2023, then he will face some heat. — Todd Archer
Key stat: McCarthy’s Packers called a run on 31% of their plays in his final three seasons, the lowest in the NFL from 2016 to 2018. The Cowboys ran by design 45% of the time last season, sixth in the NFL.
Playcaller: Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator
Experience: He came to the Giants last year as Brian Daboll’s offensive coordinator to get playcalling experience. He apprenticed under Chiefs coach Andy Reid from 2017 to 2021, and he eventually ascended to passing game coordinator.
What to know: Kafka received praise for what he did with the talent at his disposal in Year 1 with the Giants, who finished tied for 15th in scoring at 21.1 points per game. It even earned him interviews with four teams this past offseason for a head-coaching position, and he was a finalist for the Cardinals. Kafka and the Giants offense have big plans for new tight end Darren Waller. It may even look completely differently come the regular season. They’re using him all over the field at training camp, trying new things. “Other routes,” Daboll said. — Jordan Raanan
Key stat: The Giants used play-action at the fifth-highest rate (31% of time) in the league in 2022. New York was 20th in percentage during quarterback Daniel Jones‘ first 3 seasons.
Playcaller: Brian Johnson, offensive coordinator
Experience: This will be Johnson’s first year calling plays in the NFL. He was elevated to the role of offensive coordinator after Shane Steichen was hired as head coach of the Colts. Johnson did call plays at the collegiate level, including at the University of Florida.
What to know: Johnson has known quarterback Jalen Hurts since Hurts was 4 years old, dating back to when Johnson played high school ball for Hurts’ father, Averion. Johnson was the Eagles quarterbacks coach the past two seasons and Hurts took massive strides as a passer under his tutelage. There is a deep level of trust between the two that should prove beneficial in-game. While there will be some new wrinkles this year, the offense, which was created largely in coach Nick Sirianni’s vision, will look familiar. “Being right here the latter two years and working out precisely how issues are operated, working out precisely how Trainer Sirianni needs issues accomplished, I believe has been necessary for me evidently,” Johnson said. — Tim McManus
Key stat: The Eagles gave Jalen Hurts plenty of targets in the past two seasons, using five players in pass routes 69% of the time, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
Playcaller: Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator
Experience: Bieniemy served as offensive coordinator for five seasons with the Chiefs, though head coach Andy Reid remained the primary playcaller. However, Bieniemy coordinated the offense during the week and did call some plays for the Chiefs during their two Super Bowl winning seasons.
What to know: Washington fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner after three seasons in which the offense never finished better than 20th in either yards or points a game. Coach Ron Rivera opted for Bieniemy and also gave him the title of assistant head coach. The situation in Washington will be a challenge for Bieniemy — the offensive line has new starters at four positions and second-year quarterback Sam Howell will likely be under center. Bieniemy must help Howell mature behind this front. So far, Bieniemy has provided structure, detail and discipline to the offense. However, what players and other coaches say he’s also done is to create better opportunities in space for the skill players and find more ways to get the backs and tight ends involved in the passing game. — John Keim
Key stat: Bieniemy coached a Chiefs offense that used pre-snap motion at the second-highest rate in the NFL during his five seasons as OC (2018-22), and it gained 51% of its receiving yards after the catch, third-most in the league.
NFC NORTH
Playcaller: Luke Getsy, offensive coordinator
Experience: Getsy is in his second season with the Bears after two separate stints with Green Bay (2014 to 2017, 2019 to 2021), where he last served as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
What to know: Despite a 3-14 finish last season, the Bears produced the NFL’s No. 1 rushing offense (177.3 yards per game), led by Justin Fields, who was 64 yards away from setting the single-season quarterback rushing record. By contrast, the Bears had the league’s worst passing offense at 130.5 yards per game, which is why Chicago emphasized its time and resources in the form of a new-look wide receiver room and reworked offense line to help elevate Fields and the pass game in 2023. — Courtney Cronin
Key stat: The Bears offense called plays to the boundary last season, leading the NFL in percent of pass attempts outside the pocket (21%) and percent of rush attempts outside the tackles (33%).
Playcaller: Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator
Experience: Johnson took over playcalling duties after being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022. He started off as the tight ends coach during coach Dan Campbell’s first year in 2021, but he eventually expanded his role into assisting with the passing game, which blossomed with his help.
What to know: Though he was interviewed for head-coaching positions this offseason, Johnson surprised many when he chose to return to Detroit for his second year as the offensive coordinator. Johnson has deflected any questions on any future head-coaching opportunities, saying he feels the Lions organization is on the cusp of something special. Despite last year’s success with a 9-8 record, he says his goal this season is to streamline his preparation for game days. “I’m hoping to be a quantity extra environment friendly, and our coaches, I heartless they do a heck of a task getting me the guidelines, however … it took me latter moment a quantity of date to sift via it, so expectantly that’ll boost up,” Johnson said. — Eric Woodyard
Key stat: The Lions ran 49% of their plays from under center last season, the highest in the NFL. Jared Goff had 15 passing touchdowns on plays that started under center last season, four more than the next closest quarterback (Kirk Cousins).
Playcaller: Matt LaFleur, head coach
Experience: LaFleur has called plays during his entire four-year tenure as the Packers head coach. He previously had only one season of NFL playcalling experience.
What to know: Throughout his tenure with the Packers, it’s never been crystal clear just how often quarterback Aaron Rodgers changed LaFleur’s playcalls at the line of scrimmage. That’s perhaps why team president Mark Murphy said this summer at the Packers annual shareholders meeting: “Offensively, you’re going to peer almost definitely a negligible bit extra of Matt’s true offense. Clearly, if you have a superb quarterback like Aaron and any person who’s been within the league so long as he has, we gave him the versatility to modify performs and get out and in of items that truly helped, however I’d await a robust operating recreation and rancid of that.”
It’s not that Jordan Love won’t have the OK to adjust things at the line of scrimmage. LaFleur calls it a “can” play, meaning that quarterback can change the play, but Love said “maximum performs in our offense, they’re lovely easy.” — Rob Demovsky
Key stat: The Packers have gotten the ball to their playmakers under LaFleur, ranking second in the NFL in percent of receiving yards coming after the catch (52%) in the past four seasons.
Playcaller: Kevin O’Connell, head coach
Experience: O’Connell called plays for the first time in 2022, his first season as Vikings coach.
What to know: O’Connell has said calling plays as the head coach allows him to streamline offensive strategy with game management and his big-picture philosophy of running the offense through receiver Justin Jefferson. The process worked well in 2022, with Jefferson leading the NFL in receiving and winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. O’Connell was aggressive there, directing the Vikings to throw the NFL’s third-most passes (672). He also pushed hard in the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters, running the league’s ninth-most plays over that span. But he was not particularly aggressive on fourth downs, and ranked No. 21 in the NFL with 19 offensive plays on fourth down. — Kevin Seifert
Key stat: According to NFL Next Gen, the Vikings used a designed rollout 70 times last season, the third-most in the NFL. Kirk Cousins had the second-most completions in the league on plays with a designed rollout.
NFC SOUTH
Playcaller: Arthur Smith, head coach
Experience: Smith has called plays for the Falcons for the past two seasons. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for two seasons with the Titans, where his ability to help resurrect quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s career and run a creative offensive season made him an attractive head-coaching candidate.
What to know: Smith’s playcalling thrives on two things: Versatility of personnel and leveraging opposing defenses to keep them guessing. It’s why the Falcons — through a combination of the draft and free agency — gathered a collection of offensive players who can line up at multiple positions, including rookie running back Bijan Robinson and tight finish Kyle Pitts. Believe this: Smith confirmed in 2021 he can run an offense with Matt Ryan that attempted 573 passes to 393 runs and then in 2022, had 559 rushes to 415 passes. In 2023, don’t be surprised if the Falcons end up balanced between run and pass, meaning even more leverage opportunities. — Michael Rothstein
Key stat: The Falcons had the lowest designed pass percentage in the NFL last season (49%). They were the only team that threw the ball less than half the time.
Playcaller: Frank Reich, head coach
Experience: Reich has called plays as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers (2014-15) and Eagles (2016-17), including 2017 when Philadelphia won Super Bowl LII with backup quarterback Nick Foles. He’s also called plays as the head coach of the Colts (2018 to 2022).
What to know: Reich is a former NFL quarterback known mostly for leading the Bills to the league’s largest postseason comeback at the end of the 1992 season. He was the first starting quarterback for the expansion Panthers in 1995, although that lasted three games. He returned 29 years later as the head coach with the plan to call plays this season with quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick of the draft, before one day giving those duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Reich likes a spread offense that relies on tight ends and running backs making plays as receivers. It’s not a complicated system — just one focused on getting the ball into the hands of playmakers. — David Newton
Key stat: The Colts utilized pre-snap motion fewer than any other team in Weeks 1 through 9 last season (Reich’s nine games before being fired). Carolina utilized it 10% more than Indianapolis in 2022.
Playcaller: Pete Carmichael, offensive coordinator
Experience: Carmichael was Sean Payton’s right-hand man and the Saints offensive coordinator from 2009 until Payton left after the 2021 season. While Payton was the primary playcaller, Carmichael called plays when Payton broke his leg in 2011, when Payton was suspended for the 2012 season, at the beginning of the 2016 season and when Payton was sidelined with COVID-19 against the Buccaneers in 2021.
What to know: Carmichael, who first joined the Saints in 2006 as a quarterbacks coach, stayed on as the Saints offensive coordinator and moved to full-time playcaller when Dennis Allen took over last season. It wasn’t an easy season for the Saints offense, which finished 19th in total yards and 22nd in scoring, but the Saints hope they’ve solved the biggest problem by signing quarterback Derek Carr. One of the main issues last year was injuries, which caused the Saints to pivot from Jameis Winston to Andy Dalton. The Saints have had successes in the past with Carmichael calling plays, as they averaged 474 yards for the 11 games that he took over as a playcaller when Payton was hurt in 2011. — Katherine Terrell
Key stat: New Orleans used play-action at the second-lowest rate in the NFL last year (15.3%, tied with the Bengals). It was their lowest rate in 14 seasons under Carmichael.
Playcaller: Dave Canales, offensive coordinator
Experience: Canales spent 14 seasons under Pete Carroll, first at USC and then with the Seahawks. Having served as Seahawks wide receivers coach (2010 to 2017), quarterbacks coach (2018-2019), passing game coordinator (2020-2021) and quarterbacks coach again (2022), he will call plays for the first time in his career in Tampa.
What to know: They’re running much of what Shane Waldron — a disciple of Sean McVay — brought to the Seahawks the past two years. There is a lot more movement from the quarterback, not so many curls and hitch routes but more slant and corner routes, a lot more balance between run and pass. They’re using a lot more two tight-end sets, and on the ground, it’s a wide-zone scheme to stretch defenses more horizontally. You also won’t see the quarterback take as many risks here through the air — look for him to be more of a “distributor,” or a “level barricade,” as Canales put it. — Jenna Laine
Key stat: During the 10 seasons Canales worked with Russell Wilson (2012 to 2021), the Seahawks used the highest rate of play-action in the NFL. Tampa Bay utilized play-action 15.1% of the time last year with Tom Brady, the lowest mark in the NFL.
NFC WEST
Playcaller: Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator
Experience: Petzing came to Arizona after spending a year as Browns quarterbacks coach. He’s been an NFL assistant on the offensive side of the ball since 2014.
What to know: Petzing is young (36), but he’s been an NFL assistant for 10 years, learning from some great offensive minds like Norv Turner and John DeFilippo. Petzing has kept his offense fairly secret but has said it’s designed to focus on the run and play off the strengths of his best players. He has a long résumé of offensive experience. This is the first time he’s called plays and has openly embraced the opportunity to be the man in the chair — or in this case the man with the headset. — Josh Weinfuss
Key stat: In his three seasons assisting in Cleveland, the Browns ranked top 10 in the NFL in pre-snap motion (53.4%). The Cardinals ranked last in that span (32.2%).
Playcaller: Sean McVay, head coach
Experience: The NFL’s current obsession with finding the next innovative offensive whiz kid can be traced back to McVay’s hiring in 2017. After three years calling the shots as offensive coordinator in Washington, he has a Super Bowl win in 2021 and another appearance in 2018 to his credit during six seasons at the helm in Los Angeles.
What to know: The injury-depleted Rams scored 307 points last season, finishing last in the NFC and by far the lowest total under McVay’s leadership. Figuring out the best starting five on the offensive line to keep quarterback Matthew Stafford upright will determine if McVay can get back to his freewheeling ways. With Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp healthy, the Rams should be able to throw the ball around provided the protection is there. Mike LaFleur takes over as offensive coordinator and McVay’s chief deputy after two unsuccessful years with the Jets. — Daniel Greenspan
Key stat: No team puts QBs under center at a higher rate than the Rams have during McVay’s tenure (since 2017).
Playcaller: Kyle Shanahan, head coach
Experience: Shanahan spent a combined nine seasons as offensive coordinator of the Texans, Commanders, Browns and Falcons. Has continued to call the offensive plays for the 49ers since becoming head coach in 2017, helping them to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.
What to know: Shanahan has never wavered from his commitment to calling plays, though he has employed an offensive coordinator (Mike McDaniel) and has passing and run game coordinators who help put together weekly game plans. The 49ers offense took off after acquiring running back Christian McCaffrey last October, finishing sixth in scoring and fifth in yards and offensive expected points added. Shanahan again has one of the best groups of skill position players in the league but will need stability at quarterback — the 49ers went through four of them because of injury in 2022 — for this offense to maximize its potential. — Nicholas Wagoner
Key stat: The 49ers had three TDs off screen plays, tied with the Chiefs for the most in the NFL last season. Their 6.6 yards after catch per reception also led the NFL.
Playcaller: Shane Waldron, offensive coordinator
Experience: Waldron is entering his third season as Seahawks offensive coordinator, which is his first job as an NFL playcaller. He spent the previous five working in various offensive assistant roles under Sean McVay with the Commanders (2016) and Rams (2017 to 2020).
What to know: Waldron came to Seattle with an endorsement from quarterback Russell Wilson, who liked his upbringing under McVay and his willingness to go up-tempo. He also came at an interesting time: just as the friction between Wilson and the organization was nearing its breaking point. There was no such drama last year as Geno Smith quarterbacked Waldron’s offense to a No. 9 ranking in scoring, up seven spots and about a half a point per game from the year before. Seattle’s offense has shown it can run the ball and be explosive in the passing game under Waldron. The area where it needs to improve is on third down after finishing 23rd and 20th in his two seasons. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the chain-moving slot receiver Seattle drafted twentieth general, must backup in that regard. –– Brady Henderson
Key stat: With out Russell Wilson, Seattle applied more than one tight-end formations on the second-highest charge within the NFL latter moment (at the back of the Ravens), nearest having the Thirteenth-highest charge on the ones performs in Waldron’s first moment in 2021 (Wilson’s latter).
