Broncos' Gase Among 49ers Coaching Candidates

Offensive coordinator in Denver is offensive-minded and successful, but what would he bring to the Niners?

Adam Gase certainly doesn’t have a household name among football fans. But this offseason he’s one of the hottest head-coaching candidates available.

Reports by the NFL Network indicate Gase – the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos -- will interview Friday with the 49ers. But Gase will also be interviewing with the Falcons and Bears this week, reports Michael Silver of the NFL Network.

By all accounts, Gase, 36, is a good, young offensive coach with a varied background. He worked under offensive coordinator Mike Martz with the 49ers several seasons ago and has also been a coach on the Lions and in college at LSU. At Denver, he’s been the offensive coordinator the past two seasons after previously coaching the quarterbacks and wide receivers.

The 49ers certainly need to bring in a coach who can get the most out of Colin Kaepernick and help the offense become much more effective. With the Broncos, Gase certainly has had success.

In fact, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning told Jeff Legwold, who covers the team for ESPN, that Gase would make an excellent head coach.

“He deserves it,” Manning said of Gase’s opportunities. “I think teams that he talks to will be impressed.”

But how much of the Broncos’ offensive success story is Gase, and how much of it belongs to Manning?

In Manning’s first season in Denver in 2012, the Broncos’ offense ranked fourth in total yards and second in scoring. That was with offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. When McCoy left for San Diego to become head coach, the Broncos were first in yards and scoring in 2013 under Gase. This season the Broncos are fourth in total yards and second in scoring in the NFL.

It could be argued that any offense with Manning at quarterback is going to be excellent – and coordinated by Manning.

But as Legwold points out, Gase has worked under a variety of coaches, from John Fox to Martz to Nick Saban, and he’s obviously clicked with Manning.

Certainly, if the 49ers decide to go in his direction, it could be a positive for the 49ers offense in 2015.

 

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