Building Jon Gruden’s Tennessee the best circa-2008 NFL coaching staff

Jon Gruden has not coached a football team since 2008. That year, his Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 9-7, finished third in their division, and missed out on the playoffs.

It was also the year Tennessee parted with long-time coach Phil Fulmer.

In the post-Fulmer era, the Tennessee job has opened four times, including right now.

2008: Gruden says taking Tennessee job isn’t in his future, by ESPN.

2010: Jon Gruden turns down Tennessee’s advances, by the Sporting News.

2012: Jon Gruden tells Vols he’s not interested in coaching position, by CBS Sports. Gruden’s agent calls the entire Gruden-to-Vols rumor-industrial complex “just a fantasy world.”

Respected Vols writer John Brice reported the Vols have more of a chance now than they ever have before. And Stephen Hargis of the Chattanooga Times Free Press added Gruden’s put out some feelers to potential staff members.

Reports to the contrary persist, but let’s be positive here.

If the Vols are so hellbent on turning the clock back to 2008 NFL retreads, you might as well go all in with a whole staff. Below is a list of names.

The one rule:

Lane Kiffin, recently fired Oakland Raiders head coach

A good spot to place a 2008 up-and-comer here, and a good spot for someone who needs his first second chance. We’d have two former Raiders head coaches on staff (always a plus), and if something disadvantageous were to happen to Gruden, we could promote Kiffin to interim, no problem. Will surely follow all NCAA rules in Knoxville and stick around for a while.

(Actual current job: FAU head coach and social media innovator.)

Jim Skipper, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers had two running backs in 2008’s top 10 of yards per rushing attempt. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were at the beginning of their powerful backfield tandem. I’ll take their tutor to coach up the likes of John Kelly (should he return to school next season) and Ty Chandler (who already looks quite promising).

(Actual current job: Skipper left the Panthers and did work in Tennessee, for the Titans, before returning to the Panthers.)

Mike Miller, Arizona Cardinals

Miller coached the tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Both were in the league’s top-10 in receptions. No better tutor for budding talent Marquez Callaway.

(Actual current job: Robert Morris University OC.)

Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans

A household name with many Vols fans! By 2008, Munchak had been the offensive line coach for over a decade, and the only OL coach in the franchise’s Nashville history.

(Actual current job: Steelers OL coach.)

Rex Ryan, Baltimore Ravens

Ryan’s thought of as an NFL guy, but he coached at Cincinnati, Oklahoma, and Kansas State from 1996-1999 before leaving for the Ravens. He also began his career at Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State (plus New Mexico Highlands), all of which gives him more experience working with college athletes and working in the general region than his new head coach has.

(Actual current job: ESPN analyst, just like Gruden!)

Monte Kiffin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You want a multiple defense? Ryan brings the boom with aggressive blitzes, and the elder Kiffin revolutionized the Cover 2 with his state-of-the-art Tampa 2 variation. It fueled the Bucs to that Super Bowl title that is Gruden’s calling card. And it brings the whole Kiffin family together; what could possibly go wrong?

(Actual current job: FAU defensive assistant.)

John Mitchell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Has SEC chops, having coached at Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas (albeit when the Hogs were still in the Southwest Conference). Was the first black person to play for Alabama, and the first to coach for the Tide as well, and beat Tennessee twice in the Third Saturday in October rivalry as a player.

(Actual current job: Still there.)

Gus Bradley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gruden can pull from his previous staff in Tampa. Bradley learned from Monte with the Bucs.

(Actual current job: Chargers DC.)

Dom Capers, New England Patriots

Capers is a lifer at both levels, with 11 years of college experience, more than twice as much as Gruden. He was a graduate assistant in 1973 with Nick Saban, and Capers also has a tie to Tennessee. He coached there in 1980 and 1981 as a DBs coach under the legendary Johnny Majors. That’s two more years than Gruden coached on staff at Tennessee (Gruden was a GA).

(Actual current job: Packers DC.)

How’s this coaching staff gonna do? Well, if the recent history of Tennessee football is any indication, it’s on track for 8-4 or so.

But as is always the issue with NFL coaches coming to college, will these assistants be able to recruit? Well, we’ll see. But it’s gonna be pretty fun to watch them try, given their head coach’s ethos:

“Too many rules, man. I mean I like to work. I don’t like to be working 15 hours a week with players. The recruiting, Facebook, texting, e-mails – all that stuff. Yeah, I’d probably have you in real deep, deep trouble if I was your college coach.”