Chudzinksi Interviews
http://49ers.com/blog49/?p=401
The most recent candidate to interview for the 49ers open offensive coordinator position is Rob Chudzinksi, who has served in the same capacity the last two seasons for the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns offense ranked 31st in the NFL this year, but injuries plagued the Browns in 2008, especially at quarterback where they used four different starters.
In Chudzinksi’s first year coordinating the Browns offense in ‘07, they ranked eighth overall in offense and scoring with 402 points and 5,621 yards of net offense, which also ranked third best in franchise history. WR Braylon Edwards set franchise records with 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns, TE Kellen Winslow set a career-high with 1,109 yards and RB Jamal Lewis ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,304 yards rushing.
Prior to joining the Browns as coordinator, Chudzinksi served as the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers. Under his tutelage, tight end Antonio Gates led the Chargers in all receiving categories including 71 receptions for 924 yards (13.0 avg.) and nine receiving touchdowns.
In 2004, Chudzinksi saw his first stint in Cleveland as tight ends coach. He was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games under Interim Head Coach Terry Robiskie after the resignation of Head Coach Butch Davis.
Chudzinksi also has coordinating experience at the collegiate level having spent three of his ten seasons at the University of Miami as the offensive coordinator. In each of those three seasons, the Hurricanes played in three Bowl Championship Series games, including two National Championship games. In 2002, Miami’s offense set school records for points (527), total yards (6,074) and rushing touchdowns (33) and averaged 40.5 points per game, while averaging 284.2 yards per game passing and 183.0 yards per game rushing. The ’Canes went 12-1 in 2002, their only defeat coming in overtime against Ohio State in the National Championship game. In 2003, Miami averaged 27.8 points per game and finished with an 11-2 record, including a 16-14 victory over Florida State in the FedEx Orange Bowl.
Chudzinski spent a total of ten years as an assistant coach at Miami, including five years as tight ends coach (1996-2000) and two as a graduate assistant coach (1994-95). As well as working with Kellen Winslow, he also helped develop two other All-America tight ends, Bubba Franks in 1999 and Jeremy Shockey in 2001. Franks and Shockey both became first-round picks and Pro Bowlers with Green Bay and the New York Giants, respectively.
I have to believe this potential candidate would earn a vote from 49ers TE Vernon Davis, who has frequently expressed his interest in being more involved in the passing game. However, RB Frank Gore also has a comfort level with Chudzinski, who was his OC at Miami.
Chudzinski joined the Hurricanes staff as a graduate assistant in 1994. He played tight end at Miami from 1986-90, was a three-year starter and a member of two national championship teams (1987 and 1989).
Coaching Background:
1994-95 University of Miami (Fla.), graduate assistant coach
1996-2000 University of Miami (Fla.), tight ends coach
2001-03 University of Miami (Fla.), offensive coordinator
2004 Cleveland Browns, tight ends coach/interim offensive coordinator
2005-06 San Diego Chargers, tight ends coach
2007-08 Cleveland Browns, offensive coordinator