Coaching Profile of New Steelers OL Coach Adrian Klemm

The Steelers acquired their new offensive line coach on Monday after they promoted Assistant Offensive Line Coach Adrian Klemm to Offensive Line Coach. Because the Steelers stayed inner, similar to they did with the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, Klemm’s expertise previous to Pittsburgh might be drawn into query. So, simply who’s Adrian Klemm, and what’s his resume?

The Good

Klemm began off his teaching profession at SMU after which went onto UCLA. Between the 2 stops, Klemm almost has a decade of expertise as an offensive line coach on the collegiate. He’s in no way a man getting his first alternative to teach gamers. It is a seasoned coach who has 5 seasons at UCLA has a operating recreation coordinator besides. The expertise issue for Klemm is a constructive to what the Steelers want to do. His background in participant growth as a collegiate coach can be a constructive.

Happening the strains of his participant growth, there are a number of NFL gamers that Klemm produced. At UCLA, Kolton Miller, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Alex Redmond, Caleb Benenoch, Conor McDermott, Scott Quessenberry, and Jake Brendel all grew to become NFL gamers. On the very least, plainly Klemm has some degree of participant growth to get these guys to the NFL degree. At SMU, Kelvin Beachum and Josh LeRibeus have been two linemen produced by Klemm. That offers him a powerful 9 gamers within the NFL because of participant growth. That’s not shabby.

As well as, as former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex pointed out, the assistant coach typically will get the younger gamers whereas the primary coach works with the starters. Meaning Klemm was largely liable for the efficiency of Steelers rookie Kevin Dotson. That can encourage some confidence in Klemm’s talents.

Then, there may be the truth that Klemm did oversee some strong speeding offenses because the operating recreation coordinator. His three yr stretch between 2012-2014 is strong:

2012: thirty seventh ranked speeding assault

2013: thirty fifth ranked speeding assault

2014: thirty fourth ranked speeding assault

Another positives embody Klemm’s connection to the West Coast. The Steelers have sorely lacked a powerful presence out within the West Coast aside from space scouts. Different members of the workers have ties to many of the different locations in the US, however the West Coast was the one place they have been sorely missing in that division. With the elevation to offensive line coach, Klemm can use his connections to assist the Steelers get a greater really feel for what is occurring on the West Coast.

Klemm was a three-time Tremendous Bowl on some nice offensive strains. He is aware of what they’re presupposed to appear to be. That have completely issues. It helps when he performed below an exceptional coach in Dante Scarnecchia, who is called top-of-the-line offensive line coaches in NFL historical past. There have been clearly issues that Klemm possible picked up from Scarnecchia to assist him as a coach.

Lastly, simply listening to the person in his interviews, he’s spectacular. Klemm’s concepts on how one can coach the place are trendy and idealistic. That’s not all the time something, however having a leadership-like presence and extra importantly, speaking about the fitting ideas is all the time a great place to begin for a great coach.

The Unhealthy

There are issues which are dangerous with Klemm, as effectively. The strongest of that are some stats put out by UCLA throughout his tenure.

Within the last two years of his UCLA tenure, Klemm’s speeding offenses fell off a cliff. In 2016, particularly, the Bruins have been one of many second-worst speeding assaults within the NCAA, coming in at 127th general with solely 84.3 speeding yards per recreation that season. It’s actually that 2016 group that’s the worrying half. The movie was simply as dangerous because the stats point out. There have been little holes created for operating backs to run by means of. The most important problem was a scarcity of polish in hand utilization and pad degree. The lineman was persistently held up on account of poor pad degree.

On a cross safety entrance, Klemm’s items gave up a complete of 161 sacks over his 5 years with the Bruins. In his final two seasons, his unit solely allowed 14 and 24 sacks respectively. Nevertheless, within the 2012, 2013, and 2014 seasons, the Bruins allowed 52, 35, and 41 sacks. The development on the finish of his tenure is sweet to see. The query goes to be how a lot blame is positioned upon quarterback Brett Hundley throughout his 3 years in Los Angeles. The numbers drop off after Hundley departed, however Klemm by no means actually put collectively an all-around nice efficiency in cross safety and the operating recreation as offensive line coach.

Klemm was suspended for 3 months on account of recruiting violations relating to non-public coaching classes and housing with recruits. That in and of itself will not be an enormous concern, however his exit from UCLA is one that could be a bit messier. Klemm was named in a lawsuit alleging mishandling of injuries and negligence. It states that two gamers who suffered concussion signs have been singled out by Klemm. These lawsuits are nonetheless excellent, and they’re simply allegations.

Klemm additionally obtained a show-cause order from the NCAA for Stage II recruiting violations whereas at UCLA, which stemmed from him paying for personal coaching classes and housing prices for 2 Bruins prospects.

Different Issues to Know

As run recreation coordinator, Klemm oversaw an influence operating scheme with the Bruins. It utilized a number of personnel seems to be out of many various packages and movement was a key a part of that offense. It’s attainable that Matt Canada is not going to make use of heavy use of an influence operating scheme, however Klemm has expertise there and with movement. These philosophies match up. So, the rent is smart from that standpoint. Canada and Klemm are unlikely to bash heads given their comparable philosophies.

Many wished the Steelers to go exterior the group for the rent, and that’s acceptable. Nevertheless, it’s price giving Klemm an opportunity. There are some warning indicators right here on his resume, however Klemm additionally has greater than sufficient positives. Earlier than condemning the rent, give Klemm an opportunity to show himself.