Where Mike Shanahan goes, will son Kyle follow?

July 18, 5:19 PMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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Kyle Shanahan is in his second year as Texans offensive coordinator                                       (houstontexans.com)

Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan appears ready to scratch that itch next season, according to Steve Wyche of nfl.com.

During his conversation with Wyche, which aired on NFL Network, Shanahan talked about his level of readiness.

"I probably spent more time studying football the last offseason than I have the last 10 years," said Shanahan.  "I watch a lot of film and do the same thing I do during the season. I'll see if there are any opportunities out there at the end of the year that will work out for the club and myself."

Beyond the obvious question of 'where,' the next question is whether his son Kyle, who's currently the Houston Texans offensive coordinator, will want to follow him.

The elder Shanny will need an offensive coordinator, and even though Kyle may be on track to become a head coach some day - with or without his Dad - he would probably benefit from a few more years of seasoning as a coordinator.

Kyle, who turns 30 later this year, is three years younger than Raheem Morris and Josh McDaniels,

Who would be a better candidate to be Mike Shanahan's offensive coordinator?  Gary Kubiak won't be available, assuming he's still employed in Houston after the 2009 season.

Rick Dennison, who replaced Kubiak as offensive coordinator in Denver in 2006, is still with the Broncos but was demoted to offensive line coach under the new Josh McDaniels regime. 

Since Kyle is already an offensive coordinator and because his contract isn't expiring (at least I don't think it is) he would likely get an 'assistant head coach' tag if he joins his Dad in Dallas, Washington, or wherever.

How deja vu would it be if Mike Shanahan replaced Wade Phillips in Dallas fifteen years after he replaced him in Denver?

Kyle is  a talented young coach and has done a good job in Houston but the impact of him leaving the Texans next year - If it happens and assuming Kubiak is still here  - would have more to do with continuity and stability than it would the loss of a mastermind or a system.

The same basic offensive system will remain in place for the Texans as long as Kubiak is the head coach.  It would become a question of who would implement it.

The Texans have had three offensive coordinators in four seasons under Kubiak.  Troy Calhoun came first in 2006, but he left after one year for a head coaching gig at Air Force.  Then it was Mike Sherman who left after a year as coordinator for a head coaching gig at Texas A&M.  Then came Kyle who was the youngest offensive coordinator in the league last year. 

Sherman's power blocking schemes were a major influence on the Texans offense during his two year stint as offensive line coach and coordinator, but once Alex Gibbs arrived in 2008, the offense returned to what Kubiak was most familiar with during his years at Denver.

Kyle has quickly risen through the ranks.  He went from receivers coach to quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in three seasons.

Kubiak spoke about Kyle at a recent Touchdown Club luncheon in Houston, saying that he "won't be here long" and will "end up being a head coach somewhere." 

Maybe so.  But maybe not before he's an offensive coordinator / assistant head coach working for his old man for a few seasons.