Report: Chip Lindsey strongly in the mix for Tennessee’s offensive coordinator job; Hugh Freeze still ‘possible’

We’re entering day three of Tennessee’s search for an offensive coordinator. Not too much has been narrowed dow to this point, but according to John Brice, Auburn’s Chip Lindsey remains a strong possibility.

Brice also kept the door open on Hugh Freeze, saying the former Ole Miss head coach remains a possibility. For what it’s worth, Bruce Feldman said on Monday that Freeze was not in play for Tennessee.

Lindsey is a name that has been mentioned from the start of this search. With the unstable situation that’s developing at Auburn, it would surprise no one if Lindsey opted to bolt for a new job.

The obvious question with Lindsey is simply explaining his results on the field this year. The Tigers took a big step back offensively during what was supposed to be a season where they challenged for the College Football Playoff. Jarrett Stidham was downright bad in stretches and Auburn’s offensive line was an issue all year. He’d be walking into some of the same issues he faced on the Plains this year.

Lindsey is cut from the same cloth as Jeremy Pruitt, getting his start in the Alabama high school coaching ranks. Just five years later, he was named the offensive coordinator at Auburn.

Lindsey ran the air raid in the high school ranks, which isn’t exactly what Auburn runs today. It’s clear that Gus Malzahn, an accomplished offensive mind himself, has had plenty of input. How would Lindsey operate without Gus around? Would Pruitt give him the freedom to run his stuff?

We don’t know. But it’s probably unfair to judge Lindsey at Auburn without placing some of the blame on Malzahn as well.

Keep up with our running offensive coordinator hot board here.