After a quiet start to their offensive coordinator search, the San Francisco 49ers pulled off an interview doubleheader Friday.

Colts receivers coach Clyde Christensen met with team officials in the morning and former Rams coach Scott Linehan was in by the afternoon.

A third candidate, Rob Chudzinski, will interview this weekend, according to the NFL Network. Chudzinski is the outgoing coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.

Christensen, 52, got the first chance to make an impression, interviewing with General Manager Scot McCloughan and Coach Mike Singletary at the 49ers' facility in Santa Clara.

Because Singletary has repeatedly stressed his desire to become a smash-mouth running team, Christensen's candidacy registered as a surprise. He spent the past seven seasons coaching Indianapolis receivers such as Marvin Harrison in the Colts' pass-oriented attack.

Christensen spent one year as an offensive coordinator, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. That team finished 26th in the NFL in total offense and just 30th in rushing offense.

On the other hand, Christensen's offense in Tampa Bay made efficient use of smash-mouth fullback Mike Alstott, who bludgeoned his way to a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns. Overall, the Buccaneers finished second in the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns that season.

A former All-America quarterback at Fresno City College, Christensen began his coaching career at the University of Mississippi in 1979. He went on to become the offensive coordinator at East Carolina and the co-offensive coordinator at Clemson.

Since 2002, he has tutored Colts receivers. His pupils include Reggie Wayne, who became just the third player in NFL history to increase his receptions total in each of his first seven seasons.

Linehan, meanwhile, offers a history of run-oriented offenses. In 2002, his first year as an offensive coordinator, the Vikings led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and rushing average.

After three seasons in Minnesota, Linehan took over as offensive coordinator in Miami. The Dolphins' running game improved from 31st to 12th in the NFL over just one season.

As a quarterback at the University of Idaho, Linehan played for Dennis Erickson, who went on to become the 49ers' head coach. Linehan became a head coach when he was hired by the Rams in 2006.

During his first season in St. Louis, running back Steven Jackson had 346 rushing attempts — the most by a Rams back since Eric Dickerson in 1986. Linehan went on to go 11-25 as a head coach and was fired last season after an 0-4 start.

Chudzinski might be the next on the 49ers' list. Known as "Chud," he spent the past two seasons calling plays for Cleveland. The Browns finished eighth in the NFL in offense in 2007, but injuries to quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn sank them in '08. They finished next to last in the NFL in total offense.