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A User's Guide to Realistic Offensive Coordinator Options 1/18

Posted on 12/1/10 at 4:16 pm
Posted by OBUDan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
40723 posts
Posted on 12/1/10 at 4:16 pm
I'll try to expand this as the (hopeful) search continues. But here's a list of some guys that are reasonable to expect, as well as links to essential reading and highlights with a brief summary of their positives and negatives. List in no particular order.

Personally, I don't think the following are realistic candidates: Mike Leach.

1) Justin Fuente



Fuente is the CO-OC for TCU and has produced some impressive attacks his past two seasons since being promoted. He's a young guy likely looking to grow his career and was a candidate for the Clemson OC vacancy until Chad Morris was hired. TCU ranked 10th in rushing and 53rd in passing this year, while putting up an impressive 41.64 points per game. He's given much credit for the development of Andy Dalton and previously coached QBs while doubling as OC at Illinois State university. As OC he commanded an offense ranked in the top 10 in 2005 and 2006. Offense would be described as a "power spread" which seems to fit Miles' tastes very well.

Positives
-Young, hungry coach with something to prove
-Rising star in the coaching industry
-Has coached RBs and QBs and runs a balanced attack

Negatives
-Perhaps lack of heavy competition... but his offenses have produced at every stop thus far.

2) Steve Kragthorpe


Kragthorpe is given loads of credit for resurrecting Drew Bledsoe's career (who had a career year under his tutelage in 2002). He ran some pretty good offenses at Texas A&M from 1998-2000, but I don't have statistics to verify. He became a hot coaching commodity after jumpstarting the Tulsa program from 2 wins to 8 in just one year. But he's most recognized now for the downfall of Louisville.

Positives
-Has pioneered some good offenses
-Good reputation with quarterbacks
-NFL experience
-Head coaching star probably burned out, at least for a while

Negatives
-Whatever the hell happened at Louisville (it should be noted that some guys just aren't cut out to be head coaches)

Reading
Piece one about Kragthorpe's Offense

Piece 2 about Kragthorpe's Offense

(Read both the pieces, by the same guy. Writer is an offensive football enthusiast and very well read on the subject. His blog is popular and well respected. In short, he knows his shite.)

3) Steve Logan, RB Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Logan's best credential by far are the three solid NFL quarterback pupils he produced: Jeff Blake, David Garrard and Matt Ryan. Logan is highly thought of as a QB coach. His offense is a spread passing system and he has a reputation of being a risk taker. He burned some bridges at East Carolina that eventually resulted in his firing. Similar story at Boston College. He seems to have a clashing personality (he's very outspoken), but he did work with Miles at Colorado way back when.

Positives
-Outstanding QB coach and developer
-Has produced great offenses with inferior talent
-Familiar with Miles at least somewhat
-Probably not looking to get back into the head coaching game.

Negatives
-May be looking to settle down in the NFL
-System is historically more pass oriented
-May be difficult to get along with
This post was edited on 1/18/11 at 8:53 am
Posted by OBUDan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
40723 posts
Posted on 12/1/10 at 4:16 pm to
4) Paul Chryst, OC, Wisconsin

Chryst is another rising star in the industry and produced a daunted three headed rushing attack at Wisconsin this season. He doubles as the QB coach and has produced impressive results from guys that aren't exactly household talents. He's hopped around a bit in his career, but he is a Wisconsin alum, which may make him a tough pull. He was rumored to be taking the Texas OC vacancy, but they wound up hiring Bryan Harsin from Boise State. Would he leave the Badgers for a similar type of OC position?

Positives
-QB coach with proven results
-Power rushing/Pro style system

Negatives
-May not leave Wisconsin

5) Lincoln Riley, OC, East Carolina



Riley is a Mike Leach pupil who took over the reigns of Texas Tech's offense late last season and now assumes the same duties at East Carolina. He's a 2006 college grad and a young guy looking to move up in the coaching world. His offense ranked 23rd in Total Yards and 13th in scoring this season. However, much like his mentor, he's highly pass happy.

Positives
-Young, up and coming coach who still needs several years before he moves into a head gig.
-Learned under Leach and implemented the system successfully at ECU.
-Youth likely gives him an added advantage as a recruiter.
-Would come on the cheap

Negatives
-Offensive system may clash with Miles
-Still inexperienced

Highlights

2010 ECU offense

6) Kurt Roper, OC, Duke




Roper has been a longtime cohort of David Cutcliffe, and that's a not a bad thing at all. He's worked under at least two very successful offensive coaches/minds in Cutcliffe and Rich Brooks. Was Arian Foster's RB coach at Tennessee and Eli Manning's QB coach at Ole Miss. Has SEC experience, but may be some question marks about whether it's he or Cutcliffe that really power the offense.

Positives
-SEC experience
-Worked with coaches and coached up talented players
-Good QB track record

Negatives
-Would he leave Cutcliffe?
-Is he simply a benefactor of working with Cutcliffe?

7) Todd Monken, WR Coach, Jacksonville Jaguars

Monken is most recognized by LSU fans for his tenure as WR coach from 2005-2006. He's never been an offensive coordinator, but is likely looking to move upwardly in his career, making the leap to the NFL to gain more experience. Like Billy Gonzales now, he was passing game coordinator during his tenure. Strongest rationale here is his direct connection to Miles, who he worked with at both Oklahoma State and LSU.



Positives
-Relationship with Miles
-Proven experience with developing WRs

Negatives
-No experience as a coordinator or play caller
-May be interested in sticking it out in the NFL

8) Billy Gonzales, WR, LSU



There was tons of speculation last year when Gonzales was brought on board to be the new WR coach and given the title of "Passing Game Coordinator." In all likelihood that title had more to do with pay bump than posturing. Billy is an up and coming coach and a fantastic recruiter. He's never been an OC, but apparently was allowed to call some red zone plays for the Florida offense in 2009. Many thought he was being brought in to eventually replace Crowton, but now he may have just wanted out of the mess at Florida.

Positives
-Up and coming coach who worked under good tutors
-Would be familiar with our personnel

Negatives
-Little to no experience as OC or playcaller

9) Craig Ver Steeg, Offensive Assistant, Baltimore Ravens



Ver Steeg is a new name brought to my attention in this thread, but it's a name I really like as I read. Currently works under Cam Cameron, who is both a well-respected NFL coordinator AND a close cohort of Miles. Coached QBs Mike Teel, Scott Mitchell and Kurt Kittner. Was OC at Rutgers during Ray Rice's career. Has a history of improving offenses and producing balanced attacks.

Positives
-Proven and experienced
-Works under a known Miles associate

Negatives
-Does he want to stay in the NFL?
-West Coast origins... he may not want to go back to college unless it's for an a West Coast gig


More to come as time is available and suggestions are made...
This post was edited on 1/12/11 at 9:32 am
Posted by togar tiger
Member since Jan 2008
705 posts
Posted on 12/1/10 at 4:18 pm to
Do you see Logan as realistic?
Posted by Suntiger
BR or somewhere else
Member since Feb 2007
32993 posts
Posted on 12/1/10 at 4:57 pm to
quote:

Steve Kragthorpe


I actually think that would be a pretty good hire.
Posted by bigolecatfish
God's Country
Member since Jan 2007
1314 posts
Posted on 12/2/10 at 9:16 am to
After reading the user's guide, my top 5 are.....

1. Mike Leach
2. Mike Leach
3. David Lee
4. Lincoln Riley
5. Bryan Harsin
Posted by POTROAST
LSU fan In Portland
Member since Oct 2009
340 posts
Posted on 12/2/10 at 9:29 am to
Good list. Here are a few more names I like. My top 2 choices are Logan and Monken.

1) Steve Logan (good QB coach, rumors were going around that he was the front-runner if he replaced Crowton last year)

2) Todd Monken (IMO, the best position coach LSU has had in a long time. Miles trusts him. Was heavily involved in all of Miles successful offenses in the past. Was heavily, heavily involved in the success of the offense at the end of the 2006 season, he was basically running the offense. Miles should have promoted him instead of hiring Crowton.)

3) Mark Whipple (now available, good friends with Ruffin Rodrigue)

4) Steve Kragthorpe

5) Greg Knapp (Texans QB coach, has history of being an OC)
LINK

6) Dirk Koetter (Jaguars OC. With the whole staff possible out, maybe back to college)
LINK

7) Clint Conque (HC at UCA, local guy doing good)
LINK

8) Rob Chudzinski (Chargers TE/ASST HC)
LINK
Posted by Suntiger
BR or somewhere else
Member since Feb 2007
32993 posts
Posted on 12/2/10 at 10:12 am to
Hey Dan, here is a similar thread I did last year if it helps with any suggestions or info.

Posted by Feed Me Popeyes
Baltimore, MD
Member since Apr 2008
2104 posts
Posted on 12/3/10 at 4:58 am to
great thread. deserves a sticky
Posted by OBUDan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
40723 posts
Posted on 12/3/10 at 3:25 pm to
bump for update
Posted by OBUDan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
40723 posts
Posted on 12/7/10 at 3:41 pm to
bump to add Frank Cignetti
Posted by BilJ
Member since Sep 2003
158781 posts
Posted on 1/11/11 at 12:41 pm to
let the search begin
Posted by BayouBengals03
lsu14always
Member since Nov 2007
99999 posts
Posted on 1/11/11 at 12:58 pm to
quote:

Steve Logan, RB Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

yes please
Posted by OBUDan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
40723 posts
Posted on 1/12/11 at 9:05 am to
Let's get this rolling again.

BUMP to update removing hired candidates.
Posted by Air raid86
Louisiana
Member since Dec 2010
23 posts
Posted on 1/12/11 at 5:01 pm to
I'd love to see Justin Fuente as the OC. They've got a similar system to the Air Raid Offense. I met some players from TCU recently and they told me there system is allot like the Air Raid. He seems to be an upcoming talented OC.
Posted by Statestreet
Gueydan
Member since Sep 2008
12961 posts
Posted on 1/12/11 at 5:27 pm to
My vote is Fuente
Posted by willeaux
Member since Jan 2006
2927 posts
Posted on 1/13/11 at 1:55 pm to
quote:

OBUDan


Did you see geauxaddai's thread before it got whacked?
Posted by hawkway
Member since Oct 2008
571 posts
Posted on 1/13/11 at 2:46 pm to
Is it typcial for the OC hiring process to go quickly or does this typically take some time. I've got to think they have been thinking about candidates before this week.

Posted by Pedro
Geaux Hawks
Member since Jul 2008
33725 posts
Posted on 1/13/11 at 9:03 pm to
Jon Gruden or bust
Posted by Smoke Green
Tianjin, Peoples Republic of China
Member since Apr 2005
4342 posts
Posted on 1/14/11 at 9:21 am to
any thoughts on Kenny Edenfield, Troy's OC? just curious, 'cause Guilbeau had him listed this morning in an article (along w/the usual suspects).

this was his first yr. at Troy (as an OC) he's 45, his offense finished no. 7 in total offense (453 yds./game).

11th in passing offense (297 yds), 29th in scoring (34 pts).
This post was edited on 1/14/11 at 9:37 am
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