http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=874758

I found the article very insightful and directly on point to the question you raised above. The article was written by a reporter that was allowed into the box with Andy Lugwig and the other coaches. It goes through the TCU game play by play as Lugwig called it.

You won’t hear me saying that he is the best in the business or that he makes all the right calls, but he does get the job done most of the time.

As for the TCU game, I did not agree with all of his play calling, but he did ultimately make enough good calls to get the victory. I am not sure what the source is for the radio stations saying that Brian Johnson made all the calls in the 2 minute drill, but the link that OC-Ute referenced above seems to refute that.

Also, just because a play does not work immediately, does not mean that it has not done its job. Sometimes a play that nets no gain – like a deep pass – still does its job because it keeps the defense honest. They still have to guard the receivers and be on the lookout for a trick play. Sometimes a reverse play called in the first half that does not get any yards, is setting up a big run in the second half by discouraging the defense from over-committing.

Finally, most fans of college football seem to hate their own Offensive Coordinator. I have yet to figure out why this is, but it seems to be pretty universal. ybU fans hated Norm Chow when he was there and right now he is considered one of the best OCs in the business. They don’t like Robert Anae now even though they have had a pretty good offense under him. If you read message boards of just about any team, you’ll find someone complaining about their OC.

Anyway, I hope you think that was the start of an intelligent discussion and don’t think I was flaming you.

After Clemson and Tennessee take a quality mid-major coach, Ludwig’s resume at Utah may be good enough to get him a promotion elsewhere. This would save us the trouble of removing him.

When a defensive minded head coach is taking about changes that need to be made on offense, say increasing the tempo a bit through out the game, the OC is not getting the job done.

Signs are on the wall that his relations with Whittingham are strained and he might choose to look elsewhere and avoid the inevitable.

Hawkman

After reading your post, I would have to agree and even say that your thoughts mirror my own beliefs about Andy. I do think, that he is a good OC but is very predictable. I find myself able to call his plays about 60% of the time. If I am able to call his play ahead of time, then I can only imagine what the DC is thinking of the other team.

It is hard to knock success over the last two years but, I do think he needs to change the pace of the game and get away from his predictable play calling. I have often wondered if he has a set of 10 plays that he is going to run on the first drive no matter what.

GO UTES!!!

There was an article just before or early in the season that stated Ludwig was the ONLY Ute coach not to receive a raise. I think the comment was the Whit could justify a raise after his performance last year.

Also recall the Navy game where coming out after half time Whit on TV stated that “he had a chat with the OC” and the second half the Utes opened it up – a little. I emphasis at time it looks like the play calling is more about “Playing not to loose rather than Playing to win.”

Again I have come to accept the just enough is good enough but man what a waste of talent.

We have a decent but not great offense, but then, we have a decent but not amazing quarterback. I love Johnson, he’s a nice guy, but he has never fulfilled the potential he exhibited as a freshman. In the OSU game so many plays took too much time to develop—that’s a coaching issue. Johnson held the ball too long too often, some times missing open receivers. That’s a QB issue.

Here’s their redeeming feature though: they are both simply amazing under pressure, how do you top that?

Credit where credit is due: they have won 10 games. But our defense would be in the top 5 if that O moved the ball a tad more.

Is our line the issue? I doubt it, our line manhandled TCU’s best lineman.

Bob