Utah close to announcing new offensive coordinator
by JazzyUte on Jan 30, 2012 12:03 AM MST
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PrintFinally, after over a month of speculation, it appears we're close to the end of the wait.
The Utes are expected to announce the hiring of a new offensive coordinator this week and a decision might even come down in the next 24 or 48 hours.
Since Norm Chow left in December to take the Hawaii job, the search has yielded little names. In fact, only one name has definitively been linked to the position - Gary Crowton. However, nothing came of his interview and the lack of names and the expected leaks when an announcement is close, you've got to suspect that, in the end, the hire will come from within - which seems even more likely when you realize the announcement will be made through a press release.
But that's just speculation on my part. We heard last week from Ted Miller that the hire could potentially come from the NFL and that's still a possibility. Either way, because of the lack of names thrown around, even if just in passing, I'm starting to believe it will be Aaron Roderick.
We'll see, though.
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Aaron Roderick as Offensive Coordinator
Holy Christ, we’re going to rely on a guy who got absolutely bitch slapped by the only 3 good defenses he faced in 2010? Roderick calling plays to Jon Hays….wonderful.
by The Moose's Whistle on Jan 30, 2012 12:27 AM MST reply actions
It's either Roderick or Crowton
Any other reason and they would have announced or leaked by now to help recruiting. Since he is sure he is announcing this week, I’d say it’s already decided and since they don’t want to say, it’s something that would potentially negatively affect recruiting (but maybe not hurt the team in reality). So, this means Roderick (no need to announce early) or Crowton (and potentially turn away some solid Ute fan comments and/or local kids who hate Crowton).
I seriously can’t think of any other reason they wouldn’t have talked about it more and help sway some 4-star recruits they are going after at the last second. They certainly dropped Chow’s name like crazy last year to help recruiting.
It's not Crowton.
He was hired today by a CFL team (the Winnipeg Blue Bombers). So it’s Roderick or an unknown.
And I’m glad. Crowton would have been a disaster from a PR standpoint, and I hate bad PR.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jan 30, 2012 11:54 AM MST up reply actions
Thank you, thank you, thank you
EOM
yojimbo is jazzed
2011-2012 is our 2012-2013 pre-season
by jazzed on Feb 1, 2012 12:08 AM MST via Android app up reply actions
Any chance we could land Hue Jackson?
I was a lot younger and not into college sports at the time, but it seems he had a pretty successful run as various position coaches and offensive coordinators in the then-PAC-10 (ASU, Cal, USC).
Recently, with the Raiders, he actually ran a lot of the same plays we did last year; lots of running, short throws, fakes, end-arounds, etc.
He hasn’t been in college football for a decade, so it seems like a real longshot in that regard, but Hue is a guy I’d be very excited to see on our sideline.
His name was floated around last week...
I just don’t think it’s a likely option. But who knows how likely anything was with this process because it was so secretive that we really don’t know what type of guy Whitt was looking for while making the hire.
It just seems pointless to me to invest all this energy and speculation into a hire and then stay in house with it.
We’ll see, though.
ok, ok,
i confess………..i am the new offensive coordinator. i always do good at madden, so calling plays will be easy! :)
I would find it odd if its A-Rod. It just makes Whitt look bad when he made that earlier comment about the names who had applied for the job.
If you like my comments, please visit my blog @ nationofsportsdomination.blogspot.com
by BigBenSportsGuy on Jan 30, 2012 8:39 AM MST reply actions
Your problem is...
You live by madden… I’m awesome at NCAA, and a I can recruit like a son of a b1tch…
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Jan 30, 2012 10:40 AM MST up reply actions
I can get every school attribute to increase over time...
except the one that says SLC is a fun place to live. Some recruits just want a party scene and NCAA Foosball gives the UofU an indefinite C+.
One common reason
For the delay that’s been bandied around is that it’s someone who is currently working as a coach. That makes sense to me, and it narrows down the options to coaches of the NY Giants and the NE Patriots. It also jives with the rumors of it being an NFL hire.
I didn’t consider offensive coordinators, head coaches, or lifer NFL guys. I did find some prospects in their coaching ranks who might be the hire.
The Giants have a very interesting candidate. Kevin Gilbride, Jr. is the son of the current OC there. He’s coached at Temple and Georgtown as well as with the Giants. The part that got me interested is this one line: “following his transfer from Brigham Young”. That means he’s probably LDS and may have significant connections to the state.
On the Patriots side, there’s George Godsey. He spent seven years at UCF before he moved to the Patriots. There’s also Josh McDaniels, but that seems like a long shot to me.
After what little I’ve heard and this research… I would be willing to put some money down on Gilbride Jr.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 30, 2012 9:00 AM MST reply actions
If it was someone from NY or NE, why would Whit say he would announce this week? The superbowl isn’t until Sunday which would mean he would have to wait until next week to announce.
It could be someone from another playoff team that has lost already. They couldn’t interview them until last week at the earliest or perhaps have an interview scheduled in the next few days. Perhaps someone from the 49ers or Ravens. Or even the week before with Packers, Steelers, etc.
College doesn't need to wait to announce pro hires.
College teams can talk to and hire pro coaches even while they are still playing (see New Penn State Coach).
However one reason why the timing might be significant, is it’s hard to talk to a coach when they have games every week. However this past weekend was a dead weekend for NY and NE, meaning they may have been available to talk.
I would love that hire!
I am now really hoping to hear Kevin Gilbride Jr. That would almost make me feel okay with the with the month it took. Almost.
by notblue19 on Jan 30, 2012 10:40 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
"Meh" doesn't even begin to describe
how unexciting an announcement of Aaron Roderick would be. Especially after this prolonged search and how Whit went out his way to raise expectations of the quality and quantity of applicants.
Looks like we dodged one bullet!
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
If he was getting hired
He’d be hired already. So would Roderick. It’ll be someone outside. Gilbride Jr., I’m tellin’ you!
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 30, 2012 10:51 AM MST up reply actions
I'm just anxious to find out!
Between our DIII basketball team, the Jazz skid and the ’500 still a month away, this has been the most exciting sporting news for the past week!
The Intimidator
It's definitely not for everyone...
But it’s a great environment that I think everyone should at least give a chance once in their life.
I went back in ’04 when Junior won and had a hell of a time. The noise, the excitement, the food, the weather, the people… it was a great getaway in, like you said, an otherwise dead month.
Now that I’m at the U, it’s a little farfetched to fly to Florida for a day during the middle of the semester, but Vegas is a real possibility with it being right in the middle of Spring Break!
The Intimidator
relief
I kept telling myself that, but still kept waking up in cold sweats.
by Ute in the Lou on Jan 30, 2012 12:54 PM MST via iPhone app up reply actions
So
You mention Gilbride Jr. as a candidate simply because you think he would make a good OC, and now all the sudden he’s the frontrunner for the job?
Excuse me if I don’t jump aboard just yet. I require a wee bit more proof that he’s even interested or that he’s on Whitt’s radar in the first place.
I don't read the script. The script reads me.
If you are only interested in pure fact....
Then it is not Crowton, and no one has any proof on anybody except for that. So speculating on names is all anyone has until then. It’s a blog, speculate away!
by notblue19 on Jan 30, 2012 9:34 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
If you are only interested in pure fact....
Then it is not Crowton, and no one has any proof on anybody except for that. So speculating on names is all anyone has until then. It’s a blog, speculate away!
by notblue19 on Jan 30, 2012 9:34 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think one way or the other
About if he’s a good hire. He just stuck out as an NFL coach for whom the timing would fit, and who appeared to have some amount of ties to Utah.
I don’t know anything about him, but I’d be eager to see what he could do!
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 30, 2012 10:10 PM MST up reply actions
It's Ver Steeg
I would say that based on Ted Miller’s comments about his gut saying it’s an NFL guy. The delay coinciding with Baltimore’s playoff departure, Baltimore hiring Jim Caldwell today to the same role that Ver Steeg performed for them, a previous Whitingham connections, and the seemingly increasing evidence validating the rumors that Whit has almost no networking abilities/desire, which is why he always goes to former BYU, or people he has coached/played with, all signs point to Ver Steeg
Agreed...
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Jan 30, 2012 1:17 PM MST up reply actions
Seems like another likely possibility
And the timing does make sense. He has a very impressive resume, I’d be interested to see what he can do.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 30, 2012 2:29 PM MST up reply actions
After reading this id like to see him back… http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Coaches/Craig_Ver_Steeg.aspx
by kodiek on Jan 30, 2012 3:12 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
Personally, I'm not sold
Jazzy did a good breakdown last week that showed that his credentials as an OC really aren’t that good. Really all I got from that read is that he’s good with QB’s. (Scott Mitchell, Kurt Kittner, and recruited Alex Smith).
Nothing I’ve seen in his duties as OC actually impress me all that much. Honestly, not sure I will be all that thrilled when he’s announced as OC.
Since he was serving as a part-time QB coach in Baltimore, maybe he’s not being hired as the OC, but instead he’s being hired as the QB coach, to replace our existing QB coach who’s being promoted to OC.
worst case scenario
Worst case scenario is that Arod and BJ are named co-coordinators. That would be KW taking a complete pass on hiring anyone.
It better not be ANYONE from within
Utah is a BCS-league FBS program on the rise.
Hiring an inept like Roderick (or any other unqualified candidate currently on Utah’s staff) would be an extremely poor move on Whitt’s part.
This program needs to grow, and that doesn’t happen by promoting MWC-caliber OCs from within who have already been demoted from the position in the past.
As a BCS-caliber team, Utah should easily be able to attract a well qualified OC.
Thus, if it is Roderick (or anyone from within) I’m going to be pissed. And this will be the latest thing flung into the “things I hate about Kyle Whittingham” file… along with “often gutless conservative playcalling”and “sticking with Jon Hays in 2011.”
I don't read the script. The script reads me.
Ya switching
to Hays’ backup would a been the smart thing to do….. what a clown.
Who else?
Did we have another option besides Hays in 2011? I do think not having a suitable backup was the issue, not that sticking with the one we had.
by Ute_in_Austin on Jan 31, 2012 5:05 AM MST up reply actions
It's nice to see an opinion that differers from that of the head coach...
Whit said that Hays gave us the best chance to win…
Who did you see in practices that was better than him?
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Jan 31, 2012 11:05 AM MST up reply actions
The fact that there was absolutely no talent
behind our gimpy starter is what goes into Kyle’s file. On the whole it was embarrassing and the 1 single reason why we didn’t win the South. Kyle has yet to recruit and develop (I believe BJohnson was Urban’s recruit) a top shelf quarterback in his time as HC. If we are going to be a force in the PAC-12, this will have to improve a ton.
Recruit No, Develop Yes
Johnson may have been an Urban commit, but Urban doesn’t get credit for developing him. That was Whit and his staff.
I agree with...
The sentiment about not having a competent back-up. That certainly goes into his file. However, I do take issue with the “sticking with Hays in 2011.” Regardless of our frustrations of not having anybody behind Wynn, it doesn’t change the fact that that’s all we had for the season… He gave us the best chance to win. The coaches believed that. Who are we to second guess?
"Go afield with a good attitude, Walk with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and for the forests and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."
- Fred Bear -
by BetterasIgetolder on Jan 31, 2012 1:10 PM MST up reply actions
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