Wanted: An offensive coordinator to run Pac-12 offense
by JazzyUte on Jan 9, 2012 1:08 AM MST
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PrintTomorrow will mark three weeks since Norm Chow said ciao to Utah and left for the sunny beaches of Hawaii.
Since his unofficial departure, which I guess is now official with the Sun Bowl over, there has been an uneasy silence from the coaching world on who could replace him. No one, it seems, has heard anything - especially names.
So, what does that mean? Should we read too much into this and believe it rules out Aaron Roderick, who's already on the staff and presumably ready and eager to jump into the offensive coordinator role if offered? Is the potential candidate still coaching - either at the college or professional level?
No one knows.
It should be pointed out that Norm Chow's name was tied to the Utah job on Jan. 12th of last year - of course, that was when no one expected a change in coordinators.
We're close to that date and for recruiting purposes, it's probably best to get a coach in place before signing day, which is February 1st - so, if that were to be the case, you'd think Kyle Whittingham would name a coach by mid-January.
But then, maybe Whittingham is confident with this class regardless and doesn't feel the need to name a coordinator until mid-February.
For fans' sanity, though, I hope that's not the case. But for now, unfortunately, we're left playing the waiting game.
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The waiting game, by far my least favorite game.
On a side note, out of curiosity I was checking this seasons SOS rankings and noticed that the Utes dropped significantly, which isn’t surprising considering ASU and Washington’s last few games, but I noticed that BYU was far ahead of us. How is that possible? Considering if you took the star players from a large percentage of the teams they played and made one super team you would end up with a really good high school football team.
by theredsheepofthefamily on Jan 9, 2012 1:27 AM MST reply actions
What SOS were you using?
I’m not familiar with all of ‘em, but I know Sagarin had the Utes’ SOS at 43 and BYU’s at 90th.
So, maybe it was an outlier ranking?
I don't know why, but I think maybe they have been waiting because
theres a possibility that the new offensive coordinator could be from the NFL? Perhaps, from one of the playoff teams. I don’t know just a hopeful thought.
I think the delay
Suggests both that the coach will not come from within, and will be a BCS bowl or NFL team coach. Or at least that is who the athletics department will go after; hard to say if they will get them.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 9, 2012 7:31 AM MST reply actions
The good news...
Is that there are over 70 applicants. We must remember this is a highly sought after position. The offense will never have to carry us only sustain when we struggle on D. I think this would be one of the best jobs an O-coordinator could hope for. Outstanding D (won’t have to outscore people to win) and a decent punter in high altitude (field position). While the wait is killing me and I hope its not Rodderick (not a complete disaster), it feels a little like waiting for Christmas. Its going to be good no matter what.
I wish but I'd be looking for my own HC position if I were him...
His resume is pretty legit and now with his success with Tebow I would be surprised if the donks let him go anywhere…
I can't spell....
but yes, I am serious. Explains the lack of news, doesn’t it?
Maybe.
Average NFL coordinator salary is around $350. Chow was at $275 here and $640 at UCLA. I guess it depends on what your logic is.
I think you've bought into your own wishful thinking...
To my knowledge, I’ve never heard of a successful NFL OC jumping to the college level.
…can you think of any?
It isn't my thinking
I don’t just think of random ex-Utes to mention as candidates. To answer your question, no, but I wouldn’t put McCoy as a super successful OC either. Broncos offense hasn’t exactly been lighting up the league. No more than Chow did at Tennessee.
Anyone else
Reminded of the Utes by the Broncos this season? Hays is no Tebow, obviously, but you’ve got the same million-carry-RB + athletic receivers helping out on bad throws + fantastic defense.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 9, 2012 2:55 PM MST up reply actions
I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be antagonistic, but I just don't follow your logic...
Notice I put “successful” in italics…
I figured Norm would be brought up, but he wasn’t very successful in his stint at Tennessee, which was why he was fired…and subsequently ended up at UCLA.
I would love for McCoy to come to Utah, but it just doesn’t make sense. If it’s not your thinking, I’d love to know your sources that lead you to believe that an NFL OC who isn’t in danger of losing his job would be interested in, at best, a lateral move to be a College OC.
I can only think of one reason...
McCoy wants to become a head coach at the college level.
Certainly NFL coaches have made the leap to the college game (Penn State recently hiring Bill O’Brien, the OC of the Patriots), but it’s not nearly as common as a college assistant moving up to the head spot on a college team (most college coaches were assistants on another/same college team before getting the job).
McCoy might feel his future is there. Certainly he could be jockeying for a job as a head coach in the NFL, which I would expect most coaches to take over a college job, but who knows, maybe he feels, if he can’t land a head job right now, it’s best to jump back down to the college game as an OC, coach for a few years, and pivot to head man of his own college program.
Just a thought. Not suggesting I think that’s what he would want to do, or would even think of doing, just that it’s an explainable reason.
Also...
Falcons dc just took same position at Auburn. One day after Falcons exited the playoffs. So its not illogical, or unprecedented.
by notblue19 on Jan 9, 2012 3:56 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
SEC pays better
And has pro players, especially at Auburn.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
"I'm not upset about the U allegations," tweeted Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, who pitched at Miami. "I'm mad we didn't win anything while we were cheating."
He may also just want it
Maybe he doesn’t like the professional environment, wants to see people who are playing for pure love of the game rather than money. Maybe he doesn’t want to live in any NFL cities and loves Salt Lake.
There are a lot of reasons why a coach might want to leave the NFL for college; status isn’t the only factor in the equation for many people. If he’s rumored as a possible candidate for the job, it’s probably because he’s interested.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Jan 10, 2012 1:43 PM MST up reply actions
My only logic is connected people tell me he is a candidate
I just want you to admit that it makes a little sense that we would be going after an NFL coach which is why we have heard absolutely zero so far.
I am not doubting that we might have contacted him...
…I am doubting the probability of him being the reason we haven’t heard anything. As pointed out by others, Penn St. hired the NE Patriots OC while they’re still in the playoffs.
My reasoning for why we haven’t heard anything is below in another post.
Not really
College teams don’t need to wait till a playoff team is done to talk to their assistants.
If he was a legit candidate, we’d have heard something by now.
Doesn't mean he is willing to talk right now.
He may be a little busy.
Hope never hurt anyone...
I’m still beatin’ the Mike Martz drum, err circle…
by Oo.ReAL.oO on Jan 9, 2012 1:17 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Am I the only one
Who questions Kyle’s ability to appraise offensive brilliance and bring in the right guy for the job? Kyle has lived and breathed defense since the day he was born; I’m not sure how much time he’s spent thinking about the offense. The Chow hire was a no-brainer. He handed Chow the reins and gave him complete autonomy, which I think is what he prefers to do. Is there another no-brainer out there? If not, I don’t have a lot of confidence he can find a long-term solution at OC. We’ve had a revolving door at that position, which makes it hard for an offense to thrive. I’m nervous about this hire – similar to how I’ve felt about Chris Hill hiring a basketball coach.
Not ready to question Kyle yet...
…but I think the bigger issue is that he has to make a decision between either:
1. Keeping the current system installed by promoting Roderick, which might affect recruiting adversely.
2. Bringing in an outside “name”, who will keep our recruiting curve on the upswing…but he would likely install his own system, which may or may not be similar to Chow’s, and will require a learning curve…and we’d almost guarantee the loss Roderick.
…so it’s not that easy of a decision.
How big is the name we could bring in from outside…and what is the $ cost involved (remember, we got Chow on a discount, thanks to UCLA).
Did Roderick learn enough under one year of Chow to be ready to take the helm again without it turning into the ’09 debacle? Is Roderick really OC material?
…and a question for both…
‘12 is going to be a “peak” year, so we can’t afford a learning curve. We need to hit the ground running, because this is our chance to finish with a 10+ win season and a top 15 ranking.
-
I’m not sure what the right decision is here…but I’m sure Kyle is weighing every possible option, which is why this is a waiting game for us. He really can’t afford to make a mistake with this much talent returning & our team poised to get to the next level.
McCoy
Hopefully they are waiting for Denver to lose and bring back Mike McCoy
I don't think they have to wait
Penn St. hire O’Brien while his team is still in the playoffs.
by Slapaho Tribe on Jan 9, 2012 3:45 PM MST up reply actions
Mike Sanford?
As weird an idea as it sounds, lets not forget the O-coordinator of most dominant Utah offense of all time, 2004. Sure, the credit all went to Urban, and sure, the UNLV years taint Sanford’s reputation… And sure, it’ll never happen because Kyle prefers the pro-style to the spread.
Is that an absolute known fact
Just curious -
yojimbo is jazzed
2011-2012 is our 2012-2013 pre-season
by jazzed on Jan 9, 2012 10:59 PM MST via Android app up reply actions
Pretty much
It was no secret throughout, I think with Kyle getting the HC job at Utah and smoking him at UNLV it hardly got better.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
"I'm not upset about the U allegations," tweeted Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, who pitched at Miami. "I'm mad we didn't win anything while we were cheating."
Sanford has visited Utah practices a couple of times in the past few months
So they can’t completely hate each other.
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
Repect each other probably,
Both of these men are adults and have no ax to grind with each other (helps they are on opposite sides of the ball).
Might even have enough regard to hire the other in the right circumstance. But I ain’t holding my breath.
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. Especially BYU. - Conan the Barbarian (ok, maybe he didn't say the BYU part)
Please no..we can do better..no other names yet
by kodiek on Jan 13, 2012 12:19 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
We are all waiting...
This is my first post, I have been reading on here for a while and have really enjoyed the site and have turned into one of those guys who checks it every day so I am going to dive in and post.
After a great weekend of NFL football and Alex Smith I am so pumped for football I think if I don’t hear anything on the OC for the Utes my head is going to explode!
With all the applicants why is it we only hear about Crowton? Is it because he is a local? Has Witt given anyone else the time of a face to face and we have not heard about it?
Like many here I thought of Sanford but after reading here I see it wont happen…But who knows.
I have a question for the other fans on here…What is your take on Wynn? Really do we want to call him the starter this far out? What if he drops his books on the way to class and hurts his shoulder again???
Kyle help us we are hanging on a thread here!!!!
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