My 2015 offseason thread

[russ1945]

I have been expanding my spreadsheet going into the 2015 season. Something stuck me as strange so I will throw it out there. Every year Steele gives new power ratings to each team as they enter the new season. I compared every team's power ratings from 2014 to their new ones for 2015. Only 3 teams have ratings higher than last season's. They are Georgia So +11.67, U Mass +3.74 and TCU +2.07. That really makes me scratch my head. What do you think.

Here are a few teams whose rating dropped noticeably: S. Carolina -29.74, UCLA -24.35, Oklahoma -29.09.

 

[russ1945]

Here is a list of first year HC’s and of OC’s and DC’s who are in their first year at their present school at those positions:

(ACC) Clemson – Co-OC’s – Jeff Scott and Tony Elliott, B College – OC – Todd Fitch, Syracuse OC Tim Lester, Pitt – HC Pat Narduzzi/OC – Jim Chaney/DC John Conklin

(Big 12) Oklahoma – OC Lincoln Riley, TCU CO-DC’s – Demonti Cross & Chad Glagow, OC Kendall Briles, Texas Tech – DC David Gibbs, Kansas – HC David Beaty/OC – Rob Likes/ DC Clint Bowen

(AAC) – U.C.F. – OC Brent Key/DC Chuck Bresnahan, E. Carolina – OC Dave Nichol, Memphis – CO_OC Brad Cornelson, Tulane – DC Jason Rollins, Cincinnati – CO-DC Steve Clinkdale, U.S.F. – OC – Danny Hope & David Reaves (Taggert call plays)/DC Tom Allen, oonnecticut – OC – Frank Verducci, S,M.U – HC Chad Morris/ OC Joe Craddock/ DC Van Malone, Tulsa – HC Phil Montgomery/ CO-OC’s Sterling Gilbert & Matt Mattox/ DC Bill Young, Houston – HC Tom Herman/ OC Major Applewhite/CO-DC’s Craig Naviar & Jason Washington

(Big 10) - Michigan ST – CO-DC’s Harlan Barnett & Mike Tressel, Maryland – DC Keith Dunzinki, Illinoid – CO-DC Mike Phair, Ohio St – CO-OC Tim Beck, Rutgers – OC Ben McDaniels, Nebraska – HC Mike Riley/ OC Danny Langsdorg/ DC Mark Banker, Michigan – HC Jim Harbaugh/OC Tim Drevno/ DC DJ Durkin, Wisconsin – HC Paul Chryst/ OC Joe Rudolph

(CUSA) – N. Texas – DC Chris Cosh, F.I.U. – DC Matt House, La Tech – DC Blake Baker

(Independents) – N Dame – OC Mike Sanford

(MAC) – Kent St – OC Don Treadwell, B Green – CO-OC’s Mike Lynch & Sean Lewis/DC Brian Ward, Buffalo – HC Lance Leipod/ OC Andy Koleinicki/ DC Brian Borland, C Michigan – HC John Bonemego/DC Greg Colby

(Mountain West) – Hawaii – DC Tom Mason, Utah St – OC Josh Heupel/ DC Kevin Clune, Boise St – OC Eleah Drinkwitz, Colorado St – HC Mike Bobo/ OC Barney Cotton/ DC Kent Baer

(Pac 12) – Utah – CO-OC’s Aaron Riderick & Jim Harding/ DC John Pease, Washington St – DC Allen Grinch, U.C.L.A. – DC Tom Bradley, Colorado – DC Jim Leavitt, Oregon St – HC Gary Anderson/OC Doug Baldwin/ DC Kalani Sitake

(S.E.C.) – Georgia – OC Brian Schottenheimer, Missouri – OC Barry Odom, L.S.U - DC Kevin Steele, Miss St – DC Manny Diaz, Texas A&M – DC John Chavis, Arkansas – OC Dan Enos, Auburn – DC Will Muschamp, Tennessee – OC Mike Debord, Vandy – OC Andy Ludwig/HC Derek Mason will be his own DC), Florida – HC Jim McElwain/OC Doug Nussmeier/ DC Geoff Collins

(Sun Belt) – S. Alabama – OC Brant Vincent, UL Monroe – CO-DC’s –Adam Waugh & Travis Niekamp, UL Lafayette – CODC’s Melvin Smith and Charlie Harbison, Idaho – DC Mike Breske, N.M State – DC Zane Vance, Troy – HC Neal Brown/ CO=OC’s Kenny Edenfield & Matt Moore/ DC Vic Koening

Note: keep in mind some of the above may have been at the same school longer than noted but this would be their first year at that school in their current position.

I have never seen a list like the above put together before so I thought I would go for it. BOL

 

[cloverleaf]

Late tonight and I will digest this info later....but thanks russ. Damn good post!

I love this boring information for the pretenders......

 

[russ1945]

Some Head coaches call their own plays and act as their own coordinators;

Offense – W. Virginia – Dana Holgerson,
U.S.F. – Willie Taggert
S. Carolina – Steve Spurrier (& son)


Defense – B.Y.U. – Bronco Mendenhall
S.D. State – Rocky Long
Vanderbilit – Derek Mason

 

[russ1945]

There is a big advantage in having a coaching staff that has been intact for a while. On the other hand sometimes coaching changes can result in some immediate improvement on one side of the ball or the other.

Examples: Oklahoma made four asst coaching changes include new OC Lincoln Riley and moved DC Mike Stoops off of the field and into the box (very emotional on the sidelines). Should be some immediate improvement across the board in my opinion.

Texas A&M landed DC John Chavis who I think is the best DC out there and has years of SEC experience. Again, I look for immediate improvement on that side of the ball.

Here is a list of schools where the HC, OC, and DC have been together at least 3 years. The number in (X) indicates how long each have held their current positions at their current school:

ACC
Virginia Tech – HC (29), OC (3), DC (21)
Virginia – HC (6), OC (3), DC (3)
Miami Fl – HC (5), OC (3), DC (5)
NC State – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

Big 12
Oklahoma St - HC (11), OC (3), DC (3)
Kansas St – HC (7 currently – 24 total), OC’s & & 18), DC (4)

AAC
Navy – HC (8), OC (8), DC (8)
Memphis – HC (4), OC (4), DC (4)
Temple – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

Big 10
Iowa – HC (17), OC (4), DC (4)
NW – HC (10), OC (8), DC (8)
Minnesota – HC (5), OC (5), DC (5)
Illinois – HC (4), OC (3), DC (3)
Purdue – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

CUSA
Mid Tenn St – HC (10), OC (5), DC (4)
Old Dominion – HC (7), OC (7), Dc (3)
Marshall – HC (6), OC (6), DC (3)
U.T.S.A. – HC (5), OC (4) DC (6)
U.T.E.P. – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

Independents
B.Y.U. – HC (11), OC (3), DC (11-also HC)

MAC
Ohio – HC (11), OC (11), DC (11)
Akron – HC (4), OC (3), DC (4)
W. Michigan – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

Mountain West
Air Force – HC (9), OC’s (9) & (5), DC (3)
S.D. State – HC (5), OC (3), DC (5 – also HC)
Fresno St – HC (4), OC (4), DC (4)

Pac 12
Arizona St – HC (4), OC (3), DC (4)
Arizona – HC (4), OC (4), DC (4)

SEC
S. Carolina – HC (11), OC (11 – also HC), DC (4)
Ole Miss – HC (4), OC’s (4 & 4), DC’s (4 & 3)
Kentucky – HC (3), OC (3), DC (3)

Sun Belt
Georgia St – HC (3), OC (3), Dc (3)
Appalachian St – HC (3), OC’s (3 & 3), DC (3)

 

[russ1945]

The longest tenured HC’s that are still active are as follows:

Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) – 29 yrs
Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) – 17 yrs
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) – 17 yrs
Mark Richt (Georgia) – 15 yrs
Gary Pindel (Missouri) – 15 yrs
George O’Leary (UCF) – 12 yrs
Bronco Mendenhall ( BYU) – 11yrs
Frank Solich (Ohio) – 11 yrs
Steve Spurrier (S Carolina) – 11 yrs
Les Miles (LSU) – 11 yrs
Kyle Whittingham (Utah) – 11 yrs
Pat Fitzgerald (NW) – 10 yrs
Rick Stockstill (Mid Tenn St) 10 yrs

The longest tenured OC’s & DC’s that are still active are as follows:

Bud Foster (Virginia Tech) – 21 yrs
Tim Allen (Ohio) – 11 yrs
Jim Burrow (Ohio) – 11 yrs

 

[russ1945]

I will back off for a while but if you find any corrections or have any questions let me know. BOL

 

[CoachCB]

There is a big advantage in having a coaching staff that has been intact for a while. On the other hand sometimes coaching changes can result in some immediate improvement on one side of the ball or the other.

I tend to strongly agree w/ this thought...however, 2013 FSU replaced 6 assistant coaches....and won the NC.

 

[CoachCB]

The longest tenured HC’s that are still active are as follows:

Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) – 29 yrs
Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) – 17 yrs
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) – 17 yrs
Mark Richt (Georgia) – 15 yrs
Gary Pindel (Missouri) – 15 yrs
George O’Leary (UCF) – 12 yrs
Bronco Mendenhall ( BYU) – 11yrs
Frank Solich (Ohio) – 11 yrs
Steve Spurrier (S Carolina) – 11 yrs
Les Miles (LSU) – 11 yrs
Kyle Whittingham (Utah) – 11 yrs
Pat Fitzgerald (NW) – 10 yrs
Rick Stockstill (Mid Tenn St) 10 yrs

The longest tenured OC’s & DC’s that are still active are as follows:

Bud Foster (Virginia Tech) – 21 yrs
Tim Allen (Ohio) – 11 yrs
Jim Burrow (Ohio) – 11 yrs

How do you think Solich would have done if he had stayed at Nebraska? Fired eventually? Successful? Still be there?

 

[russ1945]

I tend to strongly agree w/ this thought...however, 2013 FSU replaced 6 assistant coaches....and won the NC.

That is why I am going to watch Oklahoma very closely this season. No matter what you have to have the players.

 

[russ1945]

How do you think Solich would have done if he had stayed at Nebraska? Fired eventually? Successful? Still be there?

Solich went 7-7 in 2002 and 9-3 in 2003 then was fired. Nebraska was blessed for so many years and following Osborne was not easy. However hiring Bill Callahan was a bad call and Pelini could not measure up either. I think Solich deserved another year. He is a solid guy, coacahed highschool ball in Nebraska, and coached under Osborne for 19 years. I think Osborne made all the recruiting calls and Solich paid the price.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Solich went 7-7 in 2002 and 9-3 in 2003 then was fired. Nebraska was blessed for so many years and following Osborne was not easy. However hiring Bill Callahan was a bad call and Pelini could not measure up either. I think Solich deserved another year. He is a solid guy, coacahed highschool ball in Nebraska, and coached under Osborne for 19 years. I think Osborne made all the recruiting calls and Solich paid the price.

Solich was still finding himself in the recruiting area. The AD had his agenda (he's also gotten himself fired at Pitt). He forced Solich to get rid of LONG-TIME assistants only to fire him the next year when he made improvement. This is only my opinion, but it was a total set-up. When you change assistants you expect hiccups. When the defense came back from a bad year into one of the best units, it made the decision difficult. But, luckily for the AD, what happened was Texas,Vince Young; Kansas St, El Roberson; Missouri, Brad Smith all put a serious beating on Solich. It was back to back losses to Kstate and the first lost to Missouri since '78. Nebraska likes it's streaks. Solich was also the first coach to get beat by Kstate since Russ was a teeny-bopper. Those are all things that make filling great shoes tough to do. The sad part was that Solich thought he saved his job by beating Colorado, but he never had a chance.

 

[russ1945]

Solich was still finding himself in the recruiting area. The AD had his agenda (he's also gotten himself fired at Pitt). He forced Solich to get rid of LONG-TIME assistants only to fire him the next year when he made improvement. This is only my opinion, but it was a total set-up. When you change assistants you expect hiccups. When the defense came back from a bad year into one of the best units, it made the decision difficult. But, luckily for the AD, what happened was Texas,Vince Young; Kansas St, El Roberson; Missouri, Brad Smith all put a serious beating on Solich. It was back to back losses to Kstate and the first lost to Missouri since '78. Nebraska likes it's streaks. Solich was also the first coach to get beat by Kstate since Russ was a teeny-bopper. Those are all things that make filling great shoes tough to do. The sad part was that Solich thought he saved his job by beating Colorado, but he never had a chance.

There is a lot to that story that is for sure. He probably was set up but all in all I am not sure they are back where they want to be with their latest edition as HC either. Mike Riley lost me when they blew the bowl against Texas in 2012, that was all on him.

 

[CoachCB]

There is a lot to that story that is for sure. He probably was set up but all in all I am not sure they are back where they want to be with their latest edition as HC either. Mike Riley lost me when they blew the bowl against Texas in 2012, that was all on him.

Yeah, the Riley hire makes no sense. They should have gone w/ a younger coach who may have actually won something as a coach...vs a coach who has been treading water at Oregon State for years.

I like Solich. It's good to see him have success at Ohio.

 

[DropDimes]

Yeah, the Riley hire makes no sense. They should have gone w/ a younger coach who may have actually won something as a coach...vs a coach who has been treading water at Oregon State for years.

I like Solich. It's good to see him have success at Ohio.

I acutally disagree here on it not making any sesne. At first I was a bit puzzled by it, as was most of the fan base, but the longer we go the more he seems to fit. Its a complete 180 from the past coaching staff, which was sorely needed. Nebraska is also one of the blueblood, but are teetering on the edge of not being able to climb out of mediocrity. Hiring a young up and comer would have been incredibly risky, because they simply couldnt afford the likely growing pains and potential Callahan-esque results. Nebraska (as most know) isnt exactly a recruiting hotbed (and while it can be done, credit Callahan here) and it needed a coach that was a proven talent developer. Thats where Riley and his staff made since. Guys that are able to identify talent and develop it well. Is it risky? Sure, no one knows if it will turn out, but given his past history, with the resources he has now, it could be a very good hire.

The other side to this argument is the Scott Frost theory. A lot of people think Riley is simply here to bridge the gap for a few years (5-7 assuming all goes well) and then the reigns will be turned over to Frost. Now, a lot has to happen for that scenario to play out. Frost needs to get an HC gig and prove himself as a coach and recruiter, but he has done a good job at Oregon thus far. If that happens (and its a very optimistic outlook) then Nebraska as a brand will be in a much better place when they get a hot named young coach to take over. If Riley and company can sustain the 9 wins Bo and Co. had, and then build on it, a Frost hire could what turns the tide to putting Nebraska back into the national spotlight.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

Riley's best years are well behind him. He also has another problem. In the past 5 years, his record in his last 5 regular season games is 6-19. One of those wins was a 77-3 blowout of Nicholls State. Riley wants to go to a more balanced offense this season, which means QB Armastrong will have to run less and pass more. Non-con games against BYU and at Miami should give us a bit of a hint about what kind of season Nebraska will have. Riley had better enjoy this season because starting next season he starts home and home games against Oregon and Ohio State.

 

[DropDimes]

I am not sure how you can make the claim his best years are behind him having never seen him be a HC at the collegiate level with the amount of resources, facilities, and support behind him that he will have at Nebraska. I like that you mention his record yet leave out that 12 of those 25 games were against top 25 teams, 5 of which were in the top 15, and 4 of which were top five teams. So over a 1/3 of those games were against the top 15 teams in the country. Do you typically expect Oregon St. and teams of their caliber to do very well against those qualities of opponents? Using his teams past success from a record standpoint is frankly silly due to the massive increase in support at Nebraska. Rather, looking at his ability to identify and develop talent are what will be a great indicator of future success.

Also quite impressed you know how he and Langsdorf will run their offense, specifically how much they will throw since he has said repeatedly they will do what best fits their talent this year. Add in the fact they have been reported by the media of running the zone-read quite a bit in practice, something he hadnt previously done. You also forgot to mention Armstrong torched USC for 32-51 (roughly 63%) 381 yard, 3 TD's and 1 Int.

 

[Addicted2quack]

I am not sure how you can make the claim his best years are behind him having never seen him be a HC at the collegiate level with the amount of resources, facilities, and support behind him that he will have at Nebraska. I like that you mention his record yet leave out that 12 of those 25 games were against top 25 teams, 5 of which were in the top 15, and 4 of which were top five teams. So over a 1/3 of those games were against the top 15 teams in the country. Do you typically expect Oregon St. and teams of their caliber to do very well against those qualities of opponents? Using his teams past success from a record standpoint is frankly silly due to the massive increase in support at Nebraska. Rather, looking at his ability to identify and develop talent are what will be a great indicator of future success.

Also quite impressed you know how he and Langsdorf will run their offense, specifically how much they will throw since he has said repeatedly they will do what best fits their talent this year. Add in the fact they have been reported by the media of running the zone-read quite a bit in practice, something he hadnt previously done. You also forgot to mention Armstrong torched USC for 32-51 (roughly 63%) 381 yard, 3 TD's and 1 Int.

Beautiful, simply beautiful.....:aktion033

love reading a post where someone lights little daddy up. Well done

 

[REDEYE]

Can that Michigan/Utah line be right? Utah should win in a route. Am I missing something here?

Agree with you here..Utah is the play here. .

 

[CoachCB]

I acutally disagree here on it not making any sesne. At first I was a bit puzzled by it, as was most of the fan base, but the longer we go the more he seems to fit. Its a complete 180 from the past coaching staff, which was sorely needed. Nebraska is also one of the blueblood, but are teetering on the edge of not being able to climb out of mediocrity. Hiring a young up and comer would have been incredibly risky, because they simply couldnt afford the likely growing pains and potential Callahan-esque results. Nebraska (as most know) isnt exactly a recruiting hotbed (and while it can be done, credit Callahan here) and it needed a coach that was a proven talent developer. Thats where Riley and his staff made since. Guys that are able to identify talent and develop it well. Is it risky? Sure, no one knows if it will turn out, but given his past history, with the resources he has now, it could be a very good hire.

The other side to this argument is the Scott Frost theory. A lot of people think Riley is simply here to bridge the gap for a few years (5-7 assuming all goes well) and then the reigns will be turned over to Frost. Now, a lot has to happen for that scenario to play out. Frost needs to get an HC gig and prove himself as a coach and recruiter, but he has done a good job at Oregon thus far. If that happens (and its a very optimistic outlook) then Nebraska as a brand will be in a much better place when they get a hot named young coach to take over. If Riley and company can sustain the 9 wins Bo and Co. had, and then build on it, a Frost hire could what turns the tide to putting Nebraska back into the national spotlight.

I'm gonna take your comments w/ a grain of salt, as you're a fan.

I'm a Gator fan and I can show you posts where there were idiots trying to convince themselves that all Muschamp needed was one more year and he'd turn the corner. It is what it is. Nebraska hired an slightly above average coach who is well past his prime in the hopes he catches lighting in a bottle. The hire makes no sense, no matter how much you want it to. I actually like the guy and hope he does well. College football is better when the Nebraska's of the CFB world are good.