Monday, December 29, 2008

Excuse me sir, I could use your assistance.

Looks like we have some coordinator moves to go over.

#1 - Gus Malzahn / Auburn OC

Love the pick here.  Malzahn was the OC for Arkansas when they went to the SEC Championship game in 2006 and he called the plays for a Tulsa team that ranked second in the nation in points and yardage per game this season.  

He is one of those guys who can adjust his system to the talent that he has.   This should setup some interesting Malzahn vs. Houston Nutt battles in the future.  I didn't think it was going to happen, but if Urban Meyer wanted to hire him as UF's OC I wouldn't have complained.  Speaking of that job...

#2 - Steve Addazio / Florida OC

Not a new hire, but a promotion.  Addazio serves as the offensive line coach and will now be the head play caller also.  Really, Meyer could have hired my dog as the new OC and I wouldn't be able to argue with the selection.  His track record is pristine.  Every OC Meyer has had has gone on to a head coaching position.  Considering Addazio was already in consideration for some head coaching spots (Syracuse most notably) I think Addazio will do just fine.  

#3 - THE CHIEF John Chavis / LSU DC

This is either going to be a great or disastrous hire.  LSU flourished under Bo Pelini's aggressive defensive game plans, but then everything went to hell this year when they tried to run Pelini's (Pelini is now the head coach at Nebraska) scheme using a co-coordinator system.

Chavis is the opposite of Pelini, he'd rather sit back in a zone and eliminate the possibility of the big play.  Chavis has been very successful when he had dominant defensive lineman like Albert Haynesworth at Tennessee, but his defenses have become very average when he has lineman who can't get in the backfield.  

You'd think Chavis would be a great fit for LSU with the recent talent LSU has had on the defensive line, but unfortunately it seems like the talent well is drying up.  Les Miles has had some highly ranked recruiting classes, but so far they have not lived up to their ranking.  If LSU can find itself another Glenn Dorsey or two they'll be ok, if not... Chavis and Miles will both probably be out of a job in the next two years.

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