Well there is a little bit of a rush....Jan 11th we can talk to recruits again, we will be in a bad position without an OC...We only have a couple spots left for this year, but I would hate hate to play catch up with the 2019 class right out of the gates...the 2019 class is a critical one for Ash....
RU Offense Held Hostage: Day 6
- Thread starter RU4Real
- Start date
OTOH, not exactly a ringing endorsement based on his work last year at Montana State:
http://www.montanasports.com/2017/0...rtney-messingham-going-to-north-dakota-state/
"In Messingham’s first and only season leading the Bobcats’ offense, MSU ranked 11th in the Big Sky Conference in points per game and 12th in total offense. The Bobcats were one of only three teams in the league to average fewer than 26 points per game, and only Idaho State averaged fewer yards per game.
MSU did, however, rank third in the Big Sky in rushing offense, averaging 212 yards per game. Freshman quarterback Chris Murray led the team with 860 yards and 12 touchdowns on 138 carries."
Like the fact that there has been a tight lid on this from the Ash & Hobbs end
- but the abundant speculation by sports writers and fans - has a mixed benefit - interesting & entertaining & highlights a range of possibilities - but all of the build up also strengthens the argument that the choice will need to have a good story to support the wisdom of their selection.
Everybody wants to hear that the new OC is a creative genius - an offensive strategy architect with wizard-like capabilities & an eye for talent coupled with recruiting super-powers. That might be the ideal - but at the very least Ash is going the have to be able to tell a compelling story about this choice - he is going to have to be able to support this new OC with some rationale as to why this coach is uniquely suited to handle the challenges ahead. Bluntly - it will not be pretty if it comes across like this candidate meets the basic requirements - but largely has the job just because he was the one willing to accept the position.
Yes, statically speaking, Messingham does not jump off the charts but Ash has a tendency, for better or for worse, to hire guys that he’s familiar or comfortable with. Look at Jay Neiman, is he a killer defensive coordinator no but he’s someone that Ash has know for most of his football playing life and Ash trusts him.
Hey listen, I hope I’m wrong, I hope Ash lands a KILLER OC, someone who lights it up. We already know that Ash wants to, and is well equipped to, run the ball so chances are it’s not going to be some Air Raid type of coordinator. Look out for an OC who is run first and is known for incorporating the run game into the passing game. A coordinator who utilizes the diamond formation often with RPO’s. Find that guy and you’ll most likely have RU’s next OC.
Hey listen, I hope I’m wrong, I hope Ash lands a KILLER OC, someone who lights it up. We already know that Ash wants to, and is well equipped to, run the ball so chances are it’s not going to be some Air Raid type of coordinator. Look out for an OC who is run first and is known for incorporating the run game into the passing game. A coordinator who utilizes the diamond formation often with RPO’s. Find that guy and you’ll most likely have RU’s next OC.
I have zero issues with Niemann. The defense was dramatically improved this year. Yeah, we had 2 WTF games, but overall, Niemann and his assistants did a good job.
Since Ash has strong credentials on the Defensive side of the game - it was reasonable when he brought a 'seasoned veteran' who would work diligently to fulfill Ash's vision & strategies - and it has generally proven to be a choice that has been viewed as successful.
On the other hand - with respect to the OC spot - fair or unfair - Ash is standing at bat with two strikes - and Ash, himself does not have his own offensive credentials to bring in to the mix - so the situation is now one that cries out for somebody way beyond a good operational lieutenant - it needs to be somebody who has legitimate credentials related to fixing problems - implementing effective solutions - taking ineffective / underdeveloped offensives squads and reinventing them & achieving success.
At this point - Guys who have been semi-effective journeymen - guys whose career highlights are at best cases of taking the controls of already viable offenses (originally made viable & effective by somebody else) and effectively operating them for a while - these guy are highly like to end up being Ash's "strike three"
I just heard that Ash has talked to "more than a handful of guys": McNulty, Longo, Mazzone, Enos. He also reached out to Frank Cignetti Jr. Don't know what the outcome was but it sounds like RU might be working their way down their plan B list. Was told that Ash is going to be formally interviewing guys now and "will probably have some one in place within a couple of weeks"
If you have ever done any hiring, you just don't interview one person. The fact that Ash is interviewing multiple candidates doesn't necessarily mean his first choices are turning him down. I've been in situations where a person who, on paper, didn't seem like the lead candidate turned out to be the best choice when interviews were complete.
Ash got Mehringer for 600k, I don't trust this guys judgement at all. This might be
why no one wants to come here.
Depends who has agreed to pursue the job and is seeking an interview versus those whose interest ceased after the initial discussion. You would think Ash we have a good feel for what type of offense he finds most challenging to defend and bring someone in who is proficient in running such a scheme. Problem is his first two hires were very different with DM trying to sling the ball around and Kill being ultra conservative to keep us in the game. kill was better for the existing talent base but neither could be considered a success.
I've mentioned this before. What I don't like about those names is that there isn't a consistency or theme. I prefer a spread and Longo/Mazzone fit into that "theme." But then you also have McNulty, Enos, Cignetti who are all pro style guys. These two groups don't fit each other.
Regardless of my personal preference, I take it as he's still not sure what he wants to run and to me that's not a good thing. Whether any of them came on board or not if you told me Longo, Mazzone, Gilbert, Lashlee, Cramsey, Harrell etc...I'd see a general theme and we know what kind of direction he's looking towards. But with the names you've seen pop up from different ends of the spectrum who knows. I'll say it again, unfortunately it reminds me of Charlie Strong's OC issues in Texas. Hopefully, it works out whichever direction it goes.
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I'd be impressed if you nailed this (and at the same time have some serious questions as to WHO, as a brand new poster, you are....my interest is currently peaking!)!! This would be a very good hire IMHO.
I'd be more interested to see who he has official interviews with, to be honest, as we have no clue whatsoever if some of these guys (see: group 2) were just "suggested" to him and he gave a courtesy call their way or not. Ash told us what kind of O he wants, from DAY 1, but had to adjust on the fly last year and Kill made sense IMHO. I think - THINK - this hire will tell us more about the direction he wants to take things.
Now that Lashlee's off the table and our struggle continues, I think it's only fitting that our coaching staff be forever known as "the (K)night's Watch".
if Messingham were to be the choice - what would be the compelling argument for him ? what would be the distinctive talents & personal accomplishments that could make the case for why he would be able to effectively identify the needs - define the strategy for improvement and successfully implement an effective offense?
Yes he has been in key positions in the past - but in most cases it appears that he has come into & taken control of - an already developed offense. He was fired by Paul Rhoads at Iowa State. He as only been at NDSU for 11 months - so he did not write the recipe for what they have cooked up there.
Don't want to be negative - He may be a fantastic person and have a wealth of knowledge - just looking for the compelling reasons that he should be viewed as a strong candidate for a B1G OC spot - a spot that is going to require vision & an innate sense of how to refine & rearrange all of the moving parts to achieve the improvement and true coherency that is desperately needed.
I like his resume; have no desire to get into the details of it now BUT, in the grand scheme of things, I THINK he would be a very good hire for us. Not a great one, probably not the perfect one, but someone else will get him and half this board will cry for 10 years about it type of hire.
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I would get this guy :
http://utrockets.com/coaches.aspx?rc=319&path=football
Although, Ash's buddy Charlie Partridge fired him a few years ago, so maybe he's not on the list.
http://utrockets.com/coaches.aspx?rc=319&path=football
Although, Ash's buddy Charlie Partridge fired him a few years ago, so maybe he's not on the list.
If we're going down to that level why not Tim Cramsey who has been mentioned here before. He is the successor to Longo at SHSU and has done some good stuff in his career and has worked under Chip Kelly at New Hampshire. Only thing with him is that someone here who knows him said Cramsey did reach out to Ash in the past but the interest wasn't reciprocal from our end. I don't know if anything has changed.
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=211432664
Yea he's been mentioned here, I think even last year. Buster Faulkner the OC at Arkansas State has been brought up before too. He's had some off and on success in his career as well.
If we're going to the "greener" end of the spectrum I like Graham Harrell myself but he could be a possibility to his alma mater TT. BTW people always assume that all these Leach guys throw the ball all the time. Some do, some don't and some adjust depending on personnel. Many of these guys have their little spin on things.
As the winter deepens and other pieces get taken off the board, I'm starting to dread this scenario. Ash might need to consult his 'rabbi' (i.e. Urban) to get some momentum & maybe some mojo or street cred with the remaining candidates. He went bold with his first choice, then very conservative with his second, but I really hope he's willing to be bold again after getting some stability last year. A safe re-tread may not be enough to get him to the 2020 season.
That reminds me of Les Koenning who was Mullen's OC for a time at Miss. State and has been OC at other stops. I saw his contract wasn't going to be renewed at UAB.
Yea he screws this one up and he's done. He'll now have had three chances to get it right. I know it's a rebuild but 128th and 129th ranking offenses isn't much progress in that area thus far. To tell you the truth I'm not even sure what kind of offense he wants to run. That's the disturbing part.
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Another name that has been brought up here. Sounds like Chip is looking to reunite with Mark Helfrich. Helfrich still a possibility for the Arizona HC job so may have to wait on that.
UCLA: Source tells FootballScoop Chip Kelly has offered UCLA offensive coordinator role to Mark Helfrich. There have been reports that Helfrich is a candidate for the head coaching position at Arizona but that process is ongoing. Will update when a decision is made.
UCLA: Source tells FootballScoop Chip Kelly has offered UCLA offensive coordinator role to Mark Helfrich. There have been reports that Helfrich is a candidate for the head coaching position at Arizona but that process is ongoing. Will update when a decision is made.
Let's assume that Ash and Hobbs weren't caught flatfooted by Kill so they knew about this for a month. Unless we got a bunch of "no thanks", you'd think that Ash would have an announcement a week after the bowl games ended.
Let's get a younger guy with OC experience who can innovate. Someone brought up the OC from Toledo. That guy would fit the profile.
IMHO:
Current Drama Level on SN - 5.5
Where It Should Be Today: 3.5 (4 come Monday...5/5/5 come next Friday based on what we hear or don't hear maybe a 6)
Current Drama Level on SN - 5.5
Where It Should Be Today: 3.5 (4 come Monday...5/5/5 come next Friday based on what we hear or don't hear maybe a 6)
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