Coaching Rumours/Potential Openings
Jason La Confora is reporting that Bill O'Brien is ready to return to the NFL and that the Vikings, Texans and possibly the Redskins are interested. La Confora states that O'Brien's potential buyout is less restrictive this year and that PSU may face litigation if they attempt to collect a buyout from O'Brien because of he NCAA sanctions that were levied against them.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24375967/ready-to-…
Edited: previously said Eagles instead of Vikings.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas Wolverine Nation!
December 15th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
We all know that the spread can't work in the Big Ten /S
December 15th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
Or the last 4, for that matter.
Seriously though, I sometimes wonder why people think the spread is that much better than pro-style. I think both are great, and both can win. When I look at the recent top 5 teams in the country (last 5 years) I see a mixture of both.
December 15th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
Sadly, that passing spread worked great against Michigan in 2006 when Tressel used it, especially in the first half. Borges has the plays in his book; I'm just not sure DB will allow him to use them on a regular basis.
December 15th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^
Yeah! Havent you heard? He watches game film with the coaches after every game!
That must mean he is telling the coaches how to game plan.
/s
December 15th, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^
Huh? Why can't we run a passing spread (like the one used against Florida in 2008) with those guys?
Here are the wide receivers who caught passes against Florida in that game:
1. Adrian Arrington (9 catches, 153 yards, 2 touchdowns)
2. Greg Mathews (7 for 62)
3. Mario Manningham (5 for 78 and 1 score)
4. Junior Hemingway (1 for 4)
Mike Hart, Carson Butler, and Mark Moundros also caught passes. You just listed Gallon and Funchess, which is arguably a better duo than Manningham and Arrington. Mathews was decent, but I think Dileo and/or Chesson could be just as effective if targeted. And I think Jackson or Reynolds could probably catch a pass for a measly 4 yards.
We're fully capable of running a passing spread at this point, and we will likely be more ready next year (if everyone stays healthy), despite the loss of Gallon. Next year we have Funchess, Chesson, Darboh, Jones, Dukes, York, Harris, Canteen, and Ways...plus whatever Hayes and Norfleet can provide.
December 15th, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^
Not a WR, but Butt will also facotr in the passing game.
IMO we need to run this offense because it puts less pressure on the OL, it allows DG to see the field better. It could allow our offense to really gash defenses with the running game. You can still run screens and play action.
IMO, it's the perfect offense for the personnel we have. You can include 2 TE sets out of it as well and run the zone-read.
December 15th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 2:59 PM ^
Funchess/Gallon 127 rec 2011 yds 15 TDs
Manningham/Aarington (jr year) 139 rec 2056 yds 20 TDs
(so year) 78 rec 1373 yds 17 TDs
It's very much a fair statement, especially when considering the quality of OL. People here don't appreciate Jeremy Gallon nearly enough. He ought to go down as an all-timer at WR. Desmond and AC were clearly better, but he's in the conversation IMO with everyone else.
December 16th, 2013 at 8:45 AM ^
Those extra 5 TDs that Arrington/Manningham caught would have been nice this year....
December 16th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ^
That was in 13 games. Funchess/Gallon have only played 12 so far. There's a small chance they get there, and there's a good chance that the gap will at least be smaller than 5.
December 15th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
LOL. The thing is, your whole post presumes that I and others know what you're talking about, and yet I have no clue. So who's better: Manningham/Arrington or Gallon/Funchess?
December 15th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
As pointed out below, what's so crazy about that comparison? Manningham and Arrington were good college WRs, but Gallon and Funchesss are no slouches and had the added burden of a dodgy offensive line and crappy running game restricting what the playcalling capabilities to a good degree. Gallon is one of the better WRs this school has seen, and just because he doesn't look the part shouldn't diminish his dominance.
December 15th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^
I don't really think Jones and Reynolds offer little as pass-catchers; I think they were under-utilized. They could have had more catches if Gardner didn't have eyes only for Gallon. Regardless, I think running a passing spread would simply necessitate breaking the seal on a couple other guys as wideouts, like Norfleet, Hayes, York, Jones, etc. I don't think most teams who run passing spreads have 8 established wide receivers; they count on young guys being able to step in and complement the established guys.
December 16th, 2013 at 1:00 AM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 1:04 PM ^
Does Hoke know Mouse Davis? Let's get the Run and Shoot going!
December 15th, 2013 at 4:38 PM ^
Yup, because it took Ohio 5 years to successfully go from a pro style to a spread offense
December 15th, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 12:28 AM ^
So if a "spread" QB is all we need, why will it take us 5 years? It doesn't take that long to recruit a QB. Plus since this is about Chip Kelly it seems like Nick Foles is doing just fine in his offense.
December 16th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
If that QB is David Sills it takes 5 years.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
Eagles???
Edit: Nevermind, good sir. I see you found the mistake.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
Perhaps it's pointless to make projections based on speculation like this, but isn't O'Brien the main reason Hackenberg ended up at PSU? If BOB is gone, I wonder what Hackenberg's plans are.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
I thought he grew up a huge PSU fan and planned on going there regardless of coach.
December 15th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
I have no idea whether that's a thing, but would Texas think about trying to grab him?
December 15th, 2013 at 2:52 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
My guess is some feelers will be sent out, if they haven't already, but in the end he stays. I'm also not sure he translates to other programs.
December 15th, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^
I think MSU is the perfect job for Dantonio, and he isn't going anywhere. He has his defense established, is winning 11 games regularly, is competing for big ten titles, and is worshipped by the fanbase.
December 15th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^
And as long as MSU gives him a pay bump to the $3M range, he should be good. Not sure he would make too much more than that elsewhere anyways.
December 15th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
It is a stop on the road to a destination school. I don't know what Dantonio's goals are but if he wants to be a guy who could compete for a National Championship on any kind of a regular basis, he has to leave MSU.
December 16th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
that fit the mold of traditional power-houses competing for NCAA championships every year.
If anything, we've seen that second-tier schools can fight there way to the top on any given year, and it's all a tight balance of skill and circumstance.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^
That would be unfortunate. O'Brien could do very good things at PSU with some more time. We need coaches like him in the Big Ten...
December 15th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
I don't know why this seems so surprising to so many people. You've got a 57-yr-old guy with recent heart troubles and the personality of an ulcerous hemorrhoid who has spent his 33 coaching years in the Midwest, all but four of those within the footprint of the Big Ten.
Don't get me wrong—I think Dantonio has proven that he's a damn good coach, but that doesn't automatically mean he's attractive to prominent programs in other parts of the country.
December 15th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
Saban. FWIW, he is not going anywhere. He has the perfect job. Not too much pressure and playing for the most part patsies in the B1G and elsewhere.
There are far greater pressures at schools like OSU and Michigan.
December 15th, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 2:11 PM ^
There's no chance Dantonio is being considered for Texas. That program wants a guy who fits its brand: a charismatic, telegenic leader and recruiter, preferably one with a drawl. The Horns coach is, in essence, the face of Texas.
Since Texas isn't on the cusp of a championship, it presumably wants someone who'll be at height of his powers for another 10-15 years. Absent the two A-listers, Saban and Meyer -- and maybe Briles, the local hero -- Texas won't hire a guy who's pushing 60 and has heart issues.
Finally, for all of Dantonio's great work, his offense remains Paleolithic; Texas's current roster is built for the spread, not gruntball. And Texas wants results yesterday, so it's not about to succumb to the whole three-year scheme-change transition thing.
IMO, they should grab Charlie Strong.
December 15th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
I only care if Michigan has a good coach. I actively hope every other team in the conference is a flaming tire fire. It would only ever matter if we got good enough that conference perception would hurt us in getting selected for the playoff - but since we're about a million miles from there, here's to hoping everyone else loses their coaches and has their facilities destroyed by freak tornado.