So who do we want to replace Borges?
Assuming you want Al Borges to be fired at the end of the year........ Does anyone have someone specific that they would like to see take over? Obviously its hard to say who will be available at years end, but what are some names that are out there for possible candidates? I think a name that should be explored is Robert Prince from Boise State. Hes not that old, in his late 40's I believe, has NFL experience and has produced top 10-15 level offenses as Boise States OC the last few years. An obvious name is Cam Cameron, but lets be real hes not leaving LSU. This is my first post btw. Be easy..
November 11th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^
Anybody and everybody from Stanford. Even David Shaw. Replace Hoke with him
November 11th, 2013 at 4:34 PM ^
Sadness
Shame
Al Borges
We will likely begin next year with all 3
November 11th, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^
Speaking of guys with a Michigan connection, I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Terry Malone. I really liked him as an OC and he was the one guy that Carr fired that I really thought got the shaft. His passing game spread the ball around better than anyone during the Carr era. His 2003 offense was fantastic, both in terms of player talent and play calling. His '02 and '04 offenses were good, albeit unspectacular. His '05 offense was mediocre, but they had some legitimate excuses to be. He has been the Saints TE coach since then. I would welcome him back.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^
This is a joke, right? Please tell me my sarcasm meter is off.
November 12th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
No(?)
Our 2003 offense dominated, and they did it with an offensive line that wasn't loaded with NFL prospects and a QB who was a borderline NFL prospect. They had Chris Perry, but we have seen time and time again that a great running back can't do crap without a good offensive line and play calling that keeps defenders off of the line of scrimmage. They also had Braylon, but people forget that Braylon was in Carr's doghouse at the beginning of the year and he wasn't much of a factor until the halfway point. They spread the ball around wonderfully and they were unpredictable in every game until they were up by 28 points. They gained 447 yards per game and scored 460 points against a pretty tough schedule that included some really good defenses. They shredded the absolute living hell out of Ohio State that year, and OSU easily had one of the country's top 5 defenses. On par with what MSU has had the past couple of years.
Without looking up all of the numbers, I'm pretty sure that is the most productive offense that we have had, points-wise, since at least the Gary Moeller era, and the second most productive offense that we have had in terms of yardage. His next two offenses were significantly less productive, but they were still very respectable when you take into account the mitigating factors (such as the fact that Chad Henne was a true freshman in 2004, and in 2005 we had Hart and Long injured for most of the year. Breaston was fighting some injuries those years too).
Anyhow, not my first choice, but if it's got to be a "Michigan man", and the other choices are Stan Parrish, Scott Loeffler, and Mike Debord, well...
November 11th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
Great question. My honest answer is "someone I've never heard of." No more retreads. No more guys who have been fired multiple times. And for the love of god nobody whose primary credential is that they've coached in Ann Arbor before. Maybe it could be a position coach (recruiting ties in the south would be a dandy bonus).
I could even get excited about an innovative coach from the high school level. Remember when people thought Malzahn was hired primarily as a recruiting ruse? That worked pretty well. There are tons of great candidates out there, but many of the decision makers seem so risk averse that they'd rather hire somebody else's failure than give a shot to an unknown.
If I were to pick a name I've actually heard of, how about Brian Johnson, the QB coach/OC at Utah? He's a super young guy (I've got to imagine this aids in recruiting, as well as not being completely stuck in one's ways) and played in an offense ideally suited for Gardner. I'm also guessing Utah is right around as high a level of program as one can realistically expect to poach a guy from for a lateral promotion.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:06 PM ^
Gus Malzhan if he was available. Done wonderful things for Auburn in one year!
November 11th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
I know Mike Bloomgren is a popular suggestion for OC, but he didn't build Stanford's offense, only its offensive line. This is his first year as Stanford's OC (or the 'Andrew Luck Director of Offense', which is Stanford's formal title for the OC position), and he hasn't had to get all that creative with his playcalling because of Stanford's brick wall of an O-line (case in point: Stanford ran Tyler Gaffney 47 times against Oregon). I would want someone who has a track record of building an offense that plays to the strengths of its personnel (since that's been Borges' biggest problem).
November 11th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^
His wife's a babe
November 11th, 2013 at 7:34 PM ^
I'd start looking at an OC that has a good offense on a team that its head coach is not an offensive guru. I think you'd get a better list of candidates from a guy that is more standalone on his side of the ball. This is why I would shy away from TAMU, Houston, Arizona, Washington, Baylor, OSU, Okie St, Stanford etc etc etc.
Stanford might be the only team on that list that I'd be willing to take a look at because he was an O Line coach prior to this year and has NFL experience.
If I had a wish list it would be this (in no particular order; yes I know some of these candidates go against what I said above):
- Mike Bloomgren (Stanford OC)
- Mario Cristobal (Bama OL Coach)- scares me a little because he hasn't been an OC
- Danny Langsdorf (Oregon St OC and QB Coach) - Yes I know Riley was an OC at USC
- Chad Morris (Clemson OC) - Dabo is an offensive guy and hes had Tajh Boyd during his tenure, so this could be smoke and mirrors.
- Josh Henson (Missouri OC and CO OLine coach)
My "meh" list:
- Robert Anae (BYU OC)
- Bill Musgrave (Minnesota OC)
- Jeff Jagodzinski (Georgia Southern OC) - he has a very odd coaching history which could be concerning. I don't know all the details.
I realize many of these candidates have flaws and some are far fetched, but I figured what the hell. Looking forward to any comments.
November 11th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^
If Hoke does let Borges go (which is a big if), what will probably end up happening is that he'll elevate Hecklinski to OC and hire a new WRs coach. I might be fine with that, since Heck has OC experience and every job he's had has been a step up from his previous gig (with the exception of his move from Arizona to Ball State, but that can be explained by the fact that Arizona fired Mackovic for being a complete douchebag whom no one wanted to play for). Heck seems to be one of Hoke's few competent offensive assistants. He also doesn't have much of a history with Borges and wouldn't be married to Borges' offensive philosophy.
November 11th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
since my only true season as an OC was at the 7th grade level, and while we did well I think it had as much to do with the talent on hand as my brilliant playcalling, but fine, if offered the job I'll take it.
It may interest you to know that we threw some bubble screen type substances, and plays came in sets with constraints that looked just like them pre-snap (and some even post-snap).
So, yeah, I'll do it.
November 11th, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
It doesnt matter who (if anyone) replaces Borges.... until the Offense gets a) faster b) more skilled c) a better/more accurate QB and d) faster... they wont be good.
However...Id take Cam Cameron over Borges, to answer the question.
November 11th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^
Bears have 2nd best rush attack in fcs plus he's a Slippery Rock grad
November 13th, 2013 at 3:23 AM ^
Chip Kelly