The Offensive Coordinator Dilemma
by Brian Favat on Nov 29, 2011 8:00 AM EST
in Boston College Football
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PrintBrian: In an interview with Bleacher Report, Doug Flutie offered up some advice on what the Boston College football team should do with respect to the program's offensive coordinator position:
"That being said, offensively, the Eagles have really, really struggled. Gary Tranquill, the offensive coordinator a year ago retired, and they went with a new offensive coordinator [Kevin Rogers] that got ill during training camp and took a leave of absence. They tried to maintain the status quo with the guys they had, and I think that's really hurt them. I think when you're right in the middle of learning a new system, and you lose your new offensive coordinator, it's frustrating from that standpoint.
Defensively, they're a solid football team, but I think they need to go out and hire themselves a big-time offensive coordinator who can really open it up and try to get it explosive."
We may never get the whole story about why Rogers decided to step down after the UCF game, but my guess is he will not return to the team next season. The Eagles currently have Dave Brock serving as interim OC and many seem to think that he'll return next season.
I actually agree with Flutie's advice here. The problem I see is what big-time offensive coordinator is going to step in and take charge of the offense? Spaz made a poor hire in Tranquill and may have not even supported the hire of Rogers in the first place. What coordinator is going to want to step into a situation where two other coaches have failed and have managed an offense that has gone from 98th (2009) to 109th (2010) to 113th (2011) in the nation in total offense?
Do you agree with Flutie's advice? Could BC go out and land an explosive OC like Clemson's Chad Morris that could open it up offensively? Or do you think that given a full year to prepare (and maybe a little more free reign in play calling) that Dave Brock can succeed as Boston College's OC? Your thoughts?
Jeff: Towards the end of the season, against everyone except Florida State, when BC got the ball a 3-and-out was not what I feared every possession. If BC got the ball I at least felt the offense was competent enough to keep the BC on the sidelines long enough to catch their breath even though they might not come away with points. That was a big improvement from earlier in the year and from times last season. Dave Brock having more games under his belt had a lot to do with that success. As Brock called a better game, the offense had more success. Or was it as everyone got more comfortable with each other? Or was it when the team got as healthy as it had been this season that they had more success? Whether it was Dave Brock or just simple continuity which Brock happened to be a part of, it is tough to differentiate between the two as someone outside the program.
From what I've seen, I'd rather have Brock than Tranq. Since we don't need to worry about Tranq we can dream bigger. The obvious pro of keeping Brock around would be allowing an offensive coordinator and a quarterback work together for basically two full seasons. Even Tranq did not get two full seasons with a QB. The football team would have to benefit as a whole from that continuity. But would bringing in someone else outweigh the continuity argument? Quite possibly. I am as on the fence on this one as one can be.
If BC did bring an outside OC in at this point, I do not think that they would go cheap. GDF wants to succeed and he wants Spaz to succeed in particular for whatever reason. We have already struck out on two OC's since Logan so I truly believe that they would ere on the side of overspending rather than bringing in someone unproven. Tranq and Brock both were guys who did not exactly flourish in their previous rolls as OC at BCS schools. If we went outside the of BC again, it would be someone like Rogers who had previous success at a fairly major football program. But this time it would probably be someone who currently serves as an NCAA coordinator.
As it works in most corporations, BC saved some cash by promoting Spaz rather than hiring from outside. Some of this savings needs to be spent supporting Spaz. And as being a former DC for many years, it is not surprising that Coach Spaz needs the help most on the offensive side of the ball. Whether it is a new OC, or just some new other supporting cast members. We need a new proven face or two that can help the offense and open a new recuiting line somewhere. Ultimately, we can out-scheme everyone but if we don't get some top 25 recruiting classes in sooner rather than later, BC will not be able to dream of the Orange Bowl in the future.
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Brock
I believe Brock did a very good job calling the games towards the end of the season. I don’t believe playcalling was the issue. The problem was our line not giving Rettig enough time to throw the ball. No offense can run efficiently with the qb taking the hits Rettig consistantly took.
Really the only non line dependent way to move to the football is by going spread and making quick short throws. However, this offense is predicated on the qb making quick decisions (not Rettig’s strongest suit) and having good speed to turn the short passes into big plays (we don’t have that and probably never will because of the area we recruit from).
Really the only non line dependent way to move to the football is by going spread and making quick short throws. However, this offense is predicated on the qb making quick decisions and having good speed to turn the short passes into big plays (we don’t have that and probably never will because of the area we recruit from).
Huh? what are you trying to say?
we’ve got plenty of speed to get receivers open and we recruit from north, midwest and south?
You might find it interesting that the most productive receiver in the NFL is 5-9, 180 lbs and runs a 4.6 40 (fast, but not 4.4/4.3 “track speed”) Wes Welker 40 time
Swiggert, Larmond, and Amidon (the ones I cehcked) are faster than Welker. Maybe Spiffy and others too. So a vague claim of not-enough-speed falls flat. Even Pantale has been timed as low a 4.65
Rettig was making plenty of accurate, well-timed short throws against Miami.
by eagleosprey on Nov 29, 2011 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
3 OCs in 2 years..
I really think this is a big reason why we don’t see the development from Rettig that people want to see. This and the OL being a sieve on pass protection.
Rettig came in as a true frosh. He didn’t have the benefit of spending a year developing and learning by watching from his OC and a seasoned vet in at starter. So he learned on the fly with Tranq. And then he spent the offseason with Rogers. Now it’s Brock. When you don’t see him set his feet, make crisper and quicker decisions on the open man, or throw it away when he has no options – I really think this is because he’s not getting any consistent coaching.
Who is teaching him to read defenses? Who is spending time with him in the film room? I don’t doubt that Chase is taking initiative, but his development and the circumstances around these last two years really make me think he’s left to “figure it out” more often than not.
When you don’t see him set his feet, make crisper and quicker decisions on the open man, or throw it away when he has no options – I really think this is because he’s not getting any consistent coaching
When he has time, he throw a solid short to mid-range ball. (the long ball is not too good). When he does not set his feet , it is almost always when he is under imminent pressure of being sacked. Right? (at least in the last 4 or so games he was pretty accurate when not pressured — but he was much less accurate in the early games pressured or not)
But what is Rettig suppsoed to do? freeze-frame the defense, set his feet and make the proper throw? When he lacks time, it is more on the OL and/or play calling than on Rettig — although sometimes he does not have a good pocket sense and holds the ball too long.
I think Rettig improved quite a bit this season. Gotta think some one is coaching him and helping him progress. He was reading defenses much better too. Maybe Brock is doing good work with Rettig?
by eagleosprey on Nov 29, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe Brock is
I just think the inconsistency is hurting his development. Hoping something we do this offseason rights the ship. The OL also does need to be fixed but I’d argue that’s not the whole story with the offensive offense this year.
agreed
yes, OL is just a part of the story.
A bigger part is Spaz failing to install a sense of competitiveness and a winning attitude in the players. It took them until late October to appear to be a serious football team.
by eagleosprey on Nov 29, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Apologists can point to weak recruiting classes until they are blue in the face (mustache?). At a certain point, the coaching staff needs to coach up and instill a winning attitude with the players.
Just look at how Spaz handles the press: excuses, defeatist, overly complementary of opponents to be used as another excuse, throws players under bus. All this has an impact on the players.
Middle, schmiddle.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Nov 29, 2011 12:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
We Need a Top 25 Recruiting Class?
You’ll never see it with Spaz. They just keep using the same recruiting coordinator no matter what. These guys are incapable of making adjustments in almost every scenario they face that is not working. They just continue reinforcing low expectations. Siravo should have been replaced ages ago.
Apparently retaining the services of Siravo was a prereq for employment.
Following the departures of Tom O’Brien in 2006 and Jeff Jagodzinski in 2008, it was widely held that a condition of employment for the next head coach at BC was that he retain certain staff members that DeFilippo was close with, namely Frank Spaziani as defensive coordinator (2006), Ryan Day as wide receivers coach, and Mike Siravo as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator (2006 & 2008). It’s also widely held that this absurd condition was a deal breaker for at least one potential coaching candidate.
Editor, BC Interruption
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