David Blough and the Offensive Staffing Thread

[heisenberg]

A big difference also was according to Jay, that Jay was the defacto O coordinator in McVay's first year in charge and then he let go of the reigns. Blough has no net right now. As Sheehan-Standig among others mentioned they should hire some veteran offensive consultant to help.

I have no illusions that this isn't a gamble and it could blow up in our face, all I was trying to point out was that the experience levels aren't quite as lopsided as it may seem.
We need to pray he's already past the training wheels phase.

 

[Higskin]

This makes me laugh but will be interesting to see what happens to him now that Miami hired their HC.

 

[burgold]

I will say on the surface the O Line coach hire is uninspiring. With some really good staffs being fired (or at least their head coaches being canned) I wouldn't have minded trying to mine someone off the Ravens, Bills, etc. I'm happy to give Blough the benefit of the doubt, but credulity gets stretched if all the subsequent hires are equally risky.

 

[KDawg]

This goes back to what I was saying (and getting resistance to).

OL coach was his first test and I don’t consider it a pass. It’s another “wait and see”.

It can and may work out, and it makes sense for our 30 year old OC to hire another guy he’s familiar with.

But this is what I meant when I said Ledford wasn’t likely. Once we dipped into the young assistant position coach as OC pool we kind of limited our options.

I’m still hopeful about Blough and Stapleton.

Quinn and Peter’s are looking worse.

 

[skinsinparadise]

This makes me laugh but will be interesting to see what happens to him now that Miami hired their HC.

View attachment 13989

Yeah Bevell is the one they think makes the most sense and has ties to Blough

 

[skinsinparadise]

I have no illusions that this isn't a gamble and it could blow up in our face, all I was trying to point out was that the experience levels aren't quite as lopsided as it may seem.
We need to pray he's already past the training wheels phase.

I guess for me McVay makes me feel worse though about this. Among the narratives I've heard.

A. Mcvay himself said he wasn't near at his best when he got the job and learned over time how to get a feel for calling the game.

B. His first season, Jay was the primarily play caller and they coordinated.

I get your point that it helps that Blough was a QB, I agree.

 

[method man]

He is: Anthony Lynn (former HC and OC) and Brian Johnson (former OC that made Jalen Hurts an MVP candidate...the same Jalen Hurts who went 3 separate halves of football throwing for less than 5 total yards)

First off, we don't know either guy is staying. Lynn was rumored to leave for PSU to work with his son and we don't know yet on Johnson.

Second, if they do both stay, regarding truly seasoned guys that have real gravitas and credentials, it would be just Lynn. Johnson has been an NFL assistant for all of 5 seasons.

 

[SkinsGuru]

I think the Lions were genuinely interested, really wanted him and were close to making an offer or actually made an offer. It just sucks because this accelerated our timeline.

the radio guys here in phoenix said the lions had an official offer into Blough . . . they wanted him.

 

[Riggo44]

First off, we don't know either guy is staying. Lynn was rumored to leave for PSU to work with his son and we don't know yet on Johnson.

It's been weeks since we've heard anything on the PSU rumor, like wise Johnson hasn't interviewed anywhere, nor has there any indication at all he's leaving.

I mean Johnson has been a successful OC and called plays so, he has insight into the job.

the radio guys here in phoenix said the lions had an official offer into Blough . . . they wanted him.

Well that's interesting.

 

[NoCalSkins]

The pessimist view of the coordinator hire(s) is that the front office isn't going to out and actually make any big hires for these positions if they have question marks about the head coach going forward and for all the public confidence we are hearing, this is more Quinn being on the hot seat and the organization would prefer to be able to easily clean house should they be compelled to fire Quinn after next season.

 

[Higskin]

 

[method man]

It's been weeks since we've heard anything on the PSU rumor, like wise Johnson hasn't interviewed anywhere, nor has there any indication at all he's leaving.

I mean Johnson has been a successful OC and called plays so, he has insight into the job.


Well that's interesting.

We don’t know whether either guy has been given permission to interview elsewhere.

Johnson was a successful college OC. You can point to all the cherrypicked stats you want but he ultimately was fired after a season by a top flight organization. He could’ve left for an OC gig after the high of next year but no one gave him a job. We haven’t heard his name come up this cycle.

As for insight into the job, he has all of one season as an NFL OC

 

[Riggo44]

We don’t know whether either guy has been given permission to interview elsewhere.

Let me know if/when it's actually reported.

Johnson was a successful college OC. You can point to all the cherrypicked stats you want but he ultimately was fired after a season by a top flight organization.

I thought you said Johnson wasn't sticking around?

Harbaugh was technically fired by a top flight organization, and he's the savior of the Giants. Coordinators are fired, let go all the time, but it seems you have your mind is made up, so we'll see.

 

[method man]

Let me know if/when it's actually reported.

I thought you said Johnson wasn't sticking around?

Harbaugh was technically fired by a top flight organization, and he's the savior of the Giants. Coordinators are fired, let go all the time, but it seems you have your mind is made up, so we'll see.

Where did I say Johnson wasn't sticking around? I said it's uncertain he is. Not even an unofficial leaking to Nikki or Keim to tweet that he is sticking around.

 

[Riggo44]

Not even an unofficial leaking to Nikki or Keim to tweet that he is sticking around.

Not even a leak they're leaving or interested in other positions. It's been a week since Bloughs hiring, and almost 3 since the PSU rumor for Lynn.

Maybe interest will increase as the coaching cycle starts to wind down, but I have seen no indication they're on the move. But they would be a big loss, I don't imagine the team would allow them to leave for a lateral position--they would have to get OC positions. Like you said, no one has reached out to either for vacancies yet.

 

[Riggo44]

 

[burgold]

Agree. I think Quinn understands the problem has not been the offense which, of course, brings us back to the being a little confused as to why Kliff and Quinn couldn't work it out unless Kliff was the one who wanted out.

 

[Riggo44]

It seems like Kliff wasn't going to make the necessary changes--most likely around running back uses and QB designed runs. I'd imagine his HC ambitions also figured into the parting.

Listening to Galdi this morning pointing out the unusual nature of this offensive staff revamp: "Dan Quinn disliked the offense enough to part with Kliff Kingsbury & Bobby Johnson but liked the offense enough to promote David Blough, Darnell Stapleton and Shane Toub." I think two things figure in here: 1. The offense wasn't bad--I don't think Kingsbury was a bad hire, let alone a "whiff." There is a lot to like and continue about it, but there is a lot to change too--changes many here have called for. 2. Continuity is key, for better or worse.

I don't think Blough or Stapleton are unqualified, just inexperienced. Apparently, Detroit had an official offer out to Blough to be the OC, which probably caused some of the immediacy in the decision.

I am very interested to see what happens--this also almost guarantees starters play some significant reps in the preseason.

 

[DWinzit]

So do have this right - we are going to be moving to a zone scheme with more emphasis on running the ball and less QB planned runs.

Does this mean more of a need for the RBs to have great vision and quick cuts against the grain? I feel like this fits Bill, does it fit CRod and McNichol?

Does this scheme play into all of our Olinemens wheel house?

 

[Riggo44]

So do have this right - we are going to be moving to a zone scheme with more emphasis on running the ball and less QB planned runs.

Does this mean more of a need for the RBs to have great vision and quick cuts against the grain? I feel like this fits Bill, does it fit CRod and McNichol?

Does this scheme play into all of our Olinemens wheel house?

That's what it sounds like to me, re: RBs/QB runs.

Again from what I've read from people who are way better at analyzing film than me, this OL is athletic enough to run a zone scheme--particularly the tackles. I've also seen positive assessments of both Bill and C-Rod in this scheme. I'm intrigued, if still skeptical of the learning curve, now both the OL coach and OC will face.