I've been thinking about this over the past day.
OC Number One Jim Chaney: Narduzzi is a brand new head coach. He does not know the ins and outs of the ACC. For the past 8 years he has gone up against the MSU offense in practice and a lot of "traditional" Big 10 offenses. This has probably shaped his view on offense. As a first time head coach he is going to hire someone he is comfortable with and who he thinks can continue the Chryst offensive success.
OC Number Two Matt Canada: The offense wasn't bad the year before, especially considering the injury to Conner and needing a few games to settle Voytik/Peterman. Narduzzi is probably a little mad Chaney left after one year to get back in the SEC. That being said, major changes aren't needed to the offense and Narduzzi will prioritize someone he is comfortable with. Also Matt Canada happens to be unemployed.
OC Number Three Shawn Watson: Narduzzi is probably feeling it after being burned again after one year especially by his friend in Canada. Even if he's not mad at Canada for taking the money he can't be happy about going to OC number three in year three. Narduzzi publicly says they will be keeping the same offense as the players like it. Even though Watson wasn't liked when hired it was sold as he'll be running the Canada offense. I also believe we did not have an acting AD at this time.
That leads us to the current search as I see this search as very different.
1. This is the first time Narduzzi has fired an OC. The Watson hire was a 100% continuation of the previous offense. At least initially until we all realized Watson did not know how to use the shovel passes and jet sweeps. Even from Chaney to Canada, the offense did not need to change. Now it is clear the offense needs to change. You don't fire one coach and bring in the same type of offense. Does this mean our identity needs to change? I don't know as I'll touch on this later.
2. We have a new AD and Narduzzi has six years on his contract. We all see the impact Heather Lyke has had on the athletic department. It seems like the standard has been raised. Narduzzi is super competitive and he sees this. He still knows he has the security to hire whoever he wants. More importantly he should have the resources to make a great hire.
3. The ACC. I mentioned with the initial hire of Chaney, Narduzzi didn't know the ACC then. How many times over the past few years has Narduzzi mentioned all the great offenses we play every week? I have to wonder if Narduzzi wants an offense more in line with the rest of the conference. Does he want his defense to see that more at practice? Now, Narduzzi has also mentioned how different our offense has been compared to the rest of the ACC. There is something to be said for "zagging" when everyone else is "zigging" as long as you get the results. My gut tells me though Narduzzi may want something more in line with the conference.
4. This is year five. Yes, I mentioned Narduzzi has security, but he also realizes if this is a dud hire he may not get another chance.
What does this all mean?
I think it means the offensive style will be very different next year. I have known each of these first three hires would very "traditional" in their offensive styles. That's what Narduzzi wanted when he came here and the foundation was there to keep the status quo with the first two OC changes. My prediction is this hire will be different.
Narduzzi won't fire his best friend and mentor just to bring in another "traditional" OC. He knows we need change and times are changing. High school and even the NFL now are more wide open. NFL is a lot more pass happy. The rules in college are rigged towards offense and if you do not embrace that you are tying a hand behind your back. I think this new hire will be a surprise and his background will be more spread and up tempo. I know spread is a general word these days, but you get the point. Will we still be run based? Of course. As a northern team you have to establish the run to have success late in the year.
Maybe I'm just blinded and think the search will go in the direction I want it to go, but I believe this search will be very different.
OC Number One Jim Chaney: Narduzzi is a brand new head coach. He does not know the ins and outs of the ACC. For the past 8 years he has gone up against the MSU offense in practice and a lot of "traditional" Big 10 offenses. This has probably shaped his view on offense. As a first time head coach he is going to hire someone he is comfortable with and who he thinks can continue the Chryst offensive success.
OC Number Two Matt Canada: The offense wasn't bad the year before, especially considering the injury to Conner and needing a few games to settle Voytik/Peterman. Narduzzi is probably a little mad Chaney left after one year to get back in the SEC. That being said, major changes aren't needed to the offense and Narduzzi will prioritize someone he is comfortable with. Also Matt Canada happens to be unemployed.
OC Number Three Shawn Watson: Narduzzi is probably feeling it after being burned again after one year especially by his friend in Canada. Even if he's not mad at Canada for taking the money he can't be happy about going to OC number three in year three. Narduzzi publicly says they will be keeping the same offense as the players like it. Even though Watson wasn't liked when hired it was sold as he'll be running the Canada offense. I also believe we did not have an acting AD at this time.
That leads us to the current search as I see this search as very different.
1. This is the first time Narduzzi has fired an OC. The Watson hire was a 100% continuation of the previous offense. At least initially until we all realized Watson did not know how to use the shovel passes and jet sweeps. Even from Chaney to Canada, the offense did not need to change. Now it is clear the offense needs to change. You don't fire one coach and bring in the same type of offense. Does this mean our identity needs to change? I don't know as I'll touch on this later.
2. We have a new AD and Narduzzi has six years on his contract. We all see the impact Heather Lyke has had on the athletic department. It seems like the standard has been raised. Narduzzi is super competitive and he sees this. He still knows he has the security to hire whoever he wants. More importantly he should have the resources to make a great hire.
3. The ACC. I mentioned with the initial hire of Chaney, Narduzzi didn't know the ACC then. How many times over the past few years has Narduzzi mentioned all the great offenses we play every week? I have to wonder if Narduzzi wants an offense more in line with the rest of the conference. Does he want his defense to see that more at practice? Now, Narduzzi has also mentioned how different our offense has been compared to the rest of the ACC. There is something to be said for "zagging" when everyone else is "zigging" as long as you get the results. My gut tells me though Narduzzi may want something more in line with the conference.
4. This is year five. Yes, I mentioned Narduzzi has security, but he also realizes if this is a dud hire he may not get another chance.
What does this all mean?
I think it means the offensive style will be very different next year. I have known each of these first three hires would very "traditional" in their offensive styles. That's what Narduzzi wanted when he came here and the foundation was there to keep the status quo with the first two OC changes. My prediction is this hire will be different.
Narduzzi won't fire his best friend and mentor just to bring in another "traditional" OC. He knows we need change and times are changing. High school and even the NFL now are more wide open. NFL is a lot more pass happy. The rules in college are rigged towards offense and if you do not embrace that you are tying a hand behind your back. I think this new hire will be a surprise and his background will be more spread and up tempo. I know spread is a general word these days, but you get the point. Will we still be run based? Of course. As a northern team you have to establish the run to have success late in the year.
Maybe I'm just blinded and think the search will go in the direction I want it to go, but I believe this search will be very different.
