OK, we've established that he was fired at NC State and their fans can't figure out why (although it appears he may have been sniffing around for other jobs, specifically Pitt since he and Narduzzi are buddies), he seems to have been more run-heavy as a play caller but apparently isn't set in his offensive identity, and he was at Wisconsin for 1 year.
ITT, let's look around at actual facts and patterns of his team's offenses while being mindful of the circumstances. I'll start with some things I found:
1) Wisconsin's 2012 offense (his 1 year there) was a major step back from 2011's (Chryst's last season as their OC), dropping from 44 pts/gm (6th) to 30 pts/gm (60th). What players did they lose from their 2011 offense? Two 1st-team All-B10 offensive linemen (!) and some QB named Russell Wilson. They retained Montee Ball who again did great, but 3 QB's split time: a freshman, a transfer, and someone who hadn't played in 3 years. The freshman, Joel Stave, went on to success and had the most snaps in 2012, but this was his first season after being a 2*/UR recruit in 2011. He and the others did not do great. Ball remained 1st-team B10, joined by a WR and TE for Wisconsin, so I'm guessing without looking that they had a varied attack despite very inconsistent QB play. Canada left after that one year and they bumped up to 35 pts/gm (27th), but that was in a large degree due to it being Stave's 2nd season--and 1st as the full-time guy--and he started to do quite well.
1b) Hmm - Wisconsin predictably had very few turnovers in 2011 (see also: Russell Wilson), but they barely had more turnovers in 2012 despite a cast of nobodies running point. They went from 0.7 tov/gm to 0.9 tov/gm. In 2013, the first season after Canada left but with Stave now the full-time starter and a decent one at that, they jumped to 1.5 tov/gm due entirely to interceptions (not fumbles). The next 2 seasons: 1.9 and 1.4, so I would guess having the QB not turn the ball over is a big point of emphasis with Canada.
1c) Could the lower interception totals be due to Canada making his QB's only throw short and safe passes? I have no idea, but Stave averaged 9.3 Y/A in '12 under Canada, and then 7.4, 6.6, and 7.3 his next three seasons. Kinda odd, but it's hard to look at those numbers and think Canada was asking his QB to throw the shortest passes possible. Wilson averaged 10.3 in '11.
2) Basics about NC State's offense in 2012, right before Canada showed up: Very good QB situation (NFLer Mike Glennon's Sr year), so-so run game, 2.5 tov/gm, scoring 28 pts/gm (71st).
2b) 2013 with Canada: QB went to league and was replaced by a transfer so that was a downturn, same so-so run game, 1.8 tov/gm, 23 pts/gm (98th).
2c) 2014 & 2015: QB situation got way better, running game improved, turnovers dropped to 1.2 tov/gm then 1.0 tov/gm, and scoring went up to 30 pts/gm (56th) then 33 pts/gm (40th).
2d) NC State QB Brissett in '14 and '15 averaged only 7.0 and 6.7 Y/A, so maybe he was told to throw short & safe passes...again, I have no idea, but those are the facts.
What other facts can people find that might seem relevant?
ITT, let's look around at actual facts and patterns of his team's offenses while being mindful of the circumstances. I'll start with some things I found:
1) Wisconsin's 2012 offense (his 1 year there) was a major step back from 2011's (Chryst's last season as their OC), dropping from 44 pts/gm (6th) to 30 pts/gm (60th). What players did they lose from their 2011 offense? Two 1st-team All-B10 offensive linemen (!) and some QB named Russell Wilson. They retained Montee Ball who again did great, but 3 QB's split time: a freshman, a transfer, and someone who hadn't played in 3 years. The freshman, Joel Stave, went on to success and had the most snaps in 2012, but this was his first season after being a 2*/UR recruit in 2011. He and the others did not do great. Ball remained 1st-team B10, joined by a WR and TE for Wisconsin, so I'm guessing without looking that they had a varied attack despite very inconsistent QB play. Canada left after that one year and they bumped up to 35 pts/gm (27th), but that was in a large degree due to it being Stave's 2nd season--and 1st as the full-time guy--and he started to do quite well.
1b) Hmm - Wisconsin predictably had very few turnovers in 2011 (see also: Russell Wilson), but they barely had more turnovers in 2012 despite a cast of nobodies running point. They went from 0.7 tov/gm to 0.9 tov/gm. In 2013, the first season after Canada left but with Stave now the full-time starter and a decent one at that, they jumped to 1.5 tov/gm due entirely to interceptions (not fumbles). The next 2 seasons: 1.9 and 1.4, so I would guess having the QB not turn the ball over is a big point of emphasis with Canada.
1c) Could the lower interception totals be due to Canada making his QB's only throw short and safe passes? I have no idea, but Stave averaged 9.3 Y/A in '12 under Canada, and then 7.4, 6.6, and 7.3 his next three seasons. Kinda odd, but it's hard to look at those numbers and think Canada was asking his QB to throw the shortest passes possible. Wilson averaged 10.3 in '11.
2) Basics about NC State's offense in 2012, right before Canada showed up: Very good QB situation (NFLer Mike Glennon's Sr year), so-so run game, 2.5 tov/gm, scoring 28 pts/gm (71st).
2b) 2013 with Canada: QB went to league and was replaced by a transfer so that was a downturn, same so-so run game, 1.8 tov/gm, 23 pts/gm (98th).
2c) 2014 & 2015: QB situation got way better, running game improved, turnovers dropped to 1.2 tov/gm then 1.0 tov/gm, and scoring went up to 30 pts/gm (56th) then 33 pts/gm (40th).
2d) NC State QB Brissett in '14 and '15 averaged only 7.0 and 6.7 Y/A, so maybe he was told to throw short & safe passes...again, I have no idea, but those are the facts.
What other facts can people find that might seem relevant?
